We farm: “500ac of winter wheat, barley, oats and grass close to the Kildare border in Clonbulloge, Co Offaly. We also make hay, haylage and silage, which we sell from the yard or deliver to our customers. We choose to only grow winter cereals. The key for us is to get them sown early in good conditions, in order to get a good establishment.”
Family: “I farm along with my wife Ali and my two young children Scott (one) and Rhea (three months). My mother Eleanor and father Lambert live next door to us beside the farm. My father gives us a hand on the farm during the summer months.”
Winter crops: “Our winter crops are looking very good this year. The barley and oats established well and were not badly
affected by the wet weather. There’s a few wet spots in our wheat fields, with damaged patches of the crop, but apart from that it’s not too bad. I kept the drill close to the plough in autumn which is part of the reason for our good crop establishment.”
Spring work: “Spraying and spreading fertiliser on our winter crops will take priority when it dries up, however I’d say it will be a while before we can travel on the wet ground. Our crops will need some nutrition soon but the barley and oats aren’t under any pressure as yet.”
Soil health: “Our soil types vary from loamy to heavy clay. We aim to soil test regularly and incorporate organic matter when necessary.”
Plough vs min-till: “Currently we run a plough-based system on a three-year rotation. We have considered min-till, but when you have a system that works well, you like to stay with it. I don’t think min-till would have worked for us this year with the poor autumn we had.”
Quotable quote: “I think it’s very important to look after our soils. If you don’t look after the soil it won’t look after you.”
We farm: “500ac of winter wheat, barley, oats and grass close to the Kildare border in Clonbulloge, Co Offaly. We also make hay, haylage and silage, which we sell from the yard or deliver to our customers. We choose to only grow winter cereals. The key for us is to get them sown early in good conditions, in order to get a good establishment.”
Family: “I farm along with my wife Ali and my two young children Scott (one) and Rhea (three months). My mother Eleanor and father Lambert live next door to us beside the farm. My father gives us a hand on the farm during the summer months.”
Winter crops: “Our winter crops are looking very good this year. The barley and oats established well and were not badly
affected by the wet weather. There’s a few wet spots in our wheat fields, with damaged patches of the crop, but apart from that it’s not too bad. I kept the drill close to the plough in autumn which is part of the reason for our good crop establishment.”
Spring work: “Spraying and spreading fertiliser on our winter crops will take priority when it dries up, however I’d say it will be a while before we can travel on the wet ground. Our crops will need some nutrition soon but the barley and oats aren’t under any pressure as yet.”
Soil health: “Our soil types vary from loamy to heavy clay. We aim to soil test regularly and incorporate organic matter when necessary.”
Plough vs min-till: “Currently we run a plough-based system on a three-year rotation. We have considered min-till, but when you have a system that works well, you like to stay with it. I don’t think min-till would have worked for us this year with the poor autumn we had.”
Quotable quote: “I think it’s very important to look after our soils. If you don’t look after the soil it won’t look after you.”
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