Organic Matters

Season 4: Outwintering beef cattle on cover crops and growing crop mixes

20 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the final episode of Season 4 of the Organic Matters Podcast, we meet organic farmers Aoife Gibney and Eamon Campbell on their beef and tillage far...

Season 4: Switching from sheep to organic beef, cereals and agri-tourism

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, we meet organic farmer and entrepreneur Richard Ball, farming on the Meath/Westmeath border. Richard and his wife Bairbre swit...

Season 4: Producing Turkeys for Christmas, Milling Oats and More

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet mixed farmers John and Fiona Curran in Co. Meath. The Currans manage a range of enterprises, including turkeys, ...

Season 4: Organics helping to save rare breeds and grasslands

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet cattle and sheep farmer Tom Keane, located on the banks of the Shannon estuary, Co. Limerick. Tom, along with hi...

Season 4: Balancing organic tillage, beef, horses and nature

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet Philip and Eleanor Cussen, who farm in Co. Tipperary. They blend their love for nature and Irish Cobs, with grow...

Season 4: First time tillage farmer successfully growing crops and selling direct

11 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, tillage and beef farmer Reuben Cope, based in County Kilkenny, speaks to Hannah Quinn-Mulligan about converting to organ...

Season 4: Sums adding up for organic tillage and sheep in Carlow

27 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Organic Matters Podcast Joe Nolan, a relatively recent convert to organics, speaks to Hannah Quinn-Mulligan about downsizing from 1,0...

Season 4: Direct selling your own suckler beef

13 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters meets third-generation suckler farmer Padraic O'Donnell, based in South Galway. ⁠ After returning home from the UK to tak...

Season 4: Championing native Irish sheep and wool

30 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters meets Blátnaid Gallagher, an organic sheep farmer in East Galway who has been championing the native Galway sheep breed fo...

Season 4: Buying 20ac to address short supply chain issues in organics

16 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Organic Matters, host Hannah Quinn-Mulligan interviews Pat O'Sullivan, the CEO of gourmet catering company Master Chefs in Limerick...

Season 4: Growing an organic egg, veg and suckler beef system

02 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we meet Fergal Smith of Moy Hill Farm, who has a mixed organic farming system including eggs, vegetables and a suckler beef system. F...

Season 4: Second year suckler farming in organics

19 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we meet Patrick Davoren, who is based in Carron in Co Clare, in the heart of the Burren. Patrick outlines his reasons for going organ...

Season 4: Making Organic Beef Farming Work for You

05 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week suckler farmer and beef finisher Donagh O'Grady speaks to Organic Matters from his farm in Limerick. Donagh discusses finishing beef cattle ...

Season 4: Combining forestry with organics

21 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the first episode of Season 4, we meet Mitch Corbett and Harry Badrick at the Hometree charity near Ennistymon in Co. Clare. The pair are part of a...

Season 3: How Organic Exotic Mushrooms saved one Irish couple after Brexit

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the final episode of Season 3 of the Organic Matters Podcast, we meet Dolores and Joe Gorman from Garryhinch Wood Exotic Mushrooms in Co. Offaly. T...

Season 3: Developing an organic oil and spices oil business

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet Andrea and Markus Miley who have developed an organic oil and spices business based in Portarlington, Co. Laois ...

Season 3: Building direct selling veg and combi crop businesses

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet brothers Charlie and Dan Hogan, and Dan's partner Una Wycherley who all run Larkin's Hill Farm together on the o...

Season 3: Mob grazing livestock in Cork

07 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Charles Harold Barry and his wife Catherine who produce organic beef and lamb. They farm in north Cork and k...

Season 3: Developing a farm shop, café, egg and veg business on a social farm

23 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Marian Clarke from Doon Social Farm part of Ballyhoura Rural Services based in County Limerick. As well as c...

Season 3: French sucklers flourishing in east Cork

09 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet suckler and tillage farmer Jim Stafford. Jim breeds Aubrac cattle, which originally hail from France, alongside ...

Season 3: From International Development to Aronia Berries

26 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet Steve Collins who farms in West Cork. Having returned from overseas after working on development projects for se...

Season 3: Masterclass in organic arable silage

12 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet Tony Murphy. Situated in the centre of Cork county, he farms Angus cattle and Beltex sheep as well as tillage. ...

Season 3: First year converting a suckler, sheep and tillage farm to organic

28 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to suckler, sheep and tillage farmer Angus Woods. Angus began the conversion of his farm in January 2024 havi...

Season 3: Breeding Galloways and growing Barley for whiskey

14 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we visit the farm of John and Marcella Mallick near Tinahely in Co. Wicklow. They have been organic farming since 2011...

