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Bord BIa on farming sustainably - Bing video

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farm safety accident stories - Bing video

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Wicklow Cheviot

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The Wicklow Mountains have been renowned from the earliest times for the native sheep, which are of a distinct type and have been indigenous to the mountains for centuries.

he Wicklow Mountains have been renowned from the earliest times for the native sheep, which are of a distinct type and have been indigenous to the mountains for centuries.

The date of origin of the Wicklow Mountain sheep can only be guessed at but there is concrete evidence of a valuable breed of fine woollen sheep originating from the mountains in the middle of the fifteenth century. At this time the Wicklow Mountain Sheep were contributing to the reputation of Irish woollens in the markets of Holland and Flanders and England.

Jim Fitzsimons, a sheep breeder living in Blessington and Secretary of the Wicklow Cheviot Owners' Association, speaks highly of their manay plus points.

'There's a good trade off between quality and survival. They also have a good ability to grow quality meat and good wool. You cross a Cheviot Ewe with a Lowland Ram to provide the best quality sheep. They are the single biggest population of consistent sheep in the country. You have them all over Wicklow and further afield, basically from the Curragh all the way to Tulllow, covering everywhere in between.'

Jim's father was one of the founding fathers of the Wicklow Cheviot Owners' Association established in 1968 and now boasting 400 members spread out across County Wicklow and parts of Wexford, Kildare and Carlow.

The Wicklow Cheviot Ewe produces quality lamb suitable for any market and has a number of advantages; she is hardy, a prolific and excellent mother, is recognised as one of the best ewe to produce fat lambs off grass alone, has sound feet and isn't prone to foot rot, is a good forager, produces ideal lambs for the French market, clips a goo fleece of high quality wool, has a long and productive life and makes a good price as a fat ewe.

In the Autumn of 1982 the Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners' Association, with the co-operation of professor Ian Gordon, Dr. Frank Crosbie and Mr. Jim Fitzsimons, initiated a trial of Wicklow Cheviot Ewes at the U.C.D. farm at Lyons Estate, Celbridge. Thirty unselected Wicklow ewes were bought at two sales in Wicklow. Half were mated with a Suffolk lamb and half with a Texel ram. The ewes were run with the main flock at Lyons, under ordinary commercial conditions, and the thirty ewes produced sixty lambs in the Spring of 1983, seven singles, sixteen doubles and seven trebles.

This silenced critics who had claimed Wicklow Ewes weren't prolific mothers and also proved, when properly managed and fed, they were in fact as good, if not better, than most breeds. Now, Wicklow Mountain Ewes are eagerly sought after by lowland farmers throughout Ireland. They are extremely good foragers and are recognised as the best ewe to produce fat lambs off grass and grass alone. Direct crossing with the Suffolk is the common practice when Wicklow ewes are purchased by lowland farmers.

The Wicklow Cheviot Owners' Association has a number of projects lined up for the coming months.

Jim says, 'our primary objective is to improve the profitability of sheep farming. We buy feed for members from Glanbia at a discount rate and trebled the amount of feed provided. It's been over 15,000 tonnes over the past 12 months. Our big plan is to sell wool by branding Wicklow Wool. It's a very good project and plenty of interest has already been expressed by other parties'.

The Association also continues to work closely with Wicklow Uplands with the intention of improving the management of the hills for both walkers and farmers alike.

New members to the association are always being sought and each paid up member is in turn entitled to enter into a valuable members draw held each year at the annual dinner dance held in November in the Royal Hotel, Glendalough.

Recruiting new members in the following areas are;

Enniskerry, Philip Maguire; Roundwood, John Malone; Glendalough, Richard Cullen; Glenmalure, Pat Dunne; Aughrim/Tinahely, Peter Behan; Rathdangan/Donard, Mark Fenton; Hollywood, Ger Murphy; Blessington, John Murphy or Kevin Hanlon; Baltinglass, Peter Burke.

For more information on the Wicklow Cheviot Owners' Association visit the website www.wicklowsheep.ie.

Wicklow People

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The Wicklow Mountains have been renowned from the earliest times for the native sheep, which are of a distinct type and have been indigenous to the mountains for centuries. he Wicklow Mountains have been renowned from the earliest times for the native sheep, which are of a distinct type and have been indigenous to the mountains for centuries.

