2025 Finalists & Winners – Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards

Don Somers - Overall Winner Teagasc FBD Environmentally Sustainable Farmer of the Year 2025 and Category Winner for Improving Water Quality

Don Somers is a tillage farmer from Wexford. 

Improving Water Quality

Don has taken a number of actions to reduce the risk to water quality on this farm:

• He has reduced chemical N use by 20% through better soil management, careful nutrient planning, optimising the use of organic manure as well as using precision tools like GPS and yield mapping.
• The use of precision tools including N sensors and yield mapping have allowed Don to use nutrients efficiently and avoid risk to the local environment. He only applies what is needed.
• After crops are removed at harvest, Don establishes catch crops in ground destined for spring cropping to ensure there is no bare ground on the farm overwinter.
• Riparian buffer zones have also been installed, allowing for the protection of water quality along with the enhancement of biodiversity along watercourses.

Farming 183 hectares with his uncle Jim, Don grows winter and spring cereals using a minimum tillage system since 2018, protecting soil structure and biology.

He carefully plans fertiliser based on crop nutrient removal and soil tests, taking samples every two years. Organic manures—including poultry litter, farmyard manure, and dairy sludge—are analysed and applied with his own spreader and weigh cells, boosting soil organic matter while reducing costs.

Soil health is central. Don regularly inspects soil structure and earthworms, recycles over half his straw (2022–2023), and grows cover crops on all spring crop land. These practices reduce fertiliser needs, prevent nitrogen leaching, improve soil structure, aid seedbed preparation, and enhance water absorption.

Precision technology, including yield maps and nitrogen sensors, allows variable nutrient application, improving efficiency and crop health while reducing environmental impact. Catch crops and riparian buffers protect the River Slaney, and integrated pest management supports biodiversity. Don has reduced chemical N use by 20% in the last few years.

By combining traditional methods with cutting-edge tools, Don optimises yields, reduces inputs, and builds long-term soil resilience, showing that sustainable, profitable farming is possible when soil and nature are prioritised.

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Patrick & Margaret Dollard - Category Winner Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Patrick & Margaret Dollard are dairy beef farmers from Kilkenny. 

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dollards have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by:

• There is an emphasis on soil fertility on this farm.  Over 90% of soils are optimum for P and 100% of soils have optimum pH.  They have K fixing soils which makes it difficult to build fertility, they have gone with a little and often approach and replace what they take off.  This combined with over 60% of the farm in clover has allowed them to reduce chemical N use by 20% in the last few years
• 80% of the N applied on the farm is applied as NBPT protected urea.
• There is an emphasis on grassland management and silage quality on this farm. Over 80% of the silage is made from surplus bales, keeping grass quality good and making very good quality silage.
• This combined with good genetics and a good health plan has allowed Dollards to finish steers at on average 21.5 months with 2/3 of the 185 animals finished every year going to the factory before the 2^nd winter at a carcass weight of 325 kg.

The carbon footprint for this farm is 7.6 kg CO2e/kg LW.

Patrick and Margaret Dollard are building a sustainable dairy beef enterprise by combining strong environmental stewardship with profitability. Over the past two years, they have reduced chemical fertiliser use by more than 20%, switching to protected urea (80%) and targeted compounds. Phosphorus is applied strictly according to soil tests, while high-clover reseeds cut reliance on nitrogen. Animal performance continues to improve, with steers now reaching slaughter weights at around 21.5 months, operating at a stocking rate of 2.51 LU/ha.  Grassland management, breeding and animal health are key to the success of their beef system and over 11t DM of grass produced per ha.

The carbon footprint for this farm is 7.6 kg CO2e/kg LW.

They are active in environmental schemes, including ACRES (2023–2027), where they established 2,615 metres of riparian buffers and 1.93 hectares of riparian zones to protect water and biodiversity. They also applied to the Water EIP for a yard sweeper and are engaged in the Teagasc Signpost Advisory Programme with full AgNav sustainability planning.