Season 3: Converting a 60 acre dairy farm to organic vegetables

31 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet Brian McCarthy from Cork Rooftop Farm. With a background in the wholesale flower business, Brian started exper...

Season 3: Attracting 150,000 visitors a year to an organic farm and shop

17 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters we speak to David Sexton of Kildare Farm Foods. David and his wife Susan have been building their farm business near Kild...

Season 3: The pros and cons of opening a farm shop

03 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to husband and wife team, Dominic Leonard and Alison Duck, who farm 250ac near Durrow in Co Laois. They run a ...

Season 3: Farming organically next to Ireland's largest shopping centre

06 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Kate Milligan the Commercial Director at Airfield Estate. The farm is 38 acres and sits next to Ireland's la...

Season 3: Marketing Organic Beef as a Premium Product

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to beef farmer Rebecca Harris. Rebecca is based in county Wicklow and runs a 230 herd of Angus cattle with her ...

Season 3: Using a farm shop and café to maximise your organic business

22 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet vegetable grower and farm shop and café owner Michael Foggarty. Michael originally hails from Scotland but has ...

Season 3: Making an organic suckler system work for you

08 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we meet Sligo based suckler farmer Niall Higgins. Niall farms in partnership with his father. They keep a herd of 25 suckler cows and sell ...

Season 3: Catching up with a trial growing lupins

25 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we catch up with tillage and beef farmer Derek Kelly. Derek is running a trial growing lupins - a potentially important protein crop for th...

Season 3: Tillage farm growing gluten free oats, miscanthus and installing solar panels

11 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters meets James and Zeta O'Keeffe on their organic tillage farm in Co Meath. Zeta recently completed a course that has lead the...

Season 3: Suckler farm switching to organics

27 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Helen Hughes who farms in Co Meath with her husband and mother. Helen works off farm in the building sector ...

Season 3: Building an organic egg business

13 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we meet Monaghan farmer Gordon McCoy. Gordon farms on the border and was originally a carpenter by trade but wanted to r...

Season 3: Starting an organic flour mill as a farmer

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we hear from Monaghan farmer Turlough Keenan. Turlough was previously a beef farmer but transitioned to organic tillage....

Season 3: Mastering the composting of farmyard manure

16 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to organic farmer Gerry Deegan from Co. Westmeath. Previously an organic dairy farmer, Gerry changed his system...

Season 3: Plans to use lupins as cattle feed and other organic tillage

02 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kicking off the first episode of Season 3 of our Organic Matters podcast, we speak to organic tillage and beef farmer Derek Kelly. Derek discusses gro...

Season 2: From conventional dairy farmer to organic Wagyu beef entrepreneur

09 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the final instalment of Organic Matters for this season, we speak to Cork organic farmer Conor Sheahan. Conor talks about the tough decision to sto...

Season 2: Direct selling organic dexter beef and working with other organic farmers

02 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Emer Fahy and Niall Moynihan from Duhallow Organics who sell all their organic meat directly nationwide. Dex...

Season 2: Building a bread business on organic foundations

25 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Dublin based Bread 41 co-owner Eoin Cluskey. Eoin started life as a carpenter but gradually returned to his ...

Season 2: Finishing Organic Lamb and Shepherd's Huts for Agri-tourism

18 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to sheep farmer Selena McKenzie. Selena farms with her husband Alex in Co. Wicklow where they lamb up to 300 ew...

Season 2: Bord Bia Marketing & Promotional Plans for Irish Organics

11 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to the Bord Bia's Organic Sector Manager, Emmet Doyle. Emmet speaks about its plans for promoting Irish organic...

Season 2: Converting to Organic Farming - How to Join the IOA Part 2

04 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we have Part 2 of a special two-part episode for farmers interested in converting to organic farming. The episode looks ...

Season 2: Converting to Organic Farming - How to Join the IOA Part 1

28 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we have Part 1 of a special two-part episode for farmers interested in converting to organics. The episode takes a step-...

Season 2: Ireland’s Strategy for Organics and the New Organic Trading Hub

21 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Padraig Brennan, chairperson of the Organic Strategy Forum – Ireland’s National Organic Strategy Group. ...

Season 2: Producing Organic seaweed fertiliser for customers all over the world

14 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Michael Boyle Managing Director and Geraldine Ward Business Manager of the Donegal Seaweed. The company is b...

Season 2: "Don't worry about what the neighbour thinks"

07 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak with tillage farmer Gavin Tully from Camolin, Co. Wexford. Gavin tells people thinking about converting to orga...

Season 2: The future for Glenisk

30 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to the Managing Director of Glenisk, Vincent Cleary. Vincent speaks about the humble beginnings of the now inte...