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Edwin Poots, Agriculture Minister for Northern Ireland, has said he will do all that he can to help the agri-food sector during this difficult period.

Poots' statement comes after a week of falling prices, significant market disturbances and challenging trading conditions.
Impact
The minister said he acknowledges the difficult financial situation that the agri-food sector is facing and has vowed to do his utmost to help. He said:

"The Covid-19 outbreak has created unprecedented challenges for our society and economy and we are all working hard to ensure that it can quickly be brought under control with minimal loss of life - that is the executive's priority."

"The maintenance of the food supply chain is also crucial but substantial market disturbances and realignments, both domestically and internationally, present significant risks."

"While there is currently an increase in retail demand for food, which we are able to meet, there has been an almost total collapse in demand from the foodservice sector."
Assistance
Poots continued to explain the help that will be needed to help the industry through Covid-19, such as assistance with short-term cashflow difficulties and long-term market issues.

He said that these needs are so significant that the Northern Ireland Executive cannot provide these on their own.

"In the past week, I have written to George Eustice, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, seeking his assurance that Northern Ireland's agri-food sector needs are front and centre of any support packages from the UK Government and the EU."
Banks and sustainable farming
"I have also met with many of Northern Ireland's banks and impressed upon them the need to be helpful to the farming sector in particular. Farming is facing the brunt of the economic impacts of COVID-19 and we must find ways to support these small businesses and keep them afloat in the short to medium term."

"Some banks are moving faster to address the crisis situation in agriculture, and they are to be commended. Now is a time when the farming community need their banks to stand with them as they deal with circumstances beyond their control."

"At the end of this crisis, we must have a profitable and sustainable agri-food sector, that can continue to produce high-quality, world-renowned food. I will do all I can to speak on behalf of this sector and support it."

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'Farming is facing the brunt of the economic impacts of Covid-19' - thatsfarming.com

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Edwin Poots, Agriculture Minister for Northern Ireland, has said he will do all that he can to help the agri-food sector during this difficult period. Poots' statement comes after a week of falling prices, significant market disturbances and challenging trading conditions.

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At present, fears of a sharp COVID-19 related drop in Irish farm incomes in 2020, seem to have been averted following a gradual recovery in commodity prices and the provision of additional supports to the sector, according to Mid Year Outlook for 2020 produced by Teagasc economists.

Like other sectors of the economy in 2020, the Irish agri-food sector has been grappling with the impact of COVID-19. Farmers are relatively powerless in the face of market disruption and as the extent of COVID-19 emerged in the spring of 2020, it appeared that the impact on the agricultural incomes could be quite severe.

Given the challenges presented to the sector by the virus, assistance for the beef sector has come through additional government supports and in the dairy sector via price stabilising payments from milk processors.

Fears about the extent of commodity price reductions have abated in recent weeks, with a recovery in dairy and beef prices taking place more quickly than had been anticipated. There has been a more rapid emergence from the strict lockdown in Europe, though the risk of a resurgence of the virus and possible return to restrictions on economic activity in Europe remains. Were a second wave of the virus to occur, then commodity prices could again come under pressure.

For pasture based systems, a protracted period of dry weather through May and into June, had an adverse impact on grass growth in many areas in Ireland. Soil moisture deficits were widespread, but were eventually addressed through higher rainfall levels over the summer.

On a positive note, relative to 2019 input prices movements have been favourable from a farmer perspective in 2020. Feed, fertiliser and energy are all cheaper than was the case in 2019.

For dairy, cattle and sheep farms, input usage should be relatively normal in 2020 and costs are likely to fall slightly due to lower input prices. For tillage farmers, input usage is likely to be down due to the large decrease in winter cereal plantings and an increase in spring plantings, with a demand for lower input usage. Hence, tillage farmers will benefit from volume and price reductions on the input side.

The dairy cow population has continued to increase in 2020, and a further increase in Irish milk production of about 3 to 4 percent is likely if normal weather persists through the rest of the season.

While cattle prices have staged a recovery, 2020 will remain a challenging year and the additional support provided to the sector via announced pandemic support payments will provide support to cattle incomes.