Biodiversity is supported through careful hedgerow management, with native bushes retained every 100 metres and trimming carried out on a three-year cycle. Nutrient protection is rigorous, with strict slurry and fertiliser buffer zones.

Looking ahead, they aim to move to 100% protected urea by 2026, cut slaughter age further, and add solar panels through TAMS, positioning their farm as a model of sustainable dairy beef production.

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Tom Tierney - Category Winner Enhancing Biodiversity

Tom Tierney is a tillage farmer from Kildare. 

Enhancing Biodiversity

Tom has a passion for looking after biodiversity on this farm and the main things he is doing include:

• The implementation of learnings from participation in EIPs has led to notable improvements in hedgerows, field margins, and use of pesticides alongside the enhancement of Low-Input Grassland (LIG) and the creation of pollinator nesting sites since 2019. The continuation of these practices beyond the EIP, particularly the retention of LIG without financial incentives or support, is especially praiseworthy.
• The adoption of continuous cover forestry will not only benefit biodiversity but also maintain commercial viability, demonstrating a progressive model for farming with nature.
• There is clear evidence of working with nature, including the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and an emphasis on encouraging natural predators, reducing reliance on chemical inputs and supporting ecological balance.
• Tom is also using compost to help improve the fertility and biological status of his soils, improving below ground biodiversity.
• The space for nature on this farm is 24% including the forestry.

The farm consists of 2.14 ha grassland, 108ha tillage, and 10 ha forestry. Chemical nitrogen is applied at 160 kg/ha WW and 137 kg/ha WB, reduced by 20–30% over the last three years, while no protected urea is used. Soil fertility is 67% of farm optimum for pH, P, and K. Straw is incorporated on 72 ha, overwintered catch crops cover 29 ha, and legumes, including beans, cover 19 ha. Organic compost (100 t) is applied in spring, and rotational break crops include beans, OSR, and oats.

Sustainability measures include no-till establishment using a Duncan drill, 33% reduction in pesticide usage via Integrated Pesticide Management (IPMworks), GPS-controlled sprayer with section control and autosteer, and catch crops to protect bare soil. Hedgerows are managed to exceed 2 m height, allowing flowering and fruiting, while buffer zones of 3–5 m are maintained along waterways. Grass margins have been extended up to 100 m.

Diversification includes continuous cropping forestry, firewood sales, malting barley production, and break crops to improve soil and yields. Future plans involve increasing organic manure use, expanding forestry, and establishing a social farming enterprise. The farm participates in multiple sustainability programs including Farming For Nature, Farming For Water EIP, Signpost, FarmBioNet, BASE Ireland, and regenerative agriculture initiatives.

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Emer O’Keeffe - Category Winner Diversification

Emer O’Keeffe is an organic sheep & beef farmer from Cork. 

Diversification

Emer O’Keeffe has diversified their farming system to make it more sustainable for their farm and also to make a contribution to the local community. They have achieved thius by:

• The farm was converted to organic production 3 years ago. There has been an emphasis on building infrastructure on the farm (fencing, roadways and housing) as well as a reseeding programme based in incorporating multispecies and clover.
• O’Keeffes have switched some of their land from livestock production to hazelnut production. They have invested in a hazelnut plantation with 250 commercial varieties of hazelnut which they plan to process and sell locally.
• They are direct selling lamb and beef produced on the farm.
• The farm features very well-maintained hedges, demonstrates a great interest and appreciation in and knowledge of on-farm biodiversity, with a proactive attitude toward enhancing habitats. They avoid the use of synthetic sprays, fertilisers, and rodenticides, using alternative, biodiversity-friendly methods.

The farm comprises 35 ha grassland and 8 ha forestry, with a low stocking rate of 0.58 LU/ha. Fully organic, it has eliminated chemical nitrogen, applying no fertiliser and using 100% LESS slurry spreading, with a 20 m buffer from water bodies. Over 50% of grassland has been reseeded with mixed-species clover to enhance nitrogen fixation.

