Clonbullogue farmer says farming with nature increased productivity

Clonbullogue farmer Ken Gill has said that embracing nature on the farm had majorly increased productivity and profitability on his farm.

Ken is a full-time organic farmer operating a suckler to beef system on his 95-hectare farm. He keeps around 60-70 suckler cows and finishes animals at 2 years, on an entirely grass-fed diet.

Prior to 2013, he was farming conventionally but struggling to make it work financially. He tried organics and has been impressed with the results. ‘'The grazing ground gets very little fertiliser, it’s amazing. Soil tests a few years after going organic showed P & K levels had improved rather than declined."

He has been carefully managing soil fertility since, ensuring no ground is left bare and catching and using effluent that runs off the yard. Being organic means that crop rotation is crucial to the system for soil health and weed control.

In his rotation, he produces turnip, kale and rape for fodder, which also has the benefit of breaking up the soil for subsequent crops. He then grows around 8 hectares of oats for Flahavan’s, and then introduces red clover for fertility.

In 2023, generally there was very poor grass growth in many areas of the country.

"In our system the weather didn’t make much difference, it was more resilient compared to other farms," Ken said.

The farm has 14 hectares of beautiful semi-natural woodland, which was planted 25 years ago and is managed to provide continuous cover.

A further 5 hectares of semi-natural woodland has been under planted with oak in 2000 and is now starting to regenerate with an understory of native species.

Ken is a great advocate for the importance of hedgerow management and the huge difference that wildlife sensitive management can make. The hedgerows are cut in rotation every 2 – 3 years and allowed to flower.

He has observed how the hedge provides a shelter, not just for cattle, but for grass too.

"You can see it after a cold east wind for a couple of weeks, there is a big difference between the exposed field and the sheltered fields.

"My farm is just one example of how helping nature helps your bottom line too."

To learn more about Ken's farm, go to the Farming for Nature YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@farmingfornature