Laois grain grower John C Fletcher has won the Glanbia Ireland Grain supplier of the Year Award for 2020 and is the Seed Barley category champion, beating off stiff competition from fellow growers nationwide in what was a challenging yet rewarding year for growers right across the country.
John is a well-travelled, fourth-generation farmer from Ballykillane outside of Portarlington and is among 12 suppliers honoured for producing top-class native Irish grain.
‘Rotation is key’
John farms with his father, John. The married father of five grows winter crops of wheat, barley, oats and oilseed rape, along with spring crops of malting barley, feed beans and oilseed rape. He uses beans and oilseed rape as an entry crop to seed crops whenever possible. Most are sown using a plough-based, establishment system.
John was very appreciative of the support and expert advice provided by his Glanbia Ireland Agronomist Tim Scott, particularly in what he admitted as “a difficult year” from a weather perspective. And what is the secret of his success?
“Rotation is key,” John revealed as he pondered his win and the hard work the family puts into the family farm, year-in, year-out.
“We’re always trying to build fertility in the soil as we’re in continuous tillage. 2020 wasn’t a great year as drought got us very early on. Yields were poor and were down about a half tonne an acre on 2019 levels. But thankfully the quality was good and price was better than previous years.”
As well as tending to several hundred acres, John and his family also run a growing hardware and electrical contracting business which employs over 130 people. They’re currently building a 25,000ft² hardware retail store so there’s never a dull moment for John and his team.
Traditionally, John and his family would enjoy several breaks from the farm and other projects as they love to travel and tended to get away a few times a year. But Covid has put an end, albeit temporarily, to such breaks, leaving more time for the family and their various projects.
Raised the bar
Congratulating the Fletcher family on their continued success, Glanbia Ireland Chairman, John Murphy, commended all of the growers whose excellence and attention to detail are recognised as central to the exceptionally high standards in the industry.
“Grain farmers across Ireland continue to produce extremely high-quality grains, albeit in very challenging weather conditions over the past number of years. 2020 was no different with 60% more than average rainfall and high winds wreaking havoc in the south and south-east, particularly in August.
“Despite all of this, our award winners and their fellow growers excelled and have raised the bar even further this year.
“Production was down nationally in 2020 but the outlook for 2021 looks promising. Forecasts look good, prices have increased and there’s a confidence that markets have strengthened and hopefully that the trend will continue,” he said.
The expert nutritional, R&D and sustainability team at Glanbia Ireland’s Plant Hub are continuously innovating and examining more efficient, environmentally-friendly and healthier ways of feeding the human and animal population.
Head of Strategic Alliances at Glanbia Ireland Tom Finlay said: “Glanbia Ireland is the largest buyer and user of native Irish grains. Our gluten-free oatmeal base doubled in volumes in 2020, based on 2019 intake.
“We are expanding our value chain to include a range of oat flour which is used in a number of nutritious applications. We will bring a range of quinoa offerings to the market and these will include flakes and flour. We’ve also introduced a range of organic oatmeal this year,” he revealed.
Glanbia Ireland’s total green grain intake for 2020 stood at 171,260t, down from 206,040 in 2019. Glanbia will also buy around 80,000t of dried grain from the 2020 harvest.
Glanbia Grain Awards – category winners 2020
Seed Barley and overall winner: John C. Fletcher, Ballykillane, Portarlington, Co. Laois. John’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is Tim Scott.
Green Feed Beans winner is Philip Murphy, Ballykerogue, Campile, Co. Wexford. Philip farms a mixed farming enterprise of tillage, suckler beef and calf-to-beef with his wife, Margaret. The main crops grown on the farm are winter barley, winter wheat, spring malting barley, spring beans and fodder beet. Philip’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is Ed Prendergast.
Feed Oats category winner is Thomas McKeown, Knock, Castletown, Navan, Co. Meath. He farms with his brother, Bernard, and their main crops are cereals and potatoes. Thomas grows a large amount of seed crops and grows gluten free oats for Glanbia. Thomas’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is Jayne Smyth.
