Dairygold recently announced Christy Ring as the East Cork Regional winner of their annual Malting Barley Competition.
Farm on the island of Cobh, Kathleen and Christy Ring are a true example of a large-scale mixed farming enterprise. Activities include dairy production, beef growing and finishing. This is complemented by a large-scale tillage operation which includes malting barley as its main crop with maize and fodder beet as rotation.
Most of the tillage production is sold off farm, with just some maize being fed to their own livestock.
The operation is supported by Tony, Christy’s brother, who while farming his own business also supports the home enterprise, especially with the tillage work during the busy spring and harvest period.
The land is extremely suitable for malting barley production, as the light free draining soils are abundant which allows the unit to work land, a big emphasis is put on soil fertility with great care given to both macro and micro nutrition.
