Analysis: More climate-friendly practices on the Walsh family farm has produced a carbon footprint significantly lower than the national average
By Siobhan Kavanagh and Nora O'Donovan, Teagasc
Farming at Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary, the Walsh family have found a way to run their dairy farm that's good for business and the environment. By combining smart planning with a love for the land, they’ve created a model for sustainable farming that others can learn from.
Making the most of their farm
The Walshs milk 165 cows on their 63-hectare dairy platform and manage a total of 107 hectares of grassland. Through careful breeding and efficient practices, they’ve built a highly productive and profitable farm. In 2024, each cow produced an impressive 524 kg of milk solids (the national average was 449kg).
They also focus on lowering their farm’s impact on the environment and their carbon footprint is significantly lower than the national average.
From Teagasc, John and Brendan Walsh talk about their Co Tipperary farm
Cutting back on chemicals
Since 2020, the family has reduced their use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers by 40%. That’s a big win for the environment, and it hasn’t hurt their grass growth one bit. In fact, they’re producing 13.7 tonnes of grass dry matter per hectare, proof that sustainable farming can still be productive.
So how have they done this?
Healthy soils
The Walshs have been working hard to keep their soils in great shape. About two-thirds of their fields have the right balance of soil nutrients. Most of the land has ideal levels of pH, phosphorus, and potassium, key ingredients for healthy plant growth.
Using clover to cut back on fertiliser
Over the past five or six years, they've added a lot of clover to their fields. Now, 52% of their grazing land has a medium to high amount of clover, mostly planted through reseeding. Red clover is also used in silage fields.
Why clover? It helps to naturally add nitrogen to the soil, so they don’t need to use as much chemical fertiliser. Fields with a lot of clover don’t need any chemical nitrogen—just slurry and wash water from the milking parlour to provide nutrients. Fields with some clover get a small amount of nitrogen in early spring. Fields with just grass (no clover) still get the usual amount of fertiliser.
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From RTÉ News, why farmers are turning to clover as part of grass management
Smarter slurry use
Slurry (liquid manure) is tested and spread only where and when it’s needed. They use special low-emission equipment to spread it more accurately and reduce waste.
Reducing waste
GPS technology helps them spread fertiliser and slurry more precisely, so nothing is wasted. They also leave buffer zones near waterways to stop nutrients from running off into rivers and lakes.
Making a home for wildlife
Caring for nature has always been part of life on the Walsh farm. There has been an emphasis on biodiversity from Brendan’s grandfather’s time. Hedges are managed differently now, being allowed to grow up and out. John does the hedge trimming himself so that he can get it right. A whitethorn is allowed grow up every 50m in each hedge.
There are groves of trees dotted around the farm, including a 3ha forestry block which is gradually being converted from spruce into natives, including oak and alder. They plant trees every year on the farm. Thanks to these efforts, the farm is a haven for wildlife. Birds like barn owls, herons and even curlews are spotted there, all a good indication that they are encouraging biodiversity on the farm.
Dealing with nitrogen surplus
Nitrogen surplus is the nitrogen left over after producing grass and milk, and it’s the nitrogen that potentially could leach into watercourses. John and Brendan have managed to lower this figure considerably by carefully reducing reliance on chemical nitrogen, but only when all the building blocks outlined above were in place.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Dr Eimear Cotter from the Environmental Protection Agency on early indications that nitrogen levels in Irish rivers are now at an eight-year low
What other farmers can learn?
The Walshs are a family with a plan and have developed a sustainable dairy farming business by executing it. Like so many of the other 16 finalists in the Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards, they are willing to share their learnings in order to promote and protect the future of farming in Ireland.
For other farmers embarking on such a journey, their key message resonates: start with small steps before rolling it out across your farm. "Try everything, but don’t be afraid to fail," John added, with Brendan suggesting: "Surround yourself with good advice from Teagasc and other farmers. Speak to those that are positive."
A Dairying at Dusk tour of the Walsh family will take place tomorrow (June 10th) at 630pm. All are welcome - Eircode E21 T938
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Dr Siobhan Kavanagh is Communications and Engagement Specialist with the Signpost Farmers for Climate Action programme at Teagasc. Nora O'Donovan is a Teagasc Dairy Advisor currently operating the Teagasc/Dairygold Demonstration Farm programme.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
