AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH - Irish Farmers Monthly fileIFM_August2016.indd 1 28/07/2016 13:24 Bovalto ® Respi 3 and Bovalto Respi 4 contain inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus,

www.irishfarmersmonthly.com AUGUST 2016

AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH

AGRICULTUREUNDER THEMICROSCOPE

ROBBIE WALKER ON MAKING THE KEENAN CONNECTION

PROF GRACE MULCAHY ONA DECADE AS DEAN AT UCD

IFM_August2016.indd 1 28/07/2016 13:24

Bovalto® Respi 3 and Bovalto® Respi 4 contain inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus, strain BIO-24, inactivated bovine parainfl uenza 3 virus, strain BIO-23 and inactivated Mannheimia haemolytica, serotype A1 strain DSM 5283. Bovalto® Respi 4 also contains inactivated bovine viral diarrhoea virus, strain BIO-25. Legal category: POM(E). Bovalto® is a registered trademark of Merial Animal Health Ltd, UK. ©Merial 2016. All rights reserved. For further information refer to the datasheet, contact Merial Animal Health Ltd, CM19 5TG, or call the Merial Customer Support Centre on 1850 783 783.

Bovine Respiratory Disease is one of the most serious diseases affecting housed cattle worldwide. In Ireland it is responsible for 30% of deaths in stock under one-year old1.

Bovalto® Respi 3 and Respi 4 are the new respiratory disease vaccines from Merial, which provide protection against major bacterial and viral causes of BRD. Ask your Merial representative for details.

1. All-island Animal Disease Surveillance Report 2014, AFBI / DAFM Veterinary Laboratories

Did you know?

Merial Bovalto 200x283.indd 1 26/07/2016 11:45IFM_August2016.indd 2 28/07/2016 13:24

CONTENTS

www.irishfarmersmonthly.comAUGUST 2016

www.irishfarmersmonthly.com AUGUST 2016

AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH

AGRICULTUREUNDER THEMICROSCOPE

ROBBIE WALKER: MAKING THE KEENAN CONNECTION

PROF GRACE MULCAHY ONA DECADE AS DEAN AT UCD

Editor: Matt O’Keeffe Editorial Manager: Kennas Fitzsimons Sheep Editor: Gerry Murphy Tillage Editor: Jim O’Mahony Machinery: Noel Dunne Motoring: Bernard Potter Journalist: Bernie Commins

Design: Barry Sheehan Production: Ciaran Brougham Martin Whelan Michael Ryan Niall O’Brien Advertising Manager: John Sheehan Senior Advertising Manager: Anna Douglas Advertising Manager: Brian Murphy Accounts: Tricia Murtagh Administration & Subscriptions: Sue Nolan

Chief Executive: Rebecca Markey Printing: W&G Baird Publishers: IFP Media Subscription: €40 per annum

Irish Farmers Monthly, 31 Deansgrange Road, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Tel: +353 1 289 3305 • Fax: +353 1 289 6406 e-mail: [email protected] • www.irishfarmersmonthly.com

Copyright IFP Media 2016. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form without the express written permission of the publishers.

4 Up Front 7 News 9 Business News 12 Interview Robbie Walker and the Alltech-Keenan connection

14 Farmer to Farmer Vanessa Woods is moving to pastures new

16 Farmview Olin Greenan on a new season in New Zealand

48 Management Hints This month’s hints from Matt Ryan

54 Machinery 64 Farm Safety 67 ICMSA 68 Rural Life 71 Competition 72 Motor 74 The Very End

Victims of successOur Research & Innovation Focus in this issue clearly shows the enormous strides that are being made in increasing productivity on Irish farms and in adding value to the food being produced on those farms. If we could be equally definite about the financial returns to the primary producers from those increases in value and productivity, then the story of Irish food would be uniformly positive. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Farmers have long been told that the world’s population is growing, that diets among increasing numbers of middle-class consumers are becoming ever-more sophisticated, with Irish produce in demand. That may well be so, but the unfortunate fact is that our ability as food producers, across the globe, to outpace consumption with ever-increasing productivity gains has continuously eroded our margins over the past four decades. Only increased scale and greater efficiency have kept farms in business. Many others have fallen away, driven out by age, infirmity and a host of other reasons, but most of all because of an inability to counteract the ever-increasing need to produce more for less. But for the fact that the European Union continues to financially support family farming in Europe, the fall-out from the complete inability of primary food producers to fix and maintain a margin for their produce would be far greater. That financial support will decrease in the years ahead. Even if the total EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) expenditure remains fixed, the Irish segment will most likely decrease as the EU moves inexorably towards flat rate/hectare payments, which will hit Irish recipients disproportionately. We must prepare for the inevitable now. As our New Zealand-based correspondent Olin Greenan states in his bi-monthly report, there are two possible reactions to this scenario: despondency or determination. While despondency is a natural reaction to adverse circumstances, only determination offers any real hope of success. That hope of success will hinge on farmers’ willingness and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The beef open day at Grange this summer showed that the gap between the potential of Irish grassland farming and the reality of low productivity on a majority of farms is quite enormous. A blame game would be senseless and unproductive. The large crowds attending Grange would suggest that there is at least an interest in improving the situation on individual farms. Unless that happens, and quickly, in terms of increased grass grown and utilised per hectare, increased beef output per hectare and an increased margin for each of those hectares, then the realistic outlook for the future of many Irish cattle farms is bleak. The prolonged collapse in milk prices has tempered expectations in that sector and may at least result in a renewed focus on cost efficiencies. This is small consolation for those under a financial cosh, but at least it would signify a determined rather than a despondent approach. As grain producers face into their harvest, there is no reason for optimism. Yet, as a group of food producers, tillage farmers have always been among the most optimistic: the next harvest will always be bigger, better, more bountiful. With prices that are so low as to be unknown in recent times, their innate optimism will be sorely tested this harvest. We wish them well.

Matt O’KeeffeEditor

20 Food Wise 2025: an update from the Minister 22 The science to support cheese marketing24 Enterprise Ireland in the agri-food fast lane26 Kildalton College principal talks education30 Prof Grace Mulcahy: a true 'vet'eran36 Equine innovation at Horse Sport Ireland37 New fund for food and farming start-ups38 Agri-food research at University College Dublin42 Local research, global solutions from Alltech46 Aon seeks the competitive edge

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FOCUS > 19

Bovalto® Respi 3 and Bovalto® Respi 4 contain inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus, strain BIO-24, inactivated bovine parainfl uenza 3 virus, strain BIO-23 and inactivated Mannheimia haemolytica, serotype A1 strain DSM 5283. Bovalto® Respi 4 also contains inactivated bovine viral diarrhoea virus, strain BIO-25. Legal category: POM(E). Bovalto® is a registered trademark of Merial Animal Health Ltd, UK. ©Merial 2016. All rights reserved. For further information refer to the datasheet, contact Merial Animal Health Ltd, CM19 5TG, or call the Merial Customer Support Centre on 1850 783 783.

Bovine Respiratory Disease is one of the most serious diseases affecting housed cattle worldwide. In Ireland it is responsible for 30% of deaths in stock under one-year old1.

Bovalto® Respi 3 and Respi 4 are the new respiratory disease vaccines from Merial, which provide protection against major bacterial and viral causes of BRD. Ask your Merial representative for details.

1. All-island Animal Disease Surveillance Report 2014, AFBI / DAFM Veterinary Laboratories

Did you know?

Merial Bovalto 200x283.indd 1 26/07/2016 11:45 IFM_August2016.indd 3 28/07/2016 13:24

www.irishfarmersmonthly.com

UPFRONT AUGUST 2016 4

Double congress successCongratulations to UCD and Veterinary Ireland on hosting the World Buiatrics Congress (WBC) in the Convention Centre, Dublin. Ireland previously hosted a WBC conference in 1986, at Trinity College. Finbarr Murphy, CEO of Veterinary Ireland, says the WBC is recognised as the Olympic Games of conferences for people who study cattle! The programme had 32 international keynote speakers at the cutting edge of veterinary science. Many of the world’s leading animal health companies took the opportunity to launch new products to this unique audience. In June, the 24th International Pig Veterinary Congress was held in the RDS, attracting over 2,000 delegates. Hats off to Professors Michael Doherty and Michael Monaghan from UCD and Michael Sexton, past president of Veterinary Ireland, who was chairman of the local organising committee.

Heavyweights sought for Bord BiaLast month, Bord Bia advertised for a new CEO. Replacing Aidan Cotter won’t be easy. He is only the second CEO, having succeeded Michael Duffy in the role. Aidan had worked in Coras Beostoic agus Feola (CBF) under Paddy Moore, and brought extensive experience to the role, having managed the international markets portfolio, the UK and German offices. The organisation changed considerably under Aidan’s leadership, with Bord Glas and seafood promotion now under its remit. Aidan

Cotter also signed up 40,000 farmers for Bord Bia’s quality assurance scheme. He successfully guided the organisation through turbulent times, managing food scares and market challenges over the past 10 years. The job could be filled internally but it should also attract serious heavyweights from other State agencies and food companies. Bord Bia is one of the success stories of the Irish food industry, it is highly respected and, despite overtures from Enterprise Ireland, the Minister and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to support the food promotion body. It’s a credit to Aidan Cotter and his team. Without doubt, the north Cork man is leaving the agency in great shape.

Replacing Bord Bia CEO Aidan Cotter won’t be easy.

Agricultural journalism awards 2016 announcedDetails of the Agricultural Journalism Awards 2016 have been presented to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, by the chairman of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists, Oonagh O’Mahony, in Dublin.The awards are held every two years with the aim of encouraging excellence in the coverage of farming, food and rural life on the island of Ireland. They are open to journalists in national and local media and also to consultants in the communications sector.The overall award, ‘The Bull’ bronze trophy, is presented to the entry deemed to be of exceptional merit by the adjudicating panel. The awards are held with the support of FBD Insurance. The closing date for entries is Friday, September 16, 2016.

Oonagh O’Mahony, chairman, Guild of Agricultural Journalists; Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and Conor Gouldson, company secretary, FBD.

Bovilis IBR Marker live contains live, attenuated IBR marker vaccine BHV-1 strain GK/D (gE- ).For the active immunisation against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Withdrawal period: zero days.Legal Category: ROI POM(E) NI POM-V .Bovilis Bovipast RSP contains inact. BRS strain EV908, PI-3 strain SF-4 Reisinger and Mannheimia haemolyticaA1 strain M4/1. Withdrawal period: Zero days. Legal Category: ROI POM(E) NI POM-V .Use Medicines ResponsiblyFor further information see SPC, contact prescriber or MSD Animal Health,Red Oak North, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland.Tel: +353(0)1 2970220. E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.msd-animal-health.ie1. First vaccination ≥ 3 months of age.

USE AT THE SAME TIME AS BOVILIS® BOVIPAST RSP.

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Bovilis IBR Marker live contains live, attenuated IBR marker vaccine BHV-1 strain GK/D (gE- ).For the active immunisation against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Withdrawal period: zero days.Legal Category: ROI POM(E) NI POM-V .Bovilis Bovipast RSP contains inact. BRS strain EV908, PI-3 strain SF-4 Reisinger and Mannheimia haemolyticaA1 strain M4/1. Withdrawal period: Zero days. Legal Category: ROI POM(E) NI POM-V .Use Medicines ResponsiblyFor further information see SPC, contact prescriber or MSD Animal Health,Red Oak North, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland.Tel: +353(0)1 2970220. E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.msd-animal-health.ie1. First vaccination ≥ 3 months of age.

USE AT THE SAME TIME AS BOVILIS® BOVIPAST RSP.

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Protect your weanlings from IBR

BOVILIS® IBR MARKER LIVEThe Only One-shot IBR Marker Vaccine either Intramuscularly or Intranasally

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Brexit: implications for IrelandWhile a lot of uncertainty remains about the full impact of the UK exit from the EU on Ireland and its economy, there was little to hope for as we came away from the recent Bord Bia Brexit briefing. In the short term, the 180-plus attendees were told, the current exchange rate meant Irish products were 16 per cent more expensive than their UK competitors. How long that will be the case remains to be seen. So, what’s the plan? How does Ireland tackle the issue at hand? Well, nobody seems quite certain. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has established a dedicated unit to investigate issues in relation to currency fluctuations, tariffs and trade, the EU budget, regulations and standards, and customs controls and certification. And this unit is feeding into the committee under the Taoiseach’s department for ongoing negotiations. In the meantime, what are Irish food and drink producers and businesses to do? ‘Get lean’ was the advice from some quarters. Not exactly the encouragement that’s wanted from an industry that is already facing pressure with milk prices in the pits, Russia closed and primary producers who feel they are being squeezed by the supermarkets.

Brexit imbroglioWe can expect the story of Britain’s secession from the EU to take a few more unpredictable turns before its final conclusion. The news that a court case is being pursued, opposing the new prime minister’s right to press the exit negotiation button under Clause 50, could have game-changing implications. The referendum result, it must be remembered, was a consultative opinion, not a legally binding dictum from the populace of the UK. In theory, at least, only the British parliament can decide on such matters. Does that mean that Theresa May requires a majority vote in the House of Commons before she can initiate divorce proceedings with the EU? That’s not at all clear. Equally unclear is whether there would be a majority in the House who would vote for something they are not in favour of. A sizeable majority of Conservative and Labour MPs, as well as all of the Scottish Nationalist members of parliament and half of the Northern Irish MPs, are in favour of staying put. Will they now turn around and vote in line with the narrow majority referendum decision in favour of Brexit? Don’t bet on it!

Co-founder of Ireland’s oldest machinery manufacturer company laid to restOn July 4, Mary Cavanagh passed away peacefully at the age of 101 years. Mrs Cavanagh and her late husband, Joe, who died in 2001, set up Abbey Machinery in 1947 in Nenagh, Co Tipperary. They developed the company over the years to bring an extensive range of farm machinery to Irish farmers, from tankers to toppers, spreaders and diet feeders, and much more besides. Charles Cavanagh took over the business from his parents and developed the brand further, making it not just a household name in Ireland but in the

UK and further afield and, in turn, he handed over the reigns to Clodagh Cavanagh, his daughter, who is the current MD of Abbey, and the third generation of Cavanagh in charge. Mrs Cavanagh’s last official duty was to cut the ribbon on the new purpose-built factory in nearby Toomevara. In attendance were four generations of the Cavanagh family. Abbey’s slogan is ‘Strength and experience to last’ – it has and it will. Mrs Cavanagh would be proud. Our deepest sympathy to the Cavanagh family on their sad loss.

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NEWS AUGUST 2016 7



Minister launches agriculture outlook documentIn July, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, announced the publication of his Department’s Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, 2015 /2016. Welcoming the report, the Minister said that 2015 continued to show the important role the agri-food sector plays in the Irish economy. “Figures for 2015 show that the sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, contributing €26bn in turnover and generating 10.7 per cent of all merchandise exports. In 2015, the sector accounted for around 8.4 per cent of total employment, making a significant contribution to employment in rural and coastal areas and ensuring the continued viability of these areas,” said Minister Creed. The Minister highlighted the publication of Food Wise 2025 last year, which sets out a 10-year strategy for the agri-food sector. “Food Wise 2025 sets out the key actions required to maximise the contribution of the sector to economic growth, job creation and environmental sustainability over the next decade,” he said. There are challenges ahead, in particular the consequences of the UK vote last month to exit the EU, as well as ongoing commodity price volatility. Nevertheless, global demand for

safe, healthy and nutritious food is continuing to grow, and Ireland is a world leader in sustainable agri-food production. In the longer term, future growth prospects remain very positive, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.“This publication provides a reference for all those who are interested in the performance of the agri-food sector. I look forward to the future development of the sector and its generation of benefits for farmers and rural Ireland, processors and manufacturers, agri-business and exporters, while protecting and enhancing our natural environment,” Minister Creed said.

��Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, with Aidan O’Driscoll, Secretary General at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, attending the launch of the Department’s annual review and outlook.

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NEWS AUGUST 2016 8

Political commitment is required to establish Ireland as a global leader in climate-smart agriculture (CSA), according to a joint report from the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) and the RDS. Key recommendations include:XX Providing incentives for farmers to encourage investment

in dairy-beef systems, soil health, better genetics, forestry and on-farm renewables;

XX Promoting access to land for young farmers who are innovative and have high rates of technology adoption;

XX Reconfiguring extension services and knowledge transfer activities around climate-smart farming; and

XX Promoting CSA overseas through aid programmes and other mechanisms.

CSA has emerged in recent years as an approach which addresses the great interlinked challenge of the 21st century – how to achieve global food and nutrition security while tackling climate change.The RDS/IIEA report calls for a strategic reorientation in Ireland around CSA, which involves balancing three objectives:XX Boosting farm income and productivity;XX Building resilience to the increasingly evident impacts of

climate change such as flooding; andXX Reducing emissions in light of EU and international

obligations.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, said: “This report acknowledges Ireland’s current status as a producer of sustainable and carbon-efficient food, and goes on to recognise the stark challenges and exciting opportunities facing Irish agriculture over the coming decades. I welcome this independent report and recognise the unique collaborative approach used by the IIEA/RDS, which involved participation from a wide range of stakeholders and experts.” Tom Arnold, director general of the IIEA, said: “Current low milk prices and political shocks such as Brexit highlight the need for a more diverse, resilient and productive farming and land use sector. We believe that becoming a leader in CSA will benefit the Irish agri-food industry while addressing our national climate change challenges. This will not be easy. It will require high-level political commitment, a coherent whole-of-government policy, buy-in from farmers and their organisations, and innovative partnerships involving all actors.”The report provides a set of recommendations aimed at driving further climate-smart improvements at farm level. A central recommendation is that a management framework be developed by Government to measure these improvements; in this way, Ireland’s good standing can be measured, validated and communicating internationally, it says.

