Organic Events
Teagasc organics advisors organise a number of activities and events throughout the year. These include farm walks in association with Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine and organic organisations. 25 hour training courses open days and webinars. Details of these events are outlined below.
Upcoming events - Regional Organic Meetings Autumn 2022
Previous events - Farm Walks | Growing Organics Event - RDS | Organic Beef Open Day
Find some advice on the Steps to Organic conversion here
Regional Organic Meetings Autumn 2022
The Organic Farming Scheme was officially opened for applications on October 20th and there is very strong interest from farmers regarding organic farming. Teagasc are hosting a series of organic information meetings across the country which will help farmers identify the technical changes that may have to be made to their farming systems and will also inform farmers of the steps involved in becoming a fully certified organic farmer. These events are free of charge with no pre-registration required. All are welcome.
See dates and venues below
Wednesday, 2 November | Meath | 8pm
Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, Co. Meath
Thursday, 3 November | Leitrim | 7:30pm
Bee park Community Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
Thursday, 3 November | Tipperary | 11am
Cahir House Hotel, Cahir, Co. Tipperary
Monday, 7 November | Cork | 11am
Maritime Hotel, Bantry, Co. Cork
Previous meetings
Monday, 17 October | Wexford | 8pm
Riverside Hotel, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Thursday, 20 October | Kerry | 11am
Listowel Arms Hotel, Co. Kerry
Monday, 24 October | Kildare | 8pm
Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare
Wednesday, 26 October | Mayo | 7pm
Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Thursday, 27 October | Roscommon | 11am
Abbey Hotel, Roscommon Town, Co. Roscommon
Friday, 28 October | Cavan | 11am
Errigal Country House Hotel, Cootehill, Co. Cavan
Organic Beef Open Day
Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) jointly organised a National Organic Beef Open Day on the farm of John Purcell, Ross, Golden, Cashel, Co. Tipperary on Wednesday, 28th September 2022.
The open day was aimed at providing up to date best practice for existing organic farmers and also will aim at providing an insight into organic farming methods for those farmers contemplating converting their farms.
John took over the running of the farm from his late father Michael Purcell in 1997. The farm had always been associated with a livestock enterprise and in 1998, John converted the farm to organic and continued with the beef model. The overall farm operation of 950 acres consists of owned and leased land and all together produces over 1000 finished beef cattle per annum for the market.
The farm walk is on a block of 500 acres. The farm produces most of the winter feed for the operation and houses 600 cattle during the winter months. Combination crops and clover grass swards are grown as part of the winter-feeding system. John’s farm does not exclusively focus on beef production, he also has incorporated biodiversity corridors/habitats. He has also planted over 10,000 trees in the last three years to sequester carbon and is planning to claim carbon natural status by 2025.
View the event booklet here (PDF)
Previous Farm Walks
Tuesday, 19th July | 2pm
Fieldscale Vegetables, Protected Cropping, Cereals, Poultry-eggs, Direct Selling
On the farm of Rose O Sullivan & Martin Fox, Spring Cottage Organic Farm, Parke, Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath. Eircode: N91 XFW3. Click here for direction
Wednesday, 13th July | 2pm
Cereals and Poultry-eggs
On the farm of Declan Houlihan, Corrigeen Organic Farm, Rathcabin, Birr, Co. Offaly. Eircode: R42 C854. Click here for directions
Wednesday, 6th July | 2pm
Cereals
On the farm of Gavin Tully, Clonhenritte, Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Eircode: Y21 H2R6 Click here for directions
Wednesday, 29th June | 2pm
Poultry-eggs, Cereals, Beef Finishing
On the farm of Mark & Grainne Duffy, Clogher, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan. Eircode: A75 Y421. Click here for directions
Wednesday, 22nd June | 2pm
Beef and Direct Selling
On the farm of Clive Bright, Ardsallagh, Ballymote, Co. Sligo.
