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HRH Prince Charles, pictured here with David Laughlin, paid a visit to the farm in 2003
about 50 organic beef cattle at any one time and produces organic potatoes, fruit and honey. The farm really is a hive of activity! David is one of nine organic dairy farmers who supply their milk to Ballyrashane Co-Op (now Lacpatrick after merger with Town of Monaghan). He was recently granted a licence to sell raw (unpasteurised) milk and has opened a raw milk packing facility onsite. To encourage greater production of organic milk, beef and cereals, David and Rex Humphrey, who farms 560 hectares, set up United Irish Organics Ltd. The milk from United Irish Organics producers is from cows reared and maintained in accordance with organic standards. “Rex is managing director and I’m a director,” says David. IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI
“The company is functioning in a stable manner. It gives us control over what milk prices we pay to our farmers. Our dairy products are distributed throughout Northern Ireland.” David is also secretary of the newlyformed Organic NI, which represents the interests of about 120 organic farmers in Northern Ireland. The body recently successfully lobbied the North’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for EU funding under the new Rural Development Programme. “It’s the first time in five or six years this has happened. The funding is a major shot in the arm for organic farming in Northern Ireland, which had been stagnant for quite a while. It also ensures we’re on a par with the Republic, whose organic farming sector has been more progressive in recent years.” Culmore Organic Beef was established in 2008 with the purpose of marketing organic beef to local consumers, as well as supplying some local restaurants with a high quality, dry-aged beef. The Laughlin family closely follows the ethos of high animal welfare and sustainability. The Laughlin’s are also committed to lowering their carbon footprint where possible and, to this end, have installed a medium-sized wind turbine, which produces more electricity than they use in a year (over 70,000 units). They also
have a 20-acre, organically managed hardwood forest, planted in 1994, which sequesters large amounts of carbon annually. On the same principle, the family has a local abattoir licensed to slaughter their beef, and a local butcher does all the meat preparation and packaging. The beef travels less than 25 miles during the whole process, which is a uniquely low food miles figure for any food. “We adopted a really simple, chemicalfree, natural approach to produce the tastiest organic beef in the country. Because we take time and great care rearing our animals, we wanted to do the same for our customers and create a more personal, dedicated service,” David continues. Culmore Organic Farm has branched
CONTACT DETAILS Culmore Organic Farm
Bann Road, Kilrea, Coleraine, Co. Derry / Londonderry BT51 5RY Telephone: 028 295 40272
E: david@culmoreorganicfarm.com www.culmoreorganicfarm.com
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