Tipperary farmers in the running for national sustainability awards
Roscrea and Fethard are both represented with Maurice Deasy and Matt Hennessy both in the running
Two Tipperary farmers, Roscrea’s Maurice Deasy and Fethard’s Matt Hennessy, are up for the Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards 2026.
They are among just ten farmers up for the awards, which aim to promote environmentally sustainable farming.
The awards highlight the progress farmers are making to lighten the load of farming on the environment, while continuing to produce high quality, nutritious food, in a profitable manner.
This year’s finalists are being recognised for their commitment to areas including greenhouse gas emissions reduction, improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity, improving soil health and farming with innovation.
The overall winner of the will be announced on Thursday 1 October, alongside the winners of the individual award categories and special recognition awards.
Maurice Deasy , Roscrea#
Maurice has moved from intensive malting barley production to conservation agriculture, with the goal of regenerative farming and agroecology.
They use 100% cover crops before spring crops, increased crop rotation to include beans, peas, oilseed rape, oats, wheat and rye, and are reducing cultivation towards no-till.
Organic manures, legumes and multi-species swards improve soil health while reducing fertiliser requirements. He has reduced chemical inputs, including insecticides and fungicides, and use GPS technology to improve application efficiency.
Biodiversity has been enhanced through a new pond, additional native and fruit trees, flowering crops, three hives of native Irish black bees, heritage crop production and continued avoidance of insecticides. Water quality is supported through cover crops, improved soil structure and reduced cultivation.
They have diversified through Canvas Brewery, producing single-source beer using farm-grown ingredients and renewable energy from woodland, solar and micro-hydro.
A flour mill is also being developed. They participate in ACRES, Farming for Nature, Talamh Beo EIP and other sustainability initiatives, with plans to expand biochar, organic manures, intercropping and no-till.
Matt Hennessy, Fethard
This farm has undergone a major transition to a fully organic tillage system, converting in 2021 and achieving full organic status in 2023. Organic dairy production ceased in 2024, with 2025 the first full year producing organic winter and spring oats and winter barley.
The system has eliminated chemical fertiliser and pesticides, using red clover, cover crops, multispecies swards, organic manures and straw incorporation to build fertility and soil carbon. Reduced soil disturbance, low ground-pressure machinery and regular soil testing further support soil health. Matt uses the VESS assessment tool to assess soil health on the farm.
Biodiversity has been enhanced through ACRES, a three-year hedgerow cutting and plans for agroforestry. Cover crops, buffer zones and the absence of synthetic inputs help protect water quality. The farm also participates in the Farming for Water Catch Crop EIP and Signpost Advisory Programme.
Future plans include reintroducing organic cattle, establishing 20 acres of agroforestry, expanding multispecies swards and growing intercrops to create a more circular, resilient farming system.