Find out more about Clive here
Wednesday, 15th June | 2pm
Suckler to Beef and Cereals
On the farm of Donal & Frederique Keane, Camelton Stud, Summerhill, Co. Meath. Eircode: A83 TR83.
Find out more about Donal & Frederique Keane here
Wednesday, 8th June | 2pm
Sheep, Cereals, Beef Finishing
On the farm of Fergal Byrne, Calverstown Little, Dunlavin, Co. Kildare. Eircode: W91 X8F5.
Find out more about Fergal here
Wednesday, 1st June | 2pm
Suckler to Weanling and Sheep
On the farm of John Hurley, Castle Hill House, Knockalaughta, Ballintubber, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. Eircode: F45 FT65.
Wednesday, 11th May | 12pm
Cereals and Milling flour
On the farm of Andrew & Leonie Workman, Dunany Flour Organic, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Find out more about Andrew & Leonie here
Wednesday, 20th April | 12pm
Cereals and Sheep
On the farm of Ross & Amy Jackson, Lacka, Carrig, Birr, Co. Tipperary.
Find out more about Ross & Amy here
Wednesday, 30th March | 12pm
Hill Sheep, Agri - Tourism
On the farm of Brigid O'Connor, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
Find out more about Brigid here
Wednesday, 2nd March | 12pm
Organic Dairy Farm Walk
On the farm of Seamus Howard, Ennis, Co. Clare.
Find out more about Seamus here
Previous Let's Talk Organics Webinars
Wednesday, 30 March | 7:30pm
Direct Selling of Organic Produce
On Wednesday, 30th March, Joe Kelleher, Teagasc Organic Specialist hosted the sixth in a series of Organic Webinars which explored the direct selling of organic produce. Joe was joined by Barry Caslin, Rural Development Specialist, Teagasc; Ollie & Esther O’Brien, Cúlbhac Farm, Newport, Co. Tipperary; and Clive Bright, Rare Ruminare, Ballymote, Co. Sligo.
Topics covered on the night included:
- Supporting Direct Selling of Organic Produce (PDF)
Barry Caslin, Rural Development Specialist, Teagasc - Direct selling organic eggs and beef
Ollie & Esther O’Brien, Cúlbhac Farm, Newport, Co. Tipperary - Direct selling organic beef
Clive Bright, Rare Ruminare, Ballymote, Co. Sligo
Watch webinar recording below
Wednesday, 23 February | 7:30pm
Applying for the 2022 Organic Farming Scheme
On Wednesday, 23 February, Glen Corbett, Teagasc Advisor hosted the fifth in a series of Autumn Organic Webinars which gave an insight into applying for the 2022 Organic Farming Scheme. Glenn was joined by Kevin Mc Geever, Organic Unit, Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine (DAFM); Elaine Leavy and Joe Kelleher, Teagasc Organic Specialists.
View presentations below
- Overview of Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) 2022 (PDF)
Kevin McGeever, Organic Unit, Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine (DAFM) - Steps to applying for the Organic Farming Scheme 2022 (PDF)
Elaine Leavy, Teagasc Organic Specialist - How will Organic Farming impact on your farm profitability? (PDF)
Joe Kelleher, Teagasc Organic Specialist
Watch webinar recording below
Local webinars - Is organic farming an option for your farm?
These webinars will take place as follows:
- 16th February 11am - Kilkenny/Waterford/Carlow, Wexford & Wicklow - more information
- 22nd February 8pm - Sligo/Leitrim/Donegal - more information
- 23rd February 11am - Kerry/Limerick - more information
- 2nd March 11am - Cork East & West - more information
- 2nd March 8pm - Mayo - more information
- 7th March 8pm - Roscommon/Longford - more information
- 9th March 7:30pm - Cavan/Monaghan/Offaly/Westmeath - more information
- 16th March 2pm - Galway /Clare - more information
- 20th April 7.30pm - Tipperary - more information
Training Course - 25 hour Level 5 QQI Organic Farming Principles Course
The next course will take place from February 22nd to March 8th. More information on the course and how to register is available here