In our recent Grassland Management Feature, agricultural consultant David O’Connell wrote a fascinating article on the effect of climate variability on our farms. Fifty-six-year-old O’Connell founded OCAE Consultants in April 1998 and has offices at Ballinderry House, Enfield, Co. Meath.

His own farm is 200 acres mixing tillage with breeding National Hunt horses. O’Connell is the former owner and managing director of IAS Laboratories and is passionate about National Hunt breeding and about the importance of soil management. The OCAE team are made up of three agricultural graduates, all registered FAS advisors with DAFM, three environmental and geography graduates and a management accountant. Clients include Thoroughbred and sport horse stud farms, commercial farmers, small businesses and large corporations.

OCAE provide the following services:

What can OCAE offer breeders and producers?

For bloodstock and sport horse producers OCAE focus on managing mineral imbalances in soil for grass and animal. Mineral imbalances and deficiencies are widespread and impact on the areas of reproductive performance, well-being and structural development in animals. Mineral deficiencies start in the soil and that’s where the management should always commence, according to O’Connell. Horse breeders understand the importance of minerals and the impact that deficiencies can have particularly in the areas of fertility and orthopaedic development. Breeders are producing equine athletes and the foundation begins from conception. OCAE services take the guess work out of managing soil and grass through comprehensive analysis and follow-on agronomy advice.

OCAE and climate change

Since the early noughties and more comprehensively from 2010, OCAE have focused on the issue of climate change. O’Connell believes climate is the most significant global challenge and that everyone has a role to play.

Agriculture has a particular influence and O’Connell believes that the discussion on climate change doesn’t emphasise the fact that if farmers consume less inputs such as fuel, electricity, fertiliser, herbicides and insecticides, it is economically advantageous to the farmer and beneficial to the environment.

O’Connell believes the first step to promoting meaningful change is education and understanding the contributors to climate change alongside understanding the likely impacts of those contributors, and how we can modify and change our activities within the agricultural industry.

OCAE and funding

The government recognise the climate challenge and the important role that agriculture must play. DAFM have launched several schemes including BISS, TAMS, FES, pilot soil testing project etc. within the past 24 months to mitigate climate change. As a result of stakeholder engagement with the minister and DAFM, the horse industry can now benefit from the funding provided by these schemes.

OCAE are approved agents by DAFM for the administration of DAFM schemes. OCAE personnel have been approved agents since the opening of the first significant environmental scheme REPS in 1994. Participation in such schemes is not just a case of making an application, the farmer must understand the principles and conditions of the scheme and how the scheme fits into the management of the farm and the longer term strategy.

OCAE and client families

David began his career in 1990 and in 2023 is working with the sons and daughters of the original clients. OCAE have assisted many client families with the transition between generations. It can be a difficult conversation and many farmers and their partners delay having the discussion.

Sometimes through illness or sudden death the partner and children are in a situation which hasn’t been planned for. It’s never too early and it begins with an open and honest conversation around the kitchen table.

Everyone’s circumstance is different, with many different sources of financial and legal advice required.

OCAE’s role is not just with the farm planning but helping the family navigate through the financial and legal advice.

For more information see www.ocae.ie