Cavan IFA chief driving organic produce

As the 21st century further unfolds the maintenance of a healthy environment assumes ever greater importance. Anything which will give us a better guarantee of good health is embraced with enthusiasm. In that regard organic food produce is assuming a steadily growing popularity. While not suggesting that any of the food that is non organically produced isn"t anything but healthy - it is true that perceptions do matter and there is a perception that food produced without recourse to chemical based fertilisers or additives is better. At international level the organic market is growing at 20% per year over the past 10 years and there is a discernible shift towards organically produced products by consumers all over Europe. Here in Ireland as part of a drive to have 5% of Irish agricultural land certified as organic in four years time a series of farm walks are taking place over the summer. Teagasc is promoting the organic route as an attractive option for farmers. Only 0.9% of agricultural land in Ireland is farmed organically compared to 4.4% in the UK, while in countries like Italy, Austria, Sweden and Denmark it is between 6% and 13.5%. With the outward expansion of REPS amongst the farming community there is a growing commitment towards environmentally friendly farming and as a result there is an increasing interest amongst farmers in the organic farming concept. Here in County Cavan one of the active participants in organic farming is Richard Moeran, from Mountnugent, who also happens to be Chairman of County Cavan IFA. Richard is an industrious farmer engaged in the organic production of pork, lamb and beef as well as of significant tillage crops. With regard to the organic farming of livestock all of the animal feed must also be produced organically. The grass, hay and silage which the cattle are fed with must have no contact with chemical based fertiliser and the other inputs must be organically produced as well. Worm dosing must be stopped except if necessary. Richard Moeran says: 'With regard to worm dosing you must only do it if you have to. In the old days I used to dose for fluke in the autumn and in the springtime I would dose as well but I stopped those things. I now only dose if I have a problem and over the last three years I didn"t have to do it.' He points out that there is no spraying of docks or ragworth and to keep the weeds at bay he tops regularly. Mixed grazing system The Cavan IFA President operates a mixed grazing system for his cattle and sheep. In total he has 200 acres in grassland; his land isn"t over stocked and the grassland management system he operates is similar to that of typical suckler herds, he says. He stresses that his headage numbers are not low and are actually around the level recommended under REPS. In total he grazes 75 cattle and 200 sheep. He also has 100 acres under tillage. Richard is also a pig farmer and his sows and pigs are free range - being raised and farmed out of doors. He acknowledges that organic farming is a minority calling at the moment but stresses that there is currently a very good market for all organic products. 'People are looking for something different and with Departmental certification issued in respect of all organic products there is a growing demand for them by the consumer', he adds. Asked how he marketed his organic meat and grain crops, Richard says that his meat, lamb and pork are bought for sale to Marks & Spencers and Tesco. Linden Foods in Dungannon and ICM in Navan buy most of his sheep and cattle for sale to the above mentioned multiples. He also supples to the local farmers markets as well. On the tillage front, Richard Moeran grows a total of 100 acres of oats and barley for sale to the animal feed industry. The grain is grown without recourse to chemical fertiliser, pesticides or fungicides. 'The return per crop is lower than the conventional crop but with rising energy costs for conventional farming it is a fact that organic farming is now becoming increasingly viable', he says. Lighter breeds Returning to his organic cattle and sheep farming operation, Richard Moeran now keeps Aberdeen Angus and lighter breeds in preference to heavier animals such as Charlolais and Limousin. His cattle are slaughtered at 290 to 320 kilos deadweight and he receives 440 cents a kilo for those animals. Richard Moeran says that his decision to go down the organic route is a personal one - and he would never suggest using his role in the IFA to urge other farmers to opt for such a move. 'It is IFA policy to represent all farmers; the organic farmer is in a minority and from the organisation"s point of view I wouldn"t be trying to persuade other farmers to go in that direction. It is a farmer"s own personal decision', he says. The fact that he was engaged in REPS and that he owned a sizeable tract of land were factors that helped persuade him to consider organic farming as an option. He also points out that there are considerable incentives from the Department of Agriculture for farmers who wish to farm organically. 'There is a 40% machinery grant from the Department which is very significant in light of other grants being closed off or not being re-opened like the Farm Improvement Scheme. Any farm investment for which you can draw grants of up to 60% if you are an organic farmer is very significant', he says. With regard to price yield, Mr. Moeran reveals that the price for organic produce is 20% to 25% above the conventional product. As well as Irish Department of Agriculture certification, organic produce is also certified by the Organic Trust and the IOFGA (the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Assocation). 'There is a rigorous inspection process of organic farms so that the consumer is fully guaranteed that the product in question is produced to organic standards', says Richard Moeran. He sold lambs two weeks ago at €130 a lamb when conventional lambs were selling at €85 to €90 each. 'There is a huge difference there and many farmers are becoming fully aware of that,' he says.