Agriculture

Participants at a Boom Sprayer Course organised by IRD Duhallow on the grounds of the James O’Keeffe Complex. More families in Duhallow depend on Agriculture than anywhere else in the county, while Duhallow communities provide the workforce for the agri-business industries in the area and many families depend on agri-related jobs while the economies our rural towns are driven by the spend of these families and local farmers. Farm production enterprises in the Duhallow Region vary from Dairy, Beef & Drystock, Equine & mixed farming with good tillage to the east of the region. IRD Duhallow’s Agriculture Working Group has for over 30 years supported smallholders across the region to make the most of their holdings and has pursued complimentary programmes both Nationally and in Europe that support farmers to maximise their income. It focuses its efforts at the quarterly meetings on developing and seeking further avenues to sustain, promote and enhance agricultural activities in the wider Duhallow region. In the past few years, we have accessed greater levels of funding, all of which have had an impact on farming in Duhallow including two EU LIFE projects and more recently our EIP Agri programme, which is up and running, with the first landowner payments being made earlier this year.

Dairy Co-operatives Duhallow Cork has the highest number of dairy cows in the country with approximately 381,000 registered livestock units. The Duhallow region has a long history of dairy production with the Tadgh O’Leary and Denis O’Mahony at the establishment of creameries in the region dating Centenary celebrations back to 1889 with the Newmarket creamery. Kerry of Tureen Creamery. goup acquired the Newmarket Co-operative creamery in 2010, currently has 63 emploees processing 287 million litres of milk and produces an estimated 32,650 tonnes of chedder cheese or about 18% of the countrys volume. North Cork Cremeries located in Kanturk was established as a cooperative in 1928 it has an estimated 334 members and 77 employees, it processes over 315 million equivalent whole milk litres annually. The town of Boherbue maintains a distinct local focus with the Boherbue Co-op which was established in 1901 and has 184 members. Its milk goes into Cadburys Chocolate and Boherbue provides a wide range of local services and employment.

Supporting Sustainable Agri – Business Information Evening Last year, the Working group hosted a seminar with AIB entitled “Supporting Sustainable Agri Business Information Evening”. Michael Morrissey, Farm Planner of IRD Duhallow gave a brief overview of the new EIP-Agri project “Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments”. AIB’s agricultural advisor Michael Murphy presented a detailed and informative overview of the future of farming, farm partnerships and lending. Noreen O’Rahilly of Teagasc, followed with a review of the current mechanisms for on-farm development and Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) and sustainable agriculture. The seminar concluded with Robert Plaice of FDC covering taxation, farm succession and planning.

Louise Bourke IRD Duhallow speaking at the ‘Supporting Sustainable Agri-Business Seminar’ in the James O’Keeffe Institute Newmarket. Duhallow Bee Keepers Association Bee Keeping is a fun and interesting hobby that can provide a lifetime interest and supply of nutritious honey, not the mention how important supporting these pollinators that are vital to Biodiversity. IRD Duhallow Bee Keepers Association organised a number of workshops throughout the year including Pest & Disease Control, Systems of Bee Keeping, how to increase your Bee Colony, Flower to jar and Honey Production. We also featured an article in Discover Duhallow about the importance of protecting bees which included tips on how to reverse the decline of bees and other pollinators. IRD Duhallow is following through with a LEADER Project which will train communities and tidy towns committees, on the most appropriate plants and flowers to plant to sustain bees and other pollinators.

Women in Agriculture Wet Grassland & Diverse riparian margin. This year marked the 12th Annual Women in Agriculture Conference in association with the Farmers Journal. As always, IRD Duhallow supported a contingent of Duhallow women to attend. The event is targeted at women who farm, work in food or agribusiness or who live in a rural area. The conference aims to be educational, uplifting and entertaining and this years event was all that, albeit with a more serious and emotional angle with one of the main speakers being Vicky Phelan, who spoke of her cervical cancer journey. We will miss this year’s event because of COVID but look forward to meeting up with everyone again in the near future.

An example of typical farming enterprises in Duhallow; Dry cattle stock and & Silage Bales. Macra na Feirme Macra na Feirme is the national organisation for young farmers and rural youth, which has a number of very active clubs across the IRD Duhallow region. Members aged 17-35 take part in activities across any of six key areas: Agriculture, Community Involvement, Performing Arts, Public Speaking, Sports & Travel. As well as providing a very active social life for young people, Macra places a huge emphasis on personal development and training. Its members develop the skills required to become leaders in their communities, often moving on to serve other organisations & groups in their area and nationally. From debating to stock judging to on-stage performance, the organisation has something to offer for all young people. The travel opportunities for members, both nationally and internationally, with partnerships in place with a number of European counties are currently on hold due to COVID restrictions. IRD Duhallow Board member Sean Wallace, is the current Macra na Feirme representative and is Munster Vice Chairman of the organisation.