Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Farming for Nature Ambassador Nigel Gillis operates a stockless conventional tillage farm in Grangecon, Co Wicklow. Previously following a prescriptive approach, he has transitioned his 73 hectares (180 ac) to using principles of conservation agriculture in the last 8 years.
After noticing more and more pests and diseases and their chemical cures eating away at his margin, he became disillusioned and wanted to try something else. After running into a member of BASE Ireland, he became thirsty for knowledge. After learning that ‘every target species killed with insecticide kills 1700 non-target and potentially beneficial others, as well as building insecticide resistance’, he immediately ceased its use. He has followed that by not using rodenticide in the last three years, herbicide use is down by 20% and has reduced nitrogen use by 60% and consequently getting away without using fungicide some years.
He produces resilient crops of barley, wheat, beans and oats by using biological dressings on home saved seed, specific soil sampling to monitor micronutrients and biological stimulants.
The Farming for Nature Q&A is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Farming for Nature Ambassador Nigel Gillis operates a stockless conventional tillage farm in Grangecon, Co Wicklow. Previously following a prescriptive approach, he has transitioned his 73 hectares (180 ac) to using principles of conservation agriculture in the last 8 years.
After noticing more and more pests and diseases and their chemical cures eating away at his margin, he became disillusioned and wanted to try something else. After running into a member of BASE Ireland, he became thirsty for knowledge. After learning that ‘every target species killed with insecticide kills 1700 non-target and potentially beneficial others, as well as building insecticide resistance’, he immediately ceased its use. He has followed that by not using rodenticide in the last three years, herbicide use is down by 20% and has reduced nitrogen use by 60% and consequently getting away without using fungicide some years.
He produces resilient crops of barley, wheat, beans and oats by using biological dressings on home saved seed, specific soil sampling to monitor micronutrients and biological stimulants.
The Farming for Nature Q&A is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
