Burren Agriculture Times Of Change

Between four and five hundred farmers are currently operating in the Burren Uplands, with the average farm size owned in the region estimated to be 240 acres or 97.2 ha (Dunford, 2001). This represents a significant (8.6%) increase over the previous decade, accounted for by a proportional drop in the number of farmers in the region.

Though this farm size appears large, in reality barely half of the average farm is classed as being 'suitable for agriculture', while almost half of this again is only fit for rough grazing. However, these marginal and extensively managed agricultural areas are among the most significant from a nature - and culture - conservation perspective.

Suckler cow based beef systems are the dominant farm enterprise in the region, a change driven primarily by EU agricultural policy, in particular the 'Suckler Cow Premium'. The extent of dairy and sheep farming in the region is, as a result of this and other factors, increasingly limited.

The traditional system of grazing older beef cattle, along with some sheep and goats, on the uplands is no longer widely practiced, as farmers concentrate on the production of high quality weanling (under one year) cattle as are in demand for the export market.

Breeds have also changed: formerly Shorthorns and Herefords were dominant, while today continental breeds are becoming increasingly popular, especially Charolais, Limousine, and Simmental, again due to their marketability. The nutritional and husbandry requirements of these animals is much higher than that of the native breeds, and so supplementary feedstuffs and housing must often be employed for their care.

Stocking rates in the Burren are increasing, but remain relatively low, currently estimated at 0.655 LU/ha, a reflection of the limited agricultural potential of much of the land. The increased stocking levels of recent years have been supported by the more intensive management of the productive lowland areas. The most popular marketplace among Burren farmers for trading livestock is Kilfenora mart in the south Burren, and also Ennis and Gort marts. Many marts have recently introduced night-time sales to cater for the large number of part-time farmers in the area.

Another significant aspect of modern farming practices in the Burren is the high level of mechanisation and external input involved. These efficiency-driven changes have led to the more intensive use of accessible 'lowland' areas of the farm, with fertiliser use and silage harvesting facilitating greater production levels on these areas.

As a consequence of this, many upland areas have fallen into relative disuse, with silage and/or 'slatted' animal housing being used for wintering animals instead. This contributed to a steady loss in plant species diversity, and indeed cultural heritage, on some holdings.

Another notable change highlighted by recent research (Dunford, 2002) is that on over half of all Burren farms, another source of earned income was being generated, a figure that tallies well with national averages, representing a trend that looks set to continue in future. Many farmers are increasingly disenchanted with the relatively long hours, poor holidays and limited income available, and are electing to leave the land, at least on a part-time basis. With them goes a vast store of management knowledge and experience, a multigenerational link with the land, and a loss in the cultural and natural diversity of these farms.