The latest senior figure in DARD to jump ship before the Department’s headquarters moves to Ballykelly is Senior Finance Director, and former permanent secretary, Gerry Lavery, who has announced his retirement.

He leaves behind a significant legacy in the local farming industry given his role as mastermind behind funding for the £121m Farm Nutrient Management Scheme which ran from 2005 to 2009. The bulk of that funding was secured against a £200m valuation of AFBI’s Crossnacreevy site, which was subsequently valued at less than £5m. We wish him well in his retirement.

Thurs 17 September

  • SDLP farming conference. Speaker: Mairead McGuinness MEP. Burrendale hotel, Newcastle, 7pm.
  • Texel sheep, show 6pm, sale 7pm, Lisahally mart. Details from secretary TN 07791 679112.
  • Clearance sale 100 head suckler herd, Lim x AA with Charolais calves at foot for William Stirling, Armoy mart, 7pm.
  • Suffolk sheep, show and sale, Rathfriland mart, 7pm. Details Orla TN 07841 117252.

    • Fri 18 September

  • Dairy sale special entries, 10 calved Holstein cows for Norman Shaw, five Friesian maiden heifers for E & J McGookin, Ballymena mart, 11am.
  • Texel sheep, show 6pm, sale 7pm, Hilltown mart. Details TN 07791 679112.

    • Sat 19 September

  • NI Bluefaced Leicester pedigrees, 191 shearling rams, 135 ram lambs, 26 females. Show 8am, sale 10am, Ballymena mart.
  • Springhill ram sale, Texel and Charollais for John Foster, Omagh 12pm.

    • Sun 20 September

  • Charity family fun day in aid of ‘‘Send a Cow’’ African charity, Streamvale open farm, Dundonald, 2pm to 5pm. Details www.streamvale.com

    • Mon 21 September

  • Charollais rams show and sale, Ballymena mart, 7pm.
  • NI Bluefaced Leicester Mules, Mule hoggets and ewe lambs sale, Ballymena mart, 7pm.
  • Texel ewe lambs, 15 head for Mary Clarke, Ballyrussell flock, Ballymena mart, 7pm.

    • Tues 22 September

  • Blackface ewes, hoggets and ewe lambs, Ballymena mart, 7pm.
  • NA and EL Suffolk ram sale, 100 head, Armoy mart, 7pm.

    • Wed 23 September

  • NIFDA Appetite for Growth conference, Craigavon Civic Centre, 8.15am to 1pm. Register at www.nifda.co.uk
  • Farm families’ health check van, Camlough mart, 10.30am to 3pm.
  • Special entry of 14 young Cows with AI calves at foot, six heifers in calf to AI bulls for Seamus Casey, Dungannon mart, 11am.
  • Holstein NI heifer show and sale, Moira Sales Arena, 11am.
  • Texel sheep show 6pm, sale 7pm, Markethill mart. Details secretary TN 07791 679112.

    • Thurs 24 September

  • Suckled calves opening sale, show of Charolais calves, Armoy mart, 1am.
  • Texel sheep, show 6pm, sale 7pm, Clogher mart. Details secretary TN 07791 679112.