Political will required for climate-smart agriculture – new report

New 'Powered by Dairy' campaign launched by the National Dairy Council 'Powered by Dairy' is a new engagement-driven campaign being launched by the National Dairy Council (NDC) this month. It uses predominantly outdoor and digital media to draw consumers in to behind-the-scenes film footage of NDC ambassadors Rob and Dave Kearney, trying their hand at a variety of new and different types of exercise and sport. Filmed as part of a new NDC partnership with the Irish Institute of Sport, footage shows the Kearney brothers testing their skills with an Olympic boxer, diver, pentathlon athlete, paralympic swimmer, rowers and para-cyclists, while learning about their training and fitness regimes. There are plans to broaden the Kearneys' athletic experiences into other types of sports in the months ahead.

Zoë Kavanagh, chief executive of the NDC, said that the campaign sets out to reach sports enthusiasts at all levels. “Our aim is to engage with people who want to get off the couch and start to work on their fitness, as well as those who are already involved in exercise training at any level, or who are taking part in challenges, competitions or playing on teams,” said Ms Kavanagh.“We want to talk about expert-based facts and not fads, and to highlight the potential role that milk can play in sports nutrition, re-hydration and recovery,”The campaign will initially run for six months to the end of January 2017, and represents an investment in its first phase of over €0.5 million.

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NEWS AUGUST 2016 8

BKT tyre ranges for haymaking operationsExcellent traction, limited soil compaction, high loading capacity, resistance to the roughest surfaces and maximum driving comfort. These are the distinctive features of the BKT tyre line-up conceived for harvesters, balers and telehandlers, the manufacturer says. BKT has specifically designed and developed various tyre ranges for haymaking operations: from hay harvesting to transportation. “They are particularly suitable for equipment like harvesters, balers and telehandlers,” a BKT spokesperson said. “The extensive tyre line-up takes into account the complex necessities of modern agriculture and is a concrete response to the most diverse application needs. BKT’s main goal is to make modern farmers’ work comfortable and to constantly improve productivity. “Conceived for high-power harvesters and spreaders, Agrimax Teris has excellent flotation properties that ensure optimal soil protection and top harvesting performance, since it is able to withstand even heavy loads. Innovative and cutting-edge, this radial tyre stands out for extraordinary traction and stability ensured by the optimised lug design, as well as by the reinforced shoulder. Moreover, Agrimax Teris is extraordinarily resistant to cuts and impacts due to the presence of stubble on the terrain, providing a long product life-cycle and reducing machine downtime. Several sizes have been developed for this top tyre range. Agrimax Teris also includes a version designed with IF technology – in the IF 580/80 R 34 size – conceived for transporting heavy loads at low pressure ensuring best traction in the fields.” The radial tyre Agrimax RT 600, too, is ideal for harvesters and spreaders, and particularly suitable for land that requires great care and attention, according to BKT.


BUSINESS NEWS AUGUST 2016 9

Devenish sponsors Belfast animal science conference Final plans are in place for a major European animal science conference in the Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre, Belfast, later this summer. The 67th annual meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science, the first to be held in Northern Ireland, will run from August 29 to September 2. The conference is being hosted by the British Society of Animal Science. Devenish Nutrition Ltd is principal sponsor of the conference and its director of agriculture, Dr John Gilliland, commented: “We are pleased to support this major international livestock science conference in Belfast. Northern Ireland has a long tradition of producing high-quality food and, as a local company with a global presence, we believe that application of new science in livestock production systems is critical if we are to feed the ever-growing world population in a sustainable way. “In Devenish, we also believe that food and farming innovation can play a major role in improving human health, as evidenced by our work in partnership with Moy Park and Waitrose, in which we have introduced the UK’s first chicken that is a source of omega 3.” In addition to principal sponsorship of the conference, Devenish is also hosting an industry technical session entitled ‘Healthy Livestock Products for Healthy Humans’ and a visit to its research and heritage farm facility near Dowth in Co Meath.

Global award for Finol Oils At the recent Total Lubricants global conference in Paris, Sean Holland, managing director of Finol Oils Ltd, received a distributor award from Total Lubricants. The conference included members of the Total Lubricants team from all over the world and a select number of distributor partners from over 130 countries. Mr Holland was presented the award by Philippe Charleux, vice-president, marketing and services, Total Lubricants. On presenting Mr Holland with the prize, Mr Charleux spoke about Finol’s unique position as Total’s sole distribution partner for an entire country, Ireland, and how Finol is forerunner in the distribution and marketing of lubricants across all industries. Mr Charleux went on to say that he is sure Finol Oils and Total Lubricants will remain in partnership for many years to come.

Sean Holland, managing director, Finol Oils Ltd; Susan J Turnbull, HDDO and distributor channel manager, Total UK Ltd; Bruno Dormoy, Total Lubricants; and Philippe Charleux, vice-president, marketing and services, Total Lubricants.

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New Macra CEODenis Duggan will be the new chief executive of Macra na Feirme. The Tipperary man certainly seems to have the right credentials to head up a rural youth organisation. He is a senior regional development executive at Enterprise Ireland and is currently completing an MBA at NUI Galway, having previously studied ICT and sustainable development in Limerick. Denis has worked with US multinationals, Irish SME companies, US non-profits and the Irish public service, including Dell, Greenstar and Esat Digifone, as well as the US-based Education Development Centre. In his current job he has been particularly involved in promoting Enterprise Ireland’s sponsorship of the Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships. Other noteworthy feathers in Denis’s career cap include voluntary involvement in local youth services in Tipperary along with a spell as a parliamentary assistant in Dail Eireann. That latter experience should benefit Macra in its various lobbying campaigns on behalf of young farmers and its membership in general. We wish Denis well in his new role.


BUSINESS NEWS AUGUST 2016 10

A dump trailer with a difference

An agricultural and construction machinery hire company based in Derbyshire, UK, has just taken delivery of a rather unique pink dump trailer, manufactured in Ireland, to help raise funds for a cancer charity. Direct Plant Hire, based in Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire, needed another dump trailer for its business and decided on a pink one to raise funds for breast cancer awareness. Owner of the company, Joshua Smith, said he wanted something ‘a little bit

different’ when ordering the trailer. “A pink dump trailer is not something you see every day, so we decided on that colour for two reasons. One, it will help raise awareness of our company and hopefully

increase business, but also we aim to raise £5,000 for breast cancer awareness by donating a percentage of the revenue it generates. After much thought, we decided on an 18-tonne dump trailer manufactured by Broughan Engineering in Tullow, Co Carlow. We placed the order with its distributor, Cheshire Farm Machinery, and received the trailer during the Royal Cheshire Show. It’s a well-made trailer and we are really delighted with it,” he said.

ISTA open day 2016 at Backweston, Co KildareThe Irish Seed Trade Association’s (ISTA) annual open day 2016 visited the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) cereal trials in June at Backweston, Co Kildare. The cereal variety trials were the main attraction, with 152 varieties being evaluated in 2016. ISTA vice-president, Jim Gibbons, commented on the critical role DAFM and its cereal variety evaluation system plays in bringing new improved varieties to the market. Clodagh Whelan, assistant inspector, DAFM, commented on the trial work that is undertaken at various sites around the country including Moorepark, Kildalton and on commercial farms. Ms Whelan said “the trial work that goes on at our various sites gives independent assurance that varieties are suitable for growing in Ireland under many conditions”.

There was a very large attendance at this year's open day, the ISTA reported. Photo: O'Gorman Photography.

START INNOVATE SCALE

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From a fund of €250,000 10 agritech start-up companies will be selected to receive up to 25k in feasibility funding to investigate the viability and investor-readiness of your start-up. The Fund will help entrepreneurstransform their ideas into ambitious new agritech companies that are ready to grow international sales. Call opens August 23, 2016 and closes 3pm September 5, 2016. For more information and to see if your company is eligible go to: enterprise-ireland.com/AgriFund

Enterprise Ireland Bursury 200x283.indd 1 25/07/2016 16:15IFM_August2016.indd 10 28/07/2016 13:24


BUSINESS NEWS AUGUST 2016 10START INNOVATE SCALE

YOUR IDEAYOUR BUSINESSOUR SUPPORT25K AGRI TECH FEASIBILITY FUND

From a fund of €250,000 10 agritech start-up companies will be selected to receive up to 25k in feasibility funding to investigate the viability and investor-readiness of your start-up. The Fund will help entrepreneurstransform their ideas into ambitious new agritech companies that are ready to grow international sales. Call opens August 23, 2016 and closes 3pm September 5, 2016. For more information and to see if your company is eligible go to: enterprise-ireland.com/AgriFund

Enterprise Ireland Bursury 200x283.indd 1 25/07/2016 16:15IFM_August2016.indd 11 28/07/2016 13:24


INTERVIEW AUGUST 2016 12

A business background, an international perspective and a positive, can-do attitude. Those sound like the exact attributes required to manage an Irish manufacturing company with a worldwide customer base. Keenan, the Carlow-based feed wagon manufacturer, has been subsumed into the Alltech organisation and Robbie Walker has taken on the role of division CEO of the company. South Africa-born Robbie already has an impressive list of achievements with Alltech. His credentials for running Keenan, however, go further back, he tells Matt O’Keeffe

“After completing an agriculture degree at Natal University, I took on a role in the UK managing the largest strawberry farm in that country,” Robbie says. “I then returned to South Africa and set up a hydroponics company growing flowers and tomatoes. Within four years we had built up to 77 greenhouse tunnels covering two hectares supplying supermarket chains across the country.

"After selling the business, I went travelling again, this time arriving in Ireland to take on what I assumed would be a temporary job with Alltech.”

An Alltech careeristRobbie was immediately impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of Dr Pearse Lyons and his company colleagues. After a period in Ireland selling silage inoculants to farmers, Robbie established an Alltech office in Northern Ireland. He then managed the company’s Italian office for eight years before expanding Alltech across the Balkans. In 2011, returning to his roots in agronomy, Robbie moved from animal nutrition to Alltech’s crop science sector, managing its European business. Global responsibility for Alltech crop science meant a move to the company’s Kentucky base.

The Keenan roleNow, it’s back to where he started with Alltech. Taking on the Keenan role means a lot to Robbie. He believes the company has a very positive future. The father of four sees Keenan as a truly global business completely in accord with Alltech’s worldwide reach.

“My story is the story of Alltech,” Robbie says. “Until we started on our acquisition drive the average age of employees was 32. It’s a young and dynamic company where people are flexible in terms of job location, and can fit into a range of cultures. We have 128 offices across the world. The scale and global diversity of Alltech is worth noting. We are in animal feed additives, feed mills, pre-mixes, crop science and, now, with the addition of Keenan, in the machinery and animal dietary advice sectors.”

A re-innovated Keenan

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AUGUST 2016 13


INTERVIEW AUGUST 2016 12

Keenan can go farWith a good knowledge of Keenan, the decision to acquire it was taken quickly as is fairly normal under the guidance of Dr Lyons. Robbie testifies: “It’s an iconic Irish brand that we were already familiar with from previous collaborative initiatives.

“Keenan can go very, very far.” That is the summation of the new MD’s prospects for the Borris-based company. “What has been built over the past five years is astounding. The In-Touch system is a world first. We had Keenan at the Alltech One symposium in Kentucky in May and there was spectacular interest in the In-Touch concept. We have a winner on that side. The Keenan feeder itself can produce a mechanical fibre mix that is highly digestible. So the combination of machine and data is, I believe, a winning formula. The real synergy will come from the association with Alltech. Access to 128 offices around the world, as well as to thousands of farms and nutritionists, allows us to leverage a range of synergies to the benefit of everyone involved. Keenan is another vehicle to get us closer to the food producer. Our natural feed additives, our feed mills and, now, the actual feeding machine can deliver a fully integrated system. The Keenan wagon brings benefits alongside the Alltech feed solutions. It doesn’t mean we will necessarily be selling the two hand in hand, but it is a natural option for our customers. The new arrangement will bring Keenan closer to the feed industry and maximise collaborative benefits.”

A robust business modelRobbie is insistent that the Keenan business model is robust and fit for purpose: “The previous management invested heavily in setting up In-Touch. It is an extremely innovative platform. Together with a major expansion the company was hit by a general economic downturn. That placed immense financial pressure on the company. There is a very strong innovation platform in place that can now be leveraged under Alltech management. Our business strategy is to ensure that In-Touch, as a data-harvesting and interpretation system where the farmer can have direct interaction with nutritionists over the phone, is financially independent. It is not a marketing gimmick but is a service that can deliver value to clients. On the other side, the actual machine must also perform well financially. There is a commitment to Mech-Fiber. It is a way of presenting the

total mixed ration (TMR) to the animal that is as close to nature as possible. We retain the fibre to the benefit of the animal’s digestive system and, ultimately, to the animal’s productivity. If we were to produce a tub feeder it would have to be able to deliver Mech-Fiber quality forage. That’s what differentiates our feeder system. We sell nutrition wagons, not just mixer wagons.”

Ambitious growth plansGrowth prospects are ambitious under the new management. Across the Alltech organisation there has been 20 per cent growth year-on-year since 1980. “So that’s the base level for Keenan also. Within five years the expectation is to hit €100m sales. Success will be measured in a strong presence in at least 40 countries. In our first two months to the end of June, we produced 100 machines with a strong sales pipeline. Our target is to be in profit in 2017.”Allied to the expansion in wagon sales, Robbie and his colleagues expect to roll out the In-Touch system globally.

“Currently, it is active in Ireland, the UK and France, with some support for South African and Canadian farmers from our Kilkenny IT base. We see scope for immediate expansion into Germany, Australia, New Zealand and more intensive services to South Africa and Canada. Then, the Netherlands, Spain and Scandinavia are viable options being considered.” Keenan management is committed to servicing non-Keenan machine owners and also retro-fitting older Keenan feeders with the In-Touch technology in the belief that this will impress those clients as to the benefits of the full Keenan feed system. “In-Touch is an entirely novel, Irish-developed and operated system and will now be accessible to Alltech’s 5,000 employees across the globe as they interact with farmers and feed mills.”

Optimistic outlookTaking a contrary view of the dangers of Brexit, Robbie sees the positive potential of recent developments: “We are insulated from the fall-out from Brexit with a well diversified global business including Keenan. Generally, I believe this is potentially good for Irish agriculture. The industry is overly dependent on the UK. This will force Irish companies to diversify sales and will highlight the need for increased innovation in its food products. Adding value before export must be a priority. In the long term, this will be good for Ireland.”

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AUGUST 2016 15

This September, Vanessa Woods starts a new job, having completed a very successful five-year stint with Agri Aware, the independent agri-food educational body. Matt O'Keeffe met Vanessa on the O'Sullivan dairy farm in west Cork, where the winning farm in the 2015 Quality Milk Awards was open to the public for a day this summer

Vanessa described the O'Sullivan farm as epitomising all that is positive in the story of Irish family farming: “We have a great story around how Irish farmers produce some of the best food in the world and care for their livestock and the countryside, and the message is strong, in that we farm in harmony with nature. The O'Sullivan farm is a fine example of how to produce high-quality, wholesome milk in natural surroundings.”

Promoting a positive messageVanessa quotes Professor Paddy Wall, a board member of Agri Aware, in support of her opinions: “Paddy regularly highlights the fact that milk and meat from grass-fed animals have health-enhancing levels of omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), so we should be able to differentiate our produce on the global market. As CEO of Agri Aware, over the past five years, we have communicated a positive message about modern agriculture for the general public and the importance of 'good food for good health'. In 1997, some 65 per cent of the population thought that agriculture was extremely/very important to the Irish economy. That statistic has now climbed to 88 per cent, and continues to move upwards.”Agri Aware will be 20 years old in 2017. The children that Agri Aware educated back in 1997 are now purchasing food today, so the true impact of Agri Aware's work over the past 20 years really begins to bear fruit now, in terms of informing new adults around the benefits of Irish food. Vanessa insists that none of this could happen without the support of the agri-


FARMER TO FARMER AUGUST 2016 14

Pastures new

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AUGUST 2016 15

food industry: “Seventy of the leading agri-food businesses in the country provide financial support to Agri Aware to fund its educational and promotional work.”

Higher-quality, affordable food'Farm To Fork CAPtured' is the theme that Agri Aware used to successfully bid for funding from the European Commission to communicate the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the public. This is the fourth consecutive bid that the organisation has been successful in drawing down funding for, something of which Vanessa is justifiably proud: “Our aim is to show how farmers produce quality, safe and traceable food at an affordable price for the consumer, while caring for the landscape, the environment and waterways. Our farmers are top-class food producers and custodians of the landscape here in Ireland, and we must always remember and remind everyone where our food comes from.” Under Vanessa’s stewardship, Agri Aware won its first European Communications award in 2012, for communication to the general public. Vanessa sums up the argument that she has been so instrumental in promoting during her time with Agri Aware: “Fifty years ago, consumers spent 30 per cent of household income on food. That figure is now 15 per cent, and the quality, traceability and safety of that food is higher than ever before.”

