11.
Land Use and Agriculture
11.5
Summary of Land Use - Southern Section
South Kilkenny City to Goresbridge The
land quality of this area is generally very high, with the
exception of the area around Gowran, where land quality was
slightly lower. As a result of this, a high level of dairy
and tillage farming was found. Large land parcels in both
the dairying and tillage areas reflected the intensive nature
of the farming currently in practice. Other grassland based
farming is evident although the field sizes are generally
smaller.
Bennettsbridge
to Kells to Thomastown - The land quality is very high
from south of Kilkenny City to Kells and extending east to
the River Nore. To the east of the River Nore the land quality
is average to good. There is a significant level of tillage
west of the River Nore although the farming there is predominantly
grassland based. There is a high level of dairying in the
Kells region. East of the River Nore the farming is predominantly
grassland based with a higher level of mixed livestock enterprises
such as suckler cow herds, drystock and sheep. Field and land
parcels are larger to the west of the area.
Thomastown to Ballyhale - Land quality in the Thomastown
region and west of the N9 road is very high. In the south-east
of this area the quality decreases with several areas of poor
quality land or hilly areas where land quality is low. There
is a high level of grassland farming throughout this area
and a significant level of tillage west of the N9. There are
several large parcels of commercial forestry. Ballyhale to
Mullinavat - There is a large parcel of commercial forestry
to the east of the N9 road. The constraints study area extends
south on both sides of the forestry parcel. Land quality is
mixed with large areas of poor quality land throughout this
area. Land quality west of the excluded area is generally
average with grassland based farming and small field sizes.
East of the excluded area it is poor to average with large
parcels of commercial forestry. In the Mullinavat region the
land quality improves with a higher level of tillage and dairy
based farming activity. There are some poor land parcels and
commercial forestry east of Mullinavat town.
South of Mullinavat town to Waterford - The land quality
is high in general with a few areas of average to good land
quality, mainly along the eastern side. In this area the land
use is grassland based with tillage levels highest in the
center, around the N9. Of the grassland based farming, dairying
is most prominent in the Kilmacow to Waterford area.
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