FARMERS' MARKETS SURVEY RESULTS

Here is a recent (Nov 2009) Teagasc survey on artisan and speciality selling at farmers' markets:

here

Teagasc Course in Butchering and small scale meat production

Perfect new course upcoming for farmers interested in Organics with Altitude's farming and food business model:

here

This course if a Teagasc run course on butchering and small scale meat production, and it runs from the 23rd=24th March.

All relevant contact details, booking forms etc at the link above.

ORGANIC TRAINING COURSES 2ND WEEK MARCH

The next round of Teagasc Organic training Courses begin on the second week in March. These E200 courses, one day per week for five weeks, are compulsory for new applicants to the Organic Farming Scheme.

They will be held in:

Macroom, Dungarvan, Listowel, Ennis, Kilkenny, Mullingar, Boyle, Athenry, Mohill and Donegal.

(Note: Boyle is already full)

Teagasc Organic Advisors:

Pat Barry, Moorepark 087-2138331

Dan Clavin, Athenry 087-9368506

Elaine Leavy, Grange 087-9853285

James McDonnell, Oak Park 087-3293820

Organic Training Courses start this week

The Teagasc Organic Training Courses start this week: Click here to see where and when.

Teagasc Organic Advisors:

Pat Barry, Moorepark 087-2138331

Dan Clavin, Athenry 087-9368506

Elaine Leavy, Grange 087-9853285

James McDonnell, Oak Park 087-3293820

Organics with Altitude on the road: Listowel, Bantry and Killarney

Since the Sligo event, Oliver Moore and Joe Condon have visited Lisrowel, Bantry and Killarney.

The Listowel event was part of the town's Food Festival. Joe spoke at a large agri-food conference, and then, the next day, we held an event in the local farmers' market and in the Seanachi centre. There were also adverts running on local radio, in the community news section.

(Image: (c) Joe Condon and Neilie O Leary talk at Bantry market)

The farmers' market in Listowel is a decent, busy market, quite bit for the size of the town. We met a number of different types of people there: farmers from the Dingle peninsula and west Kerry in general, a few who had seen Joe speak the night previously, Timmy Flemming of the Ring of Kerry Quality Lamb group, and regional farmers from Cork and Kerry who were interested in the initiative in general.

Along with more general questions about all the stages of the protocol, the main question areas revolved stock availability and around consumer perception of frozen meat.

Myself and Joe decided from that point on to develop more information about stock availability for people. We also spoke to attendees of the benefits, from a nutritional and consumer perception perspective, of frozen organic meat, especially of burgers.

In Bantry, we had our biggest group yet, and there were a number of potentially key operators present. We met and Martin O Flynn's organic stall in the Bantry market: there we met John McKenna, IFA Hill farming committee chair Neilie O Leary, and a range of farmers, with everything from 30 to 1000 acres.

We were delighted with the support of Neilie O Leary, who spoke to us of the benefits of farmers working together, and his own love of the taste of heather grazed l;amb.

We had Leap-based in conversion farmer Kevin Crowley at this one too, and it was great to have a regional farmer present who was already converting to organic and already had Galloways. Indeed, I'd say there were a few contacts made there that may last.

A lot of innovative ideas and enthusiasm abounded at this meeting, and we'd be hopeful that we'll work with a few from this group. Some present were concerned about the grazing levels on their commonages; sourcing stock and organic stocking rates for commonages and the suitability of Dexters to the system.

Our final trip away was to Killarney, to the Teagasc organic training course. We spoke to the group about the project, and fielded questions after that. We were delighted to see people we'd encountered elsewhere on this course, as it suggests they are stepping closer to organic. We also spoke to people who already had extra mature mountain lambs or who were interested in direct selling. The questions were very detailed from this group.

In the new Year, we'll be heading over to Connemara.

In the meantime, have a great Christmas and New Year!

Oliver Moore

Teagasc Organic Training Courses

Trevor Sargent TD, Minister for Food and Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food today welcomed the publication of Teagasc's schedule of organic farming courses which will commence on October 20th next at 12 locations around the country.

"As announced, it is my intention, subject to the outcome of the estimates process, to re-open the Organic Farming Scheme from 1 January 2010 with revised scheme conditions. These Teagasc FETAC accredited courses fulfil the new requirement of potential applicants for the Organic Farming Scheme to complete an accredited course. The course will also train attendees on how to compile the newly required five-year business plan. I'm delighted that Teagasc have responded so promptly to the needs of potential applicants", said Minister Sargent.

Details of courses:

Introduction to Organic Production LL3508 FETAC Accredited Course

Courses starting week of 20th October.

25 hour course.

€200 per participant

Course Times: 10.00am - 12.30pm

2.00pm - 4.30pm one day per week over 5 weeks.

OCurses will be held in:

Boyle, Killarney, Navan Enniscorthy (from Tuesday 20th October)

Ennis, Mallow, Letterkenny, Moate (from Wednesday 21st October)

Athenry, Clonmel, Ballyhaise College, Portlaoise (from Thursday 22nd October)

Contact the course leaders for further information:

Pat Barry, Teagasc, Moorepark: 087-2138331

Dan Clavin, Teagasc, Athenry: 087-9368506

Elaine Leavy, Teagasc, Grange: 087-9853285

James McDonnell, Teagasc, Oakpark: 087-3293820