Rural Economy & Development Programme. Teagasc Organic Arable Farm Walk on the farm of. Gavin Tully, Clonhenritte, Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

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1 Rural Economy & Development Programme Teagasc Organic Arable Farm Walk on the farm of Gavin Tully, Clonhenritte, Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford Wednesday 13 th June 2018

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3 Topics for Discussion Introduction and overview of farming system Keys to successful cereal crop establishment Nutrient Management - getting it right Potato Husbandry Red Clover Combi-crops (cereal and a pulse mix) Cereal and Pulse Production Machinery and processing Market Opportunities Steps to Organic Certification DAFM grant and scheme support 2

4 Introduction Gavin Tully, together with his wife, Norma and 3 sons Jack (13), Dylan (9) and Luke (6) farm 100 acres of organic tillage and arable crops on their family farm in Camolin, Co. Wexford. Over the years, Gavin has farmed in a range of different enterprises including cereals, dairying and suckler/beef farming. After over 20 years of growing conventional tillage crops he became unhappy with the lack of profitability of the system and looked further afield at other options which he had an interest in. After a lot of thought and deliberation and after completing the FETAC Teagasc Organic Farming Course in Portlaoise in early 2015, he decided to make the move into organic cereal production in March Initially he converted 25ac of tillage ground (peas) before making the decision to convert the whole farm to 100% organic status in Gavin now succeeds in supplying all of his crops into the organic market through a diverse range of outlets including the organic whiskey market (via Boortmalt), organic veg. market stalls and supermarket retail (via an organic market gardener) and through direct sales from the farm (combi-crops to organic livestock framers and potatoes to the consumer), all at a premium price above conventional. Gavin also runs a separate contracting business on the farm processing cereal feeds for local farmers. 3

5 Main developments on the farm in recent years in preparation for organic production: Gavin identified organic market outlets for his organic products including Boortmalt (organic distilling wheat and barley), Flahavans (organic oats for porridge), other organic farmers (organic grain for livestock feed) and direct to the consumer (potatoes via another organic market gardener and direct sales of potatoes from farm). Purchase of Spring-tine weeder (including air-seeder) for control of weeds post Spring crop establishment. Introduction of potato enterprise. Nutrient management: Importation of permitted nutrients (subject to organic EU standards). Erection of a slatted tank to store imported slurry from other farms (source of slurry is subject to EU organic standards). Future developments on the farm to be considered include: Continue to develop his crop rotation by growing red clover and other break crop options and possibly livestock grazing to enhance the sustainability of his organic enterprise. Consider other crops eg. organic oats for the porridge market, hemp etc. Look at developing processing facilities for potatoes. 4

6 Land Use Area of crops grown: Total claimed area for crops = 37.41ha Crop Type Mixed cropping (Combicrops): Oats and Peas Barley, Oats and Peas Wheat and Peas Spring Wheat Spring Barley Potatoes Red Clover Area (ha) 19.38ha including: 6.96ha 7.12ha 5.3ha 5.45ha 4.57ha 1.24ha 3.00ha Wild Bird Cover Fallow 3.22ha 0.55ha Note: Other areas: Farmyard 0.57ha Woodland 0.23ha Note: catch crops: Sown on some areas post-cereal harvest = 16.3 ha. Catch crop mix = Mustard + Vetch + Barley or Oats. 5

7 Note: 16.3ha of catch crops will be sown in Autumn post cereal harvest. Organic Tillage and Arable Farming Organic cereal and arable farming has been a profitable enterprise over the last number of years in Ireland. A stockless tillage system can be practised; however a mixed stock and tillage organic system may be more sustainable due to the ready availability of slurry and farmyard manure from the farm. Rotations are used to: 1. Replenish nitrogen (with clover or other legumes) 2. Manage weeds and diseases 3. Build organic matter 4. Allow diversity and spread financial risk 6

