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organic farming

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    #2132
    n1st
    Registered Users Posts: 571 ✭✭✭n1st


    I confirmed with Teagasc that the course must be done be October 2024.

    Thanks



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    #2133
    endainoz
    Registered Users Posts: 5,043 ✭✭✭endainoz


    It's actually a pretty enjoyable course and you get great knowledge from it.



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    #2134
    n1st
    Registered Users Posts: 571 ✭✭✭n1st


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121373693#Comment_121373693

    I'm looking forward to it, I wouldn't if I had to take in in December this year.



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    #2135
    StevenToast
    Registered Users Posts: 3,607 ✭✭✭StevenToast


    I have my application in with IOA....awaiting inspection etc....

    I applied for the OFS today....ticked a few boxes on agfood...very straightforward...

    Am I missing something?

    "Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." - Fletcher



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    #2136
    Rusheseverywhere
    Registered Users Posts: 302 ✭✭Rusheseverywhere


    Nope and inspection will be fine just make sure paperwork is right and especially medicines. Remeber to keep dockets from meal bags. ie the ingredient bit. Just one or two. If you buy in bulk get ingredient list from supplier. Only thing ever been asked for on inspection you might not think of. Luckily had plenty empty bags about to get one from.



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    #2137
    tanko
    Registered Users Posts: 9,267 ✭✭✭tanko


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121381709#Comment_121381709

    No, that’s about it. Keep an eye out for an Organic course with NOTS or Teagasc that suits you. All that’s left to do then is sell half your cattle.



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    #2138
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,500 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121381747#Comment_121381747

    Yeah, it's the paperwork being ok. Not a massive task. Buying animals, be sure to get a copy of the sellers licence along with the form outlining the history of the animal. Get them at the time of sale as chasing them later is a pain. If the inspection is done in the middle of the year, you may need to get a second book or extra sheets as fields may have different crops each calendar year.



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    #2139
    massey 265
    Registered Users Posts: 157 ✭✭massey 265


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121381709#Comment_121381709

    Well the best of luck to you.Im organic here past 22 years and find it fits in perfectly with how i want to run the farm here.Avoid the negativity from some re organic farming and learn as you go along ,its not rocket science.Read up on the specs and go to a few open days on organic farms amd youll be grand.As with all the other farmimg enterprises it has its ups and downs ,but can be very rewarding also re quality of life etc.



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    #2140
    endainoz
    Registered Users Posts: 5,043 ✭✭✭endainoz


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121383716#Comment_121383716

    The certification bodies should hire you as a spokesperson!



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    #2141
    Picking Dasies
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭Picking Dasies


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121383716#Comment_121383716

    Hi Massey,


    What's the space requirement of lie back (m2) for cow and new born calf.



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    #2142
    massey 265
    Registered Users Posts: 157 ✭✭massey 265


    W

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121391254#Comment_121391254

    Think its 3 (m2) per suckler cow if my memory is correct ,that can be half slatted and half dry bedded.I have 15 stores approx 450 kgs and 15 weanlings 280 kgs in a four bay slats and 4 bay dry bedded shed and it works well .2 bays of slats and 2 bays dry bedded each.1round bale of straw rolled out per week does the job,then get the lot pushed up with loader into 1 bay and let compost over the summer for spreading in back end.mighty stuff.



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    #2143
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,500 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    For the suckler it's 5 or 6 m2 depending on cow size. Half of this must be straw bed. I'm not sure the amount for the calf. Think a weanling is about 2.5/3 m2.



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    #2144
    massey 265
    Registered Users Posts: 157 ✭✭massey 265


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121391929#Comment_121391929

    I stand corrected on suckler cow space ,i woudnt be familiar as i dont keep suckler cows.



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    #2145
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,500 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    I only did the shed space calculations in 2019 and I've them largely forgotten already. I know it's usually 5m2 for an adult cow, but the occasional inspector has been known to be iffy about space for large cows.



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    #2146
    tanko
    Registered Users Posts: 9,267 ✭✭✭tanko


    300kg 3 metres squared, 400kgs 4 metres squared, 500 kgs 5ms, 600kgs 6ms, these are the total areas needed, at least half these areas has to be solid bedded area the other half can be slats, or 3ms of a cubicle per cow. If you have 800kg cows you’re really supposed to have 8ms per cow, how strictly this is enforced i don’t know. If you have 6ms per cow i’d say you’d be safe enough.



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    #2147
    tractorporn
    Registered Users Posts: 1,387 ✭✭✭tractorporn


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121392830#Comment_121392830

    The space for all cows is 6m² the minimum space for cubicles is 2.62m² as long as you provide the balance of the 3m² somewhere else in the shed. Most fellas just leave a couple of cubicles empty in the shed.

