Teagasc Organic Arable Farm Walk on the farm of › media › website › publications › 2018 ›...
Transcript of Teagasc Organic Arable Farm Walk on the farm of › media › website › publications › 2018 ›...
Teagasc Organic Arable Farm Walk
on the farm of
Gavin Tully,
Clonhenritte, Camolin, Enniscorthy,
Co Wexford
Wednesday 13
th June 2018
Rural Economy
& Development
Programme
2
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
3
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 2015. Initially he converted 25ac of tillage
ground (peas) before making the decision to convert the whole
farm to 100% organic status in 2016.
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.
4
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.
5
Land Use
Area of crops grown: Total claimed area for crops = 37.41ha
Crop Type Area (ha)
Mixed cropping (Combi-
crops):
Oats and Peas
Barley, Oats and Peas
Wheat and Peas
19.38ha including:
6.96ha
7.12ha
5.3ha
Spring Wheat 5.45ha
Spring Barley 4.57ha
Potatoes 1.24ha
Red Clover 3.00ha
Wild Bird Cover 3.22ha
Fallow 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.
6
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
7
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:
26th
April 2018
Spring Wheat
Variety:
QUINTUS
Sowing rate:
200kg/ha
Sowing date:
28th
April 2018
8
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 - 28th
April
Barley/Oats/Peas - 14th
May
Wheat/Peas - 1st May
Potatoes
Variety:
SETANTA (organic)
Sowing rate:
1 tonne seed /acre approximately. 1 potato per 1 ft. 34” drill.
Sowing date:
1st June 2018
9
Peas
Variety:
ALVESTA and CAMPUS
Sowing rate:
280 kg/ha
Sowing date:
15th
May 2018
10
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 2018. Crop sown 26th April 2018.
11
Treatment 2: Spring barley NOT comb harrowed. Photo
taken 17th May 2018. Crop sown 26th April 2018.
3 weeks later (7th
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.
12
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.
13
Table: Nutrient content of various farm products (P &
K)
Product (per ton) P (kg) K (kg)
Milk 1 1 – 2
Meat (beef) 10 2
Meat (lamb) 6 1.8
Meat (Pig) 1.8 2.9
Grain 1000kgs 3.4 4.7
Straw 1.5 5 - 10
Potatoes 0.6 4.9
(Source:- various)
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
14
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
purchased/i
mported
Where spread
and rate spread
2017 PhysiolithTM
3 tonnes
purchased
Applied onto
potatoes, pea
monocrop and
pea-barley
combi-crop.
Ground Rock
Phosphate
(GRP)
3 tonnes
purchased
Applied onto pea
monocrop and
pea-barley
combi-crop.
Farmyard
Manure (FYM)
150 8x4x4
straw bales.
Bales spread
across all crops
which did not
receive GRP.
2018 Dairy
Processing
Waste Sludge
from Galnbia,
Ballyragget, Co.
Kilkenny.
90 tonnes Applied onto
spring wheat,
spring barley and
pea-wheat
combi-crops pre-
ploughing
15
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”.
16
17
18
Red Clover
19
Oat and Pea combi-crop showing diagonal rolling
used for crow damage abatement (Photo taken 17th
May 2018). Crop sown 28th
April 2018.
3 weeks later. Spring oat and pea combi-crop. 7th
June 2018.
20
Spring Wheat. Photo taken 7th June '18. Crop sown 28th
April 2018.
Peas. Photo taken 7th
June. Sowed 15th May.
21
22
Overview of Organic Cereal Production in
Ireland
23
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 www.organicxseeds.com
Conventional treated seed is not permitted to be used.
24
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) 64 33680 www.iofga.org
Organic Trust
2 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Tel: (01) 853 0271 www.organictrust.ie
Global Trust Certificate Ltd.
3rd floor, Block 3, Quayside Business Park, Mill Street, Dundalk, Co Louth.
Tel: (042) 93 20912 Fax: (042) 93 8686 Email: [email protected]
BDA Certification- Organic and Demeter
The Painswick Inn Project, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GLS 1QS, United Kingdom
(0044) 145 376 6296 Fax: (0044) 145 375 950.
25
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 www.agfood.ie 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:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie
Queries:
DAFM Organic Unit, Johnstown Castle: (053) 91 63400
Teagasc contacts: Dan Clavin, Organic Specialist,
Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway.
Elaine Leavy, Organic Specialist,
Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath.
Targeted Agricultural
Modernisation Scheme Organic
Capital Investment Scheme
(OCIS)
26
Notes:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
27
Notes: ______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
28
Notes:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
29
Notes:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_____________________________________
30
Notes:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
31
Notes:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
32
Notes:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
__________________________________
33
Notes:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
34
Notes:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
35