8 In organic production, crop nutrients include legumes and permissible organic manures and mineral fertilizers. Pests, diseases and weeds are controlled by planting disease resistant varieties, mechanical weeding and false/stale seedbed techniques. There is a strong demand for organic cereals both for livestock and human consumption. The demand for organic cereals is expected to continue to increase for the foreseeable future. Output is lower than conventional units but costs tend to be lower and prices for grain are higher. Physical details of crops 2018 Spring Barley Variety: WYALANADA Sowing rate: 200kg/ha Sowing date: 26 th April 2018 Spring Wheat Variety: QUINTUS Sowing rate: 200kg/ha Sowing date: 28 th April

9 Mixed cropping/combi-crops (various) Variety: 3 crops Oats and Peas 57% ASPEN Oats (organic), 13% PROPHET Pea (organic), 30% CAMPUS Pea (non-organic),. Barley, Oats and Peas 30% WESTMINISTER Barley (organic), 30% ASPEN Oats (organic), 10% PROFIT Pea organic), 30% CAMPUS Pea (non-organic) Wheat and Pea 62% MULIKA Wheat (organic); 8% PROPHET Peas (organic), 30% CAMPUS Pea (non-organic). Sowing rate: 250kg/ha: generally 60% /40% cereal/pulse mix by weight at sowing. Sowing date: Oats/Peas - 28 th April Barley/Oats/Peas - 14 th May Wheat/Peas - 1 st May Potatoes Variety: SETANTA (organic) Sowing rate: 1 tonne seed /acre approximately. 1 potato per 1 ft. 34 drill. Sowing date: 1 st June

10 Peas Variety: ALVESTA and CAMPUS Sowing rate: 280 kg/ha Sowing date: 15 th May

11 Crop Establishment and Cereal Weed Management Case Study Comb harrow (including air seeder) used for Spring weed management on cereals. Treatment 1: Spring barley comb harrowed. Photo taken 17th May Crop sown 26th April

12 Treatment 2: Spring barley NOT comb harrowed. Photo taken 17th May Crop sown 26th April weeks later (7 th June 2018). Treatment 1: Spring tine weeder used on Left vs Treatment 2: No spring tine weeder used on Right. Good crop establishment on both treatments. 11

13 Nutrient Management of Organic Farms The management of nutrients in organic farming systems presents a considerable challenge compared to non-organic farming, as the use of synthetic fertilisers or the quick fix solution is not permitted as an option to address soil fertility. The aim for organically approved manures and fertilisers is to allow biological soil processes to progressively release the nutrients within the fertiliser so the crop gets a balanced and continuous supply. Therefore organic farmers must especially plan longer term with the aim of using a range of soil, crop, rotation, manure and natural mineral fertiliser management options to ensure a nutrient supply which will guarantee optimum crop yields and minimise nutrient losses to the environment. Nutrient Budgets - the basic principles A crude method of monitoring the farm fertility would be to stand at the farm gate and count the purchases and sales of produce. Straw, seed, meat, milk and grain all contain different levels of nutrients. The following table shows the approximate amounts of P and K in different farm products. Dairy Processing Sludge from an approved Dairy Processor can be used as a nutrient input on organic farms. 12

14 Table: Nutrient content of various farm products (P & K) Product (per ton) P (kg) K (kg) Milk Meat (beef) 10 2 Meat (lamb) Meat (Pig) Grain 1000kgs (Source:- various) Straw Potatoes Once this is completed it can be seen how much the shortfall is. As a general rule the more productive the farm, the higher the level of inputs required. Table above only deals with removals but if soil fertility is low extra nutrients will be required to improve output. Poor soil fertility limits the crops that can be grown successfully. Your local adviser can help you work a budget for your farm. It is important to try and assess the loss/gain of nutrients from the farm over a rotation. A nutrient budget is no different from any other budget in that there are receipts and outgoings. The receipts are the nutrients imported 13

