The 2026 Teagasc national hill sheep conference will head to Westport, Co Mayo next week, Wednesday 18 February.
The conference is to take place at the Westport Woods Hotel at 7pm, with no prior booking needed for the free-to-attend event.
The lineup features the presentation of a paper from Teagasc sheep researcher Dr Frank Campion on the latest findings from the authority’s trials on finishing both organic and conventional hill lambs.
It is to focus on the challenges and opportunities presented to hill farmers looking for the best avenue to take when marketing their lambs.
Environmental sustainability is to feature in a presentation from Teagasc ASSAP advisor Dr Shaun Roarty, which will cover the actions hill farmers can take to ensure high water quality in hill areas.
“Upland farmers can play a critical role in the reinstatement and management of good and high-status upland waterbodies, which provide essential ecosystem services such as high-quality water supply, carbon sequestration, flood attenuation, and biodiversity support,” Roarty said.
“While reaffirming the value of these resources, our upland waterbodies face unique and complex challenges, particularly in relation to hydromorphology and pesticide occurrences.”
There will also be a panel discussion for attendees next week focused on hill lamb sale strategies and margins, with the Irish Farmers Journal sheep and schemes editor Darren Carty chairing proceedings.
Those presented will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel that will include:
Bord Bia sector manager for sheep and livestock Seamus McMenamin;Irish Country Meats’ general manager James Smyth;Co Galway hill sheep farmer Brendan Joyce; andManager of Ballinrobe Mart Teresa Gibsey.
The 2026 Teagasc national hill sheep conference will head to Westport, Co Mayo next week, Wednesday 18 February.
The conference is to take place at the Westport Woods Hotel at 7pm, with no prior booking needed for the free-to-attend event.
The lineup features the presentation of a paper from Teagasc sheep researcher Dr Frank Campion on the latest findings from the authority’s trials on finishing both organic and conventional hill lambs.
It is to focus on the challenges and opportunities presented to hill farmers looking for the best avenue to take when marketing their lambs.
Environmental sustainability is to feature in a presentation from Teagasc ASSAP advisor Dr Shaun Roarty, which will cover the actions hill farmers can take to ensure high water quality in hill areas.
“Upland farmers can play a critical role in the reinstatement and management of good and high-status upland waterbodies, which provide essential ecosystem services such as high-quality water supply, carbon sequestration, flood attenuation, and biodiversity support,” Roarty said.
“While reaffirming the value of these resources, our upland waterbodies face unique and complex challenges, particularly in relation to hydromorphology and pesticide occurrences.”
There will also be a panel discussion for attendees next week focused on hill lamb sale strategies and margins, with the Irish Farmers Journal sheep and schemes editor Darren Carty chairing proceedings.
Those presented will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel that will include:
Bord Bia sector manager for sheep and livestock Seamus McMenamin;Irish Country Meats’ general manager James Smyth;Co Galway hill sheep farmer Brendan Joyce; andManager of Ballinrobe Mart Teresa Gibsey. 
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