Farmer tree project to address climate change locally

The Carbery Tree Project is an initiative by Carbery group and SWS forestry that aims to address climate change at a local level by offsetting carbon emissions, and increasing biodiversity

Initially all suppliers across the four west Cork co-ops – Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh and Lisavaird – received 20 trees each.

Since its inception in 2016, more than 40,000 trees have been planted by west Cork dairy farmers with a further 5,000 trees given to Carbery staff. The initial phase saw native Irish varieties – birch, oak and rowan – supplied. Following feedback from farmers, blackthorn and hawthorn were made available to farmers in 2018.

The trees were distributed by SWS forestry to the four co-ops for collection by farmers. Plans to continue the initiative in 2020 alongside other biodiversity projects are being considered.

Even with the most responsible approach, the dairy manufacturing process results in some carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere

Speaking of the project, Carbery CEO Jason Hawkins thanked the farmers for their support. He said: “Even with the most responsible approach, the dairy manufacturing process results in some carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. The Carbery Tree Project is an innovative carbon offsetting measure which also increases biodiversity on farms. By planting these trees, farmers are helping Carbery to achieve its sustainability targets and improve the environment in which we operate and I would like to thank them for their support.”

Michael Connelly, regional manager of SWS forestry, echoed these sentiments.

“We’re delighted to be part of this worthwhile initiative. We’re constantly looking for ways to promote trees. In the current agriculture climate, sustainability and looking after the environment is vital.”

Cormac O’Keeffe, Courleigh, Clonakilty, Co Cork

Cormac O’Keeffe’s attitude to environmentally friendly farming methods has evolved over the years since he came home to farm in 2001. A Lisavaird milk supplier milking 128 cows, he explains: “We removed an awful lot of habitat over the years because we thought it was the right thing to do. When I came home from ag college 20 years ago, I removed the ditches. They were crooked and I was determined to lay the place out on square paddocks. What we’re doing now is we’re seeing the errors of our ways and re-establishing habitat. We’re planting native species anywhere we can.

“Any habitat we’ve left, we’ve fenced off and we’re trying to establish new habitats. In the past, if we had a little bit of bog, [we would ask] could we reclaim it and make it a bit useful. Now we’re inclined to say that bog is contributing more than we thought.”

In 2010, Cormac was among the initial cohort of farmers who joined the Carbery Green Dairy farmer group and this led to some changes.

“Ten years ago this farm was sterile. There was nothing only green grass and sprayed ditches. That’s what we saw in ag college. Overgrown ditches were seen as bad farming. Maybe it went too far. Now to go for the cows in the evening and hear the bees buzzing, I think it has contributed massively to the farm.”

Spraying

Previously there was routine spraying of ditches and paddocks on the O’Keeffe farm. This is no longer the case on both the land and yard.

“In the past you’d fill up your knapsack sprayer with roundup and you’d go around the yard and burn everything up and it was seen as the right thing to do. We see those plants as contributing to the place now. You see bees buzzing around the place and plenty butterflies.”

Over the last few years Cormac has discovered what plants and methods work best. Hawthorn hedges interspersed with trees from the Carbery Tree Project are now growing along the paddock and roadway boundaries. By his own admission there has been an element of trial and error in seeing what plants thrive best.

We’ve a little bit of a wood. It would deafen you to go in there in the spring with the birds singing

In an effort to increase biodiversity on the farm, some of the old palm trees around the farm are cut for firewood every year and replaced with native varieties or saplings he finds on the farm.

”We’ve a little bit of a wood. It would deafen you to go in there in the spring with the birds singing. There’s mainly sycamore and ash there and I transplant the saplings that grow there into the hedges each autumn.”

Education

The Clonakilty dairy farmer believes his own change of attitude has come through education and meeting people.

“We had a discussion group meeting with Daire Ó hUallacháin, the Teagasc biodiversity specialist, recently. I used to think if you had a wet piece of ground you should fence it off but he was saying if you leave the cows into it, that contributes to the biodiversity as they keep down scrub and leave the wildflowers grow.”

We’re still doing 1,400kg milk solids/ha, we’re not half-farming

Cormac feels there is no conflict between profitable farming and taking care of the environment.

“We’re still doing 1,400kg milk solids/ha, we’re not half-farming. We haven’t pulled back any bit on production yet, but we might have to if the nitrates derogation goes. We’re still doing what we’re doing and I think there’s a lot more living on the farm now, coexisting.”