A new challengeThe open day in west Cork marked one of the last major events in which Vanessa Woods would be involved with Agri Aware. She spoke about her future plans: “I am moving on in September, to work with Devenish Nutrition. The company has recruited me as its new director of communication. Devenish is a global company, exporting to 25 countries. It is also a company with significant growth. In 1997, when Owen Brennan bought Devenish, it had 23 employees and a turnover of £5m. Today, it has 500 employees, and a turnover of £165m.”Vanessa is joining Devenish at a very exciting time for the company, as she explains: “Devenish and Moy Park have just launched the world's first omega-3-rich chicken in Waitrose in the UK, by adopting a whole-chain approach, from on-farm evaluations to the assessment of human health. This development puts Devenish into a whole new arena. Previously, Devenish would have been regarded as a company specialising in animal nutrition. Now, by modifying animal rations to change the composition of the meat, milk and eggs, it is moving into the sphere of innovative animal nutrition for enhanced human health, naturally. The company has completed research work with the Royal

College of Surgeons to independently verify that when consumers eat this omega-3-rich chicken, it is taken up into the bloodstream and has important human health attributes. This is a world-first that we will be building on as part of my new role with Devenish.”

More products on the wayThe outgoing chief executive of Agri Aware also alluded to other natural and novel food products that are coming to market shortly: “Dowth Hall, which is intended to be the Brennan family home, is a 500-acre farm in Co Meath and also the centre of many innovative research trials into a range of new products, some of which will be announced in the coming months, at the National Ploughing Championships. Devenish is a very exciting company to become involved in, with a rather unique array of innovative nutritional products and solutions for ruminant animals, poultry, pigs and equine. Its move into the human health sphere is of huge interest to me and I will be tasked with communicating this work to the consumer and customers.”

Health providers“Farmers are in the health business.” That's a very simple statement often quoted by UCD’s Paddy Wall, and quoted by Vanessa Woods: “We should think about that statement very carefully. In terms of the omega-3-rich chicken that Devenish has produced, the chickens are fed a natural omega-3-rich marine algae. There are many years of research trials behind this new food, and it is all supported by sound independent science.” Even looking at the protein value of milk and meat, there is evidence that these products are effective in helping to counteract sarcopenia, or muscle wastage, in humans, as Vanessa points out: “From the age of 30, we all start to lose muscle mass. Exercise and a good diet, with adequate protein intake, distributed across the daily diet, can help to address this muscle wastage problem. People are living longer, and these are all very important areas of work.” The fact that people are more health-conscious these days means that they are more receptive to the kind of research and product development that companies like Devenish are involved in. Clearly, Vanessa is enthusiastic about the prospects for these natural means of enhancing human health: “I am a farmer's daughter and, during my time with Agri Aware, there wasn't one day that I didn't enjoy my job. Now, I have a new challenge that should be equally stimulating. The farming community has a great story to tell in terms of the quality and goodness of the food that we produce."


FARMER TO FARMER AUGUST 2016 14

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After a brief holiday on the home farm in Monaghan, the

Greenans – Olin, Anna and the two boys – are back in New

Zealand and facing into another calving season. Despite the

huge workload, Olin is looking forward to the challenge, as he

tells Matt O’Keeffe


AUGUST 2016 17


FARMVIEW AUGUST 2016 16

“It’s my favourite time of year,” Olin says. “The good stress kicks in and the adrenalin starts to pump. It reflects having had successful reproduction results the previous year.” Olin is happy that they have a good system in place to cope with the onslaught of new calves and fresh milkers. The all-important grass cover figures indicate that there is adequate grass available for milkers and the cows themselves have good condition scores, having come through the dry period without any setbacks. Olin is also happy to relate that his workforce is up to full strength. Kilkenny native Paddy Raftice is staying on for a further season and he was joined by another Irish student in July, just as calving was getting into full swing. “That makes it an all-Irish team with Monaghan, Kilkenny and Dublin represented this year.”

Family farmingWhile Anna has her hands full with Jack and Noah, she is fully acquainted with all the details of the Greenan farming operation. She and Olin talk about their plans and ambitions

regularly. “Even on a day-to-day basis, I have a good idea of what’s happening on the farm, including all of the usual ups and downs,” she says. As someone who came from a non-farming background in New Zealand, Anna admits to an initial steep learning curve, but relishes the lifestyle and the fact that they can work as a family with time available for both of them to enjoy and participate in the rearing of their children. “At certain times, like the calving season, the working hours can be very long but, in general, a farm is a great environment in which to raise kids.”

Opportunities knockThe next big decision to be made by the Greenans relates to moving on after the current contract ends on the farm near Auckland. It’s an ill wind that doesn’t blow some good for someone, and there is an expectation that the downturn in milk prices may result in lower land prices and an opportunity for Olin and Anna to start climbing the farm ownership ladder. At this stage, the Greenans are

A new season down under

Olin, Jack, Noah and Anna Greenan.

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FARMVIEW AUGUST 2016 16

share-milking 480 cows near Auckland. “That puts us two-thirds of the way up the traditional dairying pathway in New Zealand,” Olin says. “We are within touching distance of land purchase and hopefully that will be our next move.”

Family mobilityOlin and Anna recognise that there are sacrifices to be made in pursuit of career goals: “It’s a matter of walking that fine line. Anna and I are agreed that we are still relatively mobile enough with two young children to move to wherever a good farming option comes up. We are hopeful that our next move will be the final one, delivering stability and security. That would allow us to develop local community ties through school and sports.” It’s all a far cry, Olin agrees, from the parish of Newbliss in Monaghan, where everyone knows everyone else and is fully immersed in the locality.

Building an equity snowballFinancing land or cow purchases in New Zealand is different than in Ireland, as Olin outlines: “We have been growing our business year on year, returning about 25 per cent per annum on our equity over the past 10 years, without owning any land. Livestock can be used as collateral, which is not the norm in Ireland. The average cow can be borrowed against in New Zealand for about 65 per cent of its value, with the cow undervalued by the bank. That provides a safeguard for the finance house to protect its loan. A young person can start out with nothing, save their wage, perhaps get a bonus in the form of livestock from the farm owner and, using livestock for leverage, a rolling snowball effect can be put into motion in terms of building up equity. The taxation system doesn’t restrict that type of development.” Olin insists that Irish banks need to free up their terms and conditions, especially for young farmers coming out of college with a small amount of capital and the intention of building a herd of cows.

Despondency or determinationLow milk prices have impacted hugely on New Zealand dairy farmers. “The low payouts for three years now have hurt a lot of farmers, especially those with higher cost structures,” Olin says. “A price of NZ$3.90/kgDM doesn’t leave much for anyone. There is a spread between those who are disillusioned and those who are determined to

work their way through the price trough. Some will walk away and others will survive the crisis. The opening price forecast is for NZ$4.20 from Fonterra. Some say that’s very conservative, but it’s better than being overly optimistic. Cashflow on our farm will be a lot better, with a strong retro payment coming through, and with adjustments made in our cost structure, including labour input and conserved feed, fully paid for. That should put us in surplus again in the coming year.” (Note: Depending on current exchange rates that NZ$3.90 per kilo of milk solids equates to 17-18c/L for equivalent Irish milk).

Resetting the production systemOne of the big trends in New Zealand dairying in recent years was the swing towards higher inputs driving up output, but at higher cost. Olin believes this concept of higher output diluting costs is a fallacy and thinks that the shock of low prices affords New Zealand milk producers an opportunity to ‘press a reset button’. “Another problem is that we now have a new generation of younger farmers who may have gotten lost in the noise of high-output farming. Maybe they are bypassing the fundamentals of training in good pasture management. Everyone will have to review their production systems to make them fit for purpose in a more restricted milk price regime.”

A view from afarReflecting on the Irish dairy industry from a distance allows Olin to be more critical: “There are too many processors competing with each other. That wastes resources. On the other hand, there is room for scepticism as to whether some of the larger dairy entities globally and in Ireland are delivering what was promised at the outset. "While Fonterra has great benefits of scale, its size and layers of management do result in more of a disconnect with the producer.”Olin is excited by the changed situation in Ireland with the removal of milk quotas, noting that there is evidence of changes in attitude towards different dairy structures, and he reckons there will be more opportunities for landless young people to get into dairy farming in Ireland in the years ahead: “When milk price recovers, I think there will be enthusiasm for change and the development of new ways of farming.”

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For David Johnson, it’s a no-brainer. As part of Origin Green, he has joined the many Irish farmers who are recognising that improved sustainability practices are good for business too. The only national sustainability programme in the world, Origin Green’s system of measuring and feedback helps to identify steps to increased effi ciency – changes which both benefi t the environment and result in more cost-effective ways of working for our farmers. Join us. Make sustainability part of your plan and see business grow too.

“We’re improving the environment, while also getting the best from our farm.”

David Johnson,Co. Wicklow.

www.origingreen.ie

an initiative by

Bord Bia 200x283.indd 1 19/02/2016 12:49IFM_August2016.indd 18 28/07/2016 13:24

For David Johnson, it’s a no-brainer. As part of Origin Green, he has joined the many Irish farmers who are recognising that improved sustainability practices are good for business too. The only national sustainability programme in the world, Origin Green’s system of measuring and feedback helps to identify steps to increased effi ciency – changes which both benefi t the environment and result in more cost-effective ways of working for our farmers. Join us. Make sustainability part of your plan and see business grow too.

“We’re improving the environment, while also getting the best from our farm.”

David Johnson,Co. Wicklow.

www.origingreen.ie

an initiative by

Bord Bia 200x283.indd 1 19/02/2016 12:49

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FOCUS

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RESEARCHANDINNOVATION AUGUST 2016 20

It’s a year since Food Wise 2025 was launched by the Taoiseach. Food Wise 2025 includes more than 400 detailed recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations. If these recommendations are implemented, the expert committee that drew up Food Wise 2025 considers that ambitious growth projections are achievable by 2025, including increasing the value of agri-food exports by 85 per cent to €19bn, and the creation of 23,000 additional jobs in the agri-food sector, all along the supply chain from primary production to high value-added product development. Realising these growth projections will be challenging, but I am confident that they can be achieved. The Government is strongly committed to the implementation of the Food Wise 2025 strategy. Indeed, it is a key element of the Programme for Government. I chair the Food Wise 2025 High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with senior representatives from all the relevant Government departments and State agencies. The committee reviews progress on detailed actions on a quarterly basis, in order to identify and solve problems quickly. Stakeholders regularly engage with the committee on their priorities for particular sectors or themes. By the end of this year, the HLIC will have reviewed, in detail, progress on the five cross-cutting themes and the 12 individual sectors outlined in Food Wise 2025. So it is very much a live and continuously updated process. I launched the first progress report on Food Wise 2025, entitled Steps to Success 2016, on July 13.Steps to Success 2016 highlights the progress achieved one year into the implementation of the Food Wise 2025 strategy. Of the 330 detailed actions which were due to commence in 2015 or 2016, 28 per cent have been achieved or substantial action has been undertaken; and a further 67 per cent have commenced and are progressing well. Steps to Success 2016 provides examples of successful State collaboration across the key themes of Food Wise 2025: environmental sustainability, human capital, competitiveness, market development and innovation; as well as examples of innovative approaches by Irish food and

drinks companies. Steps to Success 2016 highlights include the opening of Bord Bia’s The Thinking House, which will be a world-class consumer insight centre; the establishment of the Meat Technology Centre, hosted by Teagasc, which will be a centre of excellence for meat processing research and innovation; and a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine initiative in 2017 focusing on improving grassland management, use and profitability. There will be a year-long programme of events, which will celebrate and build on Ireland’s comparative advantage in sustainable grass-fed production.I believe that Ireland is well positioned to be the world leader in sustainable agri-food production and, indeed, environmental sustainability is central to the Food Wise strategy. The Origin Green programme is the first national sustainability programme of its kind in the world. Companies representing 95 per cent of Ireland’s food and drink exports have signed up to the programme, and over 800 farms a week are being audited on a range of measures, including carbon footprinting. Schemes under the Rural Development Programme focus on supporting farming methods that protect the environment, while improving efficiency. I know that 2016 has been challenging for many farmers. As a small, open economy that exports the vast bulk of its food produce, Ireland will always feel the effects of volatility on world markets. However, there are measures in place to help Irish farmers through these periods. Indeed, one of my highest priorities under the Programme for Government is to develop an effective response to price volatility, including through initiatives on access to finance and taxation. Many farmers could also benefit from a sharper focus on financial management, and I was pleased to recently launch an initiative from the Dairy Forum, providing straightforward advice on cashflow planning, which I hope will be of very practical assistance to dairy farmers.Food Wise 2025 underlined the sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy, and Steps to Success 2016 illustrates the potential for further growth of the sector in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable manner.

FOOD WISE 2025: AN UPDATE FROM THE MINISTER

The recently-published document, Steps to Success 2016, highlights the progress achieved one year into the implementation of the Food Wise 2025 strategy, according to Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

With MidiLine ML3100, you decide on the level of automation: from cluster removal, to full integration with DeLaval DelPro™ Farm Manager.

t: (0) 59 9146859 e: [email protected]

High-end design. Top-tier efficiencyThe sleek, ultramodern lines of new DeLaval MidiLine™ ML3100 are a reflection of its advanced farm management capabilities.

ML3100 July IFM.indd 1 21/06/2016 13:21:32DeLaval 200x283.indd 1 24/06/2016 14:44IFM_August2016.indd 20 28/07/2016 13:24



With MidiLine ML3100, you decide on the level of automation: from cluster removal, to full integration with DeLaval DelPro™ Farm Manager.

t: (0) 59 9146859 e: [email protected]

High-end design. Top-tier efficiencyThe sleek, ultramodern lines of new DeLaval MidiLine™ ML3100 are a reflection of its advanced farm management capabilities.

ML3100 July IFM.indd 1 21/06/2016 13:21:32DeLaval 200x283.indd 1 24/06/2016 14:44IFM_August2016.indd 21 28/07/2016 13:24

Agri-environmental MSc programmes in UCD With almost 64 per cent of land under agricultural management, farming has the predominant influence on the environment and the status of natural resources, such as soils, water and biodiversity, writes Assistant Professor Helen Sheridan, lecturer in agricultural ecology and policy at University College Dublin

Accordingly, the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science has progressively developed a suite of postgraduate study programmes for those who want to continue in education by focusing on the intrinsically complex relationships between agriculture and the environment. These postgraduate programmes are designed to equip students with the scientific and policy-based understanding necessary for an increasingly in-demand and rewarding career at the interface of interests in agriculture and environmental protection.Taught postgraduate offerings include the MSc (Agr) Rural Environmental Conservation and Management (full and part-time options); MSc (Agr) Environmental Resource Management; and MSc Wildlife Conservation and Management. Each is designed to equip students with a deeper understanding of the unique challenges associated with managing the rural landscape, the maintenance of sustainable farming practice and rural livelihoods, and the protection and enhancement of the natural resources on which these activities depend, against the background of national, EU and international objectives and obligations. In addition to improving a wide range of generic skills in writing, presentation, time management, data analysis and geographical information systems (GIS), each programme offers a unique set of scientific/management skills, such as plant and habitat identification and management; soil, water and nutrient management; and wildlife conservation and management of associated zoonotic disease concerns. Given that ‘hands on’ experience is often key to gaining successful employment, students in all three programmes are provided with invaluable exposure to field and laboratory study methods, and the views of international experts and industry. Each programme provides an opportunity to integrate acquired knowledge and practical skills while undertaking a supervised research project.


AUGUST 2016 23



THE SCIENCE TO SUPPORT CHEESE MARKETINGSensory training, practice and knowledge of compounds responsible for scent and flavour in food can help us to accurately describe the taste and scent of a product in a way which will help consumers to select the product they are most likely to enjoy, according to Ms Lisbeth Ankersen, from InnovaConsult, Denmark. She was speaking at a symposium on Cheese Culture in Dublin’s Dean Hotel organised by the National Dairy Council recently

CHEESE ANALYSISKnowledge about the chemical compounds responsible for the scent and flavour of food, sensory training and practice, are keys to understanding why food has a specific taste, and it can aid in finding fact-based words to describe the scent and taste of a given food item – like a specific cheese.The description can be used for describing the qualities in marketing material to direct the consumer to a product, so that the consumer has a better chance of selecting a cheese he/she will enjoy. The descriptions can also be used in quality assurance and product development.In her work with sensory evaluations, Lisbeth Ankersen finds that knowing which aroma molecules are present in a given product can help explain how a scent or flavour is ‘composed’. There are many factors affecting the flavour of the cheese – the micro-organisms and other ingredients that are added, the mechanical methods, the temperature and the humidity of the air during maturation, and the quality of the milk used. Research comparing milk and cheese from cows on pasture and cows in barns (all year round), indicates a higher amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the milk and cheese from cows on pasture. It has also been shown that the chemical composition of the

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flavour compounds in the grass and other plants in the field is reflected in the composition of the milk. When correlating this with sensory analysis, the milk and cheese are often described as more complex, with more green/grass notes and more stable notes.

TASTE AND FLAVOUR ATTRIBUTESWhite cheddarTaste and flavour attributes: initially – dairy, barn, tart.Later: sweet, fruity, citrus, pineapple, a little honey, a little vanilla, sweet spicy, complex.Scent: sweet, fruit, pineapple, a little citrus, a little flower, melted butter, freshly baked bread, a little vanilla, a little acidic.Red cheddarTaste and flavour attributes: umami, cheese, salt, fat, slightly animal/barn, milk, a little nutty, slightly tart/sour, a little spicy, savoury, cream, a little hay.Scent: sweet, mild, ‘well rounded’, melted butter, cream, warm milk, a little fruit (melon/apricot), a little caramel.Mature white cheddarTaste and flavour attributes: slightly stable/animalic, rich/savoury, matured cheese, umami, bold, a little fruit, slightly sweet, butter, hay/coumarin, a little nutty, slightly bitter after taste, tart/sour.Scent: sweet, fruit, pineapple, tropical fruit, slightly tart, fresh, sour milk.Tipperary EmmentalTaste and flavour attributes: mild, slightly tart/sour, cheese, nut, fruit, slightly floral, a little hay, melted butter, cream, boiled milk, slightly sweet.Scent: tart/sour, cheese, sour milk, melted butter, slightly earthy, a little yeast.Cashel BlueTaste and flavour attributes: salt, blue cheese, fatty, sulphur, mushrooms/chanterelles, intense, a little pungent, a little ammonia, full-bodied, savoury, umami, baked potato. Aftertaste of flowers and fruit.Scent: clay, soil, lightly tart/sour, a little sulphur, slightly ammonia, mushrooms/chanterelles.

