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Last week 26 pupils and their teachers from six Northern Irish schools left from ABP in Newry for a farm to fork study tour to Belgium.
The three-day trip was part of their skills development experience as finalists in the 2022 ABP Angus Youth Challenge.
The tour commenced at ABP Newry and then moved on to Lismullin cookery school in Navan. There the teenagers learnt about the skills involved in butchery from Kettyle Irish Foods and got to cook their own perfect Angus steak. Briefings were provided by ABP and Certified Irish Angus about the international market for Northern Irish Angus Beef before flying out to Belgium.
In Belgium the pupils were hosted by the Irish College Leuven. They made presentations to Flanders Farmers Union about the projects they are working on as ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalists. They also vistied an Angus beef farm. On the final day the pupils went to Brussels to meet the NI Executive Office and Invest NI. Employees from ABP Belgium gave them an insight into the European arm of ABP’s business. Educational visits to the famous Great War memorials and museums in West Flanders were also part of their action-packed schedule.
ABP’s Head of Supply Chain Development, Liam McCarthy, accompanied the group on their trip along with other employees from ABP and Certified Irish Angus. He said, “The ABP Angus Youth Challenge helps teenagers learn, develop and gain the skills necessary to transition in to our sector. The study tour is one of many benefits that can be gained from taking part in the competition.”
Charles Smith of the Certified Irish Angus Producer Group added, “the study tour is one the highlights of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge. Young people’s education has been greatly disrupted by the pandemic. So we wanted to make this year’s trip all the more memorable for them and their teachers."
The ABP Angus Youth Challenge will open again for new entries in September. 14-15 year old going into Year 11, or interested parents and teachers can register now at www.abpangusyouthchallenge.com
Group 1 - Summer 2022 finalist teams
Group 2 - Winter 2022 finalist teams
One overall winning team from each group will be announced this October.
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This week is Farm Safety Week and the Farm Safety Partnership is highlighting a detailed study on farm fatalities over 50 years in NI with the aim of targeting certain age groups of farmers who are at risk or key areas where incidents are more frequently occurring.
It also will be beneficial in-pin-pointing trends in the data e.g. seasons or days of the week which can then be used to help prevent future incidents and fatalities occurring on our farms..
The study was conducted by the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI)
Some of the key points taken from this research includes:
Agriculture is still one of the most hazardous industrial sectors in terms of fatal accidents right across the world.
In NI, the FSP has been actively engaged in initiatives aimed at improving farm safety standards and reducing incidents, including ongoing advertising campaigns such as ‘Stop and Think SAFE’ and ‘Farm Safe Essentials’.
Through ongoing partnership working, research and focusing on the root causes of fatal incidents, the Farm Safety Partnership will continue to strive to reach zero fatal incidents on farms.
Camilla Mackey, head of HSENI’s Agri-Food team said: “Farming has the poorest safety record of any occupation in Northern Ireland, this is unacceptable, and it is very important that we continue to work with our farm safety partners to try and improve safety standards.
“The work undertaken by AFBI is invaluable to the FSP, although it shows the fatal incident statistics have generally levelled, this is not good enough. There are still 6/7 fatalities on average per year on our farms. We need to drive home to the farming community that all farm accidents are avoidable. There must be a behavioural change and farmers must take responsibility for their actions to keep themselves and their families safe.”
Further information on the Farm Safety Partnership can be found at www.hseni.gov.uk and on the Farm Safety Foundation at www.yellowwellies.org
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It's Farm Safety Week and the Farm Safety Partnership is reminding the farming community to keep your children safe on our farms during these busy summer months.
Children are naturally curious, particularly on working farms, they can be tempting places for them to play and often children do not understand the dangers a farm can present. That is why parents must think about the preventative measures they can put in place to help protect children from the risks they face on farms.
