Tipperary farmers announced among the 2026 Farming for Nature ambassadors

Philip and Eleanor Cussen, organic farmers from Athlomen, Thurles, have been announced among the seven new Farming for Nature ambassadors for 2026. The pair were announced earlier this week for the organisaion, a non-profit initiative whose mission is to support, encourage and inspire farmers who farm, or who wish to farm, “in a way that will improve the natural health of our countryside.”

The couple farm a 45 hectare mixed organic system that includes sucklers, tillage and horse breeding enterprises. The sucker herd currently stands at 15 cows, and in recent years they have focused on improving the quality of the herd rather than increasing numbers.

They grow organic oats, mainly for sale to Flahavan’s, alongside legumes such as red clover and pea–barley mixes that help build soil fertility and provide feed for livestock in a system that is designed to be as circular and self-sufficient as possible.

Straw and farmyard manure from the cattle are returned to the land, while crops such as oats are also kept for feeding cattle and horses.

Eleanor breeds traditional Irish cob horses, producing several foals each year that are typically sold young. The horses also play a role in grazing certain areas of the farm, where their lighter grazing patterns help maintain plant diversity, especially in paddocks where Devils Bit Scabious flowers thrive.

Nature restoration and conservation is central to how Philip and Eleanor manage the farm, according to Farming for Nature. Hedgerows, field margins and grassland habitats provide shelter and food for birds, insects and small mammals.

Phil and Eleanor are mindful of how farming decisions affect wildlife and aim to manage the land in a way that supports biodiversity while still producing food, and are proud to say their farm is home to breeding barn owls and the marsh fritillary butterfly.

They are also part of the National Moth Survey and are very involved with National Parks and Wildlife, as well as valued members of the Limerick/Tipperary Organic Farmers Group