The Cheese Culture symposium and a new booklet are part of the Cheese Up Your Life campaign. This is a programme financed with aid from the European Union which aims to showcase the quality and versatility of cheese and how easily it can be incorporated into our daily lives.

NUT, FRUIT, SWEET, CARAMEL

MILK, CREAM,BUTTER

BARN, SOUR,UMAMI,

AMMONIA

MUSHROOM,EARTH,MOULD

CHEDDAR

MATURE WHITE

REDCHEDDAR

EMMENTALBRIE

BLUECHEESE

Flavour map.

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AUGUST 2016 25



Jennifer Melia says the food sector is ‘incredibly important’ to Enterprise Ireland. “The sector accounts for about 52 per cent of our exports,” Jennifer says. “Last year was the first year that we saw our clients’ exports in the sector rise above €10.5bn.” Enterprise Ireland’s role in the sector is a business development one, Jennifer explains. “We work with and invest in companies to help them to grow their business internationally and create new jobs in Ireland. We are the main funders of industry research and development (R&D), we drive the competitiveness agenda (with support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine [DAFM] in the food sector) and we put a lot of focus on developing leadership and developing the management team. Helping the industry to scale is key.” Between 2013 and 2014, Enterprise Ireland approved investments of more than €123m for food-and-drink companies. This, in turn, leveraged almost €900m in industry investment, according to Jennifer. “We work closely with Bord Bia, which has responsibility for market development, and together we recently launched a pilot initiative to support food-and-drink companies to put a resource into an overseas market for a minimum of 12 months. “We are just at the end of our three-year strategy (2014-2016). Our vision was that the client companies would create 40,000 new jobs and deliver €22bn in exports by the end of this year. To help them achieve this we focused on building international growth, entrepreneurship, innovation, competitiveness and regional development. Our new strategy will run from 2017 to 2020 and will be launched later this year.”

PREPARING FOR BREXITOne of the unknowns in the agri-food sector at the moment is the impact Brexit will have on Ireland. How is Enterprise Ireland advising food companies here?“The repercussions of the UK’s decision to leave the EU are an unknown at this stage,” Jennifer says. “Our food sector is incredibly dependent on our nearest neighbour – about 70 per cent of prepared consumer food exports go to the UK, for example. Beef exports exceed €1bn. It’s highly likely that costs for our exporters will increase [after Brexit], and Enterprise Ireland is intensifying its supports around competitiveness in the industry. In our favour, the UK is heavily dependent on food imports and we have some very strong strategic partnerships between Irish producers and UK customers that go back many years.” There is, of course, a two-year exit period during which there will be no change to trade arrangements, Jennifer adds. “The initial concern is the weakening of sterling, which already makes our food exports to the UK more expensive. Immediately after the UK referendum, we published a five-point plan to support Irish exporters. We set up a UK export help webpage where we have made available information and guidance for Enterprise Ireland clients. The UK will remain a key export market for Irish exporters. Our role is to help clients be more competitive and more innovative, with robust financial planning, so that they strengthen their position in the UK and continue to win business. We are intensifying our investments in the Lean agenda. “The second part of our plan relates to market expansion and diversification: it will include a boosted schedule of trade missions, inward buyer visits and study visits.

IN THE AGRI-FOOD FAST LANE

Jennifer Melia is the manager of prepared consumer foods and food start-ups at Enterprise Ireland. She tells Irish Farmers Monthly about the Government agency’s role in facilitating the development and growth of Irish business in the agri-food sector, and looks at some of the challenges ahead

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RESEARCHANDINNOVATION AUGUST 2016 24Specifically, in food and drink, we are working closely with Bord Bia and we are also a member of the Food Wise 2025 Brexit Group established by DAFM.”Investing in innovation will be crucial in the post-Brexit world, Jennifer says. Client companies are supported under the Enterprise Ireland R&D fund, which is open on a monthly basis for new innovative projects. ‘Innovation Partnership’ is the flagship programme to support companies to undertake R&D in collaboration with third-level institutes. “We invested in technology centres and gateways to build capability in key sectors such as food and drink, manufacturing and data analytics, to name but a few,” Jennifer says. “We are supporting SMEs to bring graduates into the business, and in food, for example, we’ve focused on introducing technical grads. We also help companies to source and license new technologies and to link into the EU funding supports under Horizon 2020.”

KEY FOCUS AREAS FOR THE FOOD SECTORCompetitiveness, financial planning, innovation and participating in new study visits/trade missions are key areas for food companies to focus on over the coming six months, according to Jennifer.A continuous focus on sustainability is key to growing our food and drink industry, she adds. “The demand for food is expected to increase by 50 per cent as the world’s population continues to grow. But this will have to be done sustainably. The Origin Green programme introduced by Bord Bia was the world’s first agri-food sustainability programme to be rolled out on a national basis. It spans from farm to processors and participants have put in place plans around raw material sourcing, energy and water usage, and waste reduction.” The agri sector is vitally important to the economy, Jennifer reiterates.“Agri-food accounts for roughly 8 per cent of our total employment, with a huge regional spread. It is our most important indigenous industry and the one with the highest potential for new job creation across regional locations, both at SME and artisan scale. Enterprise Ireland concentrates on the food and drink processing industry and research, rather than primary production. These clients employ about 42,000 people.”The biggest trends in the local and international food industry over the next five years are likely to relate to health and wellness, Jennifer says, with consumers looking for healthier products. Meeting the needs of consumers as lifestyle patterns change will be important – consumers

may have less time to prepare food, their diets may include more snacking, while healthy convenience and best-value options are likely to be requirements. Food safety will continue to be key. “Regarding Food Wise 2025, our actions focus oncompetitiveness, leadership and management development,driving innovation in the sector and increasing foodentrepreneurship and food foreign direct investment (FDI) – encouraging overseas players to establish a new project in Ireland.”The dedicated FDI team in Enterprise Ireland is competing strongly with other locations to win new projects, Jennifer says. The strategy targets existing players who are considering significant expansions and are considering a number of locations, as well as international players who are considering investments in Europe and don’t currently have a base in Ireland. “Winning new investments is key to growing our food and drink footprint and the investments in food are very often targeting the regional towns rather than the cities. A recent investment was a Turkish pet-food company in Co Mayo.” Reflecting on the challenges faced by the Irish food industry in recent years, the most significant was the economic downturn in 2008 / 2009, Jennifer says. A high level of dependence on the UK market and the weakening in sterling forced companies to improve their competitiveness and improve the strength of their management teams; some also invested more heavily in innovation and continue to do so. But, with Irish food and drink companies spending, on average, significantly less than the European average on R&D, “we still have a lot more work to do here,” Jennifer adds.

A sustainable modelAre there any particular companies that have already implemented successful sustainability initiatives that could be a template for other companies?“Dawn Farm Foods, a European leader in cooked and fermented meat solutions, is an exemplar of a company investing in sustainability,” says Enterprise Ireland’s Jennifer Melia. “Established in 1985, it now employs almost 600 people in Naas and another 300 in the UK. Dawn Farm Foods was a founding member of the Origin Green programme and is now sending zero waste to landfill. It has also made savings in energy and water usage.”

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Much of the increased demand in recent years in agricultural education stems from the Rural Development Programme (RDP) Young Farmer Scheme and National Reserve stipulations around minimum educational achievements in order to qualify for the schemes. This is particularly the case with the demand for part-time training programmes from those farmers requiring upgrading of their agricultural qualifications. Many of the participants in these courses have had no previous agricultural qualification. Teagasc has also established a distance education programme for those who already have a qualification in a non-agricultural area of study. As principal of Kildalton Agricultural College, Paul Hennessy has been closely involved in the construction and delivery of these programmes. He acknowledges that distance education is the area most in demand over the past couple of years. Paul outlines how diversified the whole agricultural education scene has become: “We have the mainstream courses, which are geared towards school leavers. They go into any one of the six agricultural colleges or two horticultural colleges and complete the first-year Level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) qualification. Then, to achieve young trained farmer status, they complete a Level 6 programme, which can be done as either an Advanced Cert full-time programme or as a part-time Green Cert course (otherwise known as the Specific Certificate in Farm Administration programme). The fact that so many people are going to agricultural college and learning new skills, management practices and about technology can only benefit the agricultural industry in Ireland going forward."

DISTANCE EDUCATIONAs Paul explains, the distance education programme is for people who have Level 6 or higher qualifications and includes participants who are in other professions and have previously qualified from university, IT or trade apprenticeships: “They qualify for this programme through a distance education arrangement whereby they undertake the study component in their own time and come into the agricultural centres for assessments and skills training. Up to about five years ago, the demand and uptake for distance education and part-time programmes was around 500 people each year. Then, in 2014, with the introduction of the RDP schemes, that figure grew to 1,500. We thought we had peaked at that stage, but by September 2015 there was a waiting list in excess of 5,000 people for those programmes. Teagasc was fortunate to get sanction to take on increased numbers of contract teachers to deal with that demand, and we made reasonable inroads on the numbers wanting to participate. Right now, there is a waiting list of over 3,000 people.”

KILDALTON AND WITKildalton College itself is at the centre of a number of impressive educational initiatives and collaborations, most notably the well-established close links with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). “That campus has its own agriculture and agricultural science degree programmes," says Paul. “Some students assume, in applying to the CAO for entry to WIT, that the four-year study programme will be spent on the Waterford campus. In reality, they spend

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION Principal of Kildalton College, Paul

Hennessy, tells Matt O’Keeffe how diversified the agricultural education scene has become

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RESEARCHANDINNOVATION AUGUST 2016 26a considerable amount of time at Kildalton College, where most of the practical and animal husbandry modules of their courses are undertaken. "The links between WIT and Kildalton also extend to horticulture over 15 years. More than 400 students use Kildalton on a weekly basis for modular training. That’s a great opportunity for those who want to study land-based courses but perhaps don’t take the University College Dublin option. They can achieve a Level 8 standard in either land management or agricultural science in WIT.” As Paul emphasises, those graduates are achieving success in the agricultural and food sectors. The range of options include Teagasc employment, agricultural finance, sales and marketing as well as advisory support for the food-processing sector.

GROWING INTEREST IN HORTICULTUREA lot of work is being done to reinvigorate the horticultural programmes on offer from Kildalton College. Paul explains: “Following the demise of the Celtic Tiger, there was a drop in demand for horticulture. That was driven, to a great extent, by the fact that during the boom years the horticultural programmes tended towards amenity and landscape management. When that area slowed down, we were left with the dilemma that demand for some of the other modules and streams in horticulture had dropped. The aim now is to drive those on again. To that end, we have appointed a new assistant principal in horticulture, Grainne McMahon, to replace Ciaran Walsh, who

has retired. She is driving the initiative to reinvigorate the horticultural programmes at the college. We are encouraging people to come in and look at the educational and career opportunities on offer. The horticultural qualifications can be undertaken either as a major award, including a one-year course to Level 5 and a second year to Level 6 Advanced Cert, or as a series of component awards where people

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may choose various modules of interest and value to them. Those individual modules can build up to a major award over two, three or four years.”

A TIMELY REVIEWThe Green Cert was developed 30 years ago and a revamp is now underway, says Paul. “The programme delivered by Teagasc to meet the QQI award standard has already been reviewed. In September 2017, Teagasc will have a new Level 5 programme, followed by a new Level 6 programme in agriculture for 2018. What is also happening is a strategic review of our training programmes to ensure that they are fit for purpose looking out over a 10-to-15-year period where agriculture is undergoing fundamental change. A steering group with

various subgroups is meeting industry and studying all aspects of training requirements for the industry, whether that’s farmers, students or those already involved in the greater agri industry. The key challenge is to identify the needs of the sector and develop the educational programmes to match those needs. A report should be concluded by the end of this year which will influence future educational strategies for Teagasc. In an age of change, including greater use of information technology, automation and smart farming, our training programmes must also change. “Kildalton College also provides QQI Level 5 and Advanced Certificate Level 6 courses in equitation and stud management. Students can obtain Green Cert qualification by completing any Level 6 programmes in agriculture, equine or horticulture.”

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Risk Awareness

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Post BREXIT, Irish competitiveness will be challenged

At Aon, our finger is on the pulse in relation to emerging, non-traditional risks such as the impact of the BREXIT vote, food safety, commodity price volatility, supply chain resilience, and exporting to new and emerging markets.

To find out more contact [email protected]

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Professor Grace Mulcahy may be stepping down after 10 years as dean of UCD’s School of Veterinary Medicine, but she is adamant that the school will continue to maintain its world-class status on the global veterinary stage. Prof Mulcahy discusses the challenges facing graduates, and the key developments since she ventured into the veterinary profession, with Shauna Rahman

PROFESSION PROGRESSION “Change is the essence of modern life,” says Grace, “and things are changing rapidly. In Ireland, we are probably behind other developed countries, particularly the UK, US and Canada, in terms of sophistication in small animal practice. If you look at the UK, they have far more specialist small animal practices. Although in Ireland we don’t have a comprehensive network of referral for small animal services throughout the country, there are more dedicated practices that deal with small animal only. These are more concentrated in the cities and larger towns around the country.“Fifteen to 20 years ago, you would have had a preponderance of mixed service practices involving farm animal calls, small animal, large animal and sometimes equine services. Today, we are seeing that there are more and more dedicated equine practices, and purely farm animal practices concentrating particularly on herd health. With this degree of differentiation comes a greater expectation from the public for a higher level of service. Now, small animal practices can offer more complicated surgeries than before and, conversely, farm animal practices have more sophisticated herd health services in terms of nutrition, fertility and infectious disease surveillance and control.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTSProf Grace Mulcahy says her motivation for pursuing a career in veterinary medicine was that she realised she could combine a professional degree with research and science. Although unusual in the 1980s – as most people went into veterinary medicine with an eye for clinical practice – today, she says, it is more common that people seek out and are more aware of the breadth and range of vet careers that are out there. “After receiving my degree in 1982, I worked in a mixed practice in Wales. I also took part in tuberculosis testing in the west of Ireland, which was great fun, and I decided to come back and complete a PhD in bovine immunology. I wanted to continue my scientific research so I went to the Pirbright Institute in the UK, where I worked exclusively on foot and mouth disease vaccines. This was a really exciting time as there were only five places in the world that you could work on this and, as foot and mouth is an exotic disease, we had to work in containment laboratories so that the virus was not able to escape. At the end of the five-year stint, I was presented with an opportunity to take on a permanent position there, but I was conscious of backing myself into a professional corner, knowing that there are very few places that you can work in foot and mouth around the world.”Returning to Ireland in 1991, Grace took on an academic role in University College Dublin, where she has remained for the past 25 years, in the area of parasitology, developing a whole new research area, which includes immune responses to parasite infections, particularly worm infections in livestock. She currently runs an active research group, which focuses on liver fluke in livestock in conjunction with a parasite diagnostic laboratory, dealing with samples submitted by vets from all areas of the country.

A TRUE ‘VET’ERAN

�� Professor Grace Mulcahy.

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RESEARCHANDINNOVATION AUGUST 2016 30You see farm animal services progressively moving into more planned and managed healthcare and preventative medicine, ensuring a move towards healthier animals and better production.” Grace says these changes in Ireland have a long way to go in terms of small animal practice to catch up with the UK and the US, but this very much depends on economic cycles. “In the recent downturn, for example, equine practices suffered as sport horses were deemed a luxury, so people felt they could not afford to spend on maintaining their upkeep. Similarly, small animal owners felt the pinch when bringing their pets to the vet. Because of this, we are seeing an increase in small animal pet insurance policies being taken out, which is a great stimulus, providing an alleviation from some of the risks people take on with veterinary costs for their pets. These are trends which will continue to progress.”Also, Grace says, there is an increase in corporatisation of veterinary practices in the UK and the US, specifically in small animal practices, where large corporate companies are running chains of practices. “This model may or may not be introduced to Ireland. Even in Ireland, we are seeing more collaboration between practices where groups of practices are coming together to share their purchasing power, which is a welcome development. The days where you have three single practices in a rural town is a thing of the past, especially now that the wide international recognition of the UCD veterinary medicine degree means graduates can work anywhere in the world, so if the work-life balance is of a low standard here in Ireland, they will seek out better opportunities abroad.” Other recent legislative developments, such as the Animal Health and Welfare Act, will positively influence the progression of the profession, and Grace says she is confident that veterinary graduates, and the profession

in general, will become outspoken advocates on animal welfare. “Legislation like this can only be a step in the right direction for the benefit of society.”

IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTAccording to Grace, there is a clear a shift away from graduates pursuing careers working in certain practices, especially in rural Ireland. “This is because our graduates now have the freedom to move where they want and, in 2016 certainly, they have had their pick of jobs. It is up to practices to offer better conditions, proper HR and clinical support to graduates.“Every year, we hold an event for graduates, sponsored by the Veterinary Defence Society. We bring back our graduates about 15 months post-graduation. It really concerns me that some of those working in Ireland have not had a very positive experience. I have been struck over the past few years by some of the unfortunate experiences that some of those graduates recount. It would seem some employers are still taking advantage of graduates, with unrealistic expectations of graduates who are really just straight out of college – graduates who are expected to work over and above the stated fixed time hours in the Working Time Directive, who have no written contracts of employment and who are not being treated fairly.“So, this year, I am proud to be a part of a pioneering mentoring scheme, which the school has brought in, for our new graduates in veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing. We are matching graduates with mentors who have been in practice for about three to six years in total and are matched on their geographical location around the world. The idea is that they will provide online and, where possible, face-to-face support on both personal and professional levels for graduates in their first year post-graduation. This scheme is a first for Ireland and we are very excited about the initiative.

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In Ireland, we have a world-class veterinary school and I think it is important that we have world-class conditions for graduates and prospective employees from abroad. We modelled this scheme on an initiative in Australia also currently being rolled out. “The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), in conjunction with the British Veterinary Association (BVA), have also launched a ‘Mind Matters’ initiative in the UK and they are very interested in our mentoring programme over here. Not only will the programme be of benefit for graduates, but it will provide us with the data we need in future years to see how the profession is developing in Ireland and overseas,” she says.

GENDER GAPAnother important issue to address, says Grace, is the dramatic turnaround in gender balance in recent years in the veterinary profession, more than any other profession in Ireland. There have been comparatively few social science studies on this subject.A PhD study conducted by Dr Claire Allen of Cambridge University, UK, focuses on this subject on why women and men choose veterinary medicine as a profession. She uses a stereotype analogy of the paediatrician and the mechanic, where the female is seen as going into a more caring veterinary role, while men are more likely to identify with roles analogous to the car mechanic. Indeed, at the recent UCD veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing graduation, there were approximately 26 male graduates among the 103 students graduating in veterinary medicine. Grace wants to address the myth that men do not

receive enough points in their Leaving Certificate to study veterinary medicine in college. “Men are simply choosing not to apply! We have about a 70:30 split between women and men in the profession. In the UK, Australia and the US, it can be as much as 80:20 or 90:10. In the interest of diversity, a profession should really reflect the nature and type of society it serves. We should be able to attract equal numbers of both sexes to the profession. Research conducted in the US shows a major gender pay gap in the profession, as well as a gap in leadership. Although women are represented in the educational sphere – there are a number of female deans in veterinary colleges around the world – men are more likely to own veterinary practices. UCD is very proactive in their outreach programmes, we do better on gender balance than other countries. It is a very interesting societal phenomenon, so, perhaps in 10 years, this could go full circle again!”

BREXIT EFFECTIn terms of Brexit, Grace says the relevant regulatory bodies, the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) and the RCVS, need to have a proper discussion regarding how it will affect the profession in the UK and Ireland. “We have very strong links and commonalities with our colleagues in the RCVS and our colleagues working in the UK. We know nothing will happen for about two years but, after that timepoint, EU graduates may not be recognised by the RCVS. Both the BVA and the RCVS have put holding messages on their websites acknowledging this is a period of uncertainty. “I would, however, be very optimistic that the UCD veterinary degree will continue to be recognised worldwide as we have international accreditation in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and North America, as well as having American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accreditation. Perhaps it will have to be separately accredited by the RCVS but, again, we will have to wait and see.”

FUTURE ENDEAVOURSLooking back on her decade at the helm of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Grace says the school continues to surpass expectations. “We didn’t have a school when I first started as dean and now it is one of the flagship schools at UCD, achieving AVMA accreditation during my first year, in 2007, and re-accreditation in 2014. We are hoping to extend the veterinary hospital, increase office space and build an atrium in the centre of the building. With increased student numbers and postgraduate programmes catering for graduate practitioners, we are consistently developing and I hope we remain one of the premier veterinary schools internationally.”

�� Ray Finn, president, Veterinary Council of Ireland; graduate, Kelvin Koun Tai Ho; and Prof Grace Mulcahy at the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine Graduation, 2016.

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MERIAL LAUNCHES BOVALTO RESPI VACCINESMerial Animal Health used its presence at the 2016 World Buiatrics Congress (WBC) in Dublin in July for the European launch of its new Bovalto Respi respiratory disease vaccines. Bovalto Respi vaccines contain a newly developed combination of viral and bacterial antigens, according to Merial. The vaccine effectively targets current European-circulating bovine respiratory disease (BRD) strains, and all Bovalto Respi antigens are also proven by challenge, including at six months post-vaccination, to confirm long-lasting protection, according to the company.“Merial is committed to understanding the needs of cattle producers and delivering unique, targeted solutions. Merial is dedicated to expanding its portfolio of parasiticides, vaccines and other disease prevention solutions, with high-value products like Bovalto Respi, to improve productivity, and keep herds healthy,” said Henry Berger, global head of the Ruminant and Equine Business Unit at Merial.BRD is complex to manage and each year affects an estimated 1.9 million animals, costing the UK cattle industry around £60m. In Ireland, BRD is responsible for 30 per cent of deaths in stock under one year old, according to Merial.At a Merial symposium at WBC 2016, Prof Sandro Cavirani, director of the Department of Animal Health at the University of Parma, Italy, highlighted the importance of successful BRD control programmes in calves to optimise herd immunity and productivity, including early, repeated and targeted BRD vaccination.Bovalto Respi 3 contains strains of parainfluenza virus 3, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, and Mannheimia haemolytica serotype A1. The combination in Bovalto Respi 4 combines the three pathogens in Bovalto Respi 3, with the added strain of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV).

ELANCO RAISES €12,000 FOR CHARITY At the World Buiatrics Congress (WBC) in Dublin in July, cattle vets had the chance to share their thoughts about Elanco’s latest product, Imrestor, and to ‘earn’ tokens for the charity, Heifer International. Imrestor is a new class of product for dairy cows that reduces suppression of the innate immune response seen in the periparturient period with the aim of reducing the incidence of mastitis in the first 30 days post-calving, according to Elanco. It was an activity that certainly had the feel-good factor as each veterinarian’s token was turned into a generous donation to the charity. The final total raised was €12,000. Elanco has worked extensively with Heifer International – an inspirational charity that works with families to help them escape from a life of poverty and hunger. The East Africa Dairy Development programme has been a particular focus and has helped rejuvenate communities through providing livestock and training. Elanco’s regional technical consultant for dairy in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mike Steele, said: “I’ve seen people progress from an impoverished state to the point where their children are going to school, are well nourished and clothed. Bulk tanks have been set up in towns, milk is delivered from outlying areas by motorcycle and those who have learned to care for their livestock also pass on their skills to others – so the whole community benefits.” Elanco said that it has already donated over $1.35m to Heifer International, as well as hours of employee time to support its charitable work. To earn a token and the donation, veterinarians simply had to share their thoughts on Imrestor.

�� The Elanco team hands over a €12,000 cheque to Heifer International, received on their behalf by Emile Brouchard, president of the World Association of Buiatrics, Michael Sexton and Kevin O’Farrell of the WBC organising committee.

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EQUINE INNOVATIONHorse Sport Ireland is the national governing body for equestrian sport in Ireland and has responsibility for the Irish Horse Register, which is made up of the Irish sport horse and Irish draught horse studbooks

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has established a scientific and research committee to explore ways of applying better science to sport horse breeding in Ireland. Members of the group include Dr Donagh Berry from Teagasc; Dr Finbarr Mulligan and Dr Alan Fahey from University College Dublin; Dr Andrew Cromie from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation; and Gerry Greally from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.Unlike the thoroughbred sector, the use of artificial insemination (AI) and breeding technology such as embryo transfer (ET), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and cloning are allowed in the sport horse sector. ET and ICSI allow the best sport horse mares to potentially produce

multiple foals each year by transplanting embryos in recipient mares.The sector hit the headlines in 2015 with news that the legendary Irish sport horse sire, Cruising, had been cloned, with both of the clones – Cruising Arish (ISH) and Cruising Encore (ISH) – now available to breeders as sires.HSI has also developed estimated breeding values (EBVs) for animals in the Irish sport horse studbook. EBVs are now available for stallions and mares in the Irish sport horse studbook. Genetic evaluation is a prediction of the genetic merit of a horse. It provides an objective, statistical measurement of a horse’s ability to breed international-level show jumpers. It is a tool that is useful as part of a balanced approach to mating decisions. When assessing the breeding potential of a mare, it is an additional source of information for breeders. The process of developing validated pedigree reports for each mare in the studbook is also underway. Following the recent publication of an industry plan for the sector, Reaching New Heights, which was developed by HSI, Teagasc and the RDS under the chairmanship of Prof Cathal O’Donoghue, equine discussion groups are being rolled out around the country. The groups will be operated along similar lines to groups in the other agricultural sectors and have been described by HSI’s CEO, Damian McDonald, as a potential ‘game changer’ for the sector.A new, international marketing division has also been established by HSI, which is headed up by Elaine Hatton, formerly of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and Glanbia. As well as promoting public auctions in Ireland, the international marketing division has developed a significant online presence through the Irish Horse Gateway portal. Sport horse breeders and producers must sign a code of conduct before becoming registered sellers and being allowed to use the site to market their horse to a global audience. Horses are regularly sold to the UK, the US and continental Europe through the site, with significant use of visual aids and social media to promote the site to buyers in foreign markets.

�� Damian McDonald, CEO of Horse Sport Ireland.

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On August 23, Enterprise Ireland will open a Competitive Feasibility Fund for Agri-Businesses aimed at stimulating new start-ups in the sector. The fund, which can provide up to €25,000 per project, will remain open until Tuesday, September 6, 2016. The fund marks the delivery of a key measure under the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, and is aimed at meeting the needs of the agri-business industry and supporting the growth of modern and dynamic start-up agri-business companies in Ireland. The Competitive Feasibility Fund will support new start-up companies or individual entrepreneurs to investigate the viability of a new growth-oriented business or proposition in the agri-business sector. The funding will enable the promoters to reach firm conclusions regarding the project’s viability and strategies for developing and commercialising the innovative product or service in international markets. The fund is open to applications from individuals, early stage companies or prospective businesses operating in the agri-business sector, including: machine design and manufacturing; fabrication; engineering and technical

activities; life sciences products with application in the agri-sector; farm-related software and related services; vet-pharma; animal health and chemical products. Early stage food companies with the potential to export are also encouraged to apply. The fund programme manager, Denis Duggan, said: “A priority for Enterprise Ireland is to help Irish entrepreneurs and companies to start up. Ireland has a world-class agri-business ecosystem, which offers tremendous potential for entrepreneurs and existing businesses to carve out opportunities for innovative products and services. Agri-businesses are sustaining and creating jobs in many rural areas and are significant contributors to their respective regional economies. Irish agricultural machinery exports alone are valued in excess of €100m per annum. With this €250k Competitive Feasibility Fund, we aim to support the next generation of Irish agri-businesses that can grow to compete in export markets, creating valuable jobs here into the future.”The closing date for applications is Tuesday, September 6, 2016. Full details of the fund, including application form, are available on the Enterprise Ireland website.

NEW FUND TO FUEL BUSINESS GROWTHEnterprise Ireland is launching a new feasibility fund to support the next generation of agri-businesses in Ireland

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University College Dublin, Ireland’s global university, is in the top 1 per cent of universities in the world. As Ireland’s largest university, UCD produces the highest number of postgraduate students in Ireland annually. Research at UCD addresses the challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future of Ireland and the wider world, writes Professor David MacHugh, associate dean for research, innovation and impact

UCD is creating a continuum across science, engineering, humanities, business and the arts through interdisciplinary programmes that are underpinned by fundamental research and scholarship. UCD’s programmes partner with over 350 companies, and with voluntary bodies and Government, to address national research priorities and to maximise their impact on Ireland’s social and economic development. Research carried out at UCD addresses six key areas: agri-food; culture, economy and society; health; ICT; energy; and environment.

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SCIENCE RESEARCH PROGRAMMEThe agri-food and agri-business sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry. Employing more than 150,000 people, it is critical to Ireland’s economy and is the foundation of

our culture and society.UCD is working with the sector to ensure sustainability and global competitiveness. The UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science is partnering with industry to create safe, novel foods that promote human health, and working with State agencies to imagine the ‘farm of the future’, one that protects our environment while optimising food production. The school has a very active research programme comprising 62 principal investigators, 185 graduate research students, 51 contract research staff and an operating research income of €54.2m in the five-year period from October 2011 to July 2016.The UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science research programme is aligned to the four management sections within the school. There are many examples of collaboration between these research areas, and researchers operate in a multidisciplinary environment. The school’s current research activities can be broadly defined as seeking to:XX Advance efficient and sustainable animal and crop

production to contribute to national targets and adhere to policy reform;

XX Develop and evaluate sustainable land use;XX Advance the economic management and performance of

the food chain and contribute to policies and programmes in rural and agricultural development; and

XX Optimise the quality of foods to enhance the health and wellbeing of consumers.

AGRI-FOOD RESEARCHAND INNOVATION AT UCD

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ANIMAL AND CROP SCIENCEThe core objective of the animal and crop science group is to advance, through innovative research, efficient and sustainable animal and crop production to contribute to national targets and policy reform. A major strength of this group is that it encompasses a diversity of expertise to potentially address full-cycle research in agriculture and primary food production. UCD Lyons Research Farm underpins the animal and crop sciences and enables a multidisciplinary approach and development of sustainable food production. Current research priority themes are:XX Sustainable animal production;XX Sustainable crop production; andXX Equine science.

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENTThe overarching aims of environment and sustainable resource management research are to: understand interactions between land use systems and the wider environment; to develop sustainable land use systems and management practices; and inform the development of agri-environmental, forestry, horticulture and related policy. It is therefore essential that a strong understanding and emphasis on sustainable management of natural resources underpin production systems. The current priority themes are:XX Sustainable land use and policy;XX Utilisation and protection of biological resources;XX Sustainable management of nutrients, carbon and soils;

andXX Sustainable plant protection.

AGRIBUSINESS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENTThe principal objectives of agribusiness and rural development research are to: XX Advance the sustainability and competitiveness of the

whole agri-food chain;XX Contribute to rural livelihoods through informing

programmes and policies at local and national levels;XX Understand and support the factors that influence farmer

behaviour in adopting change technologies; andXX Deepen understanding of contemporary humanitarian

challenges in order to promote evidence-based humanitarian response.

The section is also home to an active research centre focused on humanitarian action. Common themes within the section include innovation, climate change, knowledge transfer and food policy, which are addressed using a wide range of research methods. The current research activities in the agribusiness and rural development group comprise four main themes: XX Agri-food economics; XX Rural development;XX Agricultural extension; andXX Humanitarian action.

UCD – Ireland’s global university• Ranked in top 100 universities in the world in 11

subjects by 2016 QS subject rankings, including agriculture and forestry;

• Ranked number one in Ireland in 12 subjects by 2016 QS subject rankings, including agriculture and forestry;

• With 27,869 students in Dublin and 5,591 overseas;

• With 7,038 international students from 127 countries;

• 36 per cent of researchers from outside Ireland;• With 235,000 alumni across the globe;• With 400 partner universities for student

exchange.

Equilume is a world leader in the research and development of light therapy solutions to assist the global horse industry in maximising reproductive efficiency and performance. Equilume was established in 2012 as a result of pioneering research by company founder, Dr Barbara Murphy, assistant professor and lecturer in equine science at the School of Agriculture and Food Science, whose academic research at UCD identified the optimum light level required to advance the breeding season in horses.

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FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITIONFood science and nutrition research is closely aligned to UCD’s research strategy, with food and health listed as a major programme within the health and healthcare theme. The research themes of the food and nutrition section are also strategically aligned with the research priorities of UCD’s Institute of Food and Health, a virtual institute that coordinates all UCD’s food and health activities. The research themes include: XX Processing for safe and healthy foods;XX Precision nutrition; andXX Functional food ingredients.

INNOVATION AND IMPACTThe school has an active innovation programme with a focus on maximising the impact of school research and innovation to benefit the Irish agri-food industry, the wider

economy and society. The school actively encourages staff and researchers to look at the innovation aspects of their research and to see how these can be used to further improve the Irish agri-food industry through partnerships, licensing agreements or business-to-business (B2B) set-ups. Commercialisation is a major goal of the school and staff within the school partner with Irish SMEs through the Enterprise Ireland feasibility grant programme and the commercialisation programme, which allow companies to assess and develop innovative commercial ideas. A range of spin-out companies have been founded, a number of which have been successful in securing EU funding through the framework programmes and participate as Irish research and development SMEs. Spin-out companies include: Equinome-Plusvital Ltd, Crop Research Ltd, Biosystems Engineering Ltd and Equilume Ltd.

INNOVATION NEVERTASTED SO GOOD.Innovation is a key ingredient in our business. By continually

evolving and adapting to fast moving food trends we have

become the preferred partner to many of Europe’s leading

ready-meal, pizza and sandwich brands.

Visit www.dawnfarms.ie to discover the ingredients that set us apart.

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INNOVATION NEVERTASTED SO GOOD.Innovation is a key ingredient in our business. By continually

evolving and adapting to fast moving food trends we have

become the preferred partner to many of Europe’s leading

ready-meal, pizza and sandwich brands.

Visit www.dawnfarms.ie to discover the ingredients that set us apart.

