7th generation farmer says you can be sustainable, and have a life outside of the farm

The father of four milks 125 cows and up until recently, his 93 year-old mother, Vera, was still very active on the farm, primarily tending to the calves. It’s still very much a family-run business with his wife, Michelle and their four children, Paddy, Mary-Kate, Sean and Sinead, all lending a hand when home, particularly at busy times of the year. 

The Brennan family opened the farm for Tirlán’s flagship ‘Farming for the Future’ event. Seamus said it was great to host an event at which practical, pragmatic and science-based tips and information were shared about how everyone can farm with nature, protect water quality and still be economically sustainable too. 

“My father and mother, Paddy and Vera, worked very hard all their lives and would have bought bits of land around us down through the years. Every field around us here has a name – named after the original owners. There’s about 100 acres in the platform here and we’ve two out blocks three miles away. I’m happy with the numbers we have. It makes it possible to farm right, make a living and have a life outside of work. 

“It’s free draining ground, heavier down by the river that is about a km away by road, half a km as the crow flies. We get the cows out early and make the most of the grass. My eldest son Paddy does the grass measuring for me.”

Work smarter

Seamus says he doesn’t enjoy the paperwork and is very thankful that wife, Michelle, does that. “When you come in after a hard day it’s hard to face into paperwork. The children have always helped out on the farm and this gives them a good insight into farming life.   

“Outside of farming, I now get to enjoy playing cards on a Friday night or we can go off on short breaks. We’ve a very strong local discussion group and that’s a great outlet too for sharing information, and for meeting people.

“My favourite part of the year is probably calving season. It is busy but it’s structured and I get outside help in for the morning time. I don’t mind milking either. I particularly look forward to June when the silage is done, the lads are around from college to help with the milking and we can take a break.”

Past generation

Seamus parents worked hard all of their lives to build up a sustainable farm enterprise, he said. He hopes to continue that great work. “My parents made such progress down through the years. We continue to do everything we can to ensure that this family farm will be viable and sustainable into the future. All of the investments and changes we have made are in keeping with their ethos of having a family farm enterprise that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable for many years to come.” 

Derogation 

He farms in derogation, and has an EBI of €234, producing 504kg of milk solids per annum. He focuses on good soil fertility and grassland management with a nitrogen balance of 186kg N/ha.

Because the Brennans are farming in derogation, they always gone that extra mile to keep things right, particularly when it comes to slurry and fertiliser use. “I’m hoping to invest in an underground tank soon to make more use of the slurry. We’re probably not getting as much out of it as we could – we’re probably spreading it that bit early. I’ll also look into solar. I’ve also put in an EIP application for other bits.” 

Farming for Water EIP 

The Brennan’s local Farm Sustainability Advisor, Roisin McManus, links in with the family as required and was heavily involved in their recent Farming for Water EIP application. 

Seamus’ farm is in the river Nore catchment. It is a nitrate risky area and diffuse nitrogen loss is a key pressure  in the light, free draining soil. “Seamus is very conscious of this and places a strong emphasis on applying the right product in the right place at the right rate and time.

“He uses low emissions slurry spreading and protected urea, two actions he chose under Tirlán’s Sustainability Action Payments programme. Soil fertility is also important and he places strong emphasis on getting his lime, P and K right in his nutrient management plan. He soil samples regularly. 

Good work/life balance

“Seamus is very well set up, the farm is efficient and he has a good work/life balance. He has put in for a TAMS grant for additional slurry storage and his EIP application includes investments like a bucket and brush, slurry testing, a rainwater management plan and more.

“We’re delighted that Seamus hosted the Farming for the Future event. He’s always been a strong advocate for doing things right, working to support the retention of the Nitrates Derogation. He has a great set-up, a really good parlour and facilities in general and he’s definitely a farmer who is farming for the future.”