114 acres ideal for beef
Meantime, the property is to be sold by private treaty through auctioneer Michael Liston, who is himself a miscanthus grower. More than 3,000 tonnes of miscanthus is in storage at Adare, Co Limerick, on behalf of JHM Crops, who have contracted local farmers to grow the crop at a guaranteed price of €60 per tonne.
Growing as high as 12 feet, the crop does well in Ireland, and doesn’t require top-class arable soil.
Establishment of the crop is grant-aided, harvesting starts after two years, but growers have hopes of excellent, long-term returns. But the energy crop industry is still in its infancy, and it remains to be seen if miscanthus proves to be the wonder crop claimed by some. The fuel cost for a miscanthus boiler is only 18% of the cost of home heating oil.
The rest of the farm at Newcastlewest is under pasture, and it is good quality grazing land, says Liston, with easy access to paddocks and a well-equipped, modern yard with eight-pen, slatted shed, three-column haybarn, and other outhouses.
The property, which has been used as an outside farm, comes with an old farmhouse in poor condition.
Road frontage is limited to a private access roadway, but the farm is easily worked internally, says Liston.
He’s seeking offers in the region of €9,000 per acre, and says that the property is ideal for beef production.
