Laois has finalists in prestigious new national awards

Laois boasts four finalists in this year’s FBD Better Farming Awards, awarding the highest levels of achievement made in the industry’s move towards a more sustainable sector.

FBD says the awards which will be held at The Heritage hotel in Killenard, reward initiatives, research and practices that are helping Irish agriculture meet its economic, social and environmental challenges. They go beyond the headlines to recognise the real difference achieved by those who have excelled in various areas of agriculture.

Trevor Cobbe, who farms near Portarlington, is nominated in the Germinal Sustainable Pasture Farmer of the year section. 

The judges said that by measuring grass regularly and targeting fertiliser properly over the last few years, Trevor has increased the productivity and sustainability of our grassland. Making small changes such as protected area, incorporating clover, using LESS, and using good grassland management are key to grassland management on the farm. 

The section is open to farmers from all sectors and all types of pasture-based enterprises. It aims to recognise excellent grassland management while maintaining profitable production using regenerative and sustainable pasture practices with focus on soil health, outreach, climate resilience, carbon sequestration and long-term vision.

Brendan Guinan is nominated for the top award in the FRS Network Diversification Farmer of the year.

In four short years, the judges say Brendan took 26 acres of neglected 30-year-old planted forest and turned it into a thriving regenerative agroforestry farm. The judges say the Offaly native's Fiorhhia Farm near Portlaoise is an example of how farming and food production can have a positive impact on nature, animal care, human health and environmental restoration of air and soil. 

The judges say the award commends a farm's exceptional efforts in establishing an alternative business or adding value with a commitment to sustainable farming, driving economic improvement and embracing a positive story for the industry.

Maria Phelan is a finalist in the Herdwatch Biodiversity Farmer of the year. The organisers say Maria Phelan, who farms in the Durrow area, believes an organic system has many co-benefits that will allow biodiversity to thrive on her farm. Methods such as hay meadow plots, crop rotation, laying hedges and no use of chemical fertiliser or spray means that healthy and fertile soil provide a platform to promote and encourage biodiversity.

The judges say this award highlights a farmer who embraces biodiversity within their commercial farm holding.

David Walsh Kemmis is a finalist in the Kerry Dairy Environmental Farmer of the Year. Ballykilcavan Brewery is attached to his farm and it is nominated in the Small Sustainable Food Producer of the year (under 20 employees).

Ballykilcavan Brewery is based on Ballykilcavan Farm, the home of the Walsh family for 13 generations since 1639. All Ballykilcavan beers are made with water and barley sourced from the farm. This gives the brewery control over its ingredients and lowers its carbon footprint while helping to ensure the viability of the farm.

The farm is a mix of forestry and tillage and has a strong focus on biodiversity across it all. The farm is integrating regenerative agriculture practices into the tillage operation to improve soils, reduce inputs and sequester carbon. David has reduced fertiliser rates by 17%, cut carbon emissions by 30% and does not use any glyphosate or insecticides.

Kerry Dairy Environmental Farmer of the Year award highlights a farmer who embraces best environmental agricultural practices within their commercial farm holding.

Small Sustainable Food Producer Award recognises a food company with under 20 employees that best embraces elements of environmental, social and economic sustainability for both themselves and their primary producer sources.

The inaugural Better Farming Awards gala evening presentations will take place in the Heritage Hotel, Killenard, Laois on Thursday, November 30.

The judging process comprises a panel of 12 expert judges. The unique process is fully transparent, independent and thorough to ensure the best nominations are recognised and rewarded. The organsiers say the judges are all well-respected and hugely knowledgeable individuals working in, with or advising the agriculture sector in Ireland.

FBD say the awards celebrate the initiatives, research and practices that are helping Irish agriculture meet its economic, social and environmental challenges. The insurer says they go beyond the headlines to recognise the real difference achieved by those who have excelled in various areas of agriculture.

The award categories and summaries:

Best Incentive Scheme from a food producer or co-op: This award will recognise the best incentive scheme by a food producer, food marketeer/distributor or co-op that drives for better farming practices while rewarding primary producers with a premium or buy-in incentive.

KPMG Large Sustainable Food Producer of the year (over 20 employees): This recognises a food producer with over 20 employees who best embraces elements of environmental, social and economic sustainability for both themselves and their primary producer sources.

Small Sustainable Food Producer of the year (under 20 employees): This recognises a food producer of under 20 employees who best embraces elements of environmental, social and economic sustainability for both themselves and their primary producer sources.

Best Adaptation Product: Recognises a company who identified a less sustainable element of their product, procedure, practice or processing and have adapted or developed a more sustainable model.

AgTech Ireland Best Agritech Software Product: Recognises an agritech software product that contributes to a more sustainable, better farming practice within the industry’s ecosystem for the betterment of the sector.

AgTech Ireland Best Agritech Hardware Product: Recognises an agritech hardware product that contributes to a more sustainable, better farming practice within the industry’s ecosystem for the betterment of the sector.

AgTech Ireland Best Agritech Science Product: Recognises an agritech science product that contributes to a more sustainable, better farming practice within the industry’s ecosystem for the betterment of the sector.

Best Research Programme/Project: A reward for the best research project/programme based on improving Irish agriculture within the parameters of environmental, social and/or economic sustainability.

Best Journalistic Content of the year: Rewards a journalist who has written or recorded a piece of content an article highlighting the work done or being done on improving Irish agriculture within the parameters of environmental, social and/or economic sustainability.

Young Researcher of the year: Recognises the best young researcher working in a research field focused on improving Irish agriculture within the parameters of environmental, social and/or economic sustainability.

Herdwatch Biodiversity Farmer of the year: This award highlights a farmer who embraces biodiversity within their commercial farm holding.

AHV Innovator Farmer of the year: This award highlights a farmer who embraces technology advances, research and/or innovative practices to aid the sustainability aspirations within their commercial farm holding.

FRS Network Diversification Farmer of the year: This award commends a farm's exceptional efforts in establishing an alternative business or adding value with a commitment to sustainable farming, driving economic improvement and embracing a positive story for the industry.

Germinal Sustainable Pasture Farmer of the year: Open to farmers from all sectors and all types of pasture based enterprises. Recognising excellent grassland management while maintaining profitable production using regenerative and sustainable pasture practices with focus on soil health, outreach, climate resilience, carbon sequestration and long term vision.

Kerry Dairy Environmental Farmer of the year: This award highlights a farmer who embraces best environmental agricultural practices within their commercial farm holding.

Cormac Tagging Community/Discussion Group Incentive Scheme: Recognises an incentive scheme by a community or organised collection of individuals that promotes or incentivises social buy-in to better farming practices or agricultural environmental initiatives.

Business Post Community/Discussion Group Better Farming Champion: Recognises a leader of an incentive scheme by a community or organised collection of individuals that promotes or incentivises social buy-in to better farming practices or agricultural environmental initiatives.

ABP Best Public/Community Engagement Scheme: Rewards the best public, media or community engagement scheme. This category includes public messaging to combat misleading information as well as community outreach, inclusion or incentive by a food producer, agribusiness or agricultural industry interest.

Agri Insider Sustainability Leader Award: Recognises an industry leader who has shown leadership in driving the sector towards a more environmentally, socially and/or economically sustainable future.

FBD Overall Better Farming Champion: The overall award is open to all winners of the previous categories for who the judges deem worthy as the best ‘better farming’ action contributing to environmental, social and economic sustainability for the sector.