Ciaran Bartley

Signpost Beef Farmer

Ciaran Bartley farms in Boher, Co. Limerick. Ciaran operates a calf to beef enterprise at a stocking rate <150kg/ha of organic nitrogen. Holstein Friesian calves are purchased off local dairy farms and carried to beef at 22-28 months of age as steers. 

Challenges: Soil fertility on the farm here is challenging and putting measures in place to correct soil pH through the application of ground limestone.

Farm Advisor: Aileen Walsh, Teagasc, Kilmallock, Co Limerick

Signpost Farm Measure Undertaken

Correcting soil pH through lime applications

Ciaran soil tested the entire farm in the spring of 2019 and identified issues with fertility, as just 35% of the total grazing area was at the optimum pH level for mineral soils. To correct this, Ciaran has introduced a liming programme. To date in 2021, just over 240t of lime has been applied to not only correct soil pH but to make nitrogen and phosphorous more readily available. As ground conditions are challenging Ciaran have applied this lime whenever the opportunity presented, with the most recent application of 40t taking place in the last number weeks. Ciaran has found that applying lime in this manner means that he never have too much ground to cover at the one time and can target recently grazed paddocks, thus making the whole process more flexible. The application of lime at this time of the year also means that sufficient time is provided between spreading and harvesting for silage next year. This means Ciaran does not  have to worry about the unwanted uptake of lime in silage crops, which could hinder preservation.