A Charolais calf

Charolais cattle are the most popular beef breed in Ireland – (www.icbf.com). They originate in the Massif Central region of France, with the first imports to Ireland in 1969. Today, there are over 3,000 breeders of pedigree Charolais cattle in Ireland (www.charolais.ie). Pure bred or pedigree Charolais cattle have a distinctive white coat, although when crossed with other breeds they can be seen in various shades of grey or white. Their main attributes are fast growth, docility and ability to thrive when grazing or when fed intensively indoors.

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Farming in the Burren

The Burren is a good example of the wonders of nature situated in Clare and Galway, it is made up of limestone rock, there are flora and fauna which may not be found anywhere else.

Image courtesy of www.burrenbeo.com.

Cattle Grazing in the Burren

The Burren is Ireland's most distinctive and internationally celebrated landscape, while the burren is inhospiabble it is used for farming.

Horace Plunkett and the co-operative movement

Horace Plunkett and the Co-operative movement: One man who had a tremendous positive impact on Irish agriculture was Horace Plunkett, who led the introduction of the co-operative movement. In 1889, Plunkett established a co-operative butter-making industry in southwest Ireland, basing his structure on a Scandinavian model. In 1894 Plunkett founded the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society with 33 affiliated dairy co-operative societies or “creameries”. His organisation expanded rapidly; four years later there were 243 affiliated societies. Later, as an MEP at Westminster, he inspired the Recess Committee Report of 1896, which documented failure in Irish agriculture administration. The government eventually accepted his plan, and by the turn of the century the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland (DATI) was established, with Plunkett as vice-president. Cooperatives still dominate Irish agriculture; you can learn more from their umbrella organisation, the Irish Cooperative Organisation Society (ICOS) (www.icos.ie) For more on Horace Plunkett, see www.plunkett.co.uk

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Ford tractor

Tractors have revolutionised farming and massively increased productivity. Pictured above is a Ford New Holland. The first mass produced tractor was created by Henry Ford, who was born on a farm near Detroit, Michigan in 1863. He was the son of William Ford, who was born in Ballinascarthy, Co Cork in 1826. As the son of a farmer, Henry Ford believed that tractors were essential to increase food production. The first Fordson Model F was completed in 1916. Henry Ford & Son Ltd. came to Ireland in 1917 and built a factory at the Marino in Cork, the first Ford foundry outside of North America. The very first Fordson tractor left the assembly line on July 3, 1919. By the end of that year, 303 tractors had been built in Cork. massively increased productivity. Pictured above is a Ford New Holland. The first mass produced tractor was created by Henry Ford, who was born on a farm near Detroit, Michigan in 1863. He was the son of William Ford, who was born in Ballinascarthy, Co Cork in 1826. As the son of a farmer, Henry Ford believed that tractors were essential to increase food production. The first Fordson Model F was completed in 1916. Henry Ford & Son Ltd. came to Ireland in 1917 and built a factory at the Marino in Cork, the first Ford foundry outside of North America. The very first Fordson tractor left the assembly line on July 3, 1919. By the end of that year, 303 tractors had been built in Cork.

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Spreading fertilizer

Farmers in Ireland spread fertilizer to add nutrients to the growing crop. In 2011, farmers spent €490m on fertilizer (www.cso.ie). Nitrogen (N) is the most important nutrient, fuelling the growth of the crop. This can be applied mechanically throughout the growing season, or delivered organically through clover which is a legume (fixed Nitrogen in the soil). Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) are also required. Farmers purchase fertilizers with varying percentages of N, P and K, with 10-10-20 containing 10% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus and 20% Potassium. They come in granular form in easy to handle bags. Farmers use highly accurate mechanical spreaders to accurately apply fertilizer.

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Irish National Stud

The State owned Irish National Stud (www.irishnationalstud.ie) based at Tully in Co Kildare is a major tourist attraction, with some of the most magnificent horses and sumptuous gardens to be found anywhere in the world. It is a working stud, with elite stallions available to breeders at commercial rates. The farm, purchased by Colonel William Hall Walker at the turn of the 20th century, helps Ireland retain its global leadership position in thoroughbred horse breeding. Each year, over 115,000 visit the farm and its exhibits. In May 2011, Queen Elizabeth II, a noted horse breeder, visited the farm during her historic State visit.

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Christmas trees

Christmas trees are a significant niche crop in Ireland, with an annual market value of around €15m. Bord Bia estimate that around 100 growers annually harvest 700,000 trees for sale. About 300,000 are exported, mainly to Britain and France. Christmas trees are grown mainly in counties Wicklow, Wexford and Carlow but also in Kerry, Tipperary, Roscommon and Dublin. The most popular varieties grown are the Nordmann fir (70%) and the Noble fir (20%), which suit our soil types. Their ability to retain their needles makes them popular with customers. On average it takes 7 – 10 years for a Christmas tree to grow to a minimum height of 2 metres.

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