Season 2: Irish organic farmer up for big European award

23 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Kevin Scully from the Merry Mill in Co. Laois. Kevin was a part-time farmer with beef cattle who grew organi...

Season 2: Applying lime and animal husbandry in suckler farming

16 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Tony Grogan on his farm in the Glen of Aherlow, Co. Tipperary. Tony is a full-time organic suckler farmer, h...

Season 2: Creating an organic garden in an Irish hotel

09 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Mary Fitzgerald and her head gardener Caoimhín Brosnan at the Woodlands House Hotel in Co Limerick. The pai...

Season 2: Manure master class

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Padraig Dunleavy. Padraig is a beef finisher and tillage farmer in Co Galway with an obsession with high qua...

Season 2: Urgent need to develop organic markets

26 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters speaks to Seán McGloin, the network manager of the National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS). Organic farming has an EU ta...

Season 2: Building a successful organic meat enterprise

19 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters interviews Lucille Boland from Coolanowle Organic Farm. Lucille describes how the family converted their farm to organic in...

Season 2: Smoothing the way for organic skincare

12 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters speaks to the CEO of Blumáin Organic Skincare, Sinead Murphy from Co Cork. Sinead talks about the importance of organic pr...

Season 2: Aiming for biodynamic certification and sheep farming

05 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters speaks to Stuart Rogers who is still in organic conversion. Stuart is sheep farming and has a passion for biodynamic farmin...

Season 2: Starting a successful salad growing business

29 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we speak to Janet and Jenny from Gorse Farm on the Carlow/Wexford border about creating a small farm from three acres. The pair have create...

Season 2: Growing your own animal feed and Stabiliser cattle

22 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The week, we hear from Monaghan farmer Sean Greenan. Sean is a relative newcomer to tillage but now grows all his own cattle feed and sells the surplu...

Season 2: 'Getting bigger doesn't mean getting better' - Green Earth Organics

15 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters speaks to Kenneth Keavy from Green Earth Organics, a veg and veg box business in Co Galway. Kenneth speaks about taking ove...

Season 2: English farm processing 30,000 litres of milk a day

08 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, our presenter Hannah Quinn-Mulligan is in England where she visits Berkely farm near Swindon. The farm started delivering milk to people's ...

Season 2: Farm diversification and conservation in the Burren

24 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters speaks to Mary Bermingham from the Burren Nature Sanctuary in Kinvara, Co Galway. Mary tells us about being organic certifi...

Season 2: Experimenting with min till and agro-foresty

17 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters, speaks with tillage farmer Jack Browne about his upcoming farm walk and work he's doing on the farm, including exploring m...

Season 2: Developing an organic market for buyers and sellers

10 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Christy Stapleton from the Green Door market is this weeks guest on Organic Matters Podcast. Christy talks in depth about what drove the creation of t...

Season 2: How to make high quality organic silage

03 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to recently fully converted organic dairy farmer Kevin O'Hanlon about how to make good quality organic silage. ...

Season 2: Taking on the family farm business

28 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Kenny and his partner Ciara, from Nurney Farm outline how they have recently taken on running the family horticulture business. Both had lived and...

Season 2: Secrets to successful farm diversifcation in Canada

27 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Margaret Edgill from Mount Briscoe farm about her recent trip to Canada. She explains her research as a Nuff...

Season 2: Feeding over 200 beef cattle and building a shed

20 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters speaks to Chris McCaffrey, an organic beef farmer from Co Donegal. Chris talks about building a very large shed to cater fo...

Season 2: Korean Natural Farming - creating your own farm inputs

13 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Limerick organic dairy farmer Tom Stack about Korean Natural Farming. Tom discusses using the method to crea...

Season 2: Switching enterprises and organic rosé veal

06 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters meets Kerry farmer Michael Gleeson. Michael initially planned to milk his rare breed Kerry cows, however after various even...

Season 2: The do's and don'ts of growing clover and MSS

29 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, technical director with Germinal Ireland Dr Mary McEvoy, discusses the best ways to grow red clover and MSS organically....

Season 2: Organic TAMS and how to make good quality silage

22 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we talk to well known organic farm advisor Mary Lynch. She tells us the do's and don'ts of making good quality silage an...

Season 2: Finishing organic poultry and targeting high-end markets

15 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Sean Ring from Kilkenny about his organic poultry farm. Sean explains the challenges and opportunities facin...

Season 2: Microbes helping to grow grass and crops

08 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters speaks to Super Soil, about their Irish Organic Association approved product using microbes to help grow grass and crops. P...

Season 2: Soil impact on crop fertility, livestock and SCC

01 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters, meets Padraig Shevlin from Plant and Soil Solutions and Leslie Dwyer from FutureAg. Both discuss what their businesses can...

