The development of an organic farming system (OFC) based on best practices with an organice farmer pilot group, End of Project Reports, Teagasc, 1998.

Abstract

The farming system was developed with the assistance and co-operation of ten pilot farmers during the period March 1993 to March 1997. The purpose of the project was to develop a method which would enable farmers to practice a system of farming which was sustainable and friendly towards the environment. This was achieved by way of three major objectives. These were: (A) The production of high quality and healthy pasture and livestock. (B) Development of a fertile soil and a clean environment. (C) Production of a diverse flora and attractive landscape. These objectives were achieved by the application of three basic husbandry practices which were combined in a complementary way into a single farming system. These were: (a) Multifunctional Grassland Management (MGM) to achieve objective A (b) Ecological Nutrient Management (ENM) to achieve objective B (c) Ecological Infrastructural Management (EIM) to achieve objective C. Four criteria were used to evaluate the applicability of the husbandry practices and their success. These were: (1) Is it ready for use. (2) Is it acceptable to the farmer. (3) Is it manageable for the farmer. (4) Is it effective. The investigation showed that • The use of pilot farmers is an effective method of developing practical organic farming systems and disseminating information on these systems among farmers. • Application of multifunctional grassland management (MGM) gave better health in sheep and cattle through better pasture hygiene. • Of the three basic husbandry practices which were used the advantages of ecological nutrient management (ENM) was the most easily understood and most readily applied by the farmers. • Grassland fertility was maintained by grazing and cutting in a l t e rnate years and by recycling measured amounts of farmyard manure on to silage land. • There is little or no risk of environmental pollution with the application of the farming system which was developed during the investigation. • The advantages of ecological infrastructural management (EIM) was least readily understood and applied by the pilot farmers. • The application of EIM was slower to yield positive results compared with MGM and ENM. • The presence of good hedgerow networks on most of the farms reduced the need for a strong programme of EIM.