(50)Ear To The Ground (Series 25, Programme 6)
Thursday 14th December 2017
RTÉ One
8.30pm
* Details of a third story tbc.
Ballyhack Salmon
Michael Walsh thought when he bought the Pere Charles in 2006, that he was setting himself and his family up for the rest of his life. However, this was not to be as his fishing vessel sank off the coast of Dunmore East in Co Wexford in January 2007, tragically taking the lives of the five fisherman who were on board.
Having lost his entire livelihood, Michael needed to figure out a new way to support his young family. He decided to use the skills he learned as a fisherman to start up a new business. And so, Ballyhack Smokehouse was born. The business is an award-winning purveyor of Artisan Beech Smoked Salmon, Smoked Irish Organic Salmon and Wild Irish Smoked Salmon.
Helen Carroll is in Wexford to meet Michael and hear about his journey from fisherman to business owner.
Fodder Crisis
After one of the wettest Autumns in years, livestock farmers in the North West face a costly and long winter. Because of the wet weather, many farmers were unable to save silage, and had to bring their cows in early.
Dairy farmer Michael Masterson had to bring his cows in from the fields in September and will run out of fodder in the Spring. Pat Gilhooley, chair of Leitrim IFA, says a late spring will put a strain on fodder supplies in the region and animals could suffer if farmers are not given assistance. Co ops in the region are running winter feed clinics to help farmers get through the winter. Many will have to buy in straw, silage and meal to keep their cattle fed. With 40 cows to feed through an eight month winter, Masterson reckons he will have to give up dairy farming and plant trees on his land.
Reporter Darragh McCullough meets farmers in North Longford and South Leitrim to assess the scale of the fodder shortage and the options for the future of farming in this area.
Ear to the Ground is produced by Independent Pictures for RTÉ.
(Ear to the Ground broadcasts on RTÉ One,Thursdays at 8.30pm. Repeat lunchtime Sunday).
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