At an awards ceremony in Teagasc Oakpark on Thursday, Wexford dairy farmer Liam Rochford was crowned the winner of the inaugural 2025 Pasture Progress Award.

Liam, a graduate of animal and crop production from UCD, returned home to farm in 2017 and formed a partnership with his mother Mary and uncle John.

At that stage, there were just 55 cows on the farm and, over the years, the Rochfords have gradually built up the herd to where it is today at 152 cows, across a 56ha milking platform and with a total farm area of 160ha.

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The competition judges were impressed with the strides Liam has made in recent years in relation to key metrics of grassland management.

From 2023 to 2025, he has increased the number of grazings per paddock from 7.3 to 8.7, he is measuring the farm an extra 20 times per year and has reduced average pre-grazing yield from 1,462kg DM/ha to 1,319kg DM/ha.

Milk solids delivered has also improved from 424kg/cow in 2024 to 500kg of milk solids delivered for 2025.

Speaking on the day, Liam said: “It's a privilege to be here as the Leinster winner and now the national winner. It's nice to be making and progress and nice to be acknowledged for it."

Competition

The Pasture Progress competition is run by Teagasc’s Grass10 programme. It is an evolution to the long-running Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year competition.

The new format is now based on improvements and progress made by farmers in key areas of grassland management over a three-year period.

These metrics are pasture production, number of measures, number of grazings per paddock and average pre-grazing yield.

Three finalists were shortlisted for the top prize, with one coming from each of the Leinster, Munster and combined Connacht/Ulster region.

The finalists were visited by a team of judges, who then assessed the farms based on their grassland management, nutrient management, grazing infrastructure, sustainability, reseeding, clover, health and safety.

Head of animal and grassland research at Teagasc Laurence Shalloo, speaking on the new format of the awards, said: "Today is about progress. All we're looking for in grassland management is progress, because progress equals profit and the new format of the competition recognises this."

The runners-up of the main award were Anne Keane and Esther Walsh farming in Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, and the Williamson family, who are farming in Bailieboro, Co Cavan.

Student award

Glen Williamson, whose family was shortlisted for the overall award, was crowned the winner of the Pasture Progress Award's student section.

Representing Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Glen was awarded the prize for displaying exceptional technical and practical knowledge when it comes to grassland management.