Livestock includes EasyCare sheep and Dexter cattle, suited to wet conditions, with performance recorded rams, 24 months age at first lambing, 1.6 lambs per ewe per year, and beef output of 100 kg/ha. Heifers calve at 22–26 months, and calves per cow per year average 0.83. Carbon footprint is 10.59 kg CO₂e/kg live weight.

Biodiversity initiatives include 200 m new whitethorn and blackthorn hedging, 300 native hazel, 250 commercial hazel, and 20 native apple trees. Furze is selectively cut, and most hedges are managed by grazing, improving both hedge and animal health.

Diversification and sustainability measures include organic conversion, mixed-species reseeding, tree planting, and a hazelnut plantation for alternative income. Worm-resistant breeding has reduced blanket deworming, lowering veterinary costs. The farm markets lamb and beef directly, enhancing profitability and sustainability. The plan is to market the hazelnuts process and sell the hazelnuts locally.

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Kay O Sullivan - Category Winner Organic Production

Kay O’Sullivan is an organic beef & sheep farmer from Cork. 

Organic Production

Kay is operating a very efficient organic farm:

• Kay is operating a completely closed system with all feed grown on the farm. Animals are grazed on the best multispecies swards (ideally reseeds from the previous year) and finished outdoors on red start and red clover silage.  with steers finished without concentrates at 19.2 months of age, exceeding many conventional suckler farm output.  This is a highly profitable organic farm.
• All new reseeds on this farm are multispecies swards as well as 15 acres of red clover silage. The farm is growing 11.4 t DM /ha.
• Kay is very proud of the hedges on the farm. She has excellent management of hedgerows and field margins, using alternative methods to synthetic sprays, fertilisers, and rodenticide.  Hedges are only lightly trimmed every 3-4 years.
• She demonstrates a commendable conscientiousness towards wildlife through willingness to carefully consider next steps in relation to her forestry which will be due for thinning in the next short while. Kay is considering minimising the interruption to wildlife in the plantation through selective thinning. Kay also has a lot of bee scrapes for the bees on the farm.

The carbon footprint for this farm is 7.6 kg CO2e/kg LW.

The farm comprises 50.8 ha grassland and 11.2 ha forestry, with a stocking rate of 1.74 LU/ha. Fully organic for 15 years, no chemical nitrogen is applied, and slurry is spread using LESS technology with a 10 m buffer from waterways. Soil fertility is managed with lime (90% >6.5 pH), with 25% at Index 3 & 4 for phosphorus and and 58% at Index 3 & 4 for potassium. Grassland productivity averages 11.4 t DM/ha, and cattle are finished on Red Start crops supplemented with red clover and multi-species silage, without concentrates. Steers are finished at 19.2 mths.

Livestock includes a closed suckler herd and sheep flock. Heifers calve at 22–26 months, calves per cow per year average 0.9, and beef output is 538 kg/ha (309 kg/LU) with a carbon footprint of 10.12 kg CO₂e/kg live weight. Lamb output is 159 kg/ha, with 1.7 lambs per ewe per year. Rare breeds of bees have been recorded, and dung beetle populations are prevalent due to minimal dosing.

Biodiversity and sustainability measures include hedgerow management, grassy buffer zones (600 m total), 5 ha red clover, forestry and 6 ha multi-species reseeding annually. Plans include creating a pond via NPWS, importing cattle slurry to improve soil P, and improving herd terminal and replacement indices. The farm remains fully self-sufficient, producing all feed on-farm and maintaining organic, environmentally sustainable systems.

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Conor and Vincent O’Brien - Category Winner Improving Soil Health

Conor and Vincent O’Brien are dairy farmers from Galway. 

