Inishowen Uplands EIP Open day
At our open day held on Friday past a great turn out braved the inclement weather to learn more about the Inishowen Uplands EIP project on our Demo farm belonging to participant farmer James Breslin.
After an introduction by our Chairman John McGilloway. Attendees were shown each of our 5 measures in place as we walked through the farm showing how each of these measures tie in together.
The functions of ponds on farms in Upland areas were discussed showing how they can reduce costs across farms and help improve water quality and alleviate flooding further downstream. Advice was given by the Inishowen Rivers Trust on how best to create a suitable farm pond.
The benefits of diverse swards on farms was discussed with operational group member Gerard McDaid and Project Manager John Doherty. The many benefits including reducing costs of fertiliser, increasing live weight gains, improving soil structure and anthelmintic properties. The challenges of diverse swards were discussed and practical advice was given along with a short description of the ongoing trials in this area with KPM soils.
John Doherty outlined the upland cattle measure and the main advantages from the reintroduction of cattle to the uplands by increasing the grazing platform, reducing fertiliser costs, habitat improvements increasing biodiversity, extending the grazing season and reducing fire burdens.
The upland habitat assessments and the use of the NoFence collars were shown and how it is intended to use these to improve the quality of habitats for biodiversity including Curlews and different plant species etc. whilst reducing fire risks and improving grazing quality for sheep.
Agroforestry was discussed by Henry O Donnell as the walk continued through the farm. The Agroforestry plots are dotted along the farm planted using different planting methods. These methods have different functions across the landscape including shelter belts for livestock, improving water infiltration, buffers for nutrient capture and biodiversity.
The benefits of red clover swards on farms were discussed by John Doherty, with fields capable of producing 11 bales per acre per crop with 3 cuts possible over the year. The high protein of red clover compared to grass silage (14-16% v 12%) with a lower cost of fertiliser as red clover can produce 150-200kgN/Ha. The main challenges of red clover management were discussed with weeds and management of the crop needing more attention to ensure persistence. A stale seed bed at sowing is essential whilst ensuring ph and nutrient levels are kept at the optimum levels required.
Attendees were then treated to an organic Galloway beef burger that was reared on James farm. This animal was grazed on upland vegetation and diverse swards and wintered on red clover silage and excellently prepared by Thomas Hughes from Lisnamulligan farms.
Attendees listening about the benefits of ponds across farms in upland areas
A special thanks to all attendees including Teagasc, National Rural Network, ACRES Donegal team, Inishowen Co-op and Goldcrop including our EIP participant farmers.
Thanks also to the Inishowen Rivers Trust for the continued support developing on farm ponds throughout our project.
A special thanks also to James Breslin and his family for all their help in organising the open day and once again for opening his farm to us that helped greatly in making the day a great success.
Project Manager John Doherty with Inishowen Uplands demo farmer James Breslin outlining the upland cattle measure
Galloway cattle fitted with the NoFence collars