Eleven family farms received Origin Green awards for their efforts in driving sustainability, efficiency and low environmental impact at a ceremony hosted by Bord Bia in Killenard, Co Laois this Wednesday.
Congratulating the winners, Bord Bia's chief executive Tara McCarthy said: "When we're bringing international buyers around the country, you're the people we need to feature." She added that the Origin Green brand rested on sustainability assurance schemes, acknowledging that Bord Bia "can't assume that you'll always be there without showing you what the market is asking for" and engaging with farmers on what worries them about audits.
Dairy winners
The winner in the reduced carbon footprint category was Trevor Crowley and his family from Lissarda, Co Cork, whose 136-cow herd has greenhouse gas emissions 18% below the national average.
@OriginGreen @Bordbia Reduced Carbon Footprint award winners Trevor Crowley and family Lissarda Cork @DairygoldCo_Op pic.twitter.com/VwZ4UeuFDa
— FJ Dairy (@FJDairy) December 12, 2018
Two more dairy awards crowned Mairead and Pat McLoughlin, who milk 56 cows with advanced breeding techniques in Birr, Co Offaly in the small/medium herd category, and Shane and Dermot O'Loughlin from Monasterevin, Co Kildare who were singled out for top animal health in the large herd category.
@OriginGreen Medium size dairy farm category winners Mairead and Pat McLoughlin from Birr, Offaly, @DairiesJp pic.twitter.com/AJqzAqoF7W
— FJ Dairy (@FJDairy) December 12, 2018
Shane and Dermot O'Loughlin, Monasterevin, Kildare winners of the Large herd Category @OriginGreen @Bordbia pic.twitter.com/Z0PxDJNyWG
— FJ Dairy (@FJDairy) December 12, 2018
Horticulture winners
The mushroom winner was Reilly Mushrooms in Athlone, Co Westmeath where a €200,000 investment in solar panels provides much of the farm's power.
The @OriginGreen award winner in the mushrooms category is Reilly Mushrooms from Athlone, Co. Westmeath. #OriginGreenAwards pic.twitter.com/b99bXzVUF9
— FJ Tillage (@FJTillage) December 12, 2018
Flynn's tomatoes, who recycle the carbon dioxide from their greenhouse boilers to boost plant growth in Swords, Co Dublin scooped the protected crops award.
The @OriginGreen award winner in the protected crops and fruit category is Flynn’s Tomatoes from Bealinstown, Swords, Co. Dublin. #OriginGreenAwards pic.twitter.com/9O8nyGAdW8
— FJ Tillage (@FJTillage) December 12, 2018
Kilmore Potatoes in Kikmore, Co Wexford have set aside 30ac of their land to protect biodiversity including wild birds and won the potato category.
The @OriginGreen award winner in the potatoes category is Kilmore Potatoes from Ballyhealy, Kilmore, Co. Wexford. #OriginGreenAwards pic.twitter.com/WnPG6Smhlj
— FJ Tillage (@FJTillage) December 12, 2018
John Dockerell, who grows root crops and salads in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford came out in front in the field vegetables category thanks to their constant monitoring of nutrients, reduced chemical inputs and water recycling efforts.
The @OriginGreen award winner in the field vegetables category is John B Dockrell from Screen, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. #OriginGreenAwards pic.twitter.com/cGCiGs78Co
— FJ Tillage (@FJTillage) December 12, 2018
Beef winners
The suckler-to-beef winner was Noel Farrell from Golden, Co Tipperary, who runs a rotational grazing system and makes top quality silage.
Winner in the suckler to beef section at the @bordbia origin green farmer awards goes to Noel Farrell, Co. Tipperary. Noel has 85 Simmental suckler cows finishing bulls at 16 months and heifers at 22 months. @TeagascBeef @farmersjournal pic.twitter.com/14ggC9uL18
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) December 12, 2018
In the suckler-to-weanling or store category, Nicholas Bergin was praised for the quality of breeding, management and facilities on his farm in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
Winner in the suckler to weanling section at the @Bordbia origin green farmer awards goes to Nicholas Bergin, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Nicholas farms 80 suckler cows selling Bull weanlings at 380-400kg for export at €1100-€1200. @TeagascBeef @farmersjournal pic.twitter.com/cPjrOY3h1o
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) December 12, 2018
The Auchmuty family of beef finishers and sheep farmers in Ballygalda, Co Roscommon won the weanling/store to beef category. They slaughter 95% of their cattle under 30 months with impressive carcase specs.
Winner in the weanling/store to beef section at the @Bordbia origin green farmer awards goes the Auchmuty family from Roscommon. David and Giles finish 650 cattle annually growing all feed on farm. @TeagascBeef @farmersjournal pic.twitter.com/tmfpd9AEfe
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) December 12, 2018
In the dairy calf to beef category, Derek and Gareth Peoples from Newtownmountcunningham, Co Donegal came first in recognition of the way they maximise weight gain from grass and herd health.
Winner in the dairy calf to beef section at the @Bordbia origin green farmer awards goes to the Peoples family in Donegal. Derek and Gareth finish dairy cross steers at 22-26 months at 320kg carcase weight on their 220 acre farm in Newtowncunningham. @TeagascBeef @farmersjournal pic.twitter.com/j4cRhDg35t
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) December 12, 2018
Bord Bia chairman Dan MacSweeney said that accessing new markets was crucial in the wake of Brexit, and we "need points of differentiation" such as Origin Green's environmental and animal welfare credentials to achieve that. The award winners announced on Wednesday are "role models" in this area, he added.
The winners were selected among 39 finalists by judges from Bord Bia, Teagasc, the Irish Farmers Journal, UCD and IT Blanchardstown.
Read a full profile of each winner in next week's Irish Farmers Journal.
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