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In purpose-built bioscience research centres around the world, young scientists work as part of Alltech’s expert team of biochemists, microbiologists, chemists and nutritionists to advance animal health, welfare and performance. Each bioscience centre has its own research focus and the work carried out at each individual centre complements the research at the other locations. Alltech’s European Bioscience Centre, located in Dunboyne, Co Meath, was officially opened in 1999 with an emphasis on fundamental research encompassing biotechnology, microbiology and chemistry-based disciplines. Since its inception, Alltech has always forged strong links with academic institutes and the Dunboyne facility is no exception to this. With its close proximity to a number of internationally renowned universities, Alltech has formed strong research alliance programmes. In 2013, a year-long expansion project was completed during which the existing facility in Dunboyne trebled in size to 33,000 square feet. The expanded Bioscience Centre affirms the location’s role as Alltech's European headquarters, in

which 120 staff play pivotal roles across sales, research, marketing and financial services. While the principal remit of the Dunboyne facility is to serve as the European headquarters, the staff based onsite play key roles within the global Alltech network. Specialising in diverse areas such as assay development and validation, protein biochemistry, molecular biology, microbial ecology and trace element research, the team of scientists based in Dunboyne focus on the basics behind the range of Alltech solutions. Such fundamental research has resulted in the development of unique insights into specific topics, including organic mineral bioavailability, gut microflora and crop science.

ORGANIC MINERAL BIOAVAILABILITYIn addition to the importance of trace mineral inclusion in the diet, the form in which an element is presented plays a critical role in defining its efficacy. A host of intrinsic and extrinsic factors are known to affect the bioavailability of dietary trace elements including animal species, interaction with other minerals and dietary nutrients, physiological

RESEARCHING LOCALLY, SOLVING PROBLEMS GLOBALLY

Alltech, a global leader in the animal health and nutrition

industry, is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, US, and has

a strong presence in all regions of the world. The company has

production facilities strategically located throughout the world and,

as such, Alltech has the unique ability to effectively address global

animal health issues at a local level, writes Dr Richard Murphy PhD, director of research, Alltech

European Bioscience Centre

Alltech® is focused on tackling issues faced by beef producers throughout the finishing period such as; immune function, rumen health, lameness and feed efficiency. The ultimate aim is to improve performance resulting in less time spent on farm with lower feed costs.

We have been providing nutritional solutions to farmers around the world for more than 30 years through innovations like YEA-SACC®, BIOPLEX®, SEL-PLEX® and ACTIGEN™.

To find out more call 1850 44 22 44

Get your cattle off to the best possible start for a faster finish.

AlltechNaturally @AlltechAlltech.com/irelandEmail: [email protected]

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Alltech® is focused on tackling issues faced by beef producers throughout the finishing period such as; immune function, rumen health, lameness and feed efficiency. The ultimate aim is to improve performance resulting in less time spent on farm with lower feed costs.

We have been providing nutritional solutions to farmers around the world for more than 30 years through innovations like YEA-SACC®, BIOPLEX®, SEL-PLEX® and ACTIGEN™.

To find out more call 1850 44 22 44

Get your cattle off to the best possible start for a faster finish.

AlltechNaturally @AlltechAlltech.com/irelandEmail: [email protected]

Alltech 200x283.indd 1 20/06/2016 09:55IFM_August2016.indd 43 28/07/2016 13:24



state, chemical form and solubility of the mineral element. The increased bioavailability of organic trace elements and minerals has received considerable attention due to their effectiveness at increasing mineral status. A significant and growing volume of peer-reviewed research has found that the bioavailability of organic trace minerals is substantially greater than when delivered in inorganic form.The mineral research team in Dunboyne is engaged in a number of distinct areas. At a fundamental level, research is ongoing into the identification and characterisation of organic minerals. This research examines factors influencing the structures of both organic mineral chelates and unique synthesised organoselenium compounds. The basis for this work is reliant on the use of advanced spectroscopic techniques, which allow for the detection of unique organic metal species. In addition, molecular modelling enables the research team to assess the likely stability of organic minerals under real-world conditions.More recent studies aim to detail the uptake and cellular fate of chelated trace elements and minerals. Through deciphering the key factors that affect their cellular bioavailability, we can gain a greater understanding of the influencers of not only their transport but also their rate of uptake. The most advanced research aims to characterise the mechanisms which control the homeostasis of trace elements and minerals. This programme utilises both gene and protein-based techniques to gain insights into the control mechanisms that maintain the finely tuned intracellular mineral balance.

GUT MICROFLORAThe gastrointestinal microflora (the microbiome) plays a pivotal role in nutritional, physiological and immune functions of animals. It consists of a complex eco-system inhabited by a highly evolved community comprising several hundred bacterial species, whose interplay control health and nutrition. Poor intestinal health is associated with increased pathogen colonisation, susceptibility to infectious disease and, ultimately, leads to poor weight gain and increased mortalities. Profiling and understanding the role of intestinal microbial communities is important for the development and understanding of new and existing feed additives, thus allowing the manipulation of diets to improve performance, health and welfare. Dietary supplements, which focus on stabilising the gut microflora to aid intestinal health and decrease the animal’s susceptibility to disease, can be broadly classed as either prebiotics or probiotics. The microbiomics research team at Alltech’s European

Bioscience Centre focuses on identifying the population modulating effects of dietary supplementation with yeast cell wall-based prebiotics. Through the use of advanced DNA sequencing techniques, difficulties associated with cultivating intestinal bacteria have been overcome and this has provided detailed insights into the fluid nature of the microbiome.The practical application of this information is a key goal of the research team and, by working with isolated yeast cell wall fractions, newer studies at Dunboyne have focused on the effects of dietary supplementation on the overall bacterial community of the poultry gut. Such work has shown that supplementation can significantly alter the intestinal microflora. More strikingly, consistent alterations in specific components of the caecal microflora of broilers have been identified with alterations also noted in numerous biological pathways as a result of supplementation with isolated yeast fractions. The most recent work by the team at Dunboyne has examined the area of antibiotic resistance. One strategy to reduce or limit the use of antibiotics is to find ways to make them more effective, and the use of yeast cell wall fractions has been shown to enhance the sensitivity of bacteria to the effects of antibiotics. In the long term, such findings will have significant practical value in commercial production settings.

CROP SCIENCEThe provision of natural-based solutions to the agronomic and horticultural challenges facing producers worldwide is the goal of the crop science research programme at Alltech’s European Bioscience Centre. By utilising yeast and yeast derivatives, the programme offers a viable alternative to conventional agrochemicals. The research team realises that successful agronomic practices are a balancing act between meeting the consumer demand for fewer chemicals and coping with difficult weather conditions, while attempting to increase yields with fewer resources. By optimising field and crop health, the team aims to deliver solutions to the nutritional health and performance challenges facing crop producers worldwide. A fully integrated crop and soil research programme has been initiated on-site in which 50 hectares of prime agricultural land is currently utilised for field-based soil and crop studies, with subsequent follow-up using the extensive cellular biotechnology facilities in the newly-expanded research laboratories. This allows for a full overview of not only the macro, but also the micro, effects of using Alltech Crop Science solutions on soil and crop production systems.

Supporting local farms and local co-ops is good for employment, good for the economy, good for all of us.

Guaranteedgoodness for you& the economy

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Supporting local farms and local co-ops is good for employment, good for the economy, good for all of us.

Guaranteedgoodness for you& the economy

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The Irish agri-food sector is perfectly poised to take advantage of this global growth opportunity. The reputation of the sector has its foundation in high standards of regulation and food safety, and in our natural green environment and grass-based production system. Post the Brexit referendum, it is clear a period of uncertainty beckons, and it will likely be some time before we have a clear picture of the actual implications to talent, innovation, foreign investment, trade and supply chains. While the sector has a proven ability to be resilient and adapt, the short-term challenge is in successfully navigating this new risk environment.Aon’s 2016 Food, Agribusiness and Beverage Risk Insights Survey explores the risk mindset of Irish agri-food businesses. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of key risks that businesses face, and examines how aware and prepared organisations are to address these risks. What is clear from the research is that companies are risk-aware but risk-unready, and in some cases worryingly so. Strong risk management is fundamental to smart balance-sheet protection and, for the progressive businesses in the sector, there are many options available to improve risk readiness. Respondents were provided with a list of 48 risks, and asked to select their key business risk challenges. A failure to innovate was identified on the list of top 10 risks. Innovation and competition are inextricably linked – businesses with a culture of continuous innovation tend to differentiate themselves in the marketplace, which helps to allay competitive threats.Innovation is critical to the lifeblood of business sustainability. No business aspires to be the Nokia of mobile phones, the Xtra-Vision of movie rentals, or the Polaroid of photography. The lesson is simple. Continuous innovation needs to be informed by deep and clear consumer insights. Trends suggest that consumers are driving innovation strategies for companies, with a clear desire for convenience, health and wellness, sophistication and pleasure/indulgence foods. A strong and ongoing research and development (R&D) capability is the cornerstone of a successful innovation strategy. Companies that constantly innovate and

carry out R&D and new product development (NPD) activity tend to be more competitive and successful than those who do not. Ongoing consumer focus on health and wellbeing is a huge driver of change and opportunity for the sector. Twenty years ago, who would have predicted:XX McDonalds selling salad and fruit;XX Coca Cola recently launching a protein-packed milk; orXX Mars, which owns the Dolmio and Uncle Ben’s brands,

advising that some products should only be consumed once a week due to high salt, sugar or fat content.

Closer to home, some extremely successful innovation strategies include:XX Glanbia is a leader in the global sports nutrition business,

using what is essentially a waste product from milk processing (whey), and creating an extremely profitable income stream;

XX Irish milk forms the raw material for safe infant milk formula that is consumed by more than 10 per cent of the world’s babies;

XX Baileys is the world largest-selling cream liqueur, and celebrated its 40th birthday in 2014. This whiskey and milk-based drink was created to offer a wider choice of spirits; and

XX Driven by parents’ requirements for healthy snacking, and children’s desire for interesting school lunchboxes, Kerry Group has had huge success with Cheesestrings.

Do you think your innovation strategy is not insurable? Think again! The new product life cycle is fraught with risk. Many of the reasons for project delays are as a result of insurable risks, for example:XX Fire in R&D facility;XX Delay in delivery of bespoke plant and equipment; orXX Contaminated raw material delays testing.

At Aon, we understand the dynamics of the sector you operate in, as well as the broader spectrum of business risk. The Irish agri-food sector is fast-moving and the solutions that are in place today may not be applicable tomorrow. Continuous innovation, informed by insight and foresight, is at the heart of how we operate.

The global agri-food sector is projected to experience significant growth, fuelled by an increase in global population, economic growth and changing demographics. Rapid advancements in technology, innovation and logistics allow businesses to meet customer demand almost anywhere in the world, writes Ciara Jackson, Aon

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE

Ornua - The Home of Irish Dairy, is the largest exporter of Irish dairy products and proud owner of Kerrygold.

Brian Cleary, Co. Waterford

Bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world

www.ornua.com @ornua

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Ornua - The Home of Irish Dairy, is the largest exporter of Irish dairy products and proud owner of Kerrygold.

Brian Cleary, Co. Waterford

Bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world

www.ornua.com @ornua

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AUGUST 2016 49


MANAGEMENT HINTS AUGUST 2016 48

Matt Ryan

Milk price drives autumn decisionsThe facts:

X Milk base price is 22-24c/L; X Grass costs 7c/kg dry matter (DM); X Meal costs 25-30c/kg; X Silage costs 15-17c/kg; and X The response to meal is 0.8kg (average) milk per

1kg meal.

What questions should you ask and endeavour to answer from these facts?

X Being fairly highly stocked on the milking platform, should I feed meal to keep up milk production this autumn, and how much?

X To sell cull cows early and milk on to end of November, mainly off grass;

X The target must be to produce milk mainly off grass, feeding not more than 150kg meal and 150kgDM silage per cow from now to end of November.

If you have to feed 2kg of meal in August and 3kg in September (compared with zero in those months) to build up grass, your profit margin will be €50-70/cow lower than if you have to feed no meals.

X If you have to feed 4kg meal then your profit margin will be €77-100 lower;

X Ironically, the lower of these loss figures is achieved by drying off that cow at the end of October.

What decisions can and should you make from these facts? To build up grass this autumn, starting in late July, it must be done by:

X Having adequate nitrogen (N) applied on the milking platform in late July;

X Being stocked at less than 2.8 cows/ha on the grazing area. To achieve this stocking rate, you should sell off your cull cows in August, dry off very thin cows or maybe lease out cows to an under-stocked neighbour.

These actions will allow you feed the remainder of the herd on mainly grass this autumn from August.

Target August grass coversAs supply of adequate grass this autumn is what will drive low-cost and more profitable production, the achievement of target average farm covers (AFC) is essential to minimise meal cost. The following target covers (kgDM/livestock unit) are suggested for different stocking rates during August (Table 1). The suggested rotation length in days is in brackets.

Table 1.

Date Stocking rate (cows/ha) on milking platform

2.5 3 3.5August 1 180 (20) 210 (20) 200 (20)August 15 210 (25) 250 (25) 220 (25)August 31 280 (30) 330 (30) 280 (30)

So, if a farmer is stocked at three cows per hectare on the milking platform during autumn he needs an AFC on the farm of 630, 750 and 990kgDM/ha for August 1, 15 and 31, respectively, while the rotation length increases from 20 days to 30 days during the month.It is only by weekly measurement that you will achieve these targets, while at the same time not have too much if a period of great growth occurs. In that case, you would need to measure twice per week.Generally speaking, you need to increase the rotation length on low stocked farms (2.5/ha) by two days per week from mid-August, while it should be at the same rate from early August on the higher-stocked farms.If you end up with high pre-grazing covers (PGCs) in August, then you must remove them as bales in early August so as to avoid doing so in mid-to-late August – this is particularly important at high stocking rates.

X It is vital to remove such paddocks as quickly as possible, while the base is very green so as to get a quick recovery;

X Very high PGCs in autumn deteriorate very fast, resulting in low feed value grass;

Messages:

• Milk price will drive all autumn decisions;• Grass is going to be the secret weapon –

know target covers;• Spending on nitrogen, lime, phosphorus and

potassium is justifiable;• Start grass build-up in August without meals;• Prevent mastitis problems in August;• Cost savings that can be made or tried;• Scan cows in August/September to make

good decisions;• Look after replacement stock so as to

meet targets.

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X Paddocks must be grazed out to 3.5cm for two reasons: (i) avoid grass wastage; and (ii) set the farm up for easier graze out in the late autumn and spring.

Use nitrogenNow is the time to take stock of how much N you have used so far this year relative to what you are allowed to use on the whole farm.

X Overuse will result in penalties.

Table 2: Recommended rates of N for different stocking rates.

Stocking rate/year August September Total for year

Kg/ha organic N Cows/ha Units/acre Units/acre Kg/ha Units/acre155-170 1.82-2.0 14 164 133170-180 2.00-2.12 20 192 155180-190 2.12-2.24 28 216 175190-200 2.24-2.35 26 20 250 202200-210 2.35-2.47 28 28 275 223211-250 2.47-2.94 25 18 242 196

Study Table 2 and decide what level of N you can use for your own farm.

X Farmers stocked at less than 2.24 cows/ha should only put on N once, in late August, over the next two months;

X All other farmers should apply 28 units/acre in August (urea is OK if rain is coming). Highly-stocked farmers on the milking platform should use 35 units/acre (using less on outside blocks);

X Response is much better in August; X This N should all be blanket spread as there is no reduction

in grass yield for August-September blanket spread applications;

X The August N should be applied early in the month as you will grow 10-15 per cent more grass because growth rates are higher early in the month than late August.

This month and next are probably the only periods of slackness from routine work where farmers can devote time to maintenance work. What actions can you take?

X Repair eave chutes and down pipes, transferring rainwater directly to streams/waterways (this reduces slurry handling and soiled water);

X Repair broken cubicles, feed barrier, etc. (this reduces physical damage to animals);

X Repair/replace broken slats (this reduces foot problems); X Repair damaged concrete on floors, passages, yards and

cubicle beds (this reduces lameness); X Improve ventilation, both inlet and outlet area (this is a

major issue on most farms). Poor ventilation results in lameness, mastitis and viruses that in the past seemed

to affect only calves but now affect all animals. These are virus pneumonia, bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), etc. An added cost of vaccination (€5) is the result of poor ventilation. Cows need 2 square feet in both inlet and outlet area, while a lower proportion should be provided for other stock;

X Paint roofs, doors, gates, etc.

To ensure all maintenance work is done: X Make a ‘to do’ list; X List out jobs that need two people; X Decide if you have time to do all this extra work yourself; X A local handyman may do it in half the time with some

help from you; X Make your shopping list so that you don’t have to make

several trips to town for bits and pieces.

Take all the necessary safety precautions: X An accident is the last thing your family needs; X Don’t expect too much from your children with this type

of work.

Start building grass in AugustWith very low milk price, you must think and farm differently this autumn if you are to overcome this huge income loss. Therefore, you must rely solely on grass to feed cows until October 1, which is a big challenge in autumn.Growth grates generally will not balance cow demand unless you are stocked at less than 2.8 cows per hectare. Therefore, alternative options to meals must be considered.Grass build-up starts in August:

X In the south on August 10; X In the north on August 15.

Rotation length must increase by two days/week from the beginning to late August. The following possible ways to build up grass should be applied:

X Reduce stocking rates on the milking platform by taking away calves or cattle, selling cull cows (debated above), drying off very poor yielders and very low percentage fat (F) and protein (P) cows. Lame and mastitic cows should fall into this category so as to hit target average farm covers per cow – listed above;

X Reduce second-cut silage (particularly if you have enough pit silage);

X Introduce meals (expensive option, but will be necessary at high stocking rates). A grass budget will tell you when to start, but earlier rather than too late is preferable. An

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AUGUST 2016 51



alternative to meal is to feed good-quality round bales and this is the preferred option for high stocked farms that are over quota;

X Apply more N (stay within your limits) in August as you get a better response than in September. By cutting back on N use on outside blocks (clover swards help), many farmers are able to use up to 35 units per acre in early August across the whole milking block in one application;

X Graze out pastures well (3.5cm) as there is a temptation to leave too much after each grazing in August. Some farmers are leaving 300-400 after them – that means they are losing one day’s grazing every seven to eight days;

X Set up a ‘third-cut graze’ bank of grass; X Protect regrowths by not having cattle or cull cows

grazing after cows or spending more than 24 hours in each paddock.

