From a total herd wipeout to full organic farming in Ballyshannon

Andrew McShea was born and raised in Tully, near Ballyshannon.

He grew up in a large rural family with four sisters and four brothers. His father, Teddy McShea, was a traditional Donegal farmer managing a small dairy herd of about fifteen cows, while his mother Annie worked as an HSE home carer.

Life on the farm depended heavily on the soil. The red clay soil in the Tully area developed over thousands of years from underlying limestone. This produced fertile but relatively shallow topsoil, which required constant effort to remove stones and rocks. Despite the physical work involved, the soil produced excellent grass. Good grass in turn produced high quality milk.

The quality of that milk was officially recognised in 1989 when Teddy and Annie McShea won the award for Best Quality Milk across Donegal, Sligo and Mayo. The award was based on strict criteria including low bacterial count, correct temperature and overall milk quality.

Turning Point, From Conventional Farming to Organic Direction
Shortly after this success, changes in agricultural regulations meant that dairy farmers were required to house a modern milking parlour. For a small farm of only twenty three acres, expanding the herd enough to justify the investment was neither viable nor profitable. As a result, the family moved away from dairy production and switched to suckler farming, raising calves for beef.

At that time farming was carried out using conventional methods. Chemical fertiliser and slurry were applied to increase grass production and maintain output. The system supported the family for many years, continuing until 2016 when a major setback occurred. Bovine tuberculosis struck the herd, and all twenty cows were lost. For the first time in ninety years there were no animals on the farm.

READ NEXT: Denis Faulkner: From Moville to the Middle East - a biodiversity vision of Donegal

The loss of the herd, combined with the death of his father in the same year, had a deep impact on Andrew and his family. Despite this difficult period, he remained determined to continue farming. From an early age he had developed a deep passion for nature and land management, and he began to consider a different approach. Organic farming offered a new direction and purpose.

In Andrew’s own words, “I was fed up with conventional farming with high inputs in the form of chemical fertiliser, feed and fuel, yet producing relatively low unprofitable returns.”

Rebuilding the Soil, The First Step in the Organic Transformation
Organic farming was new territory for Andrew and required a significant learning curve. At this point his brother Terence provided important guidance. Terence worked as an experienced greenkeeper at Bundoran Golf Club and had already been involved in environmentally focused turf management practices. He explained that the golf course employed organic seaweed products and natural organic manure as fertilisers. Terence explained that these environmentally friendly methods produced healthy grass surfaces that were largely free from weeds and disease.

Encouraged by this experience, Andrew and Terence began transforming the twenty three acre farm at Tully into an organic system. The first step was to analyse the condition of the soil. In organic farming, soil fertility and biological health are critical.

Ideally phosphorus and potassium (Pot Ash) should reach Index 3, which represents optimum fertility, while soil acidic pH should be around 6.3 to 6.5 for productive grassland soils.
Initial soil tests showed that substantial improvement was required. Phosphorus and potassium levels were both at low Level 1, and the pH measured only 5.7. In addition, the soil was persistently waterlogged. This saturation was largely the result of past conventional practices where heavy grazing, machinery and repeated chemical fertiliser applications had compacted the topsoil.

Reviving the Land, Restoring Soil Health from the Ground Up
Drawing on his experience from golf course management, Terence suggested digging trial holes to investigate the soil profile. These inspections showed that the upper layer of soil was compacted and preventing natural drainage. Loosening the top 100 millimetres would significantly improve the situation. Andrew invested in a soil aerator and soon the land was properly aerated, allowing water to drain and air to enter the soil.

Improving soil fertility and biology to organic standards required a long term commitment.
Andrew designed a careful programme based on what he described as “using the natural resources on the farm properly.” This involved applying farmyard manure, slurry, organic seaweed fertiliser and certified chicken manure pellets. The principle was simple, apply small quantities regularly rather than heavy single applications. As Andrew describes it, “A little at a time, but often.”

Throughout this process, the soil was regularly tested and monitored. Gradual improvements were recorded each year. By around 2021 phosphorus and potassium levels had reached the desired Level 3 across the entire farm and the soil pH had risen to 6.4.

Red Clover, A Game Changer for Organic Feed and Soil Fertility
One of the most important developments on the farm has been the introduction of red clover silage. Red clover is a valuable organic forage crop and provides higher nutritional value than standard grass silage. For livestock it can significantly increase protein levels in feed and reduce the need for purchased concentrates.

Eamonn Coyle and Andrew McShea holding newborn lambs at Tully House Organic Farm

For Andrew this was another new challenge. A natural grass field was disc cut and power harrowed before sowing a mixture of red clover and grass seed. The system works through natural biological processes. Red clover draws nitrogen from the atmosphere and releases it into the soil. The surrounding grass then uses this nitrogen for growth, reducing the need for external fertiliser inputs.

An additional advantage is productivity. Red clover systems can produce up to three cuts of silage per year and provide highly palatable, nutrient-rich feed for sheep and cattle.

This development means the farm can now produce sufficient feed for the livestock it supports. The farm reached a position of self-sustainability.

A Thriving Organic Farm in Full Production
Today the farm produces organic lamb and beef along with a wide range of home-grown vegetables including broccoli, potatoes, carrots, sprouts, parsnips, cabbage and onions. Free range chickens are also kept on the farm and provide organic eggs.

The chickens roam freely across the land and obtain much of their food naturally. Their diet is supplemented with a mixed combi crop consisting of barley, oats, wheat, beans and peas grown together as a natural feed crop. The only regular visitor that causes concern is the local fox, which has developed a habit of appearing near the farm around four o’clock in the afternoon.

The newly restored farmland now provides rich habitat for wildlife, supporting earthworms, invertebrates, pollinators and farmland birds.

Nutrient rich organic soil from Tully House Farm, demonstrating the improved soil structure achieved through organic farming practices

Recognised as a Centre of Organic Farming Excellence
The quality and management of the farm at Tully has attracted wider recognition. It is now used as a practical training location by several organisations including the Irish Farmers Association, Enterprise Training Board, Teagasc and the National Organic Training Skillnet.

The farm is also inspected regularly by the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association to ensure compliance with certified organic farming standards.

Andrew continues to expand his own knowledge as well. He is currently studying part time for a Master of Science degree in Organic and Biological Agriculture at South East Technological University, in Co. Waterford. Andrew built a shop on the premises where customers can buy wholesome organic food and he also provides a home delivery service.

From Loss to Renewal, A Farm Rebuilt Through Organic Farming
Today Tully House Farm stands as clear proof that patience, knowledge and respect for the land can transform a farm. What began as a difficult period marked by tragedy has become a story of renewal. Through steady soil improvement, natural farming methods and determination, Andrew McShea has rebuilt the farm into a productive organic system that now supports wildlife, livestock, vegetables and training for future farmers. The land that once struggled under pressure now works in balance again, showing that strong farming does not come from forcing the soil, but from working with it through natural processes.
Eamonn Coyle is Chartered Engineer & Chartered Environmentalist