The finalists for the 2018 National Dairy Council and Kerrygold quality milk awards have been announced.
The awards are to recognise standards of excellence in dairy farming, with dairy co-operatives throughout the country invited to nominate their top suppliers.
Cork is the most-represented county, with four finalists, while Munster as a province also has finalists from Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford.
The remaining two finalists are from Monaghan and Longford.
Judges
The judges for this year’s awards are Dr Jack Kennedy, dairy editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, Professor Pat Wall from UCD and Dr David Gleeson from Teagasc.
Speaking about the judging process undergone by the finalists, Pat Wall said they were put through “intensive scrutiny”, which involved rigorous analysis of milk quality reports and technical data spanning a full 12-month period.
They are leaders in their industry and showcase the utmost standards
It also included an inspection of their farms by the judges, which Pat said allowed them to “get insights into the farm’s practices around areas such as milking routine, animal welfare and sustainability”.
“All of the finalists clearly demonstrated excellent standards in food production. They are leaders in their industry and showcase the utmost standards in sustainability, hygiene, animal welfare and quality,” he concluded.
The winners will be announced at a special quality milk awards lunch on 3 October in Dublin.
Finalists
The quality milk awards website contains further details on each of the following nine finalist farms:
Tom, Mary & Michael Ryan Lisheen, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Nominated by Centenary Thurles.John O'Shaughnessy, Kildimo, Co Limerick. Nominated by Kerry Agribusiness.Liam and Dolores O'Donovan, Skibbereen, Co Cork. Nominated by Drinagh.Else Furney, Bandon, Co Cork. Nominated by Barryroe Co-Op.Tim and Dan Crowley, Bandon, Co Cork. Nominated by Bandon Co-Op.Kevin Downing, Parkduv Farm Ltd, Whitechurch, Co Cork. Nominated by Dairygold Co-Op.John Patrick Keating and family, Dungarvan, Co Waterford. Nominated by Glanbia Ireland.Darren McKenna, Derrygasson Farms Ltd, Emyvale, Co Monaghan. Nominated by Lacpatrick Dairies.John McTiernan, Mullaghavorneen, Co Longford. Nominated by Aurivo. Read more
Walsh family excels in Tipperary sunshine
The finalists for the 2018 National Dairy Council and Kerrygold quality milk awards have been announced.
The awards are to recognise standards of excellence in dairy farming, with dairy co-operatives throughout the country invited to nominate their top suppliers.
Cork is the most-represented county, with four finalists, while Munster as a province also has finalists from Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford.
The remaining two finalists are from Monaghan and Longford.
Judges
The judges for this year’s awards are Dr Jack Kennedy, dairy editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, Professor Pat Wall from UCD and Dr David Gleeson from Teagasc.
Speaking about the judging process undergone by the finalists, Pat Wall said they were put through “intensive scrutiny”, which involved rigorous analysis of milk quality reports and technical data spanning a full 12-month period.
They are leaders in their industry and showcase the utmost standards
It also included an inspection of their farms by the judges, which Pat said allowed them to “get insights into the farm’s practices around areas such as milking routine, animal welfare and sustainability”.
“All of the finalists clearly demonstrated excellent standards in food production. They are leaders in their industry and showcase the utmost standards in sustainability, hygiene, animal welfare and quality,” he concluded.
The winners will be announced at a special quality milk awards lunch on 3 October in Dublin.
Finalists
The quality milk awards website contains further details on each of the following nine finalist farms:
Tom, Mary & Michael Ryan Lisheen, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Nominated by Centenary Thurles.John O'Shaughnessy, Kildimo, Co Limerick. Nominated by Kerry Agribusiness.Liam and Dolores O'Donovan, Skibbereen, Co Cork. Nominated by Drinagh.Else Furney, Bandon, Co Cork. Nominated by Barryroe Co-Op.Tim and Dan Crowley, Bandon, Co Cork. Nominated by Bandon Co-Op.Kevin Downing, Parkduv Farm Ltd, Whitechurch, Co Cork. Nominated by Dairygold Co-Op.John Patrick Keating and family, Dungarvan, Co Waterford. Nominated by Glanbia Ireland.Darren McKenna, Derrygasson Farms Ltd, Emyvale, Co Monaghan. Nominated by Lacpatrick Dairies.John McTiernan, Mullaghavorneen, Co Longford. Nominated by Aurivo. Read more
Walsh family excels in Tipperary sunshine
SHARING OPTIONS