Biodiversity farmer of the year, Andrew McMenamin chats to Paul Bradley in this week’s edition of The Third Degree about the future of livestock farming, adopting new ideas to achieve emissions targets, and his love of beekeeping.
Hi Andrew, thanks for agreeing to this interview. Could you tell us a little about yourself, please?
I grew up on a small farm a few miles outside Castlefinn. I wasn’t always interested in farming but on the long summer holidays when I was 11 or so I went to work with my dad who was working for a local farmer, and this really sparked my interest in the sector. A few years later I got my first job at 14 working for another local dairy farmer, all this gave me great experience and a good work ethic.
I always wanted to go to college once I left school and study Agriculture. I spent four years between GMIT/ Mountbellew Agricultural College gaining great experience and knowledge and have an Honours degree in Agricultural Science.
After I graduated, I spent two years in Western Australia working on large tillage and livestock farms. Since I returned to Ireland I’ve worked in the sector, starting my current job in 2019 as a Ruminant Nutrition Adviser with United Feeds, selling and giving nutritional advice on animal feed and fertiliser across the north west, mainly in the north.
You recently won Biodiversity Farmer Of The Year. Was it a conscious decision to farm for biodiversity, or just something that came from your preferred methods?
When I was at college doing my degree, we learned then that biodiversity would be the thing going forward. It was a word that was never mentioned in 2008 when I started but by 2012 when I finished it was one of the main topics we learned about. I became more aware of the biodiversity particularly on my own farm at this time. I ended up doing my dissertation in my final year on biodiversity within hedgerows.
Since I took over the home farm I have embraced new ideas and technologies which are not only good for the environment but also cost effective, such as protected urea and the inclusion of more clovers and improving soil fertility to name a few. Biodiversity is in fashion now, but I have always embraced it.
What are the main tips you would give to another farmer who wants to pursue biodiversity?
All farmers will have to pursue biodiversity to some extent on their farms in the coming years. There is a reductions target of 25 per cent emissions from the agri sector and all farmers will have to adopt new ideas and methods to achieve this target. Tips I would give are, leave space for wildlife to thrive, like a corner of a field or a margin around hedges to go wild, it’s amazing the amount of flora and fauna that will appear if left alone. Farmers should also include different species of trees if planting new hedgerows as variety will support more biodiversity than one single species of tree.
You’ve taken up beekeeping as well – was that about product diversity or biodiversity, or do you see no need to differentiate?
I see it as a bit of both. I was always intrigued by bees and honey production, but never had the time or courage to start them. I started learning about them during Covid and got my first hive in 2021. I like the idea that bees can take the nectar from around my farm and surrounding area and turn it into a source of food. I see it was another type of farming really and they are so important to the environment.
Will the general move towards eating less meat affect your plans for the future?
None, I don’t see it as a threat as the majority of people will still eat meat. Vegan diets are not that clean for the environment either as protein sources are shipped around the world and beef is a local clean source.
Where do you see livestock farming in, say, 50 years?
I still see livestock farming in a similar way of production to now, farmers will be more efficient and probably larger scale with less smaller farms, but I can still see cattle out grazing in this lovely green image. If you looked at livestock farming in Europe 50 years ago more cattle were out grazing in fields but now, they have become intensive indoor systems. I cannot see that happening here as it would ruin our green pastural image, it’s an image that is unique to us and helps sell our livestock products worldwide. Hopefully the Irish family farm still exists as it is a great way of life.
Is farming easier (with new equipment and methods) or harder (with more regulations and standards and costs) now than it used to be?
Farming is definitely easier now with new methods and machinery for example, and thinking about all the work my grandfather would have endured in his time even my father’s time, things are a lot easier now. Back in their day they were certainly paid better for what they produced, but it was hard work. Families were raised on farm incomes which couldn’t be done now from small holdings.
I feel we need the high standards and regulations as we cannot compete on the open market against countries with low costs, but these give us an advantage as we can prove our quality and command a premium price.
Quick fire
The book or the film?
I’m not a big reader of books but any book I have read beats the film hands down every time, it always seems better in your imagination.
The perfect night?
You know you’re getting old when the perfect night is to go to a nice steakhouse for dinner and to the pub instead of going out to the Pulse or Voodoo.
Favourite film, artists, music?
Remember The Titans film, Calvin Harris and dance music.
What motivates you?
Always wanting to learn and improve and feeling appreciated.
What do you look for most in a friend?
Loyalty and good craic.
What angers or disappoints you?
Slow drivers and not enough good roads in this county.
How do you relax?
Playing Gaelic football. It clears the mind whether it’s training or matches.
You have €10,000 – what’s the one thing you’d most like to spend it on right now?
I would take myself and my partner on a cruise around the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. Always wanted to visit a lot of different countries in a short time, that would be the ideal holiday.
If anyone else would like to take part in this interview, to raise a profile or an issue, or just for fun, please contact Paul at Dnthirddegree@gmail.com
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