Grassroots (Ep.1) - Doing it their own way: Mob grazing

Grassroots is a new departure in agricultural programming as we embrace the dialogue that needs to happen in the rapidly changing farming landscape, with an increased awareness of farming’s impact on ecosystems and how working with nature we can produce abundant, nutritious food while ensuring we protect our natural resources and our countryside for future generations.

This evening, we’ll bring you the stories of farmers who are doing it their own way, and practising variations on a system that is often referred to as mob grazing, which is usually synonymous with swards that have a lot more botanical diversity than would be typical in Irish pastures. Another feature of these systems is that the type of animal chosen must fit with the system in specific ways, so that it can outwinter well, without being hard on ground, and will typically be adapted to thrive on pasture and not require concentrates to finish. So, these systems require a different set of features and received standard practices than are considered mainstream at the present time.

Tonight's guests on 'Grassroots' are Jennifer and Stephen O'Reilly from Cluainview Farm in County Kilkenny and John Deegan from Kilbeggan in County Westmeath. Presented by Dr. Peter Dunne.