    There is one German inspector who gets fussy about space for larger cows but that should be sorted now. The space requirement for over 500kgs are for finishing animals.

    Post edited by tractorporn on


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    #2148
    Silverdream
    Registered Users Posts: 601 ✭✭✭Silverdream


    Total bedded area has to be 50% of the total housing area. So this means if you have a 4 bay double slatted house you must then have the same area as solid bedding. After this rule has been met then you can do your calculations.



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    #2149
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,993 ✭✭✭893bet


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121393940#Comment_121393940

    I am not sure this is correct interpretation of the regs. The 50 percent piece I mean. It’s a simple way to look at it when it’s more nuanced than that

    e.g if you had 5 cows on a three slated unit but they had access to a bedded area off the slats that was 15m3 then you are in compliance as you have at least 6m2 space per cow and 3m2 of that is beded. You actually have probably 12m2 per cow total space.



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    #2150
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,993 ✭✭✭893bet


    https://www.irishorganicassociation.ie/wp-content/uploads/Organic-Food-and-Farming-Standards-Ireland-Edition-2.pdf

    page 211 here is the full standard.



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    #2151
    Silverdream
    Registered Users Posts: 601 ✭✭✭Silverdream


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121394026#Comment_121394026

    Inspectors look for 50% of the total housing to be solid floor bedding



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    #2152
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,993 ✭✭✭893bet


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121394230#Comment_121394230

    While that doesn’t surprise me it’s a mis-interpretation of the regulations that you see respeated over and over on the like of Agriland, teagasc etc.



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    #2153
    Rusheseverywhere
    Registered Users Posts: 302 ✭✭Rusheseverywhere


    All depends who inspects and how strict they are ie the large suckler cow points. Also the below is news to me wonder if anyone had an issue answers the bulls bit above too in a way ie all male cattle need open air area.

    "3.14.05 (848.II.II.1.9.1.1c) Notwithstanding paragraph 3.04.10 male bovine animals over one year old shall have access to pasturage or an open air area."

    Also all cows need and exercise area? A rule brought in in 2020 (2020/464.I.I.1) see the Rules 893 posted and below the 2020 EU REgulation. Way I read them the rules require a 900kg cow to have 16m2 in shed space if exercise area taken as being in the shed. 1m2 per 100kg and an exercise area at 0.75m2 per 100 kg.

    It that is right ends alot of lads in sucklers and organics.

    https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R0464&rid=4



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    #2154
    Silverdream
    Registered Users Posts: 601 ✭✭✭Silverdream


    When applying for organics you have to submit a farmyard plan. This plan has to show solid bedded areas vs slatted areas. At one stage slats were a complete no no in organics. Its why there is grants to replace the slats with solid slabs, but in fairness I can't see anyone doing that just to make themselves eligible for organics. The lads going into organics in the past were often lads with little to no housing to begin with. Usually no slatted house but maybe a cubical house and hayshed instead



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    #2155
    manjou
    Registered Users Posts: 379 ✭✭manjou


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121395257#Comment_121395257

    I replaced slats with solid slabs because it was cheaper than building a shed 60% grant for doing it .kept slats so can put back in if I wanted to. Used to be able to bed the slats but can't now due to safety reasons os slats giving way when cleaning out and some one someone ending up in tank of slurry.



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    #2156
    Silverdream
    Registered Users Posts: 601 ✭✭✭Silverdream


    Price of straw has gone nuts. €100 for a 8X4X3 square bale in Ennis this morning. All rounds sold out at €50, most of it was well weathered wheaten straw. No Barley straw to be got for any money.



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    #2157
    StevenToast
    Registered Users Posts: 3,607 ✭✭✭StevenToast


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121395331#Comment_121395331

    I had tractor slats installed 5 years ago....are they ok to bed...no problem driving on them?

    "Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." - Fletcher



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    #2158
    tanko
    Registered Users Posts: 9,267 ✭✭✭tanko


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121397507#Comment_121397507

    No. It used to be ok to put a skim of concrete on slats and bed them but not any more.



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    #2159
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,993 ✭✭✭893bet


    Anyone any idea when Payment will be issued?



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    #2160
    tanko
    Registered Users Posts: 9,267 ✭✭✭tanko


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121446190#Comment_121446190

    Supposed to be starting next week.



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    #2161
    n1st
    Registered Users Posts: 571 ✭✭✭n1st


    Does Organic Farming warrant it's on sub category here?



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