Donal Hickey: A salute to farmers working with nature

Making a shift from using every bit of land and ‘driving it hard’ to a work model where climate and nature guide every decision

Water quality is a major focus for Martin Crowe, Farming for Nature ambassador. He has installed three settling ponds to manage runoff from the yard and protect local watercourses. Alongside this, he has developed a 5–6-acre riparian buffer zone, fenced off from cattle and full of Devil’s-bit scabious, supporting pollinators and slowing nutrient flow to the Mulkear river. Pictures: Farming for Nature 

At a time when the relationship between farming and the environment is often portrayed in a negative light, farmers who actively work with nature are being honoured.

The Farming for Nature organisation has described its 12 ambassadors for 2025 as exemplary farmers who are showing what’s possible when people work with nature rather than against it.

They lead the way in recognising the role of nature on healthy and thriving farms today and for the future.

“Wanting to leave the land in a better place for the next generation was a common theme among this year’s nominees," said Sarah Coonan, of Farming for Nature.

Take Martin Crowe who milks 190 cows across 140 hectares, near Doon, County Limerick. His is a busy, commercial dairy farm on which he has made huge changes over the past five years.

It’s a shift from using every bit of land and ‘driving it hard’ to one where climate and nature guide every decision, he explained. Awareness of biodiversity, water quality and climate action influence daily life on the farm.

Martin Crowe fenced off a 3-acre glen to allow natural regeneration and planted trees around the farmyard for ammonia capture. His land includes a tranquil pond alive with dragonflies, ducks, and kestrels

The controversial derogation in the EU Nitrates Directive — which allows Irish farmers spread more fertilisers, and enables higher stocking levels than other EU countries — has been dominating farming/environmental debates here.

All amid serious concerns, at the same time, about ongoing, chronic water pollution from farm run-off.

However, Crowe has substantially reduced nitrogen usage, thanks in part to his work with the local, EU-backed Mulkear river project which engages with farmers to improve the river’s water quality and habitat.

Water quality is a key focus on the Crowe farm where three settling ponds have been installed to manage run-off and protect watercourses. There’s also a buffer zone which is fenced off from cattle, supports pollinators and slows nutrient flow to the Mulkear.

Madeline McKeever runs an organic 30-acre mixed farm in west Cork along with her daughter Holly Cairns. There is 15 acres of broadleaf forestry on the land, containing oak, alder, ash and nut trees. There is 10 acres of permanent mixed pasture and the remaining land is used for seed production and nature corridors.

Other ambassadors are Madeline McKeever and her daughter, Holly Cairns, who run an organic, 30-acre mixed farm overlooking Roaringwater Bay, near Skibbereen, West Cork.

It includes 15 acres of broadleaf forestry containing oak, alder, ash and nut trees. There is also mixed pasture, seed production, nature corridors and a small herd of cattle.

Farming for Nature ambassador, Madeline McKeever has one of only two farms in the country producing vegetable seeds. They produce more than 100 varieties of organically certified, open pollinated seed which is sold to Irish growers and gardeners around the country. Pictures: Farming for Nature

More ambassador farmers work on a variety of projects such as bringing back the corncrake, and restoring natural hedging.

A total of 18 nominees were put forward by a panel of agri-environmental organisations, government bodies, and others for their commitment to biodiversity, community, and producing good food.

Each farmer was interviewed and their farm visited by members of the executive committee of Farming for Nature. They are joining a growing network of land stewards across Ireland who are building a healthier, more nature-friendly countryside.