This Meath farmer explains why he converted to organic, why he diversified into tillage and silvopasture agroforestry, and why he got rid of his cattle after 30 years
John in his new agroforestry plantation
When John McDonnell took over his grandfather’s Meath farm, he faced a stark choice: borrow heavily and intensify, or take a more extensive route. He chose the latter.
“Back then in 1994 there were really only two options,” he recalls. “I decided to go extensive, to continue with the drystock system we had and farm mostly cattle and sheep.”