Farming For Nature walk with Tom Tierney (Co. Kildare)
Thu 24 Oct 2024 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM IST
Description
Farm walk & practical actions for nature with Farming for Nature Ambassador Tom Tierney 'No-till and conservation agriculture with room for nature and forestry'.
The Farming for Nature (FFN) farm walks are an opportunity for FFN Ambassadors to showcase their contribution to nature and good farming practices on their land.
Tom Tierney runs a 200-acre regenerative farm in county Kildare. The primary aspect of the farm is tillage production, operating under the principles of conservation agriculture – cover cropping, increasing soil organic matter, crop rotations and direct drilling. Barley, oats, wheat, beans and oilseed rape are grown on the land. Animal manure is brought in from neighbouring farms and composted on site before being spread on the land. White clover is grown as a companion crop and in field margins. Tom has been running a direct drilling system since 2015 and has observed tremendous benefits of this lower soil disturbance method for life both above and below the soil surface – “Biodiversity starts beneath our feet. The biological health of the soil plays a crucial role in increasing biodiversity.” Tom has reduced the amount of synthetic inputs required on the farm and there has been no insecticide used on the land in 6 years. Tom is continuously experimenting with different ways to produce crops in a more natural way. He has two wormery's on the farm and he makes his own bio-stimulants from vermi-juice, seaweed, molasses and silica which further build the soil biology.
There is about 30 acres of mixed forestry on the farm, 60% hardwood and 40% softwood and Tom operates a continuous cover forestry system. There are about 12 acres of conservation areas on the farm. There is an acre of wetland with naturally regenerating woodland. There are 7 acres of wildflowers on the farm and 4 acres of permanent clover. Tom is a member of BASE Ireland, he is a Teagasc Signpost Tillage Farmer and a participant in the Protecting Farmland Pollinators EIP Project.
WHAT ARE THE FARM WALKS:
- This will be a 2.5 hour (approximately) visit to the farm and will include a walk around with the farmer/farm family, a look at some of the habitats and species present, as well as the livestock and/or crops, and a discussion with the farmer about how he/she/they manage the land in support of nature.
- These walks are for farmers and people with an interest in farming for nature. They are meant to be an interactive knowledge exchange between people with a real interest in farming and nature. They are not suitable for children, or for people/groups looking for an ‘organised walk’ in the countryside.
- These walks are non-profit but a booking fee is necessary to minimise the frustrating level of no-shows. It costs €10 to register and all funds are circulated back into the farming community.
- Please wear suitable footwear for uneven and potentially muddy conditions.
- We would ask that you please respect these farmers, their land and livestock when visiting. Dogs are not welcome. You will be turned away if you arrive with one.
- The exact location of the farm walk will be sent via email to ticket holders on the week of the walk (keep an eye on your email & your spam folder as sometimes the emails end up in spam).
- Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the walk commences.
Thank you to the NPWS and the DAFM for supporting these farm walks.
For more info on FFN events, resources, programmes - go to www.farmingfornature.ie