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EAR TO THE GROUND

ETTG Series 27, TX2_1_Archaeology Helen Carroll takes a break from digging on the excavation site with retired farmer John McCullen, his wife Mary and son Colm. Image Name: ETTG Series 27, TX2_1_Archaeology Helen Carroll takes a break from digging on the excavation site with retired farmer John McCullen, his wife Mary and son Colm.
ETTG Series 27, TX2_3_Saturn Farms_Ella McSweeney on the original Saturn Farm with owners Bill and Audrey O'Keeffe Image Name: ETTG Series 27, TX2_3_Saturn Farms_Ella McSweeney on the original Saturn Farm with owners Bill and Audrey O'Keeffe
ETTG Series 27, TX2_2_Nurney Organics_ Darragh McCullough with Deirdre O'Sullivan and Norman Kenny of Nurney Organics Image Name: ETTG Series 27, TX2_2_Nurney Organics_ Darragh McCullough with Deirdre O'Sullivan and Norman Kenny of Nurney Organics

Series 27, Episode 2

Uncovering Hidden Secrets

Intrigued by an ancient ruin on his land, retired farmer John McCullen set about finding out more. After a summer of delicate digging, a team of archaeologists confirmed that the ruin was of a 13th century farm, established by French Cistercian monks, to grow and process grain and wool for export to France. Helen Carroll tries her hand at digging for relics and talks to John McCullen and mediaeval historian, Dr Matthew Stout, about the extraordinary insight into farming in the Norman era.

Succession Dilemma

Who takes over the family farm is an enduring challenge for Irish farmers. Today, over half of farmers have not identified a successor. Deirdre O Sullivan and Norman Kenny have been farming for over 30 years and want to step back from their busy organic farm and market, So, they’ve partnered with a young farm manager, Colm Warner and engaged the Farm Mobility Service to work out a succession plan. Darragh McCullough visits Nurney Organic Farm in Kildare to discover a new way of handing on a farm business.

A New Farming Franchise

Taking over the family farm at the age of 20, Bill O’Keeffe spent 5 years building a 300 cow herd. With no access to extra land on the home farm, Bill set about developing a sharemilking and leasing company – matching retiring dairy farmers with young farm managers who want to invest in cows. The company, Saturn Farms, now milks over 1000 cows in 4 counties. Ella McSweeney meets Bill and his wife Audrey to find out what’s in it for the young farmers who want a share of the profits.