Teagasc Organic Farm Walk Oliver Kelly, Ballinroan, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow - on the farm of
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Rural Economy
& Development
Programme
Teagasc Organic Farm Walk
on the farm of
Oliver Kelly,
Ballinroan, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow
Wednesday 18th July 2018
1|Page
Introduction In the mid nineties, Oliver Kelly started working for local organic grower Denis Healy. After a year or so, his father retired from farming and the land was divided between Oliver and his brother. It had been run as a drystock farm with a small herd of suckler cows. Having a great interest and with the experience gained working in Healy’s, Oliver decided to convert his part of the farm into an organic field-scale vegetables unit. The farm entered into organic conversion in 1998. Oliver has worked very hard to develop his holding to what it is today with his family; wife Pauline, children Casey (16), Adam (12), Owen (8) and twins Charlie (3) and Harry (3). He is wholesaling most of his produce to a number of other organic growers who in turn sell it on to the consumer. Table 1 outlines the crop schedule for 2018. 2|Page
Table 1 – Cropping Schedule for 2018
Vegetable Area Dates Sown Variety
Orla
Charlotte
Potatoes 4 acres 23 May Setanta
Pink Fair Apple
24 April Krypton
2 ½ acres (70,000
Leeks 16 May Pluston
transplants)
22 June Triton
2 ½ acres (25,000 10 May Black Magic
Kale
transplants) Reflex
11 May
Magres
1 ½ acres (10,000 (transplants)
Swedes
transplants) 5 July (direct
Tweed
seed)
Miami
Napoli
3 July Purple Haze
Carrots 2 acres Norwich
Rainbow Mix
Nairobi
14 May Boro
Beetroot ½ acre
14 May Javelin
Parsnips ½ acre
½ acre (5,000
Red Cabbage 10 May Buscaro
transplants)
Total veg 14 acres
Grass (good
16 acres (9 acres
quality -used in
of which will be
vegetable
re-seeded this
rotation and for
year)
sheep)
Grass (rough
grazing - sheep 13 acres
only)
Total area 43 acres
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Transplants of leeks, kale, red cabbage and swedes (110,000 in total) are sourced fron the U.K. and are planted out using a transplanter machine (Fedele Alex) and by hand (leeks only). 4|Page
Crop Rotation on the Farm (general plan)
Year 1
• Potatoes
Year 2
• Brassicas - Leeks
Year 3
• Carrots - Parsnips - Beetroot
Year 4/5
• Grass for 1 or 2 Years
Importance of Crop Rotation
Avoids build up and carry- over of disease
Helps decrease weed burden
Prevents nutrient depletion
Allows fertility building
Allows nutrient extraction at different depths
Provides different cultivation programmes
Diversity of crops helps meet market demand
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Leeks soon after planting out on left (photo taken 22nd May) and after 7 weeks growth on top right (photo taken on 13th July). Below - carrots about to emerge 1 week after sowing (photo taken 11th July. Leeks received 15t FYM base dressing ploughed in plus a top dressing off High-N . Carrots received a base dressing at sowing 7:7:7+B. All fertilisers are organically permitted. 6|Page
This irigater which has been used during the dry spell/drought
period this year, was purchased 13 years ago at a cost of
€13,000. A DAFM grant was used to help pay for par of the
cost.
7|Page
Pest and Disease Control in Organic Horticulture
Organic horticulture tends to tolerate some pest populations
while taking the long view. Organic pest control requires a
thorough understanding of pest life cycles and interactions, and
involves the cumulative effect of many techniques, including:
Allowing for an acceptable level of pest damage
Encouraging predatory beneficial insects to flourish and
eat pests
Encouraging beneficial microorganisms
Careful plant selection, choosing disease-resistant
varieties
Planting companion crops that discourage or divert
pests
Using row covers to protect crop plants during pest
migration period
Rotating crops to different locations from year to year to
interrupt pest reproduction cycles
Using insect traps to monitor and control insect
populations
Examples of Control Approaches used on Farm
Carrot Root Fly on Carrots and Parsnips;
Cabbage Root Fly on swedes:
Fine Netting
Aphids:
Rigel G (a garlic spray) used on Kale and Swedes.