It’s a very good idea to set up this third-cut graze because it: X Brings in a bank of high-quality grass for grazing in

September; X Allows you use 2,000-3,000 gallons (16-24 units N) of

slurry per acre on it at closing; X Allows you put on 55-65 units of N (discount the slurry N)

to cover the six-week, closed-up period, and the extra N will grow extra grass, which will feed 10-12 cows for one extra day for every acre closed up.

The way you do it is set aside 10-15 per cent of the farm, being stocked at 2.8-2.9 cows/ha for grazing.

X These fields should be topped or very well grazed out (skinned), leaving no butt; apply the slurry plus 25-35 units of N per acre and leave for six weeks – it should result in seven to 10 days grazing from mid-September;

X An interval of three to five days should be allowed between spreading slurry and applying N, so as to avoid losses of N by denitrification;

X If grazing grass is tight during this period, some of this area can be grazed.

However, at low stocking rates (2.2 cows/ha or less), because the demand will be low – 40-45kgDM/day – it may not be necessary to do any of the above to build up grass. It will happen naturally:

X Definitely feed no meals; X Graze out tight to 4cm; X There’s no need for ‘third-cut-graze’; X For sure, protect regrowths.

To build up grass to acceptable quantities for grazing

in October-November you must bring stocking rate/ha down to 2.9 on the milking platform. If heavily stocked, to economically do it you must:

X Use surplus, high-quality, cheap baled silage; X Buy cheap meal – €150-180 per tonne – maybe soya hulls,

palm kernel or rolled barley.

A workable footbathThe following has been suggested to me since last month’s notes on lameness:

X The footbath must be part of the exit race and not a diversion area;

X 1.5m wide – the full width of the exit race; X It should be 2-3m wide – if it is greater than 3m, more

contamination takes place; X The floor level must be the same level as the entrance and

the exit; X It should be approximately 20cm deep; X The top of the blocks must be flat with no sharp edges, but

slightly rounded; X There should be 1L/cow of solution in the bath; X To drain it, there must be a 10-20cm drain hole at the

lowest corner for collection in the soiled water tank.

If you have high levels of sole bruising, foul of the foot, white line disease or sole damage, you can be pretty certain it is due to stone damage while walking. A very important section for this problem is the concrete yard leading to the milking parlour. A stone trap is needed in this area:

X Before the start of the concrete, place 40-100m of lime fines, coarse pine bark, wood chips or sawdust;

X Carpet or other matting can also be effective on the first section of the concrete;

X Kerbing in concrete or railway sleeper (6-9 inches high) can also act as an effective trap. When the cows lift their feet off the ground the stones and pebbles drop off. Two kerbs will make the cows lift their feet twice and stones are dropped between the kerbs;

X Some farmers use a water bath as described above; X The concrete area must be swept at least every second day

as well as the stone trap area.

Dealing with mastitis issues in AugustMastitis is costly, disruptive and labour demanding.A lot of clinical cases suggest:

X Chronic cows (cannot be cured); X Milking machine problems (pulsation, poor reserve, bad

liners, etc.);

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AUGUST 2016 51



X Poor milking routine (too rough with cows when taking off clusters);

X Stress (examine all aspects).

High herd somatic cell counts (SCCs) suggest: X Old herd of cows; X All the problems listed for clinical cases; X No, or inadequate, teat dip; X Stray electricity (have this checked out).

Sorting out the problem involves: X Identifying the extent of the problem; X Identifying the cause of the problem.

Very, very few farmers, who have a problem, keep records of mastitis:

X The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) has a wonderful database to help you;

X Record mastitis cases through the ICBF ‘Annual Events’.

You must fill out the clinical mastitis record card: X This records the date a cow gets mastitis, the quarter and

the type (all vital information); X This is vital if you have employed staff or a relief milker in.

You must get at least three somatic tests done for each cow in the herd if you have a problem.

X High SCC cows can be managed differently or culled if justified;

X If not milk recording get these tests done now, three weeks apart, if you have a problem;

X Discard the first few squirts of milk onto the ground when taking a sample because it is high in bacteria;

X Use a jug to take a sample from each teat and then fill the small bottle from the jug.

A sensitivity test may have merit in identifying the type of bug causing the problem:

X Sampling must be done very hygienically; X Cows must not have been treated with antibiotics (only

fresh cases); X Some would argue that this is a wasted exercise because

70-80 per cent of the bugs causing problems during lactation are Staphylococcus aureus, and they are hard to kill.

Get the milking machine tested again, now: X Little things do make huge changes; X Change the liners now; X Worn rubberwear must be replaced.

End of breeding season The breeding season has ended on most farms now, and farmers should scan cows and heifers to identify cows not in calf. Taking stock of what numbers you are going to milk next year, you should now:

X Sell empty cows and heifers because it will free up more grass for milkers and I don’t believe they will be any more valuable to sell in a ‘glut' situation in November;

X Sell surplus heifers to improve cashflow; X There is no point in being over-stocked in a low milk price

year.

Review cow body condition now, as the new breeding season starts shortly, by having cows in condition score of 2.8-3.0 going into the winter.

Replacement heifer targetsOn August 1, the following are minimum targets:

X Calves must be 30 per cent of their mature weight, that is 165kg and 160kg for Friesian and Jersey S’s, respectively;

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X In-calf heifers must be 70 per cent of their mature weight; that is 385kg and 370kg for Friesian and Jersey X’s, respectively.

Any animal below these weights must be taken aside and given preferential treatment with 1-2kg of meal or priority grass in front of heavier animals.

X Also, very heavy animals, 30kg over targets, should be restricted in feed in case they get too fat;

X In-calf heifers should get the first of their Salmonella vaccinations in late August and the second one in early September with all the cows;

X If they haven’t got the leptospirosis vaccine they should get it this month also;

X Try to keep the in-calf heifers in a fly-free area to avoid mastitis infection.

Farmers who have calves with a contract rearer should make absolutely certain that they are on target weights. The only way to do this is to have them weighed independently or be there yourself.

X Any contract rearer not providing regular heifer weights is not serious about the job.

Keep an eye on calves for hoose and stomach worms. Don’t dose unless you have to, but keep them on ‘clean-from-parasite grass’, particularly aftergrass.

Can you reduce or save on any costs?Profit per cow will be €400-600 per cow on most farms this year, so farmers’ bank overdrafts will be under pressure this autumn and in spring 2017. What savings can be made?Many discussion groups are debating this. The savings are small, but one must try. This is necessary to keep cash from smaller milk cheques in the system. But spend where there is high return:

X Meal is the obvious one and we have addressed that above. Can’t be justified!

X If at all possible, don’t buy forage – sell surplus stock if short;

X Can the contractor bill (it must be paid) be kept down? X Reseeding, in most cases, should not be done as it costs

€300/acre. Spend that money on lime, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) as return is higher and they, with good grazing management, will encourage the perennial

ryegrasses in fields to express themselves; X Larger farmers, with a lot of employed labour, should

examine ways of minimising the cost. Can labour be shared by two farmers? Can the use of summer students save money?

X Machinery repair is a very big cost on some farms. If you have a big repair bill coming up, maybe you should refrain from same and switch over to contractors;

X Can you knock anything off electricity, car costs, insurance or professional fees?

X Can the bank help you by way of reduced repayments by lengthening loans?

‘Cash in’ can be improved by: X Selling off surplus cows, heifers and even calves – this

sounds drastic, but it may have merit on many farms that have too many cows and replacement stock;

X If selling cows, identify the low percentage F and P cows for sale so as to increase these constituents in the milk being sold, thereby increasing the value of the milk.

According to the national census, many households have between two and four cars (very costly to run) – could you sell one (students don’t need cars in college, in my opinion!)?All family members should be made aware of how tight family income will be for the next year, so everyone can work together and not have exaggerated expectations. No one should try to keep up with the neighbours!

Bits and pieces X At current milk prices, there is not an economic return to

meal feeding on most farms; X August is a good month to spray for weeds – they are

reducing grass yield by €10-20 per acre – because grass growth is slowing down and the weed rooting system enables them to grow faster;

X Docks: one in every 40 square metres represents a loss of 1 per cent in grass per hectare – land should definitely be sprayed with a specialised spray, but it will need another spray next year;

X Take a break from the farm for two weeks as it is the least busy time;

X There are lots of students around to milk and do other tasks.

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IFM Page 200x283.indd 1 21/07/2016 10:40IFM_August2016.indd 52 28/07/2016 13:25



NEW T6. ON TOP, AROUND THE CLOCK.

NEW T5MULTITASKINGBECOMESEASIER

INTRODUCING THE LATEST GENERATION T5 TRACTOR.MORE COMFORT, MORE MANOEUVRABILITY, IMPROVED PERFORMANCE.

COMFORT & MANOEUVRABILITY• Best-In-class Comfort Ride™ cab suspension and Terraglide™ suspended front axle• Improved loader stability from wide frame design• Renowned Electro Command™ transmission

PERFORMANCE & EFFICIENCY• Clean running, compact ECOBlue™ HI-eSCR engine with 7% more torque• Increased rear linkage lift capacity up to 5420kg• Productivity enhancing loader joystick

ENJOY HIGHER LEVELS OF POWER, COMFORT, VERSATILITY AND PERFORMANCE AND SEE PRODUCTIVITY RISING JOB AFTER JOB, HOUR AFTER HOUR.Tier4B ECOBlue™ HI-eSCR engine with higher torque - More efficiency and productivitySuspended cab and suspended Terraglide Plus front axle - More comfort Longer wheelbase and wider loader frame - More stabilityNew look and new LED light packages - More style and lighting

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NEW HOLLAND TOP SERVICE 00800 64 111 111 24/7 SUPPORT AND INFORMATION. The call is free from a land line. Check in advance with your Mobile Operator if you will be charged. Alternatively call 01 2421881

Join us on Facebook!

IFM Page 200x283.indd 1 21/07/2016 10:40IFM_August2016.indd 53 28/07/2016 13:25

A modern multi-purpose tractor from Massey


MACHINERY AUGUST 2016 54


AUGUST 2016 55

In June, Massey Ferguson, a worldwide brand of AGCO, introduced the first completely new standard farm tractors to have been developed in recent times for the multi-purpose sector, and already the range looks set to be an important addition for the Irish farmer

From the ground up, this is a completely new tractor range using the latest computer-aided design and manufacturing techniques. The MF4700 Series comes in three models, with 75hp, 85hp and 95hp, and offers the most up-to-date equipment and specifications in its class, according to the manufacturer.The company says the MF4700 Series is ideally suited for the Irish market, and is a particularly good fit for livestock, dairy and small to mid-sized farms. It is described as simple, versatile and effective, offering real value for money. Best described as a ‘jump in and drive tractor’, its dependability is further enhanced through Massey Ferguson’s renowned dealer support and service availability, according to the company. “Designed by engineers in Massey Ferguson’s Beauvais facility, the MF4700 is not only a completely new tractor range, but also introduces an entirely original concept in modern tractor development,” said William Judge, national sales manager, Massey Ferguson.

“The MF4700 Series is the first, and only, tractor range

available that has been designed in the 21st century to deliver straightforward, rugged and reliable operation for users in the 75-95hp sector.

“This not only introduces modern technology to this size of tractor for the first time, but the range is also purpose-built for this important sector,” he said.The MF4700 Series is powered by a state-of-the-art AGCO Power 3.3L three-cylinder engine developing maximum powers (ISO: TR14396) of 75hp on the MF4707, 85hp on the MF4708 and 95hp on the MF4709. Already proven in use in other Massey Ferguson tractors, the engine complies with the strict Stage IV/Tier 4 final emission regulations with the elegant maintenance-free selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), according to the manufacturer. Modern, common rail fuel injection helps to generate power at a low rated speed of 2,200rpm and maximum torque at 1,500rpm, which helps reduce fuel consumption, noise and engine wear.Massey Ferguson has also developed a new 12x12 speed synchromesh gearbox for the range, specifically designed to provide efficient and straightforward operation in field, on the road and for loader work. Six main gears provide field operation in low range and transport or higher speed field-work in the high range. There are eight gears in the main 4km/hr to 12km/hr field working range, which, coupled with the high torque at low engine rpm, reduces the need to change gears.

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Brexit: impact on Irish machinery industryThe Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) believes that it is too early to predict the impact of the UK's exit from the EU or what it will mean for the Irish machinery sector, or indeed any other sector, in the long term. Much will depend on what sort of subsequent relationship is negotiated between the UK and EU. Obviously, import tariffs, in either direction, have the potential to be very damaging to trade, but there is also the potential for non-financial barriers such as customs documentation and procedures that would be very detrimental to trade in both directions.The UK has long been an important market for Irish machinery manufacturers but is now somewhat less so than in the past. Irish manufacturers have a worldwide reputation for high-quality and innovative agricultural mechanisation solutions, mainly based on Irish livestock and dairy farming’s strengths in grass-based production. A significant element of Irish machinery production goes to markets much further afield than in the past, with substantial markets in continental Europe and also as distant as the southern hemisphere. The FTMTA also includes some Northern Ireland-based manufacturers in its membership and wants to see those firms continue to have competitive access to the market in the Republic of Ireland and wider EU.In at least the immediate term, the weakening of sterling has an obvious impact on the competitiveness of Irish machinery being sold into the UK. This comes at a time when the UK market was already experiencing difficulties. That said, many of the Irish manufacturers are well established and popular with UK farmers, which should aid in defending their sales into that market. Anecdotally, a weaker sterling has begun to drive imports of used machinery from the UK, which had fallen somewhat in recent years. In reality, while used imports may increase, it is likely that much of this activity will be through dealers rather than individuals. Customers are, in most cases, happier to have the security of buying through their local dealer rather than from a UK dealer or auction house that may not offer them the support and service they may require. As with so much else around Brexit, it is a case of wait and see for now in the machinery trade.




AUGUST 2016 55

The gearbox provides a top speed of 40km/hr (where laws permit). A ‘super creeper’ option provides an additional 14:1 reduction for specialist applications.According to the manufacturer, the MF4700 range offers sector-leading cab comfort, control and functionality, with the completely new cab air-conditioned and built to the highest specifications.

“Large steps that lead up to wide-opening, full glass doors provide superb access to the flat floor cab, with car-style pendant pedals keeping the area clear,” a company spokesperson said. “The gear levers fall easily to hand beside the right of the seat.

“An ergonomically designed layout ensures ease of use, with straightforward operation from features seldom found in this class of tractor. The modern design of the MF4700 Series provides high levels of control and automation, such as electro-hydraulic activation of the diff-lock and four-wheel drive for convenient operation.

“There is excellent all-round visibility through the large front screen and to the sides thanks to the wide glass doors and curved quarter windows. The opening rear window offers an unrivalled view to the rear. A Visio roof is an option that further improves vision when operating with a loader.

“The MF4700 Series makes an outstanding loader tractor, fully compatible with the Massey Ferguson 900 and 900X loader ranges, which provide a wide choice of lift capacity, height and control.

“The MF4700 Series is a straightforward and dependable tractor range designed for farmers looking for versatility and value for money. It offers a lower-spec alternative to the more sophisticated tractors from Massey Ferguson, but retains comfort, control and functionality required for the varied multi-purpose sector.”

��MF4700 Series.

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The figures issued recently by the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) in relation to the registration of new tractors during the first six months of the year record an increase of 5 per cent on the same period in 2015. June saw 74 new tractors registered, bringing the total for the six months to 1,335 units, which should keep the trade on course to achieve the recent annual market level of around 1,900 tractors.While June registrations were down 20 per cent on last year at 74 units, June is becoming a quieter month for registrations than previously since the introduction of the split year for registration purposes (ie. 161 and 162), which has seen much activity held over until July in the case of tractors as well as of cars. Our date-based registration system can effectively age a tractor by six months in one month if registered at the end of a six-month period. With an eye to trade-in values down the road, many purchasers are happy to wait a matter of a few weeks to take delivery of their new machine with as fresh a registration as possible. Cork, Tipperary and Galway were the counties with the highest levels of registrations during the first half of the year, with 152, 108 and 95 units, respectively. The trend towards higher-horsepower units continues, with close to 48 per cent of all units registered in the first six months having more than 120hp and less than 12.25 per cent having 100hp or lower.In summary, the new tractor market overall has performed well during the year to date, and probably better than expected, despite the challenges presented by poor agricultural prices, and demonstrates the commitment of Irish agriculture to ongoing investment in efficient and productive farm mechanisation.




