Committed to supporting farmers meet the challenges they face in an ever-changing sector, Ryan Agri Consultancy Ltd is a leading advisory based in Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary.
Established in 2007 by Willie Ryan, the company provides a wide range of agricultural consultancy services to clients in North Tipperary, South Offaly, East Galway and further afield on business and technical solutions. Ryan Agri Consultancy Ltd specialises in the various grants and agricultural schemes available to Irish farmers, assisting them with all the relevant paperwork and in dealing with Department inspections.
The consultancy is a member of both the ACA (Agricultural Consultants Association) and the ITCA (Irish Tillage Consultants Association) and prides itself on its attention to detail, experience, knowledge and friendly and efficient service.
Hailing from a farming background, Willie studied Agricultural Science at UCD before working in the agri feeds and chemicals sector for 20 years. The lack of advice available to farmers he had dealt with on grants and schemes led to him setting up his own agri advisory business.
“We’re a family-run business who give good, independent advice to our clients,” Willie says.
“Our job is to support all types of farmers by maximising their income and ensuring they are compliant with all schemes. We are well versed in the various schemes and work with farmers on a one-to-one basis. Our objective is to be the best farm advisory and consultancy service we can possibly be.”
Willie has kept apace with all the various changes in the schemes since 2007. The main services he provides relate to basic payment scheme applications, nutrient management planning, nitrates derogation planning, farm grants such as TAMS, farm entitlements, setting up as a farmer and environmental schemes.
“Traditionally, North Tipp and the surrounding area was predominantly drystock and tillage farming, but it has turned into a dairy stronghold since the EU milk quotas were lifted in 2015,” he explains.
“It has brought about big changes in terms of dairy herd expansion and new entrants to dairying. We have given a lot of advice to people who are getting into dairying for the first time. Nitrates derogations, for example, are required for highly-stocked dairy farms and involve a nutrient plan for the farm. We offer advice on things like that.
“The expansion of dairy herds has caused a reduction in tillage and beef, especially suckler farming, in my area. These sectors can’t compete and what we’re increasingly seeing is tillage land being leased out as grass to dairy farmers.”
While saddened by the reduction of tillage and beef farming, Willie sees the growth of dairying as a positive.
“You would have to say that it has been a good thing when you see the amount of investment and large numbers of young people coming back into farming. It has given farming and rural Ireland a new lease of life,” he opines.
Willie, who is assisted by his wife Anna and college-going children Louise and Conor, who work with him part-time, is a proud ACA and ITCA member. ACA was established in 1979 with its business name registered in 1981 to represent independent agricultural consultants in Ireland.
The Association currently has 173 members, 75% of which are private consultants, who employ over 400 professional, technical and administration staff across the country. A survey conducted in 2017 of its entire membership estimated that ACA members advise in the region of 55,000 farmers, making it the largest advisory body in Ireland.
ACA members must have a minimum of a Level 8 qualification in agriculture, horticulture or forestry. They must also have professional indemnity, abide by the Association’s constitution and code of ethics and comply with the annual requirements of Continuous Professional Development. New members require a minimum level of two years’ experience and evidence of professional indemnity insurance. Mayo native Tom Canning, who is an agricultural consultant in Cavan, will succeed Cork’s Eoin O’Driscoll as ACA president in February 2020.
Set up in 2008, the ITCA consists of 10 independent crop consultants who provide consultancy services to progressive crop producers throughout Ireland. ITCA members do not supply inputs for crops, so the advice growers get focuses on maximum economic return.
The services offered by the ITCA include crop advisory, soil analysis, nutrient management, environmental issues, expert witness / legal services and the promotion of tillage production in Ireland.
Soil health is a critical factor of good field performance and ITCA consultants are experts in obtaining and interpreting soil results and in-soil improvement. Nutrient management is the cornerstone of healthy soils, good crop output and a positive environment impact. ITCA consultants are also experts in water quality improvement, biodiversity improvement, control of invasive species, mitigation of greenhouse gases and minimising carbon footprint. In addition, the Association is committed to the promotion of cereal production in Ireland and is a member of the Tillage Industry Ireland.
A former secretary of the ITCA, Willie would like to take this opportunity to thank his clients, who continue to grow in numbers, for their support and loyalty.
Ryan Agri Consultancy Ltd
Roran,
Borrisokane,
Co. Tipperary,
E45 EE08.
Telephone: 067 22224 / 087 2595864
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 8 No 2, Summer 2020
