Providing expert services to the agricultural sector

27-YEAR-OLD Tim Casey launched Cork Grassland Services in January 2018. The business now employs six full-time staff and five part-time staff with plans for expansion. Tim is an Agricultural consultant that specialises in grass measuring for dairy farmers. He walks a farmer’s farm weekly and uses a device called a plate meter to measure the quantity of grass in each field. He currently measures approximately 225 farms a week across Cork, from Goleen to Mitchelstown, with a high percentage of clients being in West Cork.

and workshops. Most recently, Ayrie organised a bunch of enthusiastic ladies to complete ‘The 3n3’ which saw the group climb three of Ireland’s largest mountains in three days to raise money for a women’s initiative with the Irish Cancer Society. It was a huge success with the group raising €5000 for charity as well as having a weekend of craic and connection while being active in the outdoors.

instagram.com/coach_ashyv www.ayrie.ie

Due to new nitrate derogation regulations, all farmers in derogation will have to complete a minimum of 20 grass measurements a year in 2023. This is great news for Tim’s business, as it’s causing a surge in new clients. He is hoping to measure close to 400 farms a week in 2023. After measuring, Tim provides farmers with an overview of the grass supply on their farm. Based on these results, he advises farmers what supplementary feed is needed each week and when to cut out surplus grass as silage. This allows the farmer to be as efficient as possible and maximise milk production. He also teaches farmers to measure grass themselves. He does one-to-one consultations and PastureBase Ireland tutorials on Zoom. This year, in collaboration with independent Agri consultants in Cork, he has trained approximately 800 farmers to measure grass. He also provides a farm mapping and soil sampling service. All farm mapping is done with drones. He has several collaborative agreements with other businesses, ranging from body condition scoring services and livestock sales. Tim has also set up a new business with his business partner, using radar to measure grass. They are hoping to bring it to market in the next 12-18 months. This service will remove the need to walk your farm to measure grass.

086 126 4542 info@corkgrass.com, www.corkgrasslandservices.ie e West Cork Business and Tourism Awards pitch night was held in AIB, Skibbereen on Tuesday evening, December 6th, 2022. Finalists in each category were invited to give a presentation about their businesses before the judges and the audience on the night. is page, clockwise from top: Elaine Dempsey of e Maritime Hotel in Bantry (finalist in the Best Medium/Large Business category) making her presentation. Finalists Lena Angland, Wanderful; Sharon Huggard, e Style Coach and Anthony O’Donovan of Masterkabin (category sponsor). Some of the large attendance on the night. John Ryan, Team Lead Manager, AIB, who acted as MC on the night.