How does your grass grow? Ask Gareth Jones

While there is plenty of advice on organic farming practices available in Ireland, there are accessible options across the water too.

Welshman Gareth Jones is one such option. Jones is part of Abacus Organic, a consultancy specialising in all aspects of organic farming and food business development.

Abacus Organic offer assistance in organic farm business management advice, food production, processing product development and procurement; all aspects of cropping, horticulture and livestock; health and safety, retail supply chain management, financial analysis, continuity programming, product development, food hygiene, food safety and more.

Many types of clients avail of these services, including clients in Ireland. Jones, one of Abacus Organic's Directors, was in Ireland last Summer visiting farms with the National Organic Training Skillsnet. (www.nots.ie)

He has also helped Ralph Haslam of Mossfield Cheese in Offaly reseed some of his fields in recent years. Having walked these fields on a couple of occasions in recent months, I have seen first hand the difference between the old and new fields.

In biodiversity terms, these new reseeded fields are incredible, with a great variety of plants and because of this, insects � dragonflies, crickets, ladybirds. And then, with the insects, there are many more birds due to the increase in bird food these insects provide.

But in pure farming terms - what about the productivity of the sward?

While he works mainly with organic farmers, Jones reckons that every farmer could benefit from a bespoke sward. �why not use grasses, clovers and herbs, and tailor these to your land and conditions?� he asks in his inquisitive, lilting tone.

�You'll save in fertility and in the time and effort involved in doing a job: the plants can last 15 years at least, which saves on fuel, compaction of soil and other considerations. Some of them can even last 25 years. Farmers are running around like headless chickens, they have no time, they are constantly watching grasses � crop watching. They could just change the sward.�

So what does Gareth Jones do in his own version of operation transformation? The starting point is fertility building and a soil sample. �We start with soil and soil type, take a sample, do a standard analysis for N, P and K�.

If there's a problem, if there are patches where crops aren't growing properly, or if there is a physical problem like waterlogging, we do a more comprehensive analysis. That's done once, and it gives answers that address a multitude of possible concerns. While its more expensive, it only has to be done once and not only does it tell you what you need to do, it tells you what you don't need to do. Sometimes farmers are applying lime and there's no need for lime. So it can save you time and money�.

I asked him about specific swards for specific purposes, and there was, literally, no stopping him. Great and intricate detail on every possible livestock and crop combination, and the plants to help with each of these. The relative merits of merviot versus milvous red clovers, rotations, peas or barley � Jones was in his comfort zone.

One thing he was especially keen to reiterate was the uniqueness of each farm, and what that should mean for the grasses grown: �It doesn't make sense really, I think, to just buy the standard mix of whatever it is. Seed companies have a mixture for a job � its the same for all regions, but the weather conditions are different everywhere�.

Moreover, �Soil type, overall altitude, topography within the field � is it flat or undulating � and if its undulating does that mean its peat at bottom and stone on top?� He's on a roll now, though always softly spoken and assured; �climate and moisture levels, direction - is it north facing? So I recommend making your own mix that suits not just your farm, but specific fields and specific soil types.�

Abacus Organics can be contacted here or 00 44 7855 484204 (Gareth Jones directly)