These measures include providing young children with a securely fenced off play area, preventing children under the age of 13 riding on agricultural vehicles as passengers, ensuring the farm quad is not driven by anyone under the age of 16 and those 16 or over must be trained and wear head protection. Secure any old equipment or gates to prevent them toppling over, ensure slurry stores are securely fenced and keep children away from all mixing operations.
In May and June of this year, HSENI’s Agriculture Team were busy visiting rural primary schools to give farm safety talks to Primary one and Primary seven pupils right across the province, promoting farm safety awareness and educating rural children on the risks they face on the farm. We would urge parents and families to talk to their children about farm safety and reiterate the messages they have learned at school.
The Agriculture Team also ran the annual ‘Avoid Harm on the Farm’ poster competition throughout the month of June, asking all primary school aged children to draw pictures of the key risks they see on the farm and submit these, twelve of which will be chosen as winners to form part of our 2023 farm safety calendar.
Camilla Mackey, head of HSENI’s Agri-Food Team said: “It is critical that our children are educated about farm safety so that they are aware of the potential dangers and learn how to avoid them. The Farm Safety Partnership are asking all farm families to make child farm safety a priority, particularly at this busy time with longer evenings and schools closed for the summer holidays. You must supervise your children if they are on the farm, the younger they are the more vulnerable they can be, and they simply do not understand the risk.
“All too often, children have access to the entire farm and view it as one big play space, this is hugely concerning. Children must be protected from the risks on the farm, they are workplaces not playgrounds.”
Information for parents on child safety can be found at: Be Aware Kids Child Farm Safety campaign
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Tranche 6 of the Wider Level of the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) will open for applications on 30 August.
EFS Wider Level applies to land outside areas of environmental designation and as such will be available to most farmers in Northern Ireland. Applicants simply choose which options they feel best suit the needs of their farm business and then submit an application for the land they will have control of for the five year duration of the scheme.
Launching Tranche 6 of the Scheme, DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots MLA said: “The EFS supports farmers to implement environmental measures on their land. In this way we aim to protect and enhance biodiversity and water quality, and mitigate against climate change by sequestering carbon.
“I am therefore delighted to launch Tranche 6 of the Wider Level to help us support our agricultural and environmental objectives. The application process must be completed online, and for those who may experience issues with access, my staff within the EFS team can offer assistance. I’m encouraging those eligible to get ready now so that they can avail of this funding.’’
Applications for Tranche 6 EFS Wider must be submitted by Friday 23 September 2022.
Consider the options for your farm
Although there will be 4 weeks to submit an application it is advisable to start thinking about what options might be best suited to your farm. Full details of the current range of Options are available on the DAERA website at: www.daera-ni.gov.uk or contact your local DAERA Direct office for more information.
Unlike previous agri-environment schemes, the EFS is designed so that the majority of the works are completed and claimed in the first year. This means that you should be confident that you can complete all the work you apply for within the stated time periods.
If you have already taken part in Tranche 1 of EFS Wider, your existing agreement will expire on 31 December this year and, so, you are now eligible to re-apply for a new Tranche 6 agreement (which will commence on 1 January 2023). Please note that your agreement will not automatically renew so you need to reapply if you wish to remain in the scheme.
Check your access to DAERA Online Services
As the application can only be made online there may be a few steps you can take now to ensure that you are ready to make an application.
For example, you will need access to DAERA Online Services and you must also have a current email address that you can access. If you already have a Government Gateway ID and Password that you use for the Single Application and Maps Service, then you can use the same log-in details to access the EFS online application.
If you do not already have access, you will have to apply to register. Alternatively, you may wish to use an agent who can represent your business online.
For further information or advice please telephone 0300 200 7848 or email efs@daera-ni.gov.uk
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The agrifood company ABP is inviting pupils in Year 11/14-15-year-olds to take part in the 2022-2023 ABP Angus Youth Challenge. The competition offers the chance to win a range of valuable prizes. These include a mini herd of Angus cross calves to rear worth c.£3,500 and a three-day study tour with ABP which this year featured a farm to fork work inspiration experience with ABP in Belgium.
