Kevin O Hanlon winner of the organic farming category of the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year awards (l/r) Colin Heaney, FBD; Donal Whelton, AIB; Pat Dillon, Teagasc; minister for agriculture, food and the marine Charlie McConalogue, Liam Woulfe, Grassland Agro, Liz Hyland DAFM and Aidan Brennan Farmers Journal
CO Carlow farmer Kevin O’Hanlon has won the organic farming category at the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards.
The Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year Award is now in its seventh year and recognises the best grassland farmers in the country who are growing and utilising more grass on their farms.
Minister for agriculture Charlie McConalogue presented the awards, which took place at the Teagasc Ballyhaise Agricultural College. The awards are supported by the Department of Agriculture with an overall prize fund of €33,000.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, minister McConalogue congratulated all of the winners on their grassland awards. He said: “You are a credit to your families and to the agri sector. I congratulate you all for being here today and well done to the overall winner Patrick O’Neill and his family. You can all be really proud of your achievements.”
The Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards are part of the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign, which is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Teagasc, AIB, FBD, Grassland Agro and the ***Irish Farmers Journal***.
The Grass10 programme has placed an ongoing focus on improving nutrient management and efficiency on farms and clover establishment and its management.
The judging panel for the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year competition consisted of Liz Hyland, DAFM; John Maher and Joseph Dunphy, Teagasc Grass10; John Farrell, AIB; Colin Heaney, FBD; John O’Loughlin and David Corbett, Grassland Agro; Aidan Brennan and Declan Collins, ***Irish Farmers Journal***.
