Meath man spreading the word in high places as he switches his organic focus

Donal Keane is always eager to promote the benefits of organic farming, and he found some receptive ears when he chatted to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the recent royal visit to the Teagasc beef research farm in Grange.

“They were keen to hear more when I told them that I was an organic farmer. Prince Charles [Prince William’s father] is a big proponent of organic food and farming,” says Donal, who operates a suckler to beef enterprise with tillage crops on 140 acres close to Summerhill in Meath.

“A discussion arose about the sustainability of current farming systems and the impact and legacy that it will have on future generations.”

Donal, whose son John is “very interested in the farm”, adds: “Education about sustainable practices is very important for the next generation of farmers as they will face a myriad of challenges including climate change, preserving biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystems while making a living from the family farm.

Demonstration

“We are a demonstration organic farm this year and host a farm walk on June 17, so for any farmer thinking of organic conversion this is an excellent place to start.

“You will see a real commercial organic farm and what is working and what is not working here for us.”

Donal converted to organic in 2013.

“I had been thinking about it for a few years and more and more it just seemed to make sense,” he says. “Increased input costs were not reflected in the farmgate prices so I went to farm walks and spoke to organic farmers and the system of production appealed to me.

“It has worked out very well in terms of management. I had to implement new techniques to manage nutrients, fertility and weed control, all of which are very manageable once you have planned for the year ahead.”

Donal is looking to cut back his beef

Change of focus:

tillage operation

Donal Keane (inset) is scaling back his organic beef herd and expanding his

herd and expand his tillage enterprise.

“The last 12 months have been tough for all beef farmers and it makes sense to scale back to 50 sucklers and increase the cereals,” he says.

“There is a strong and expanding market for organic cereals; I am growing oats for the porridge market and some wheat.

“I have red clover leys producing good-quality silage and I can easily sell excess silage bales to nearby dairy farmers. This is good tillage land so it means adjusting the rotations to produce more cereals.

“As with all changes it is good to ensure there is a market for what you are proposing to produce.”

An increase in cereal production requires a readjustment of the proportion of ley to arable cropping.

In organic farming the ley phase is the cornerstone of fertility building. Nitrogen fixation is the key priority so it is important to include a legume that can fix nitrogen in the grass sward.

Donal is growing red clover and perennial ryegrass; a secondary nitrogen source in the form of farmyard manure is also added.

“Red clover really is the powerhouse of fertility,” he says. “Research shows that nitrogen fixation by legumesis between 150 to 250kg/ha/ annum.

“As red clover has an upright growth

habit it is better suited to a cutting regime with some grazing towards the end of the year.

“It is not as persistent as white clover so you have to manage it carefully to optimise performance. After two years’ growth we generally plough it back in and then follow it with a cereal crop.

“The last few years I have

started to grow wheat as well as the oats, and this year I am growing some heritage wheat varieties.

“I am also taking part in a crop trial growing a range of heritage varieties which originate from Denmark and Sweden. This wheat is in demand in the artisan bread market as the flavour and quality are very good.”