Season 2: Striving for optimum soil health

25 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus episode, Hannah Quinn-Mulligan speaks to Robbie Byrne from Precision Nutrition about how to obtain optimum soil health on farms.

Season 2: Growth in demand and challenges for organic seed sector

25 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters, speakd to Tim O'Donovan from Seedtech about the growth in demand for organic seeds, particularly oats, and the challenges ...

Season 2: Genetics and Sheep

18 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Eamon Wall, discusses the importance of genotyping sheep and why this is particularly important for organic sheep farmers who are less like...

Season 2: Finding organic seed and how to grow or sow it

11 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters, looks at what farmers need to know when it comes to growing organic crops or reseeding grassland. We talk to Angela Clarke...

Season 2: Saving Ireland's heritage orchards and seeds

04 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the first episode of the second season, Hannah Quinn-Mulligan visits the Irish Seed Savers in Co Clare. General Manager Elaine Bradley, explains th...

Organic smoked salmon

26 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Birgitta Hedin-Curtin is the CEO of The Burren Smokehouse. Inspired by her childhood in Sweden she started the smokehouse over 30 years ago and offers...

Doubling organics in Denmark

19 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Holmbeck has worked extensively to champion organic food and farming. He worked for over 25 years as Managing Director of Organic Denmark and is ...

Selling 12,000 litres of organic milk a day

12 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Noel Barcoe from the Village Dairy talks about working with organic dairy farmers to provide award winning organic milk and cream that is sold nationw...

Organic farmer wins national Farming for Nature award

05 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters travels to the Burren in Co Clare for the annual Farming for Nature and Burren Winterage event. Organic dairy farmer and Fa...

What do organic farmers think of ACRES?

29 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some €1.5bn has been pledged to the new agri-environmental scheme, called ACRES. There are 35 measures that farmers can take up but organic farmers ...

Dairy dilemmas from California to Scotland

22 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters, hears from Californian organic dairy farmers dealing with drought and a farm in Scotland practicing a calf-at-foot system.

Direct selling vegetables

15 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

John McCormick talks to Organic Matters about starting his own veg business in Helen's Bay over 20 years ago with a small field and donkey. He discuss...

The future of organic lamb: what sheep farmers need to know

08 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kathryn Roche, the marketing manager for Irish Country Meats (ICM), speaks to Organic Matters about the opportunities for organic lamb and gives advic...

***Podcast Special on Entering Organics*** - Episode 3: Farm Finances

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The finances for each sector are looked at in the final of our three-part series on entering organic agriculture. Organic Specialist from Teagasc Joe ...

***Podcast Special on Entering Organics*** - Second Episode: Organic Housing and Sheds

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We're talking all things to do with sheds, animal housing and organic fertilisers in the second episode of this three-part special series on entering ...

How much will organic farmers get from ACRES?

01 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, ACA organic specialist Mary Lynch discusses how much organic farmers could potentially get from the next agri-environment or ACRES scheme. ...

Demand for organics at the Ploughing

24 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hannah Quinn-Mulligan speaks to a range of Irish Organic Association members and suppliers in the Organic Village at the National Ploughing Championsh...

***Podcast Special on Entering Organics*** - First Episode

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of this three-part special podcast series on entering organics, IOA inspector John Seery answers all the questions farmers might want to...

Scottish organic farmer selling 33,000 litres of milk/week to customers

17 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Byrce Cunningham is a Scottish farmer who faced bankruptcy a number of years ago when the milk price crashed. Faced with selling out or digging deep, ...

"Thoughtful tillage" and Holistic Grazing

10 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tillage and livestock farmer Trevor Harris, gives an in-depth view of how ploughing fields should be undertaken and why Holistic Grazing works for him...

Comfrey tea compost and Christmas turkeys

03 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sheep and tillage farm Fergal Byrne from Kildare, discusses how farmers need to be on the ball if they're involved in organics. He outlines the benefi...

Brexit provides opportunity for organic cheese

27 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Conor Mulhall from the Little Milk Company talks about the opportunity presented by Brexit for organic cheese. He also discusses Biofach, the largest ...

Switching from Holistic to Short Grass grazing in organic dairy

20 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Organic dairy farmer John McHugh discusses the reasons why he has switching from Holistic to Short Grass grazing on his farm, including his ability to...

Getting up to €11/kg for lamb and selling seaweed fertiliser

13 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters, speaks to Donegal organic farmer Andrew McShea. Andrew runs Tully House Organic Farm and sells his lamb directly to consum...

Ireland's only organic plant nursery

06 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Organic Matters, travels to the foothills of Slieve Bernagh in Co Clare to meet Gert and Elizabeth Stam, who retired from running a garden ...