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Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science

Nature Restoration Law - an Irish Farmer’s Perspective

Published about 2 years ago • 1 min read

Tommy's Outdoors

Conservation and Science

Recently I had the best podcasting experience of this year. And it’s definitely in the top 5 ever! I was invited by Bill O’Keeffe to his farm in Churchclara. Bill’s family has been farming there for the last 400 years. Being a guy whose family has been moving around between cities and countries, I can’t even begin to think how it must feel to be so rooted in a place. I got a strong suspicion however that it must feel pretty good. I think, that I might actually be jealous!

Before we sat down to record a podcast episode, Bill showed me around his farm. That’s something that all farmers do when you visit their land. As in all such cases, I could sense his pride in his work and sense of strong connection to the local community. Walking around Bill’s farm and listening to him was an opportunity to make a video to accompany the podcast episode. You can find it on my YouTube channel alongside the actual podcast episode.

Nature Restoration Law - an Irish Farmer’s Perspective

Why was the farming community so opposed to the EU’s Nature Restoration Law? Doesn’t a healthy ecosystem benefit agriculture? Isn’t the availability of additional payments for alternative use of unproductive land a good thing? Aren’t the measures built into the law sufficient to protect the actively used agricultural land? To find answers to those and other questions related to farming and biodiversity I sat down (in his kitchen) with Bill O’Keeffe a dairy farmer from Co. Kilkenny.

In case you are wondering, Bill is involved with the Irish Farmers’ Association but he spoke with me very much from his personal perspective. His family has been farming in the area for the past 400 years, so without a doubt, his perspectives on farming are different from those of people who don’t have such a sense of belonging to a place. And so we talk about farming practices and their impacts on the environment, farming communities and the looming changes. We also discuss the important difference between a farmer and a landowner.

I strive to deliver the most interesting and educational conversations with the most engaging guests about the natural environment. It is my goal to continue to deliver this content at no cost to you. However, the production of the podcast requires a significant investment of time and money. So I would appreciate any help you can give me.

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Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science

I am an outdoorsman, podcaster and speaker. I talk and write about the natural environment, biodiversity, conservation, hunting and fishing, rewilding and more. I am particularly interested in wildlife and human-wildlife interactions. I enjoy reading scientific papers on those subjects as much as being outdoors weathering the elements and getting first-hand experiences.

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