Potato Blight:
Copper Solution. The maximum amount of Copper that
can be applied on Irish organic farms is 6kg
Copper/ha/yr. Product name = Curenox 50 WP.
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On organic farms, fine nets used to help reduce impact of
insect damge to crops in organic farming. Cost for 1 acre is
€3,100. Net is durable for 10 years approx.
Nutrient Management on Organic Farms
Appropriate soil management and the maintenance of soil
fertility are fundamental to the success of organic farming.
Management of organic farms should ensure regular inputs of
manures/fertilisers and a high level of microbial and earthworm
activity. This activity should be sufficient to break-down
organic matter and ensure continuous and efficient nutrient
cycling. Keeping soils at a pH that facilitates organic matter
breakdown and nutrient recycling is essential for successful
organic farming.
Nutrients used on the Farm
Purchased Nutrients from year to year:
Patentkali: (Sulphate of Potash 26% K, containing Magnesium
6% and Sulphur 17%).
9|PageHigh K (26%K) plus other elements High N (10%N) plus other elements Vinasse Liquid: It is a natural N (4.5) -K (6) fertiliser. +0.3%P2O5, 0.2%S, 0.02%Mg. It is a by-product of the sugar industry, made through fermentation of molasses. Imported Organic Manure Approximately 300 tonne of FYM produced on 2 local farms (one a dairy farm and the other a suckler farm) during the winter housing period, is imported annually. This manure is composted for nearly twelve months in the roofed dung stead on the farm. It is transported to the farm by a local contractor and it is turned 3 times prior to spreading Organic manure nutrient content can vary widely depending on the source of nutrients. It is advisable to have the nutrient content of manures checked through laboratory analysis. Table 2 gives us a guideline to both the nutrient content and value of organic manures based on the value of chemical fertilisers. 10 | P a g e
Table 2 - Available Nutrient Content & Guide Value(€) of Organic
Manures 2015
11 | P a g e300 tonnes of farmyard manure (FYM) is sourced from a
neighbouring dairy framer and used as a source of nutrients
and organic matter on the farm.
Red cabbage (photo taken on 11th July). sown on 10th May.
15 t FYM /acre was ploughed-in prior to sowing.
12 | P a g eLabour and Economics
Currently on the farm there are 5 casual workers who help with
weeding and planting mainly between moid June and
September. Oliver’s wife Pauline has also started to get
involved in the day to day running of the farm.
Around 70% of sales are achieved through about 6 other
organic framers who sell directly to the consumer through
farmer’s markets in Dublin,Carlow and Galway. The other 30%
is sold to Begleys vegetable distribution company who mainly
purchase kale, leeks and swedes which are all packed on
Oliver’s farm.
Turnover from the farm for the past growing year was
€105,000.
Future Plans
Complete roadwayacross farm.
Build a new packing shed.
Move the site of the exisitng dungstead away from the
packing shed.
Erect 2 polytunnels. Plan to grow salad leaves, tomatoes
and cucumbers and sell direct to local supermarkets.
Increase sales by 20% over the next year.
13 | P a g eOrganic Sheep Production
Sheep production can fit in well on a mixed organic farm but
can prove difficult if run as the sheep-only unit. This is because
parasites will be very difficult to control where clean grazing is
not available for at least part of the production cycle. If sheep
are run as a minority enterprise on the farm, with the larger
proportion of the land taken up with cattle and/or tillage, they
will be much easier to manage successfully.
Sheep Enterprise on Farm
A flock of 14 Lleyn (pronounced kleen) are on the farm at
present. The main outlet for lambs is the Dominican farm in
Wicklow town where they are sold through their farm shop and
farmer’s market.
