Dairygold announce Munster finalists for malting barley programme
Dan Kiely, one of the Munster-based finalists for the Dairygold Malting Barley Programme.
Munster regional finalists were recently announced from the Dairygold Malting Barley Programme.
At the heart of Dairygold’s Agri Business programme is the aim to encourage high standards in crop quality, sustainability and farm management.
The finalists, which span across Cork and Tipperary, showcase the diversity of modern tillage farming while sharing a common commitment to agronomic discipline, planning and continuous improvement.
The overall winner of the 2025 Dairygold Malting Barley Competition will be announced at the Annual Tillage Conference on January 9, 2026, at the Corrin Event Centre in Fermoy, Co Cork.
The annual conference is a key fixture in the tillage calendar, bringing together farmers, agribusiness professionals, and technical experts for a day of presentations, discussions, and networking focused on best practices and emerging challenges in the sector.
Farming on the east side of Mallow near the River Blackwater, Mr Kiely, alongside his wife, Mary, and son, Paul, operates a mixed farming enterprise where tillage plays a central role.
Their farm combines a dry stock enterprise, finishing cattle on summer grazing, and a well-structured crop rotation centred on Amity malting barley.
Barley is grown in rotation with oats or beans to support soil health and crop performance. Soil testing is carried out every three years, with nutrition programmes developed in conjunction with Dairygold agronomist Michael English. Particular emphasis is placed on trace elements, reflecting Dan’s attention to detail when it comes to crop nutrition.
Mr Kiely is also actively engaged in sustainability initiatives, participating in the Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) scheme and Teagasc cover crop trials, reinforcing his commitment to long-term soil management and environmental responsibility.
Running a 60ha limestone-rich farm near Carrigtwohill, Kieran Horgan manages an integrated tillage and livestock farming system.
His crop rotation includes Amity malting barley, winter barley, wheat, beans, fodder beet and potatoes, which he manages alongside his high-quality Simmental suckler herd with Charolais crossbred through artificial insemination (AI).
Careful planning underpins Mr Horgan’s tillage operation. Rotations are clearly defined, soils are tested every three years, and organic manures are incorporated to improve soil fertility. Fertiliser programmes are tailored for the crop’s needs, including trace elements where required.
Early planting is a priority for spring barley while also avoiding unsuitable ground. A plant protection programme for Mr Horgan is managed through Gatekeeper in consultation with agronomist Frank Hayes. Mr Horgan carries out most of the machinery work himself, assisted by his nephew Cian.
Oliver Keating farms near Burncourt with his wife Margaret and their three daughters, running a mixed enterprise that combines tillage with an autumn-calving suckler herd.
A strong advocate of regenerative farming, Mr Keating is involved in ACRES and EIP schemes and places a clear emphasis on building soil health through the use of organic compounds.
Mr Keating’s tillage rotation includes winter barley, spring malting barley and oats, with regular soil testing and nutrition planning developed alongside Dairygold agronomist Tim McCarthy.
Precision farming technologies are central to the system, with GPS and auto-steer supporting accuracy and efficiency.
Mr Keating’s malting barley deliveries to Dairygold’s New Inn intake have consistently recorded exceptionally high KPH, underlining the effectiveness of his approach. In addition, he provides contracting services, further embedding technology and best practice across his operation.
Just West of Cork City, brothers Michael and John Henry O’Driscoll farm 140ha of limestone land, specialising in cereals and maize grown both for their own enterprise and for local farmers. Originally a dairy farm, the business transitioned fully to tillage in the 1970s.
Malting barley remains a cornerstone crop, with early planting prioritised to maximise yield and quality potential. Nutrition plans are informed by regular soil sampling, and crops are established using a plough-and-one-pass system.
Plant protection and trace elements are applied under the guidance of agronomist Dylan O’Gorman, with detailed records maintained.
The result is a consistently high-performing system producing top-quality, high-yielding crops annually.
