Laois farmers contribute to sustainable farming book praised by President Michael D Higgins

Two farmers from Laois have contributed to a new book which explores practical ways to create a more sustainable farming future.

More than 50 Irish farmers contributed to The Farming For Future Handbook, including John McHugh from Condarrig, Portlaoise and Bruce Thompson from Ballyfin, Portlaoise. 

The new book combines scientific research with local knowledge to give farmers and others practical tips on how to create a more sustainable future while protecting land and nature.

The farmers share their experiences in the book on how working with nature can help reduce costs and improve incomes. It is hoped that the book will become the essential guide to caring profitably from the land, while also acting as practical guide to protecting and restoring nature.

The farming community are often targeted in discussions regarding environmental damage caused by poor farming practises, however this book aims to highlight the positive ways farmers can sustain and enhance the local environment while also benefitting from the results.

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The book was inspired by the growing interest from farmers, landowners and growers - big and small - in learning how best to manage their land in a way that enhances habitats and safeguards the natural environment and rural communities while also protecting profits. 

The Farming For Nature project was established to support and encourage farmers and those who wish to farm in a way that will improve the natural health of the countryside.

Portlaoise man John McHugh is a dairy farmer as well as an ambassador for Farming For Nature. In a snippet of advice he gives in the book, John says: "Productivity is output per unit input. The more I learned about the true cost of the inputs I used, the more I realised how unproductive I was.

"I think most farmers underestimate the scope to reduce costs and remain profitable by farming for nature. It’s not a blueprint that is encouraged by the industry. I think it’s time that we stop farming for the industry and start farming for our own, our families’ and our  communities’ wellbeing. That will see us looking back to nature."

Fellow dairy farmer, Bruce Thompson shares in the book: "Dung is a microhabitat for a whole diverse range of small creatures but, for me, the king of these is the indomitable dung beetle.

"Modern farming techniques have depleted a lot of our beetle populations. Practices such as grassland tillage, wet (runny) dung pats derived from modern grass management and the removal of animals from fields in autumn (leaving no food for the beetles until spring) have all contributed to beetle decline.

"However, the biggest factor of all is the use of anthelmintics to “control” parasites in animals. These animal remedies are toxic to beetles…. The real tragedy of losing beetles (and other dung derived insects) is their loss as a food source for the wider animal kingdom." 

President Michael D Higgins has praised the book, describing it as: "a timely and essential contribution to the on-going discourse on how we, as a society, must respond to some of the most pressing challenges of our time."

The book was conceived and developed by Brigid Barry, researched and mainly written by conservation ecologist Dr. Emma Hart on behalf of Farming For Nature, and co-edited by Dr. Brendan Dunford of the Burrenbeo Trust.

The book will be launched on 28 November and is sure to be one to check out for everyone, not just for farmers.