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Gallery: ‘Dairying at Dusk' event explores sustainability
Gallery: ‘Dairying at Dusk' event explores sustainability

Agriland

time11-06-2025

  • Business
  • Agriland

Gallery: ‘Dairying at Dusk' event explores sustainability

An award winning Co. Tipperary dairy family partnership have showcased the steps they are taking to 'protect the environment' during a 'Dairying at Dusk' farm walk. Hundreds of people attended the award winning Walsh family farm in Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary for the event organised by Teagasc, FBD and Dairygold, yesterday evening (Tuesday, June 10). John, Maria and Brendan Walsh, who were the overall winners of the 2024 Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards, hosted the walk on their 63 hectares platform, with 107 hectares of grass, farm. The Walsh family are milking 165 and are supplying Dairygold co-op. The 'Dairying at Dusk' walk on the Walsh family farm Source: O'Gorman Photography Sustainability During the 'Dairying at Dusk' farm walk members of the Walsh family highlighted what particular measures have been taken on their farm to promote sustainability. They highlighted how a careful selection of hedgerows have being planted across the farm and that it is home to over 20 pollinators – recorded in a 2022 biodiversity assessment. John Walsh also detailed how the farm provides shelter and food sources for birds and other wildlife. A section of the crowd at the 'Dairying at Dusk' Source: O'Gorman Photography He detailed the work he carries out to prune all hedges in the first three years of planting, and how he carefully manages them to ensure a wide base, eight foot tall and whitethorns flourishing every 50 meters. The Walsh's paddocks are rich in clover, with a small portion of paddocks made up of multispecies in a bid to reduce their chemical nitrogen usage. The multispecies swards contain chicory, plantain, white and red clover and ryegrass. Brendan Walsh, host addresses a group at 'Dairying at Dusk' Source: O'Gorman Photography Herd According to the Walsh family partnership their biggest treasure is their herd of cows. Brendan Walsh said it took years of careful and selective breeding using the Economic Breeding Index (EBI) to get to where they are today. The cows produce an average of 524 kilograms of milk solids per cow per year, while the carbon footprint of the milk produced is 10% lower than the national average. The carbon footprint was 0.86 kg CO2 eq/kg FPCM in 2024. Catherine Keena, Teagasc, Prof. Frank O'Mara, Teagasc, Dr Siobhán Kavanagh, Teagasc, Liam Herlihy, Teagasc chair and host John Walsh at 'Dairying at Dusk' Source: O'Gorman Photography The farming family also keep a keen eye on water quality protection and highlighted that they have reduced their chemical fertiliser usage greatly. Only 130 kilograms of N per hectare per year is used across the farm, with the help of clover integrated swards. The farm is still producing 13.7 tonnes of grass dry matter. According to the Walsh family all of the slurry on the farm is spread using low emission slurry spreading techniques (LESS) combined with GPS for precision on application. They have also fenced off all water courses and created buffer strips beside water bodies to maintain a high water quality.

‘Dairying at Dusk' evening walk to be held on award-winning farm
‘Dairying at Dusk' evening walk to be held on award-winning farm

Agriland

time13-05-2025

  • General
  • Agriland

‘Dairying at Dusk' evening walk to be held on award-winning farm

A 'Dairying at Dusk' evening farm walk is due to take place next month on a family dairy farm that won the 2024 Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Award. John, Maria and Brendan Walsh, the family who are leading the way in running a sustainable dairy farm and will host the farm walk on Tuesday, June 10 at 6:30pm. The walk has been organised by Teagasc, FBD and Dairygold, and all are welcome to attend. 'Dairying at Dusk', will take place at their family farm at Ballylooby, County Tipperary. This event will be of interest to the general public, non-farming families as well as farming families. Award-winning farm The Walsh's win in the competition was based on four key sustainability pillars. The Walsh's are running a highly efficient and profitable dairy operation. They have adopted smarter ways to grow grass without compromising on grass yield to feed the cows. Biodiversity is a long-standing priority on the Walsh farm, dating back generations. Hedges are managed to promote growth and diversity, with whitethorns allowed to flourish every 50 metres. Pictured at the launch of a Teagasc 'Dairying at Dusk' farm walk on the award winning farm of John and Brendan Walsh, Ballylooby, Cahir, Co Tipperary on 10th June are Dr Tom O'Dwyer, Head of Teagasc Signpost Programme, Nora O'Donovan, Teagasc/Dairygold Demonstration Farm Coordinator, hosts Brendan and John Walsh, Maureen O'Meara, FBD and Donal Mullane, Teagasc Tipperary Regional Manager. Photo O'Gorman Photography. The risk to water quality has been significantly reduced by reducing the surplus nitrogen on the farm with their surplus nitrogen being almost half the national average. Speaking in advance of the walk, Brendan and John Walsh said; 'We are looking forward to welcoming the general public to their farm and showing what we and other farmers across the country are doing to improve environmental sustainability.' 'Our message to other farmers is: start small, seek good advice, and don't fear failure.' Dairying at Dusk Teagasc Signpost programme and chair of the judging panel, Dr Siobhan Kavanagh, highlighted that the Walsh's success story is not just about awards, but about building a resilient and environmentally responsible future for Irish farming. 'John and Brendan are passionate about making a good living from farming but also looking after the environment. Their story shows that you can farm profitable while also looking after nature.' Hear the inspiring stories of how the Walshs are looking after nature on their farm while continuing to produce high quality food profitably. There will be fun games and activities for kids – sustainability corner, Agrikids farm safety workshops. 'Dairying at Dusk' promises to be a family-friendly evening in the great outdoors and everyone is welcome to attend to experience the farm system and enjoy the evening out.

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