Improving Soil Health

There has been an emphasis on soil health on this farm for many years and the main actions have been:

• The O’Brien farm has achieved an impressive balance. While maintaining efficient dairy production, they have prioritised the protection of soil biodiversity by recognising and utilising the natural potential of the low-input land and extensively grazed ground. This approach shows that productivity and sustainability can go hand in hand when soil health is placed at the centre of farm management.
• 66% of this farm has good overall soil fertility i.e. pH 6.2+, P Index 3+ & K Index 3+. Over 90% of the farm is optimum for soil pH, 56% is Index 3 & 4 for P and 66% is Index 3 & 4 for K.  The grazing block around the parlour is very good but the outside blocks are pulling down the average.
• Conor is very conscious of soil structure and minimising compaction on the farm. He avoids heavy machinery and livestock on the land in difficult conditions.
• Conor’s farm includes three contrasting types of grassland: conventionally managed grassland, a low-input grassland and an extensively grazed pasture. Research has shown that more diverse swards — those with a mix of different plant species — tend to support more diverse bacterial and fungal communities in the soil. This microbial diversity is important for healthy nutrient cycling, soil structure, and overall resilience of the farming system.
• Conor was involved in a soil health project with Johnstown Castle recently and the evidence from this project is that each of Conor’s fields showed above-average bacterial and fungal abundance compared to 72 grassland sites sampled across Ireland last year. High microbial abundance indicates an active, living soil system that works with the farmer to grow grass efficiently and sustainably.

Conor farms 103 hectares at Kilmurry, Tynagh, Loughrea, Co. Galway with his father Vincent, supplying Arrabawn Tipperary Co-op. Guided by Teagasc advisor Liam Quinn, the farm combines strong technical output with sustainability. Stocking rate is 2.4 LU/ha, with cows producing 430 kg of milk solids each year. Grass utilisation reached 8.7 tonnes DM in 2024, while herd genetics continue to improve, with an EBI of €251 and DBI of €74, supporting profitability and a carbon footprint of 0.9 kg CO₂eq per kg FPCM.

Nutrient management is central: in 2024, 151 kg N/ha was applied, 60% as protected urea. All slurry is spread with low-emission slurry spreading (LESS), and nutrient testing informs applications. Soil fertility has risen to 32% at optimum, up from 26%. AgNav records a nitrogen surplus of 117 kg N/ha.

Conor engages actively in sustainability programmes. As a Waters EIP participant, he has installed fencing, solar pumps, rainwater management, and planted 135 metres of hedgerow. As a Signpost Demonstration Farmer, he increased protected urea use to 60%, boosted clover to 37% of the milking platform, and grows 14 acres of red clover silage.

Future plans include a new slatted shed, solar panels, and continued genetic progress, highlighted by three bulls sold to AI stations with EBIs of €343 and €358.

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David Kerr - Finalist

David Kerr is a dairy farmer from Laois. 

This high-performing dairy farm focuses on efficient production, environmental sustainability, and biodiversity. Stocking rates are matched to grass growth, growing 13 t DM/ha. Milk solids output is 517 kg per cow, supported by an EBI of €258.

Nutrient management is central. A nutrient management plan guides applications, with all slurry spread via Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) and 58% of chemical N applied as protected urea. Nitrogen surplus is 161 kg/ha, while soil fertility is 51% at optimum pH, P, and K. Adequate slurry storage allows spreading at times that maximise nutrient uptake. The carbon footprint is 0.75 kg CO₂eq per kg FPCM, reflecting efficient, sustainable output.

Biodiversity measures are extensive. Space for nature covers 20.03% of the farm, including a one-acre pond with an island, smaller ponds, dense cover, and improved hedgerow management. Additional planting supports wildlife, and 5–10 m buffer zones protect waterways.

Sustainability is reinforced through grass-clover and multi-species swards, grass-based breeding strategies, and participation in Farming for Nature and Signpost programmes. Future plans include reducing cow numbers to align with grass supply, continued habitat creation, and further clover incorporation, enhancing both profitability and environmental performance.