The competition which is delivered in partnership with the Certified Irish Angus Producer Group is designed to align with learning outcomes in a range of GCSE subjects to support attainment and give teenagers who reach the final stage direct experience and skills in beef production. The teams that get through to the year-long finalist programme are assigned a Mentor from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise to support their work on research assignments while they rear their calves. They are also given from professional training in communication, presentation and interview skills to prepare them for job interviews and the world of work.
Entry to the ABP Angus Youth Challenge is by way of a short video submission by 26th September 2022. A selection of entrants will then be invited to take part in an exhibition event during Halloween which will be held at the Eikon Centre, Balmoral Park. An independent panel will judge the teams’ performance at the exhibition to determine who goes through to the finalist programme and wins the prizes. An overall winning team will also win £1,000 for their club or school at the end of the final stage.
Commenting on ABP’s commitment to developing young people, the Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland, George Mullan said, “ABP wishes to connect with motivated young people at an important stage of their education. We want to inspire them to work in our sector. This competition offers a range of opportunities not just for pupils interested in agriculture or who come from a farming family but for those that want to stand out from their peers and learn new skills in a practical and fun way with their team-mates and other teenagers.
Meanwhile teams from Banbridge Academy; Cookstown High School; Dalriada School Ballymoney; Friends’ School Lisburn; Newtownhamilton High School; St Kevin’s College Lisnaskea and St Catherine’s College Armagh, are due to complete their finalist programme in October when the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony for invited guests in the Logan Hall, Balmoral Park.
Entering and taking part in the ABP Angus Youth Challenge can now be used as part of the skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh/Joint Award.
The ABP Angus Youth Challenge is open to teams of 2-4 individuals from schools, clubs, societies or a group of friends. Entrants do not have to live on a farm or be part of a farming family to take part. ABP will assist finalists in the provision of a suitable farm.
Enter at: ABP Angus Youth Challenge. Closing date for receipt of entries is 26th September 2022.
For competition queries contact schools@certifiedirishangus.ie
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Aimee McCombe, Ellen Bailie and Sophie McKnight from Newtownhamilton High School have been declared joint winners in the 2022 ABP Angus Youth Challenge sharing the accolade with a team of Yr. 12 pupils from Cookstown High School. The Newtownhamilton winning project was ‘Sustainable Beef Consumption and the Young Consumer.’ The team researched and promoted the nutritional value of beef with an emphasis on its vitamin content. They explored young people’s understanding of the vitamins that can be acquired from consuming beef and implemented awareness-raising activities including a book of beef recipes. They also organized a Farm to Fork Festival and Tractor Run in their local community, which along with in-school fund-raising, raised £7,000 for ABP’s charity partner Air Ambulance NI as a result of a raffle support of many local businesses. .
Both teams received their trophies and a £1,000 cheque for each school from Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland, George Mullan and the General Manager of the Certified Irish Angus Producer Group, Charles Smith.
Congratulating the winners Mr Mullan said, “This competition challenges young minds to uncover the facts about beef production for themselves. It gives them the chance to actively experience and benefit from Angus beef farming and to develop the skills needed to work in our sector. I am delighted to see recognition continue to grow within our schools community for the beneficial influence and impact the Challenge is having on a diverse range of young people and for the positive profile it is providing for agriculture as a subject or a career choice.
Runners-up were Dalriada School, Ballymoney and St Catherine’s College Armagh. Outstanding Individual Achievement Awards went to Lois McCurdy from Dalriada School (Summer teams) and Jonathan Burrows from Cookstown High School (Winter team).
The awards ceremony took place in the Logan Hall Balmoral Park in front of assembled guests of teachers, parents and industry stakeholders. Meanwhile 24 teams took part in the ABP Angus Youth Challenge for the chance to take part in the next finalist programme and win their own Angus cross calves to rear.