Lleyn Ram Characteristics
They are an ideal way to inject maternal traits, fertility
and hybrid vigour back into breeding ewes.
The Lleyn ram has also become popular for crossing
onto hill and lowland ewes to produce a quality prime
lamb or to produce a Lleyn cross female replacement
that carries the qualities of the Lleyn ewe.
Lleyn Ewe Qualities
The Lleyn ewe is a medium sized lowland sheep
weighing up to 75kg at maturity, renowned for their
hardiness, prolificacy, easy lambing, strong mothering
instinct, milkiness and easy handling.
Lleyn ewes are durable and long lived. Wintering will
incur relatively lower feed requirements.
14 | P a g eLleyn Lamb Performance
Lamb can be finished well on a grass based system.
They have higher than average prolifigacy figures
compared to other breeds. This gives you more lambs
hence more turnover.
Pure bred lambs consistently grade out at U or R, 3L in
the 18 - 22kg range.
Lleyn Sheep Breed in Organics
Lleyns have been found to be well suited to organic production
with low demand on limited forage, little feed inputs required
and what appears to be a natural tolerance to worms
Sheep are well suited to an organic system due to their ability
to control weeds and promote white clover growth in the sward
by nature of the sheep’s tight grazing habit.
15 | P a g eOrganic Certification in
Ireland
A major factor that distinguishes organic farming from other
approaches to sustainable farming is the existence of internationally
acknowledged standards and certification procedures. The standards
for organic production within the European Union are defined and
enshrined in law by Council Regulation EC 834/2007 as amended. In
Ireland the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the
competent authority (i.e. - the Department’s Organic Unit is based at
Johnstown Castle Estate Wexford) for regulating the organic sector
and ensuring that the obligations and requirements of Council
Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 as amended and adhered to.
The Organic Unit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the
Marine have designated Official Certification Bodies whose role is to
certify organic producers, farmers and processors through and
inspection process of each individual’s unit or farm. Further
information can be sourced from these organic certification bodies:
IOA (Irish Organic Association)
13 Inish Carraig, Golden Island, Athlone.
Tel: (090) 64 33680 www.iofga.org
Organic Trust
2 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Tel: (01) 853 0271 www.organictrust.ie
Global Trust Certificate Ltd.
3rd floor, Block 3, Quayside Business Park, Mill Street, Dundalk, Co
Louth.
Tel: (042) 93 20912 Fax: (042) 93 8686 Email:
info@gtcert.com
BDA Certification- Organic and Demeter
The Painswick Inn Project, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GLS 1QS,
United Kingdom (0044) 145 376 6296 Fax: (0044) 145 375 950.
16 | P a g eTargeted Agricultural
Modernisation Scheme Organic
Capital Investment Scheme
(OCIS)
On Farm Scheme
A standard rate of aid of 40% on investments up to a ceiling of
€80,000 (i.e. can generate a grant of €32,000 from an investment of
€80,000). For qualifying young organic farmers who meet the
specific eligibility criteria, the standard rate of aid is 60% on
investments up to a ceiling of €80,000.
How to Apply and Closing Date:
Online applications only through www.agfood.ie facility.
Organic Processing Scheme
Grant aid of up to 40% on €1.25 million (i.e. can generate a grant of
€500,000 for an investment of €1.25 million) in facilities for the
processing, preparation, grading, packing and storage of organic
products with minimum level of investment in excess of €3,000.
Full details and T&C:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie
Queries:
DAFM Organic Unit, Johnstown Castle: (053) 91 63400
Teagasc contacts:
Dan Clavin, Organic Specialist,
Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway.
dan.clavin@teagasc.ie
Elaine Leavy, Organic Specialist,
Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath.
elaine.leavy@teagasc.ie
Stephen Alexander, Vegetable
Specialist Advisor, Teagasc, Kinsealy,
Dublin. stephen.alexander@teagasc.ie
17 | P a g eNotes: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ 18 | P a g e
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