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Olivia Hynes - Finalist

Olivia Hynes is a suckler beef & sheep farmer from Roscommon. 

The farm runs a mixed beef and sheep system focused on grassland management, animal performance, and sustainability. Output reaches 573 kg of beef/ha, supported by 9.1 t grass DM/ha. Heifer management is efficient, with 100% calving at 22–26 months and fertility at 0.97 calves/cow annually. The replacement suckler beef index is €107, with ongoing gains from 100% AI and selective breeding.

Nutrient management follows an NMP, with all slurry spread by LESS. Chemical nitrogen use has fallen 10%, with 50% applied as protected urea. Nitrogen surplus is 67 kg/ha. Soil fertility remains low at 3% optimum, but lime and targeted nutrients are planned. Silage and slurry testing improve nutrient efficiency and feed quality.

The carbon footprint is 12.13 kg CO₂eq/kg beef live weight. Environmental steps include ACRES and participation in the Future Beef Programme, along with biodiversity measures: 360 m of hedgerow, 20 native trees, and a 0.25 ha tree belt (260 trees) planted in 2023–24. Karst features and ponds are fenced with 15 m buffer zones.

Future plans target improved soil fertility, more hedgerow planting, new tech via TAMS (e.g. Sensehub), and a closed suckler herd by 2028.

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Keith & Brian Meredith - Finalist

Keith & Brian Meredith are organic suckler beef farmers from Kildare.

The farm comprises 58 ha grassland, 4 ha tillage, and 3.75 ha forestry, with a stocking rate of 1.53 LU/ha. They are fully organic, have reduced chemical nitrogen by 100% over the past three years, and apply 60 t of FYM in autumn. Soil fertility is maintained at 86% pH, 63.8% P, and 89.9% K of farm optimum. Slurry is 100% applied using LESS technology, with 5 m buffer zones around waterways. Catch crops are grown on 4 ha, and 4 acres of legumes (beans, peas, red clover) are included in rotations, which are primarily 3–4 year grass/clover leys. Straw is not incorporated.

They have enhanced biodiversity with 150–200 m new whitethorn hedging, 130 native broadleaf trees, riparian zone management, and heirloom apple trees. Multispecies swards and increased clover improve soil health and nitrogen fixation. Beef output is 499 kg/ha, with 60% heifers calved at 22–26 months and 0.98 calves per cow per year. Age at finishing is 29.1 months for steers and 26.4 months for heifers. Carbon footprint is 15.4 kg CO₂e/kg live weight.

Future plans include solar installation, further tree planting and agroforestry, rainwater harvesting, wildlife pond development, and farm diversification including social farming initiatives.

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Mark Lonergan - Finalist

Mark Lonergan is a dairy farmer from Tipperary. 

This 61.11-hectare dairy farm operates at a stocking rate of 2.27 LU/ha, producing 535 kg milk solids per cow. The herd has high genetic merit, with an EBI of €252, supporting both efficiency and sustainability and producing 535 kg of milk solids. The carbon footprint is 0.79 kg CO₂eq/kg FPCM.

Grass growth is central, with 12.6 t DM/ha produced. Nitrogen use is carefully managed, with 191 kg chemical N/ha applied, reducing N use by 4–5% over three years, 95% as protected urea. Nitrogen surplus is 87 kg/ha, while soil fertility shows 58% at optimum pH, 79% at P index, and 78% at K index. Slurry is spread entirely via Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS), supported by additional storage for timely application.

Environmental measures include hedgerow management on a three-year cycle, retention of mature trees, 10 m slurry and 3 m fertiliser buffers, and 15.84% of the farm dedicated to space for nature. Clover swards now cover 34.5% of the farm, reducing chemical N use, while lower-protein concentrates reduce organic N excretion.

Solar panel array was installed on the milking parlour to reduce milk cooling cost and reduce reliance on Electricity from the grid. My Cost for electricity was 0.76c/l which when compared to my local discussion group was 1.05c/l.

