The sheep farmer and agri advisor ploughing his own furrow

Simon Byrne has never been busier as he juggles his roles as a farm advisor, sheep farmer and father with his first season growing malting barley on contract, reports Úna Sinnott

Simon Byrne is not a man who is afraid of taking on plenty of hard work. The soon-to-be father of two is a sheep farmer and an independent agricultural advisor, and this year he is growing malting barley on contract for the first time on the family farm at the foot of Mount Leinster in Ballinavocran, Co Wexford.

He is currently experiencing lockdown in his office finalising over 200 Basic Payment Scheme applications and dealing with new candidates for Nitrates Derogation.

The Byrne farm, which Simon runs alongside his parents Joe and Jane and partner Sarah, consists of 94 hectares, 40 of which is tillage land near Ballon, Co Carlow.

The Byrnes, who have been farming here for generations, recently finished lambing their flock of 400 crossbred ewes. Sarah, a teacher at Glenmore National School, is usually plays a key role, but this year she admired the lambing shed from a distance with son Simon. The pair hope to welcome their second child at the end of the month.

Jane spent all her working life in the Wexford Farmers Co-operative. She is now retired, but is busier than ever, as is her husband.

“The three of us farm together, and we have always enjoyed a great working relationship,” says Simon.

With sheep, tillage and advisory services demanding so much attention at this time of the year, Simon has found himself particularly busy during the Covid-19 restrictions.

Having changed some fencing boundaries, Simon has begun to initiate a temporary paddock grazing system for his sheep. Currently, the sheep are all out in three groups of 125 ewes with their lambs. Some triplets are in a smaller group.

The Byrnes began lambing just before St Patrick’s Day. Usually, they would have students from Denmark in to help out during the season. This year, however, the foreign exchange pupils had to cancel their travelling plans due to virus restrictions. With Simon’s parents close to the age of those told to cocoon, they were keen to restrict visitors on the farm.

The Byrnes started bringing in the Danish students in the 1980s.

“It spread by word of mouth, and now every year, either vet students or agricultural students are welcomed onto the farm,” says Simon.

“Things were very hectic on the farm this year with the lambing season keeping myself, and my parents busy nearly every hour of the day.

“The whole process went very well, and we managed to lamb all the ewes with very few fatalities. Over 600 lambs are now out across the fields.

Family business:

Simon Byrne farms alongside his mother Jane and father Joe

“We were lambing for just over a month in total, and it worked out nicely that the cocooning season coincided with lambing season. The weather this spring was brilliant, which made farming a lot more pleasant.”

A new breed, Innovis, was brought onto the farm from the UK five years ago, as Simon was eager to bring more maternal traits into his flock. Known for their hardy nature, the breed is suited to hilly areas, perfect for the Byrne farm.

“The breed produces extremely hardy lambs, and they are brilliant mothers,” says Simon, who spotted the Innovis at the Royal Welsh Show.

“Our ewes are out wintered on turnips and strip-grazed. Triplets were brought in after scanning at the end of January, and doubles were housed three weeks before lambing and put on a home-made ration. Singles were out until they started lambing.

“We have been sowing turnips since the beet went years ago; we do this because we don’t have to harvest it. We let the sheep out on it, and they are happy throughout the winter. We sow 10 acres of turnips every year and

‘We have been sowing turnips since the beet went years ago; we do this because we don’t have to harvest it. We let the sheep out on it, and they are happy throughout the winter’