Forum hears farmers can have key role is supplying local energy needs

A full house gathered in An Diseart for Friday night’s Farmer’s Forum at which presentations were made on potential futures for farming in West Kerry.

From the development of a local anaerobic digester to ‘short knowledge supply chains’,those attending were introduced to a new terminology which could herald a new direction for farming on the peninsula.

Consultants Xaview Dubisson and Tim Clarke presented their research into the feasibility of developing an anaerobic digester, which could supply gas for heating and transport needs on the peninsula. The anaerobic digester -endearingly termed a ‘concrete cow’, converts grass, slurry, and food waste into biogas, which in turn can be converted into bio methane for use as fuel. Quoting an average price of €30 per tonne for silage, there was definite interest among farmers in the room.

A location for the proposed digester is a key issue and the meeting was told that preferred sites - close to the area of greatest energy demand and easily accessible to farmers supplying the grass needed to fuel the digester - have been identified. The feasibility study will be completed in the new year.

Meanwhile, in the absence of Teagasc researcher Aine Macken walsh who was unable to attend, Deirdre de Bhailís of Dingle Hub gave a presentation on the SKIN project which is examining how famers could develop new income streams by a combination of local expertise and farm-to-farm co-operation. Teagasc is working with farm families in the area to develop ideas for alternative farm enterprises and to source funding to put these into practice.

The evening finished with a panel discussion during which Dinny Galvin and Noel Ó Maoileoin shared their experiences as particpants in the ESB Networks Dingle Project and Xavier Dubisson and Risteard Ó Sé fielded questions from farmers who wished to drill down into the practicalities of the anaerobic diegster.

Organiser of the evening Deirdre de Bhailís was very pleased with the turnout and the level of interest expressed.

Sean Kennedy, Denis Galvin, Michael Kelliher, Seamus O’Hara, Andrew Fitzgerald and Patrick O’Sullivan at the Farmers Forum held in An Díseart on Friday night.