Sheep prices in 2020 have been stronger than in 2019, with prices forecast to be more than 5% higher than in 2019. Lower UK exports to key continental EU markets, reduced imports from New Zealand and a contraction in EU production combined to leave EU and Irish prices higher despite the disruption to demand caused by COVID-19. With lower direct costs of production on Irish sheep farms due to lower feed, fertiliser and energy prices, margins and incomes for Irish sheep farmers are forecast to grow strongly in 2020.

For cereals, adverse winter weather meant that there has been an increase in the area allocated to, typically lower yielding, spring crops in 2020. Due to adverse weather at a critical stage in plant development, expectations are that yields for cereals in 2020 will be down on those achieved in 2019.

Given international supply and demand dynamics, cereal prices are expected to increase slightly at harvest 2020 for wheat, but very little change in feed barley price is expected. Forward contract prices on offer at present will not be sufficient to offset the significant reduction in cereal volumes that are expected this harvest. While straw prices are expected to increase in 2020, much reduced straw volumes will also likely result in a decrease in straw output value on tillage farms.

Whilst there will be some relief from lower input expenditure and slightly higher wheat prices in 2020, these factors will be insufficient to balance out the projected volume decline in cereals. A large drop in cereal margins and incomes in 2020 is expected, with the average tillage farmer struggling to make an income of €30,000.

While a portion of the peak milk delivery season remains, if weather conditions remain favourable and milk prices hold, then the average income on dairy farms in 2020 could be close to the €67,000 achieved in 2019.

The additional COVID-19 related support to be provided to cattle farmers should offset some of the negative impact on farm incomes of lower cattle prices. The average income on Cattle Rearing farms is forecast to increase by 5% (€9,700) in 2020, while incomes on Cattle Other farms are forecast to contract by 4% (€13,300).

Incomes on sheep farms are set to be up by over 15% in 2020, to more than €17,000, due to growth in output value, stable direct payments and lower total costs of production.

Overall, while the worst case impact of COVID-19 on the agricultural sector in Ireland would appear to have been avoided, farm incomes in 2020 are still likely to be lower than would have been anticipated at the outset of the year.

Teagasc has also released its Farm Enterprise Factsheets for 2019 based on the Teagasc National Farm Survey, which provide a detailed breakdown on the financial and technical performance of the main enterprises in Irish agriculture for 2019.

The Mid Year Outlook for 2020 can be downloaded here and the Enterprise factsheets can be downloaded here

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Impact of COVID-19 on farm incomes in 2020 now likely to be more limited

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At present, fears of a sharp COVID-19 related drop in Irish farm incomes in 2020, seem to have been averted following a gradual recovery in commodity prices and the provision of additional supports to the sector, according to Mid Year Outlook for 2020 produced by Teagasc economists.

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About Organico

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Organico is a small independent family business run by sisters Hannah & Rachel Dare. Organico offers dedicated, individual service which depends completely on the passion and energy of our fantastic team of staff, many of whom have been working with us for years. When Organico was started in the early 1990's by Alan Dare it was a one-man show, run by Alan with a little help from his (little) daughters, who loved playing shop! Now Organico comprises a Shop in Bantry a Cafe and a Bakery; and in total employs over 30 people.

Our team includes: Fleur, Elizabeth, Christine, Ceri, Carla, Dee, Helen, Viv, Hannah, Katrina, Sile & Ailbhe in the shop, Kathrin, Laura & Nathalie in the Bakery ; Jessie, Santhe, Tali, Mary, Gearoid, Gavin, Heather Liam & Rachel in the Cafe and Josh, Aoife, Isabelle in the kitchen. Jaime works on our online shop, Catherine does all our posters and our newsletter and Eithne in the office makes sure we pay our bills on time!

When it comes to good food, we are a pretty enthusiastic bunch. If you have any questions about recipes, naturally good foods, or hard to find ingredients do drop us a line or call in if you are local. We stock predominantly organic foods, all either organic or local fruit and veg, organic wines, ports, sherry, and lots of good quality natural medicines, food supplements and natural 'clean' beauty products.

Whenever possible we like to buy from local suppliers. We also like to stock fairly traded goods. We have our own Organic Licence which allows us to sell our vegetables loose rather than having to package them.

If you are interested in joining our team please call in and introduce yourself or email us on organico bantry at gmail.com.

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About Organico JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Organico is a small independent family business run by sisters Hannah & Rachel Dare.