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A pedigree Aberdeen Angus heifer from an award-winning cow family is the star prize in a memorial raffle in aid of Marie Curie.
Bred by Father Sean Moore from County Armagh, the June 2021 born heifer Millbrae Black Caoimhe X891, has been generously donated in memory of his sister Rose who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in January last year aged 59.
The late Rose Moore was the youngest of ten children, and a much-loved sister, aunt, great aunt, and friend of all who met her. She dedicated her life to her family and helping others.
Rose amassed many friends during her 40-year career in the NI Housing Executive. She lived with her brother Sean, firstly in Lordship and Ballymascanlon, and for the last 18 years in Middletown and Tynan in County Armagh. Rose fitted seamlessly into the parishes and contributed in any way she could, fulfilled and enjoying that she was caring for and looking after people in the community. She also enjoyed farming and working with the Millbrae Aberdeen Angus Herd.
Father Sean Moore has been breeding Aberdeen Angus cattle for 24 years, and his herd currently comprises of 5 breeding females. The Millbrae prefix won best small herd in the NI Aberdeen Angus Club’s 2020 Herd Competition.
The charity heifer was sired by the popular AI bull Oakchurch de Admiral P164, and is out of the home-bred Millbrae Blackbird U762 – a daughter of the 19,000gns Blelack Evermore J231.
The Blackbird female line won third prize in the best cow family category of the herd competition; while Millbrae Black Beau W865 as the second prize winning heifer calf.
In 2022 Millbrae Black Beau W865 was the competition’s second placed futurity heifer. Sired by Rawburn Boss Hogg W630, she is a maternal sister to the charity raffle heifer.
The winning ticket will be drawn on Thursday 26th January 2023. Second prize is dinner, bed and breakfast for two people at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast, plus £200 spending money. An additional four tickets will be drawn, with the winners receiving cash prizes of £200 each.
Tickets are priced at £10 each, or three for £20. All proceeds will be donated to Marie Curie.
Anyone interested in buying tickets should contact Father Sean Moore tel: 028 3756 8406, or his niece Bernie McBride on mobile: 07753 612616, or email: berniemcbride@hotmail.co.uk.
Alternatively, purchase tickets using the Paypal account millbrae46@gmail.com which is available via Facebook page: Marie Curie Fundraiser in Memory of Rose Moore.
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Beef & lamb processor ABP has today announced an investment of £1.5 million in a unique sustainability programme which will support 350 of its farmer suppliers and share wider learnings across the UK beef and sheep sectors.
The new programme, called PRISM 2030, will provide farmers with a support framework initially over 2-3 years. Its aim is to help participants to improve their carbon footprint and sustainability across the entirety of the farm. The detailed programme will include assessment of carbon footprint, soil health, water use and support biodiversity creation and resource efficiency.
Support from Harper Adams University and The Andersons Centre will ensure that farmers have direct and ongoing access to the very latest environmental innovations and methodologies. A sustainability grant will also be available, alongside peer-to-peer learning and expert advice throughout. Andersons will focus on carbon assessments as well as other sustainability benchmarking. Professor Jude Capper will lead input from Harper Adams to indicate what areas each producer could be focusing on over the duration of the project to achieve most gains.
George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland said; “UK red meat production is already amongst the most sustainable in the world. It’s our hope that this initiative will play a part in helping establish our industry as leaders in sustainable meat production.”
Beef and sheep farmer Sam Chesney runs 120 suckler cattle on a calf to beef system, near Kircubbin, on the Ards Peninsula.
Over the past three years, Sam has changed his grassland ration to incorporate herbal leys and red clover, which has proved a ‘game changer’ In terms of reducing bought in protein. He also changed his breed of cattle from Limousin to Stabiliser and Hereford, to reduce concentrate feeds.
Sam is a multi-award-winning farmer, most recently named Grassland Farm Manager of the year in 2020 and is a huge advocate of farming smarter, in tandem with the environment, be that utilising excellent genetics or growing mixed grassland species.
