"Our cows are clean and comfortable and they reward us with good quality milk"
Dan Somers is the third generation to farm their lands near Arklow, Co Wicklow. He farms alongside his father Danny and knows every inch of the farm and his uncle’s farm across the road that shelter in the valley.
He played in the fields and in the river with his four sisters when he was a child and is eager to protect and enhance it for his own two children, Daniel (2) and Isla (1).
The welfare of the cows and their calves on the Somers family farm is of upmost priority. The father and son team are firm believers that prevention is far better than cure and every single decision they make about the 200-strong herd puts the animal’s welfare front and centre.
“We believe that providing our cows with the best possible environment, especially when housed, is essential. When our cows are clean and comfortable, they reward us with good quality milk,” Dan Somers says, with the family representing Tirlán at this year’s National Dairy Council Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
Cows enjoy maximum time at fresh grass and when housed, all cubicle sheds have automatic scrapers and rubber mats to optimise cow comfort.
“We are acutely aware of the importance of calf health on the farm.
“We allow the cows to exit and enter the collecting yard at their own pace as much as possible. Farm roadways and cow paths are maintained in good condition with the roadways being recently resurfaced to ensure the cows have a smooth and secure surface to walk on,” he says, with rainwater also harvested on the farm.
The Somers farm’s commitment to sustainability is evident throughout the farm. The entire grazing platform is seeded with white clover to fix nitrogen in the soil, and 70 acres are dedicated to red clover silage.
Protecting & Enhancing Water Quality
All watercourses are fenced off with 1.5-metre buffer zones and reed beds and sediment ponds have been established to protect local ecosystems.
They voluntarily test the water in a stream just below the farm every month to ensure its quality is enhanced.
“We have a watercourse running through the farm and everything we do is based on protecting and enhancing this. All water courses on our farm are fenced off, leaving at least a 1.5 meter buffer zone to prevent runoff entering the water course. We are in the process of establishing reed beds which have been found to reduce pollutants by removing nitrates, ammonium, and phosphates before we get to the water course. Sediment ponds for collecting water from the yard are also being established,” he says.
Biodiversity
They’ve replanted hedgerows, have fenced off waterways and left ample space on marshy ground for wildlife. Over 20,000 whitethorn saplings were planted to establish a wildlife sanctuary.
They achieve all of this while running a farm business that provides an income for Dan, Danny and their cousin, Seán, and the necessary time to achieve a well-earned work/life balance with family time for holidays and leisure activities.
Protected urea is used for nitrogen fertilizer, and the farm’s carbon footprint stands at a low 0.72 kg. Water quality is also a major focus.
“All fertiliser spread on the farm is in line with our Nutrient Management Plan which is developed based on up-to-date soil sample results. Fertiliser is only spread when conditions are suitable and we always follow the correct protocol; right product, right place, right time and right rate.”
Low Emissions Slurry Spreading (LESS)
“Slurry is allocated in line with our plan and the closed seasons are strictly adhered to, both because we are conscious of the environmental impact, particularly for water quality, but also because we have sufficient slurry storage. We aim to optimise the nutrients supplied by slurry by using low emissions slurry spreading (LESS) and by only spreading when the conditions are suitable. This reduces the need for chemical fertilisers.”
The Somers family value the benefits of having up-to-date soil sample results. Samples are taken at a minimum of every two years but in certain areas of the farm it can be more regular if they want to reseed.
Red Clover Silage
“Clover incorporation is a huge priority for us. All reseeds incorporate clover in the sward. In other paddocks where we are unhappy with the level of clover, we have gone and stitched it in.
“We optimise the pH levels of the soil on our farm by spreading lime as recommended in our Nutrient Management Plan. We are also big advocates for red clover silage with over 50 acres allocated to red clover silage production. All nitrogen fertiliser used on the farm is in the form of protected urea, meaning there is less nitrogen leached into the atmosphere.”
On-farm sustainability
“We use a heat recovery system to partially heat the water used for washing the milking machine so that we then require less energy to get the water up to the required temperature. We are now looking at installing solar panels to further this energy reduction progress.
“We have committed to planting hedging on our farm on a yearly basis so that the level of carbon sequestration and biodiversity is increased on our farm. We have also constructed settlement ponds for clean water runoff from the yard.”
Dan said they love being dairy farmers and are constantly trying to find new and better ways of working. Being selected as a finalist in this year’s National Dairy Council & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards is a great bonus, he says, and a seal of approval from the sector about their continuous efforts to improve their herd and farm more sustainably into the future.
“Tirlán is a big co-op with lots of very good dairy farmers. We were surprised but also delighted to be selected as their representative at this year’s awards. It’s a huge honour.”
Dan, who graduated from UCD in 2009 with a degree in Agricultural Science, says they are acutely aware of the pressures and the uncertainty facing farmers at the moment. However, he says it is important to focus on the positives and work on the things they can control, rather than getting caught up with worries about changing regulations and weather challenges, which are outside of their control.
Better before Bigger
“This is a farm business and we have to make a living but there is also a sentimental attachment to the land and we are very focused on protecting and enhancing it, making sure we leave it in an even better place for the next generation. Our son, Daniel, is only 2 and our daughter, Isla is only a year old. But I’d like to ensure that if they do decide to farm, that it’s a good enterprise for them.
“We do not plan to increase cow numbers. Instead we wish to continue to increase our production through increased production of kg of milk solids per cow. This will be done through the use of improved genetics and continuing to carefully select when cows are chosen to breed replacements. Nutrition is also an important factor in this and it is something we pay close attention to and are continuously getting advice on.”