Growing Organics

Growing Organics is a programme focused on supporting and increasing organic production. The programme, led by Teagasc and supported by DAFM, promotes the adoption of best practice at farm level to increase the future viability and sustainability of the Irish organic sector.

Growing Organics Farm Walks

Demonstration Farms

Organic demonstration farms have been selected throughout the country to illustrate best practice and monitor key financial and environmental metrics. Providing up to date technical advice. The results from the activities on the demonstration farms will be made available to all farmers and researchers to improve the data available on different aspects of organic farming.

The organic demonstration farms will focus on:

grassland management
livestock nutrition
animal health and welfare
financial management
environmental sustainability
crop management

Growing Organics Demonstration Farms

Sarah Turner, Gowlanes, Castlecove, Co. Kerry – Hill Sheep and Suckling
Tommy Delahunt, Ballinaclogh, Co. Wicklow – Tillage
Emmett Dunne, Durrow, Co. Laois – Field Scale Vegetables and Tillage
John O’Hanlon, Ballymahon, Co. Longford – Suckler to Stores
Joe Nolan, Kilconnor, Fenagh, Co. Carlow – Sheep & Tillage
Bill George, Arles, Co. Laois – Dairy & Tillage
John Hamilton, Tonyhabboc, Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal – Suckler Beef, Sheep & Tillage
Jason Stanley, Co. Laois – Sheep & Cereals
Oliver and Anna Dixon, Co. Mayo- Suckler Finishing
Thomas and Noreen Kavanagh, Co. Kerry – Suckler Beef
Pat Maher, Freighduff, Cashel, Co. Tipperary – Suckler to Stores
Barry O’ Hagan – Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim – Lowland and Hill Sheep
Kenneth & Jenny Keavey, Green Earth Organics, Co Galway – Field Scale Vegetables

Upcoming Growing Organics Farm Walks

Friday, 25^th September | 2pm | Leitrim – Lowland and Hill Sheep

Farm of Barry & Sharon O’Hagan, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim. Eircode: F91 R260.

The farm walk will be held as part of Soil Health Week, which takes place from Monday, 21 to Friday, 25 September.

Click here to register to attend

More information to follow

Previous Growing Organics Farm Walks

Suckler to Stores: John O’Hanlon, Ballymahon, Co. Longford

Tuesday, 23^rd September 2025

A Growing Organics Suckler to Stores farm walk took place on Tuesday, 23^rd September on the farm of John O’Hanlon, Tipper, Ballymahon, Co. Longford.

John and Stephanie O’Hanlon farm 38.88ha in Tipper, Ballymahon, Co. Longford. The farm joined the Organic Farming Scheme in 2023 and are currently fully converted. The farm consists of 31.23ha of grassland, 6.12ha of forestry and 1.53ha of a Riparian Buffer Zone. The main farming system involves operating a spring calving 30 cow suckler herd selling progeny at roughly 15/16 months of age over the summer months to give cash flow. The decision was made to gradually move to a suckler to finishing system which will result in reducing the cow numbers over the next few years, switching to an Angus bull and finishing all progeny.

View the booklet from the event here: Growing Organics Farm Walk – John and Stephanie O’Hanlon (PDF)

Hill Sheep and Suckling: Sarah Turner, Gowlanes, Castlecove, Co. Kerry

Tuesday, 25^th June 2025

A Growing Organics Hill Sheep and Suckling Farm Walk took place on Tuesday, 25^th June on the farm of Sarah Turner, Gowlanes, Castlecove, Co. Kerry.

Sarah and Aaron Turner are enterprising sheep and suckler farmers with their farm lying within the Killarney National Park Natura Area.

View the booklet from the event here: Growing Organics Farm Walk – June 25th 2025 (pdf)

Tillage: Tommy Delahunt, Ballinaclogh, Co. Wicklow

Wednesday, 9^th July 2025

A Growing Organics Tillage Farm Walk took place on Wednesday, 9th July on the farm of Tommy Delahunt, Ballinaclogh, Co. Wicklow.

Tommy Delahunt is farming 31.15 ha of organic tillage land in east Wicklow. He grows a range of winter and spring cereals, pea/bean intercrops and barley/pea intercrops along with multispecies grass swards. He opted for a partial tillage conversion into organic farming on 1^st January 2023 and initially put 17 ha’s into conversion. This area increased in 2024 to 31.15 ha’s.

View the booklet from the event here: Growing Organics Farm Walk – July 9th 2025 (pdf)

Vegetables: Emmett Dunne, Leo Dunne & Co. Ltd., & O’Duinn Organacha, Dunmore, Durrow, Co. Laois.

Wednesday, 23^rd July 2025

A Growing Organics Vegetables Farm Walk took place on Wednesday, 23 July on the farm of Emmett Dunne, Leo Dunne & Co. Ltd., & O’Duinn Organacha, Dunmore, Durrow, Co. Laois. The Growing Organics Monitor Farm Programme organic vegetables farm walk was with one of Ireland’s leading vegetable growers.

Emmett Dunne began organic production in 2000, and now grows 30 acres of organic carrots, 100 acres of potatoes, 20 acres of leeks and 5 acres of kale. In total, Emmett has 550 acres of land in his organic rotation, which also includes 150 acres of organic winter and spring oats, 70 acres of beans and 75 acres in clover.

View the booklet from the event here Growing Organics Farm Walk – July 23rd, 2025 (pdf)