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Andrew and Leonie Workman, Dunany Flour Organic, Co Louth

06 May 2020
Type Media Article

Andrew and Leonie grow, mill, package and distribute their organic wheat, rye and spelt direct from their farm. Oats are also grown on contract for the organic porridge market.

Introduction

Andrew and Leonie Workman have been farming organically for the past 16 years.  From a tillage background growing cereals, there have been many changes in relation to the crops grown and routes to market since 2004.  A family farm business has evolved with the Workman’s now growing, milling, packing and distributing their organic wheat, rye and spelt direct from their farm. Oats are also grown on contract for the organic porridge market.

Organic Cereal Enterprise

The total area of cereals on the farm at present is 66.5 hectares. This is divided between winter and spring crops.  Last October winter rye and spelt were sown. Andrew admits that they got off to a bad start due to waterlogging; however he is happy at how the crops look now.  On the 4th of April spring wheat was sown with spring oats sown on the 7th of April.  Andrew expects that they will be harvesting from early August, starting with spelt then rye followed by oats and finally the wheat.

Crop Varieties and Seeding Rates

Organic Spelt crop - 25 April 2020

Clover on the Farm

Red Clover

Red clover is sown in a monoculture on the farm. The red clover acts as a valuable break crop as part of the rotation, improving soil structure, fertility, limiting weed invasion and supplying organic matter.

The Workman’s generally implement a two year fertility building phase with the red clover followed by a five year cycle of cereals. This can vary depending on soil type, weed burden and fertility.  The red clover is mulched during the growing season with a mulcher that was purchased in Denmark. It will be mulched from early to mid-May and every 3-5 weeks after that depending on growth.

There are plans to sow a further 12 hectares of red clover this year.  It will be sown at a rate of 5kg per hectare.

Red Clover Year 2 - 2 May 2020

White Clover

White clover has been under sown with the spring oats.  The white clover was sown at a rate of 5kg per hectare. Andrew is hoping that this will help suppress weeds while also improve soil fertility and soil structure.  This will be ploughed back before the next crop is sown.

On Farm Milling

About seven years ago Andrew and Leonie wanted a way that they could add value to their grain themselves. They decided they way to do this was to start processing the grains themselves and that’s when they started milling. They also recognised an opening in the market for other organic flours from other grains such as spelt and rye which they then started to grow.  Overtime the Workman’s  sourced all the necessary equipment.  Here is an overview of the on farm processing that takes place:

  • After harvesting the grains are cleaned pre drying.
  • Grains are then dried.
  • The grains are cleaned as many times as is required, depending on weed levels.
  • The spelt goes through a further process of being dehulled.
  • The grains are then stored in 500-700kg bags.
  • Milling takes place according to demand.
  • This is followed by packaging, labelling and storage before being dispatched.

This move into processing has resulted in the development of an on farm family business. The Workman’s have full control from the sowing of the grains through to the distribution of the flours from their farm. Andrew and Leonie are very happy at how they and their farm have evolved in the past sixteen years.

For more information go to www.teagasc.ie/organics