From the tramlines: follow the progress of 12 tillage farmers nationwide

This week sees the launch of From the Tramlines, a new weekly inclusion featuring tillage farmers from across the country. There are over 360,000ha of cereals, protein crops, oilseed rape, fodder beet, maize and potatoes grown across the island of Ireland in nearly every county. However, huge variations in climate, cropping choice, markets and soil type mean that no two tillage regions are the same.

Progress

Over the coming season, we will follow the progress of 12 tillage farmers from across the country. Each week, we will feature three farmers from different cropping regions and get an on-the-ground account of what’s happening on their farms and in their fields. This week we profile the 12 farmers who will be featured throughout the year.

Clonee, Co Meath

Martin grows winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, spring beans and spring barley, as well as hay and haylage for the horse trade. He is a former tillage farmer and sprayer operator of the year and won the tillage farmyard of the year in 2011. A silver and bronze medallist in the ADAS-driven YEN awards, Martin Hoste farms alongside his wife Cepta. He runs a min-till system on his medium to heavy clay soils on owned ground.

Mogeely, Co Cork

Farming on medium loam soils in east Cork alongside his father Anthony, Stephen grows a variety of crops including winter oilseed rape, winter wheat, winter barley, spring feed and malting barley, spring wheat and fodder beet. The land base is both owned and leased. They also finish a number of store cattle annually. Stephen is a member of a Teagasc KT discussion group.

Limavady, Co Derry

Richard farms 750 acres, 50% of which is rented, and grows winter wheat, winter and spring feed and seed barley, winter and spring oilseed rape. Operating a min-till system, Richard farms on grade two clay loam silt soils. His wife Leona runs Broighter Gold, a cold-pressed rapeseed oil business which he grows rapeseed for. He is the current chair of the Ulster Arable Society and a member of the UFU seeds and cereals committee.

Busherstown, Co Carlow

Growing winter barley, winter wheat, gluten-free winter oats for Glanbia, as well as spring barley and spring beans, Larry farms with his brother John on medium loam soils in north Carlow. The majority of the farm is owned and they operate a plough-based system but have played around with direct drilling in the past.

Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Growing winter barley and winter wheat, porridge winter oats for Flahavans, spring beans, malting barley and a small amount of fodder beet for his own use, John farms with his wife Nora on mostly owned ground. He also finishes up to 140 animals each year. Farming on clay loam soils, John uses a plough-based system. He is also a member of the long-running survivors’ tillage discussion group.

Cloon, Co Donegal

Farming on medium to light sandy soils, Jamie grows winter oilseed rape destined for Donegal Rapeseed Oil, winter wheat, winter barley, spring oats and spring barley using a plough-based system. Farming alongside his father John, Jamie also produces salad and ware potatoes which serve the pre-packed market. Seventy-five per cent of the farmed area is short- and long-term leases. Jamie is a member of a Teagasc KT potato group and the IFA potato committee.

Athy, Co Kildare

Traditionally a producer of a mix of winter and spring crops, this year sees Andrew’s cropping plan consist of spring crops only. This season he will produce malting barley, spring beans, spring oats, spring peas for Batchelors and spring seed barley for Glanbia. The farm, which is mostly owned, is located on light sandy loam soils. Andrew runs a direct drill system and is a member of a long-running Athy tillage discussion group and BASE Ireland.

Poyntzpass, Co Down

Farming on medium loam soil on the Down/Armagh border, Simon grows winter wheat, winter and spring oats for Whites Oats, winter oilseed rape and spring beans on his LEAF Marque accredited farm. Farming alongside his father John and brother Rory across 1,200 acres, the farm also runs a pedigree Angus herd, a green waste composting business and produces willow for biomass. Simon is a member of a CAFRE Arable Business Development Group.

Tralee, Co Kerry

Ronan grows winter barley, spring barley and spring oats, all of which is produced for feed for local use. He farms across a wide range of soil types, ranging light to heavy. He uses a plough-based system on mainly long-term leased ground. He also finishes about 220 cattle annually, sells fertiliser and other agri-inputs and runs a commercial dryer, drying grain for Kerry agribusiness.

Ballycarney, Co Wexford

On free-draining Clonroche soils, Julian farms with his father Winston. Because of the poor autumn weather there are no winter crops grown on the farm this year. This season’s spring crops include spring malting and seed barley, spring beans and spring oats. Operating a plough-based system, 40% of his farm is on long-term lease. Julian also has a pedigree Simmental herd and is a council member of ITLUS.

Portlaoise, Co Laois

Growing winter barley, spring oilseed rape, spring barley for seed and malting barley for Boortmalt, Eugene farms with his father Hugh on their 250ac farm on medium loam clay soils using a plough-based system. They also run a contracting business working with a number of dairy and tillage enterprises in the area. Eugene also finishes 70 store cattle each year and is a member of ITLUS and a Boortmalt KT group.

Ballinasloe, Co Galway

Traditionally a winter and spring cereal producer, John is also growing all spring cereals this year. This season’s crops include spring oats and barley, which he rolls and sells to other farmers in the area. John also has a 450-ewe flock and runs a contracting business. Operating a plough-based system on heavy clay soils, 75% of his land is on leased ground. John is also the IFA grain rep for Co Galway.