Green Oilseed Rape winner is Ivan Curan, Broadleas Farm, Stamullen, Co. Meath. His farm enterprises comprise both tillage and beef. Crops grown include oilseed rape, winter wheat, potatoes and winter barley. Broadleas Farm is well-known and hosted RTÉ’s “Big Week on the Farm” show during harvest 2019. Ivan’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is Jayne Smyth.
The Seed Wheat winner is the Brennan Family, Chapel Avenue Farm, Barrowhouse, Athy, Co. Kildare.
It is a mixed enterprise farm comprising of tillage, dairy and beef run by brothers Anthony, Martin and Ignatius Brennan along with Ignatius’ son, James. They grow wheat, barley, oats, oilseed rape, peas and fodder beet. The Brennan family’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is Barry Purcell.
Winter (Cassia) Feed Barley winner is Richard Thomson-Moore, Barne Estate, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. He farms approximately 650ac of combinable crops on medium loam soils and grows winter barley, winter wheat, spring barley and spring oats.
In recent years, Richard has introduced an area of High Erucic Acid Oilseed Rape (HEAR) grown on contract for Glanbia mainly as a break crop. Richard’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is David Quinlan.
Malting Barley winner is Dermot McAuliffe, Kill St. Annes, Castlelyons, Co. Cork. Dermot farms approximately 140ac and crops grown include winter wheat, winter barley and spring malting barley.
Attention to detail is of paramount importance to Dermot and due care is taken throughout the season to ensure the crops are grown to the best possible standard. High soil fertility is a key area Dermot focuses on year after year to ensure the consistency of both grain yield and quality. All crops are established using a plough-based system. Dermot’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is David Quinlan.
Green Feed Barley winner is Martin Hayden, Coolroe, Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny. Martin farms on medium/heavy loam soils and runs a mixed farming enterprise, combining tillage with an Angus calf-to-beef system and production of ewe lambs for breeding.
The crop rotation on the farm consists of winter or spring oats, followed by winter barley or winter wheat, followed in turn by spring or winter barley. Martin farms with his father, Martin Senior, while also working off farm in the agri-financial industry. Martin’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is James Hickey.
Green Feed Wheat winner is Pat McEvoy, Kilberry, Athy, Co. Kildare. Pat farms 100ac and his crop rotation consists of winter wheat, winter barley, winter oats and spring malting barley. Cassia barley and food grade oats are grown on contract for Glanbia. All crops on the farm are sown after ploughing. Pat’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is Sean Boland.
Dried Feed Barley winner is Michael Cloney, Curracloe, Co. Wexford. Michael farms in the seaside village and, over the years, he has built up the area farmed to 1,200ac on which he grows a range of crops including winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, winter barley, spring barley, malting barley, feed oats and gluten free oats.
All grain is dried and stored on farm with the exception of the oilseed rape, malting barley and gluten free oats. Maize and some grass silage are also grown on contract for local dairy farmers. Michael’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is Tom Hession.
Food Grade Oats winner is John Leahy, Heath Farm, Athy, Co. Kildare. John farms 250ac of excellent tillage land and runs his tillage business in conjunction with a calf-to-store beef enterprise.
The main crops grown on the farm include winter barley, winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, spring barley and food grade oats John also sows some forage crops. He uses the traditional plough-based method for drilling most crops but sometimes engages a non-plough method for sowing oilseed rape. John’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is Sean Boland.
Dried Feed Wheat winner is Philip Doyle, Lullymore Farm, Rathangan, Co. Kildare. Philip farms 900ac of crops and 100ac of grassland.
The tillage enterprise is run alongside a beef fattening enterprise which occupies the winter months on the farm. Philip aims to sow mainly winter crops each year, if the weather allows. The cropping programme will generally comprise of one-third winter wheat, one-third winter barley with the remaining third split between spring barley and spring wheat. Philip’s Glanbia Ireland Agronomist is Peter O’Grady.
