Organic Farmers

Bill George, Coolnaowle, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois

Bill's father in law Jimmy converted the farm to organic farming in 2001 with Bill joining the farming business in 2006. He is farming 148.49ha (including 40Ha of tillage land) of which 16ha are owned. The milking platform is 64 ha. In 2021 he milked 137 cows during summer increasing to 156 in Autumn as the small Autumn calving herd calve. He is supplying The Village Dairy & The Little Milk Company. Overall stocking rate is 109kg N/ha. EBI of the herd is €140. 2020 calves have an EBI of €168 & 2021 calves an EBI of €189. The cows produced 475 kg MS/cow in 2020. Excellent facilities on farm.

Joe Egan, Lisquell East, Ballygar, Co. Galway

Joe is a new entrant to dairying having commenced in 2015. He also converted to organic farming in 2015. He is farming 92ha of which 52ha are owned. The milking platform is 45ha. He also owns 6.8ha of forestry. Land type is variable. In 2021 he milked 64 cows supplying Aurivo. The overall stocking rate is 105kg N/ha. Milking platform stocking rate is 1.35LU/ha. The EBI of the herd is €145. The cows produced 402 kg MS/cow in 2020. A large portion of the farm has been sown to Multi Species Swards over the past 2 years. Excellent facilities on farm including a 10 unit parlour & 96 cubicle house.

Gavin Tully, Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

Gavin converted 25ac of tillage ground (peas) before making the decision to convert the whole farm to organics in 2016. His primary market in 2021 was supplying malting barley to the organic whiskey market via Boortmalt. He also supplies organic potatoes via an organic distributor. In 2021 he sowed; 30.85Ha of Malting Barley, 2.71Ha of Spring Oats, Maincrop Potatoes 1.64Ha, GLAS wild bird cover 3.06Ha. 10% of the farm is under woodland & habitats. As a stockless orgnic farmer, he imports dairy sludge, cattle slurry & incorporates his straw back into the land to replenish the nutrients on farm.

Kay O'Sullivan, Garrynagearagh, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Co. Cork

Kay farmed 34.83ha organic in 2021 with additional organic lands coming in to system in 2022. There is also 11.16ha forestry. Good Loamy type soil on farm. She runs a suckler to store/beef system along with a lowland ewe system. Farm stocked at 110kgs/Ha in 2020 (includes ewes). There are currently 25 cows, 11 heifers & 75 ewes. Selected paddocks are resseded each year. For the past 2 years herbs & chicory are also included in the mix. All farms building a relatively new. Excellent handling facilities. The plan is to improve grass production, animal performance & biodiversity.