Events
Teagasc Organic Specialists organise a number of organic events throughout the year. Details of these events are available on this page.
Upcoming events - Farm Walks | Webinars
Previous events - Farm Walks | Webinars
Webinars
The webinars are broadcast using zoom so participants will have an opportunity to submit questions during the live broadcast.
Upcoming Webinars
Previous Webinars
Are you considering converting to Organic Farming? | Wednesday, 24 November
On Wednesday, 24 November, Joe Kelleher and Elaine Leavy, Teagasc Organic Specialists hosted the third in a series of Autumn Organic Webinars which gave an insight into converting to organic farming. They were also joined by two farmers who recently converted to organic farming.
Elaine and Joe were joined by two recent converts to organic farming, Colman Deely and Jim Hogan who gave an insight into why they decided to convert to organic farming, the changes they have made to their farming systems and their farm plans for the future. Elaine also gave an overview of the steps to organic conversion.
View presentations below
- Colman Deely - My farm (PDF)
Colman Deely, Killeedy, Co. Limerick - Recently converted to organic dairy farming - My story - Jim Hogan (PDF)
Jim Hogan, Rathrush, Rathoe, Co. Carlow - In conversion to organic beef, cereals and sheep farming
Watch webinar recording below
Options for Organic Tillage Growers | 27 October
On Wednesday, 27th October, Elaine Leavy and Joe Kelleher, Teagasc Organic Specialists hosted the second in a series of Autumn Organic Webinars which focused on options for organic tillage growers. Elaine and Joe were joined by James & Johnny Flavahan, Flahavans; Brian O Regan, Irish Organic Feeds; Ross Jackson, Lacka Organic Lamb; and Micheál Rafferty, Irish Organic Mill Ltd.
A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar.
Watch webinar recording below
The role of multi species swards on Irish organic farms | 22 September
On Wednesday, 22nd September, Joe Kelleher and Elaine Leavy, Teagasc Organic Specialists were joined by Thomas Moloney, DLF and Kevin O’Hanlon, Organic dairy farmer for the first in a series of Autumn Organic Webinars which focused on the role of multi species swards on Irish organic farms.
A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar.
View presentations below
- Why we use Multi Species Swards on our organic farm (PDF)
Kevin O’Hanlon, Farm Manager, Pollard Organic Dairy Farm - Results from Teagasc Grange MSS trial and on-going MSS work with DLF (PDF)
Thomas Moloney, DLF
Watch webinar recording below
Organic Dairy Farm Walk - Whitty Family Farm
Joe & Alicia Whitty have been farming organically for 14 years now, but the biggest change to their farming system came in 2015 when they converted their mixed beef/pigs and tillage operation to organic dairying. Many changes have happened on this farm over the past 14 years and the Whitty family opened up their farm to the public on Wednesday, 3 November to tell their story.
View the farm walk booklet here
About the Whitty Family Farm
The Whittys are milking 67 organic cows with all milk being supplied to Glenisk. Daughters Aoife, Niamh and Eimear all play an active role on the day to day farming activities, making this a real family farming effort.
There is a great variety of crops grown on this farm including; permanent pasture, white clover swards, red clover swards, multi species swards, combi crops and spring oats. There is also 10 acres of a designated habitat and 5 acres of forestry on the farm. On the day of the walk the Whittys will go into detail as to how they grow and manage these crops on their farm and how they are reducing their reliance on imported feed by growing such crops.
Visitors on the day will hear from the Whittys about the changes they had to make when converting their farm firstly to organic and secondly to organic dairy. They will learn how they grow such a variety of crops and how they do this without the use of chemical fertilisers. The reliance on clover will be outlined on the day along with the newly sown multi species swards.
While this is an organic event, this walk will be of interest to both organic and conventional farmers. As this is primarily an outdoor event, visitors are advised to dress accordingly.