A new programme, the SuperValu Sustainable Farming Programme, was launched in Teagasc Grange by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Tom Hayes TD on Tuesday.

The programme, first announced by SuperValu at the Ploughing Championships in 2012, is being run in association with Kepak and Teagasc.

It aims to assist farmers in developing sustainable production enterprises with a key focus on achieving economic sustainability at farm level.

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The first phase of the programme runs for two years with eight beef and two dedicated sheep-only farms selected as participants.

Teagasc advisers and Kepak personnel will work closely with the participating farms on areas such as grassland management, market specifications, farm efficiency, carbon footprint analysis, herd health and breeding identified as key areas of production.

The programme participants are as follows:

Beef

  • Donal Kenny, Mullingar, Westmeath.
  • Cathal McDonald, Co Offaly.
  • Martin Beausang, Co Cork.
  • Michael Barrett, Co Cork.
  • Kenneth Davis, Glenamaddy, Co Galway.
  • David Aughmuty, Ballygalda, Co Roscommon.
  • Fergal O’Brien, Navan, Co Meath.
  • Kevin Farrell, Ballymahon, Co Longford.
  • Sheep

  • Edward Plunkett, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
  • Gerry Coyle, Athleague, Co Roscommon.