Explaining his decision to take part in PRISM Chesney said, “We have a duty as farmers to help dispel some of the myths about how beef is produced here in the UK. Farmers are a major part of the solution, as potential carbon mitigators, and the PRISM process will enable us to demonstrate and measure that potential.
“Our green lands are second to none when it comes to supporting high animal welfare, boosting biodiversity and producing low carbon beef, but British beef and lamb is too often broad- brushed with the rest of the world. We are already engaging in carbon audits and although the results are very good, they don’t currently take in to account our grasslands or hedges. We hope through this process we can demonstrate that with all measurements considered we are well on our way to being a net zero operation.”
Sheep farmer Crosby Cleland runs a closed flock of 850 ewes over 160 acres at Brookmount Farm, County Down.
He supplies over 1000 lambs to ABP Linden yearly, which he sells via cooperative Strangford Down Lamb Group, which has 100 farmer members, supplying around 18,000 lambs annually.
Hailing from an area which has been predisposed to summer droughts of late, soil health is a top concern. Over the last three years, he has planted multi-species swards, which cover around 20% of his land and with a high percentage of clover, coupled with dung from his sheep, he has been able to reduce his fertiliser usage to less than a bag of fertiliser per acre.
Cleland is no stranger to soil sampling and its benefits and has been using data to better target lime application on his land to maintain a pH balance of between 6.3 and 6.5 and is always looking at further ways to improve his soil health.
Explaining his reasons for participating in the programme Cleland said, “I’ve found throughout my farming career that to be able to compare with others gives me a drive to make positive changes that will help both financially and in regard to climate.
“Gathering data is extremely important and is a key component of the PRISM project - we all need to know where we are performing well and badly, so we can identify improvements that can be made and drive the industry forward. Only then can we turn the target on farming’s back and send a clear message why exactly UK farming is ahead of the world when it comes to animal welfare, quality assurance and climate mitigation. We are constantly progressing, and this work will capture some of these efforts.”
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Air Ambulance Northern Ireland and the Laurel House Chemotherapy Unit at Antrim Area Hospital are set to benefit from the proceeds of a charity raffle organised by the Forsythe family from Moneymore.
Launched recently, the grand charity raffle in memory of Keith Forsythe provides Aberdeen Angus cattle breeders with an opportunity to win a pedigree yearling heifer from the Forsythe family’s award winning and highly prolific Evana cow family.
Owned by Neville, Marian and Ivan Forsythe, the Coltrim prefix dates back to 1928 and is one of Northern Ireland’s long-established and highly respected Aberdeen Angus herds.
Ivan Forsythe explained: “We decided to organise the charity raffle in memory of my brother Keith, who lost his long and courageous battle with cancer in August this year. Keith would have turned 50 in early November, and he was a much-loved son, brother, father, grandfather and uncle.
“Keith was very proud of our Aberdeen Angus heritage, and we wanted to do something in his honour, as well as raise much-needed funds for two very worthy charities.
“First prize is a yearling heifer from our successful Evana family, and the second and third prize winning ticket holders will win £100 and £50 respectively. Tickets are priced at £2 each, and we plan to promote ticket sales at forthcoming NI Aberdeen Angus Club events, and by exhibiting the heifer at a number of agricultural shows next year. The winning tickets will be drawn at Clogher Valley Show on Wednesday 26rd July 2023.”
The November 2021 born heifer Coltrim Evana X747 was sired by Tofts Evergarth R409, and is bred from Coltrim Evana V213. She made her showring debut at the NI Aberdeen Angus Club’s recent calf show in Dungannon, and was placed third in a strong class of yearling heifers.
Visitors to the RUAS Winter Fair at Balmoral Park on Thursday 8th December will have an opportunity to purchase tickets from the NI Aberdeen Angus Club’s stand. Alternatively, contact Ivan Forsythe on mobile 07885 526196, or email: coltrimevana@gmail.com.
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