Future plans focus on reducing meal supplementation, increasing clover, improving lime status, and maintaining high grass DM production.

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J.P. Hammersley - Finalist

J.P. Hammersley is a dairy beef farmer from Tipperary. 

His farm extends to 35 hectares, with 0.5 hectares in forestry and the rest in grassland. Stocking rate is 2.07 LU/ha, with steers finished efficiently at 22.2 months. Feed use is at 1.14 tons of meals per LU, with 8.6 tons of grass dry matter per hectare. Silage quality is good, with DMD values of 70–80%.

Nutrient efficiency is a priority. Chemical nitrogen has been cut by 18.6% from 145 kg/ha in 2021 to 118 kg/ha in 2023, with 100% applied as protected urea. The farm records a nitrogen surplus of 98 kg/ha and a nitrogen use efficiency of 26%. All slurry is spread using Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS). Soil fertility work continues, with 18% at optimum, with 80 tons of lime applied in January 2025.

Environmental measures include 2 hectares of riparian zones, 1.5 m strips on grassland, 300 native trees, and a wildlife pond. Hedgerows are lightly trimmed to encourage biodiversity, and buffer margins protect water quality.

The farm’s carbon footprint is 7.07 kg CO₂eq/kg beef live weight. Future plans include greater clover use, higher-CBV calves, and 35 solar panels in 2025. Participation in ACRES, Signpost, and DairyBeef 500 underpins its sustainable, profitable model.

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John O’Connell - Finalist

John O’Connell is a sheep farmer from Leitrim. 

The farm consists of 34 ha grassland and 2.4 ha forestry, with a stocking rate of 2.0 LU/ha. We apply 85 kg/ha of chemical nitrogen, representing a 20% reduction over the past three years, fully as protected urea. Soil fertility is maintained at 100% of farm optimum for P and K and 75% for pH. Slurry is 100% applied using LESS technology, with 5–10 m buffer zones depending on the watercourse. Grass dry matter utilisation is approximately 12 t/ha.

All rams are performance recorded, and ewes lamb at 12 months, rearing an average of 2 lambs per ewe per year, producing ~390 kg lamb per ha. Hedgerow management has been enhanced with 625 m of new hedging in 2024 and occasional tree planting.

Sustainability measures implemented include clover incorporation, protected urea, LESS slurry application, and solar panels on sheds. Future plans focus on continued hedgerow management, faecal sampling of lambs to reduce anthelmintic use, enhanced vaccination and hygiene to lower antibiotic use, and potential replanting of forestry following storm damage.

Diversification has improved both environmental and economic performance through solar installation and forest management, alongside continued adoption of sustainable livestock practices.

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James Madigan - Finalist

James Madigan is a suckler beef farmer from Kilkenny. 

This 96-hectare mixed farm comprises 81.74 ha grassland, 4.89 ha tillage, and 9.71 ha forestry. Stocking rate of 2.04 LU/ha. Beef output is 717 kg/ha, supported by a suckler replacement index of €128, a terminal index of €63, and 0.99 calves per cow per year. Bulls and heifers are finished at 16.9 and 20.9 months respectively, reducing emissions, with a carbon footprint of 11.53 kg CO₂eq/kg beef live weight.

Grassland and nutrient management are central. Chemical nitrogen use is 101 kg/ha, down 25% in three years, 68% as protected urea. Slurry is fully applied via Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS), while 22% of the farm is at optimum pH, P, and K. Clover and red clover silage improve protein self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported feeds.

Environmental measures are extensive, with 27.7% of the farm dedicated to space for nature. Under ACRES, 18 ha are managed for biodiversity, 380 m of new hedging and 240 m riparian buffers installed, waterways fenced, and hedgerows cut on a three-year cycle. Solar water pumps and additional tree planting enhance sustainability.

Future plans focus on improving soil fertility, expanding clover, enhancing herd genetics, and integrating tillage and forestry for long-term productivity, habitat creation, and resilience.

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