I farm: “An 11-cow organic suckler herd on 57 acres of good dry land in Clare. I also work off farm as a primary school teacher at Scoil Chríost Rí.”
Work balance: “It’s very important to get a good balance with work when you have a job off farm. Primary teaching gives me great time to catch up on jobs over the summer. During the school year it’s all about getting the timetable right to suit both.”
Sucklers: “I breed my Limousin cows with a Blonde d’Aquitaine stock bull for easy calving. I run a six-week autumn-calving system with the first calves expected to hit the ground at the start of September.”
Organic farmer Joe Garry has five pet donkeys which help keep the land cleaned after grazing by the cows. \ Odhran Ducie
Hay: “I aim to make hay or haylage every year and fortunately we got four dry days a fortnight ago to save our winter fodder. When out-wintering the cattle it’s great to have a good dry feed to warm them up.”
Out-wintering: “All my cattle are out-wintered so they are hardened to the elements. The farm is only a couple of miles from the Atlantic coast so we get our fair share of rain.”
This week: “I am keeping up with the topping and getting the cows in the right condition for calving. On organic farms topping is a constant year-round requirement. This is a big week on the farm as we unveiled our new synthetic sprinting track located in one of my meadows.”
New track: “West Clare Sports and Fitness Club leases one of my meadows for its training facility. We now have three tracks on the farm. The new sprinting track is 120m long and was installed with a roof.”
Team work: “The project cost €215,000 and the track was officially opened on Tuesday by Olympian Thomas Barr. The committee worked very hard and with the help of grants and various fundraisers, we were able to make this upgrade to our facility.”
Quotable quote: “I have five donkeys on the farm – they have a great calming influence. They come as part and parcel of the farm and are spoiled beyond belief.”
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My Farming Week: Colin Tyner, Minmore, Shillelagh, Co Wicklow
My Farming Week: Trevor Deacon, Bunclody, Co Wexford
My Farming Week: David McArthur, Carrownamaddy, Burt, Co Donegal
I farm: “An 11-cow organic suckler herd on 57 acres of good dry land in Clare. I also work off farm as a primary school teacher at Scoil Chríost Rí.”
Work balance: “It’s very important to get a good balance with work when you have a job off farm. Primary teaching gives me great time to catch up on jobs over the summer. During the school year it’s all about getting the timetable right to suit both.”
Sucklers: “I breed my Limousin cows with a Blonde d’Aquitaine stock bull for easy calving. I run a six-week autumn-calving system with the first calves expected to hit the ground at the start of September.”
Organic farmer Joe Garry has five pet donkeys which help keep the land cleaned after grazing by the cows. \ Odhran Ducie
Hay: “I aim to make hay or haylage every year and fortunately we got four dry days a fortnight ago to save our winter fodder. When out-wintering the cattle it’s great to have a good dry feed to warm them up.”
Out-wintering: “All my cattle are out-wintered so they are hardened to the elements. The farm is only a couple of miles from the Atlantic coast so we get our fair share of rain.”
This week: “I am keeping up with the topping and getting the cows in the right condition for calving. On organic farms topping is a constant year-round requirement. This is a big week on the farm as we unveiled our new synthetic sprinting track located in one of my meadows.”
New track: “West Clare Sports and Fitness Club leases one of my meadows for its training facility. We now have three tracks on the farm. The new sprinting track is 120m long and was installed with a roof.”
Team work: “The project cost €215,000 and the track was officially opened on Tuesday by Olympian Thomas Barr. The committee worked very hard and with the help of grants and various fundraisers, we were able to make this upgrade to our facility.”
Quotable quote: “I have five donkeys on the farm – they have a great calming influence. They come as part and parcel of the farm and are spoiled beyond belief.”
Read more
My Farming Week: Colin Tyner, Minmore, Shillelagh, Co Wicklow
My Farming Week: Trevor Deacon, Bunclody, Co Wexford
My Farming Week: David McArthur, Carrownamaddy, Burt, Co Donegal
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