Features
Life's a beach at Enniscrone
With the reputation that Irish farmers, rightly or wrongly, have for complaining, it's refreshing to meet one who is happy with his lot. But not only is Sligo farmer Danny Kilcullen enjoying his life on the land, he is also prepared to admit that financially he is doing well.
'I've done very well in the last few years,' says Danny. 'Prices were good and as a result I was able to buy more land. Last year for example I was getting £2.20 a pound for lamb - but of course with the foot and mouth last year was an exceptional year.'
Continental breeds
Danny's main enterprise on his 170 acres at Enniscrone is beef. Every autumn he buys in about 30 organic weanlings for finishing. Despite the belief that the smaller breeds are best suited to an organic system Danny prefers continental breeds.
'Continental breeds do best on my land,' he says. 'My land is good and I found that when we used to keep Herefords they tended to get over-fat. Now I keep Charolais and Limousins although I prefer the Charolais - I found the Limousins to be a bit wild.'
Like many organic drystock farmers, Danny's biggest difficulty was getting a sufficient supply of good quality organic weanlings. Frequently the quality at organic marts left a lot to be desired. 'Poor quality stock has nothing to do with the land you have,' says Danny. 'It's all down to breeding. It doesn't matter whether you are organic or not, if you don't have a basic knowledge of breeding you will not produce good quality stock.'
Quality weanlings
When he started, Danny had to travel the length and breadth of the country in search of suitable weanlings. However recent years have seen the quality of stock improve and Danny finds it much easier to find good organic stock today.
Like all organic beef farmers Danny has noticed that there have been many difficulties in the market this year. Last year for one finished animal he got £1,400. He hasn't been getting prices as good as that this autumn. 'The market is very different this year,' he says. 'Buyers know there is a surplus and they are being much more choosy about quality. Last year they were prepared to take nearly anything.'
Change of plan
But Danny is not a man to sit around and wait for the market to recover. He's decided to try and finish his animals earlier in future. With extra feeding he plans to have his cattle finished earlier in the spring. There's always less stock coming on to the market early in the year. He's not sure about the economics of the change. But he reckons that until the market is more developed, it's the best way to avoid having to sell organic stock at conventional prices.
Another change he is making is to move into sucklers. He got quota for another ten from the organic quota reserve, bringing his cow numbers to twenty. But he's had enough of sheep.
'I found they were pinching grass in spring and autumn,' he says. 'So I've decided to cut back on sheep.
Danny hasn't found that farming organically presents any major difficulties. A combination of adequate rotations and reseeding keeps down the worm count in his stock. Straw for bedding is one big expense he has. He's glad that he is allowed to buy in conventional straw. If that rule changed, he would be in difficulties as tillage is not a viable option in the west. He does however grow arable silage. He's found that oats is the best crop for smothering the weeds.
Danny is proud to be farming organically and he's quick to point out the marketing advantage that it provides. 'I value my organic licence,' he says. 'In farming it's the difference between breaking even and making a profit.'
Family advisor
Danny would be the first to admit that for him getting an organic licence wasn't difficult. While many farmers justifiably complain that getting their hands on reliable technical information on organic methods is a challenge, Danny had a wealth of experience on his doorstep. Being the son of Anthony Kilcullen, one of Ireland most successful organic pioneers, meant that Danny was never without sound advice and support. Anthony might blush to hear it said that his farm could be taken as a model for future generations of organic farmers but it is none the less true for that. 'I've learnt a lot from my father,' says Danny. 'Especially about proper rotations and animal husbandry. Of course I don't always agree with him. But I do agree that he is an excellent organic farmer.'
Icecream
The last time I met Danny he was walking the sandy beach at Enniscrone with a chocolate icecream in his hand. A man taking his ease on the beach is a sign of a man who is happy in his work. And a man with a melting 99 in his hand is a sign of one who has managed to turn his vocation into a financial success.
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