Growing Organics programme participant John O'Hanlon will host a farm walk in Ballymahon, Co. Longford tomorrow, Tuesday, 23 September at 2pm. John operates an organic suckler to store enterprise on 38.88ha of mixed quality land.

The Growing Organics farm joined the Organic Farming Scheme in 2023 and is currently fully converted. The farm consists of 31.23ha of grassland, 6.12ha of forestry and 1.53ha of a Riparian Buffer Zone.

John’s aim when deciding to join the Growing Organics Programme was to make a genuine attempt at running an efficient and profitable organic suckler herd on mixed quality land whilst working full time off farm.

In this short clip John and Enda O’Hart, Teagasc Organic Advisor provide an overview of the farm and an insight as to what to expect at the farm walk:

The production system

The main farming system involves operating a spring calving 30 cow suckler herd, selling progeny at roughly 15/16 months of age over the summer months to give cash flow.

Due to an outbreak of TB in late 2024, John began to rethink his production system. The outbreak resulted in John having to carry over a lot of stock over the winter that he had intended to sell, which caused problems in terms of having enough fodder. Additionally, the fact that he couldn’t sell stock meant his cash flow on the farm was affected.

The decision was made to gradually move to a suckler to finishing system which will result in reducing the cow numbers over the next few years, switching to an Angus bull and finishing all progeny.

The cows are Simmental, Limousin and Hereford crosses and are run with an Angus bull, which was purchased this year.

Changes on the farm

Some of the key changes that happened on the farm since joining organics were to adjust animal housing such that it met the organic standards, managing ragwort, addressing soil fertility namely liming, providing additional FYM storage, creating additional paddocks and establishing some red clover and multi species swards.

John places a large emphasis on making quality silage in so far as this is possible and this is done so that he can get decent animal performance cheaply from these silages. He aims to cut his first cut in late May each year and has consistently produced good quality silage each year. He aims for 2 cuts on the grass only swards and 3 cuts on the red clover sward. There is a very low level of meal fed on the farm with just enough fed to comply with the Beef Welfare Scheme.

Growing Organic Farm walk details

Join us on Tuesday, 23rd September at 2pm for a Growing Organics Suckler to Stores Farm Walk on the farm of John O’Hanlon, Tipper, Ballymahon, Co. Longford, N39 K0Y8.

Find out more about the Growing Organics Programme here

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