Ross Newcombe & Siobhan Hubbard – Newbard Farm

Siobhán Hubbard and Ross Newcombe manage Newbard Farm in Lismore Co Waterford. The land is a 50 acre, organic, mixed stock farm built gradually over the past number of years. Around 20 acres is deciduous woodland and the remaining land is a mixture of meadow and permanent pasture that supports a mixed farming system centred on pigs, sheep and poultry. They currently keep five sows and a boar, with anywhere between 40 and 80 pigs of different ages on the farm at any given time. Around 20 ewes and their lambs are also kept on the farm, alongside a small and growing flock of hens. Alongside livestock, Siobhan and Ross manage a kitchen garden and grow a range of crops including black oats, peas, kale and pumpkins, which used to feed the animals and support animal health through natural systems such as winter worm control for pigs.

The farming system is organic and highly flexible, adapting to the land, the weather and the needs of the animals. Pigs are outdoors for most of the year, moving through a rotation system that helps protect soil health and minimise parasites without the use of chemical treatments. Sheep, pigs and chickens each play a role in managing the land, helping to control weeds and recycle nutrients. Produce is sold directly to customers through a weekly local market and from the farm itself.

Nature plays a central role in how the farm is managed. The woodland, hedgerows and wilder areas provide habitat for birds, insects and mammals. Rather than trying to control every plant or insect, the farmers focus on allowing natural systems to develop. Leaving areas of the vegetable garden and field margins wild has encouraged beneficial insects such as ladybirds and beetles, which help manage pests naturally. Ross and Siobhan’s overall approach is to work with nature rather than against it, allowing biodiversity to return while producing high-quality, nutrient dense food for their local community.

Nomination (Hannah Denniston, DAFM):
Siobhan and Ross run a small-scale mixed livestock system, with approximately 50 outdoor organic pigs and 20 breeding ewes with followers in spring. They began pig farming in 2015, gradually building experience and stock numbers over several years. The farm business developed from 2021 onwards, growing slowly with a strong focus on organic production, animal welfare, and direct local sales. The is farm approximately 49 acres in total, made up of their home farm and some rented land nearby. This includes around 20 acres of mixed woodland, planted approximately 30 years ago. The remaining land is mixed pasture where crops are grown on rotation for on-farm feed.

The farm is managed using organic and agroecological principles, prioritising soil health, diverse swards, and minimal disturbance. Hay is made on farm to suit the system, reducing inputs and machinery use. Hedgerows, field boundaries, and natural habitats are maintained to support birds, insects, and pollinators. Break crops are used to maintain soil fertility and pumpkins and squashes are planted annually, which form a key part of the winter fodder and support a natural worm control strategy.

One of the main challenges for the farm has been the lack of small-scale, local processing infrastructure, which has led Siobhan to dedicate much of her time to trying to develop a local, farm-to-fork supply chain which can supply locally while retaining value on the farm. Part of her work has been to secure Short Food Chain Supply Grant (DAFM) to develop plans to address this gap. They now work as part of a co-op of 112 farmers, collaborating to strengthen local food systems as well as engaging with organisations such as BioRegion and Talamh Beo, sharing skills and knowledge across farmer networks and supporting others where possible.

Ross and Siobhan are passionate about farming to provide healthy, low-input and local food.