15 onto the farm in the form of feed, seed, grain, straw, slurry, farmyard manure (FYM) and approved fertilisers. The outgoings on a typical farm include animals, milk, grain, straw or vegetable crops. On many farms some of the products produced by one enterprise are used by another. Where this is happening it is important to complete a fertility budget for each field. Nutrient use on Gavin s farm 2017 and 2018: Year Type Amount Where spread purchased/i and rate spread mported 2017 Physiolith TM 3 tonnes purchased Applied onto potatoes, pea monocrop and pea-barley combi-crop. Ground Rock Phosphate (GRP) Farmyard Manure (FYM) 3 tonnes purchased 150 8x4x4 straw bales. Applied onto pea monocrop and pea-barley combi-crop. Bales spread across all crops which did not receive GRP Dairy Processing Waste Sludge from Galnbia, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny. 90 tonnes Applied onto spring wheat, spring barley and pea-wheat combi-crops preploughing 14

16 Optimum ph for crops Peas ph 7.0 Cereals ph 6.5 Potatoes ph 6.0 ref: Teagasc (2016). Major and micro-nutrient advice for productive agricultural crops. The Green Book. 15

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19 Red Clover 18

20 Oat and Pea combi-crop showing diagonal rolling used for crow damage abatement (Photo taken 17 th May 2018). Crop sown 28 th April weeks later. Spring oat and pea combi-crop. 7 th June

21 Spring Wheat. Photo taken 7th June '18. Crop sown 28th April Peas. Photo taken 7 th June. Sowed 15th May. 20

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23 Overview of Organic Cereal Production in Ireland 22

24 Supply vs demand of organic cereals/pulses in Ireland 2016 Organic Regulation and Seed Usage Must seek permission to use un-treated non-organic seed from your Organic Certification Body (OCB). This permission must be granted by the OCB before purchase if non-organic seed is required. Organic seed database with details of suppliers and available organic seed Conventional treated seed is not permitted to be used. 23

25 Organic Certification in Ireland A major factor that distinguishes organic farming from other approaches to sustainable farming is the existence of internationally acknowledged standards and certification procedures. The standards for organic production within the European Union are defined and enshrined in law by Council Regulation EC 834/2007 as amended. In Ireland the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the competent authority (i.e. - the Department s Organic Unit is based at Johnstown Castle Estate Wexford) for regulating the organic sector and ensuring that the obligations and requirements of Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 as amended and adhered to. The Organic Unit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have designated Official Certification Bodies whose role is to certify organic producers, farmers and processors through and inspection process of each individual s unit or farm. Further information can be sourced from these organic certification bodies: IOA (Irish Organic Association) 13 Inish Carraig, Golden Island, Athlone. Tel: (090) Organic Trust 2 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Tel: (01) Global Trust Certificate Ltd. 3 rd floor, Block 3, Quayside Business Park, Mill Street, Dundalk, Co Louth. Tel: (042) Fax: (042) info@gtcert.com BDA Certification- Organic and Demeter The Painswick Inn Project, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GLS 1QS, United Kingdom (0044) Fax: (0044)

26 Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS) On Farm Scheme A standard rate of aid of 40% on investments up to a ceiling of 80,000 (i.e. can generate a grant of 32,000 from an investment of 80,000). For qualifying young organic farmers who meet the specific eligibility criteria, the standard rate of aid is 60% on investments up to a ceiling of 80,000. How to Apply and Closing Date: Online applications only through facility. Organic Processing Scheme Grant aid of up to 40% on 1.25 million (i.e. can generate a grant of 500,000 for an investment of 1.25 million) in facilities for the processing, preparation, grading, packing and storage of organic products with minimum level of investment in excess of 3,000. Full details and T&C: Queries: DAFM Organic Unit, Johnstown Castle: (053) Teagasc contacts: Dan Clavin, Organic Specialist, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway. dan.clavin@teagasc.ie Elaine Leavy, Organic Specialist, Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath. elaine.leavy@teagasc.ie 25

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