AUGUST 2016 57

Increase in first half-year tractor sales

Landini’s first CVTA simple-to-use continuously variable – or ‘vario’ – transmission (CVT) is now available in the new Landini 6 and 7 Series, the manufacturer has announced.Called V-Shift, the ZF-made transmission is available as an option on three four-cylinder FPT-Fiat Powertrain-powered 6-Series tractors (147hp, 160hp and 176hp), and two six-cylinder 7-Series models with 181hp and 195hp maximum power ratings from Landini.The Landini 6 and 7 Series V-Shift Drive tractors build on the success of the Roboshift semi-powershift models introduced by the company two years ago. The 24x24-speed Roboshift transmission with its manual and auto shifting through ranges and speeds is a genuinely smooth operator, but now the V-Shift Drive takes operator comfort, speed control and Powertrain efficiency to another level, according to D&S Machinery. Finished in a new metallic blue bodywork, all five V-Shift tractors are equipped as standard with a 12-inch touchscreen monitor that allows the driver to control the tractor’s performance and operating parameters.The transmission and engine are controlled as a single entity by purpose-designed control software developed by Landini manufacturer Argo Tractors to provide a full suite of operating modes and settings to suit different field-work and road transport situations.The flagship model – 7-190 V-Shift Drive – is the bigger CVT model available from Landini. This 7-190 V-Shift Drive is rated at 181hp with a boost that adds 14hp for power take-off (PTO) and transport operations, bringing the horsepower up to 195hp.

�� V-Shift Drive: takes operator comfort, speed control and Powertrain efficiency to ‘another level’.

IFM_August2016.indd 56 28/07/2016 13:25




AUGUST 2016 57

Case IH boss wants to hear views of Irish farmersAppointed shortly after last year’s National Ploughing Championships, Paul Harrison, the new director of Case IH’s Republic of Ireland and UK business, will be making his first visit to the event since taking on his new job, and says he’s keen to talk directly with farmers and dealers to show the brand’s commitment to supporting Irish agriculture – and to hear what they want from their farm equipment supplier. “I know markets are volatile in many of the major agricultural commodities at the moment, particularly those in which Irish farmers specialise, such as milk and beef,” Mr Harrison said. “That’s why we want to help where we can, to play a part in ensuring the viability of Irish agriculture. We do that by ensuring our dealers and farmers are always

given the support they need, providing reliable and efficient equipment and offering service packages that allow cost of ownership to be pre-determined.” Case IH has recently launched a number of new products targeted squarely at meeting Irish farmers’ needs, including the premium-spec 100-120hp Luxxum tractors, the 270-300hp Optum, for those looking for a higher-horsepower yet lighter-weight tractor, and the improved Maxxum series. “But we know products are only half of what a dealer and manufacturer needs to offer farmers and contractors, so we’re keen to meet existing and potential Case IH customers at the Ploughing Championships to talk to them about how we can back them with the support they deserve.” Paul Harrison, Case IH.

John Deere lineout at Harvest DayPlans are now well underway for the Greybridge Classic Club Harvest Day taking place on Sunday, August 7, in Meanus, Co Limerick. Celebrating 50 years of John Deere in Ireland, the club is this year organising a massive John Deere line-out display. There will be plenty of other activities also taking place, including vintage car and tractor displays and a monster John Deere raffle. All proceeds from the day will go to charities, including Cliona’s Foundation, Breast Cancer Services, University Hospital Limerick and St Joseph’s Foundation – Liskennett House.

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The Amatechnica 2016 experienceAmazone Germany hosted a major display of its tillage equipment in early June. IFM visited this event in the company of Farmhand Ltd, the Amazone equipment importer for Ireland. Amazone was founded in 1883 by Henrick Dreyer and is still owned and run by the same family. IFM had a chance to speak with Dr Justus Dreyer, who said that sales are up this year and that the company is finding new markets in China, Africa and South America. Amazone employs more than 1,800 people in plants based in Russia, France and Germany. The European market is an important market to Amazone. Amazone had overall turnover in 2015 of €402m.



�� The ZA-V fertiliser spreader with Easyset in-cab system. This is a new range of high-spec fertiliser spreaders ideal for farmers that want a simple system to do the job. All the functions of the spreader are electrically adjusted from the cab. Working widths are10-36m. Hopper capacity is 1,700-4,200L. This machine can be fitted with a V+ border spreading device for spreading around headlands, borders and water courses. It has many more extras and is expected to prove popular among mixed farmers.

�� Amazone has a full line-up of sprayers available. The UF model is the bread-and-butter machine and continues to be the most popular, particularly among grassland farmers. Available in a capacity of up to 1,800L, these machines are described as robust, lightweight and easy to manoeuvre and operate. UF tank capacity is 900L, 1,200L and 1,500L, and 2,800L with front tank. Boom working widths are 13-28m.

For all your agricultural machinery finance needs, please contact:

Speak to us today about flexible competitive finance

www.agcofinance.com

1. Chris Smyth 07860 367125

2. Jimmy Murphy 0879 059394

3. Martin Connaughton 0872 481740

4. Geoff O’Shea 0872 481739

Part of the AGCO Family

Growth through trusted partnership

1

23

4

AGCO Finance 200x283.indd 1 25/07/2016 14:51

�� Val McCauley, product specialist, Farmhand Ltd, main importer of Amazone in to Ireland, points out the benefits of the Amazone Ad-P special pneumatic drill unit. It comes with electronic driven metering and uniform easy calibration. The drill has a clever shut-off system. When the machine is raised, a pressure switch engages on the top link to cut off seed flow to coulters. Seed rate can be adjusted from the cab. Hopper capacity is 850-1,250L and can be increased to 1,100-1,500L. This machine will prove very popular in the Irish market, according to Farmhand.

�� The Cenius 4003-2 Super with C-mix super tines. This machine is a new addition to the Amazone range. This folding mulching cultivator comes in a working width of 4m, and is equipped with new C-mix super tines which are protected by pressurised spring overload safety devices. This machinery has a release force of 600kg and a lift height of 300mm. This system will work well in heavy and stoney soil. There are various share options for different conditions. This machine is available in Ireland.

�� Easycheck fertiliser tray test. This is a must for all farmers, Amazone believes. This system can reduce the time spent setting fertiliser spreaders by up to 75 per cent. Mats are used instead of trays (40cm x 60cm). They are laid out on the tramlines at the correct spacings. A picture is taken of the fertiliser on the mat. After spreading, the app automatically compares how much fertiliser had been collected on individual mats and puts the results of each mat in a ratio, which gives the accuracy of the spread pattern so the operator can then adjust the spreader accordingly. This is available to download this autumn. Check in with your local dealer for more information.

IFM_August2016.indd 58 28/07/2016 13:25



For all your agricultural machinery finance needs, please contact:

Speak to us today about flexible competitive finance

www.agcofinance.com

1. Chris Smyth 07860 367125

2. Jimmy Murphy 0879 059394

3. Martin Connaughton 0872 481740

4. Geoff O’Shea 0872 481739

Part of the AGCO Family

Growth through trusted partnership

1

23

4

AGCO Finance 200x283.indd 1 25/07/2016 14:51IFM_August2016.indd 59 28/07/2016 13:25



Deutz Fahr Future of FarmingEarlier this month, Deutz Fahr launched the 6 and 7 Series tractors at its Future of Farming event in Dresden. Also on show was the 5 Series and 9 Series, along with the Deutz Fahr C9206 combine. Pictured are Graham Barnwell, marketing manager UK and Ireland, SDF UK Ltd, and David Jefferson, product specialist UK and Ireland, SDF UK Ltd, in front of the new Deutz Fahr 6185. Full report to follow in the September issue.

Market statistics provided by the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) show that 32 new forage harvesters were registered in the first six months of the year; this compares to 35 units sold in the same period in 2015, showing only a slight decline in sales. Registrations show that Claas is market leader in Ireland with 25 machines registered, followed by Krone in second place with four machines registered. This is a excellent result for Farmhand, distributors of Krone, who really are finding their feet in a market that was dominated by the ‘big three’ over the years. John Deere has registered three machines while New Holland has yet to register a machine this year, which we know it will. The forage market is a contractor's market and the spread of machines nationwide shows Cork accounting for 20 per cent of the market and the remainder spread between Tipperary, Monaghan and Wexford. There was a drop in the sales of imported units this year, with only three machines coming into the market.

Claas dominates forager sales

Earlier this month, Wyke Farms in the UK took delivery of the first New Holland bio-methane tractor. The prototype tractor runs on bio-methane produced from waste from 1,000 dairy cows. New Holland claims that the tractor can offer up to 80 per cent reduction in emissions and offer farmers major savings in fuel costs, which will come as welcome news to farmers and contractors. The tractor has been developed to run entirely on bio-methane gas which is taken from waste produced in an anaerobic digester plant

on farm. According to Wyke Farms’ first impression, it looks and feels just like a normal tractor when you get in the cab. Its technology comes from Iveco, which is already using compressed gas in its vans and trucks. The tractor has nine storage tanks which hold 300L (52kg) of compressed methane – enough for six hours work, depending on what you are doing. Refuelling time is the same as a normal diesel tractor. The tractor handled all tasks well and with ease pulled a slurry tanker up and down hills, according to Wyke Farms. New Holland adapted an existing tractor and fitted a small three-way catalytic convertor on a standard chassis and cab, so it looks and drives like a diesel-powered unit. Costwise, it’s about the same as the diesel-powered unit. We may see one over here soon. Watch this space...

New Holland’s bio-methane tractor starts work in UK

New 8100 Series from TumosanTumosan Tractors Ireland will soon see the delivery of the all-new 8100 Series tractor. The new styled tractor boasts newly designed cab air conditioning, adjustable steering wheel and a low-noise cab. The horsepower range is 75-105hp. It is similar in looks to the popular Tumosan Maxima. This tractor will have appeal to the dairy livestock farmer, is priced well and would be an ideal loader tractor. We will feature a ‘From The Cab’ report on this tractor as soon as one becomes available.

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Lemken Blue FarmingLast month, Lemken and Krone – both family-owned German machinery manufacturers – held a joint press conference and machinery display on a 10,000-hectare farm in Hungary. The sun shone, the dust rose, and they were off! A full line-up of Lemken products – ploughs, drills,

cultivators and sprayers – sprang in to action. Lemken had a lot to show to the 130 international journalists in attendance, who were treated to an impressive display of equipment. Lemken dealers nationwide will have full details of all the latest additions to the Lemken range for the 2016 / 17 season.

�� The Lemken team: Diarmuid Claridge, area manager Ireland; Paul Creasy, general manager, Lemken UK; Neil Veltmann, export manager; and Anthony van der Ley, CEO, Lemken GmbH.

�� Lemken expands its popular Rubin disc harrow range. Following on from the very popular Rubin 9 range, the Rubin 12 comes with lots of extras, including hydraulic depth adjustment and hollow disc diameter of 736mm, with a working width of up to 20cm. This machine is more manoeuvrable owing to the larger wheels and carriage concept, and is capable of working as deep as a cultivator.

�� On show was a new range of ploughs from Lemken. The Juwel 8m reversible plough comes in a three or seven-furrow option. Plough bodies can be supplied full or slatted; the boards are made from a special wear-resistant steel with no punch or drill holes, which gives the boards a longer life. The Juwel 8m comes in either a mechanical or hydraulic version and features much more besides.

�� The new Vega was on display. The Vega offers compact design with excellent ground clearance, low centre of gravity, rear folding booms and integrated tank. It has continuous circulation technology, comes in 3,000L, 4,000L and 5,000L capacity with boom widths of 15-24m. Full details are available from Lemken dealers nationwide or from Suir Sprayers, the Lemken sprayer centre of excellence.

�� The new Lemken Solitair seed drill will be available on the Irish market in 2017. The main attraction of this machine is its versatility. It has a 3,000L seed tank, and an OptiDisc double coulter system which allows for exact placing of seed-depth control roller to allow even sowing of crops. The drill is loaded with extras, which we will bring to you in a later issue.

‘Educating our future farmers to

become lifelong innovators’

Call us today on 059-9170200or visit www.teagasc.ie

‘Advising farmers to combine innovation with prudent business management’

‘Researching sustainable agriculture & driving

innovation in the agriculture and

food sector’

Corporate-Ad-all3.indd 1 14/04/2016 12:49:41Teagasc 200x283.indd 1 15/07/2016 14:24IFM_August2016.indd 62 28/07/2016 13:25



‘Educating our future farmers to

become lifelong innovators’

Call us today on 059-9170200or visit www.teagasc.ie

‘Advising farmers to combine innovation with prudent business management’

‘Researching sustainable agriculture & driving

innovation in the agriculture and

food sector’

Corporate-Ad-all3.indd 1 14/04/2016 12:49:41Teagasc 200x283.indd 1 15/07/2016 14:24IFM_August2016.indd 63 28/07/2016 13:25


SAFETY AUGUST 2016 64

Assume the position Terrain is one of the most important considerations when riding your quad; rough and hilly terrain pose serious challenges. Untrained and inexperienced riders can leave themselves open to injury and possibly worse if they do not ride the vehicle correctly and take safety into consideration.Quads are also known as all terrain vehicles (ATVs). They are for off-road use only, and public road use should be avoided; the ATVs as sold are not set up for public road use (eg. no indicators, etc). Therefore, use on paved roadways, even within the farm, should not be done without understanding the safety implications, and that means keeping the speed down and attention to items such as adverse camber. Many of these items are covered in the owner’s manual.The terrain that quad bikes are designed for require proficiency in order to navigate slopes, hill crossings, drop-offs, holes and other hazards safely. Regulating speed and anticipating problems can ensure a safe journey. Additionally, understanding the rider’s weight distribution on the vehicle is essential. Below are some of the key positions to assume when riding your quad, demonstrated by Honda Ireland’s Robert Galbraith.

Safe riding position

TurningWhen making a turn, lean towards the inside of the turn and slightly forward. Leaning into the turn is important to maintain balance and is an essential skill to master when learning to ride a quad. Slippy surfaces: skidding is common on surfaces such as mud, gravel, snow and ice. If the quad skids sideways when you are riding it, steer in the direction of the skid and do not apply brakes abruptly or accelerate until you have regained control.

Sit, centred on the seat with both hands on the handlebars and feet on the footpegs. Ensure that you keep hands and feet in these positions at all times when riding in order to maintain balance and control. Removing them could cause you to lose control.

Last month, Irish Farmers Monthly introduced the first instalment in our quad safety focus. This month, Bernie Commins looks at the importance of body position and weight distribution on the vehicle when riding on challenging terrain

• Electricity wires can end up on the ground or resting on a fence.

• Electricity wires are never safe to touch.

• Report any damage immediately.

www.esbnetworks.ie

Phone 1850 372 999 (24 hour/7 day service).

STEER CLEAR OFELECTRICITY POLESDamage to poles puts people and livestock at risk of electrocution.

160323_ESBN_SteerClear_IFM-ad_FA_Layout 1 23/03/2016 01:45 Page 1

ESB 200x283.indd 1 23/03/2016 09:35

Robert leans into the turn.

You can stand up also, if you need to see ahead of you. Stand up, lean into the turn, ensuring to maintain slow speed.

IFM_August2016.indd 64 28/07/2016 13:25



• Electricity wires can end up on the ground or resting on a fence.

• Electricity wires are never safe to touch.

• Report any damage immediately.

www.esbnetworks.ie

Phone 1850 372 999 (24 hour/7 day service).

STEER CLEAR OFELECTRICITY POLESDamage to poles puts people and livestock at risk of electrocution.

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Robert demonstrates body position while ascending a steep slope.

UphillWhen climbing hills, move your body forward on the seat and shift your weight forward toward the front wheels. This will help keep them grounded when ascending a slope. The steeper the incline, the further forward you will need to be. Always maintain a steady speed as you ascend.Riding uphill requires practice. Initially, this should be done on a gentle slope before progressing to a steeper one. Very steep slopes should be avoided, as the quad may overturn. If you at any stage feel anxious about the terrain, stop and dismount. This gives you time to evaluate the situation and, if required, get help. Stalling/rolling back: if this happens while climbing a hill, use the front and rear brakes together, stop the quad, ensuring that it is pointing uphill and, once again, dismount the quad, while still holding the brakes. Put into neutral, set parking brake and turn engine off. If it starts rolling back, keep your weight forward, apply front brakes first then, carefully, the rear brake.

Robert has shifted his weight far back on the seat to maintain balance.

DownhillAssess the terrain. Move your body back in the seat, shifting your weight backwards towards the back wheels and extend your arms. Cover the brakes with both hands and use as required. Ride straight down, avoid angles or turning. Maintain a slow speed with the throttle closed. Always travel at a safe speed – in these conditions, it is no more than walking pace.

Carrying loads or pulling a trailerXX Ensure tyres are properly inflated (see owner's handbook)

– approximately 4PSI;XX Make sure the trailer is correctly secured on the ball hitch

and that a secondary securing chain or other device is used;XX Distribute loads on front and rear racks,XX Secure all loads;XX Use only the trailer hitch to tow; do not use a connection

to other parts of the ATV; XX Never exceed maximum weight limit; XX Avoid steep slopes when carrying loads;XX Drive carefully and keep the speed down.



Four fatalitiesAccording to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), since 2011, there have been four farming fatalities in Ireland directly linked to quad bikes. One occurred in May this year. A 71-year-old man died when the quad he was using overturned in a drain, trapping the man in the water, underneath the bike.An accurate figure for non-fatal injuries was unavailable due to significant under-reporting of non-fatal accidents in general, across the industry, the HSA said.

The owner’s manual is the Bible. Read, read and read again!

IFM_August2016.indd 66 28/07/2016 13:25



Budget 2017: perfect opportunity to introduce a fairer tax system to deal with volatile incomesThe Irish Government and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have ambitious plans for the future of Irish agriculture, as outlined in the Food Wise 2025 report which sets out a 10-year strategy for the Irish agri-food sector. The report projects exports to increase to €19bn, the creation of 23,000 new jobs by 2025, and increasing value added in the agri-food sector to in excess of €13bn. The most recent National Income and Expenditure Annual Results published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) outlines very strong growth in the Irish economy for 2015, following increased growth from 2014. This growth of gross domestic product (GDP) at constant prices indicated an economy in good health in 2015, with the domestic economy indicating significant growth. The annual growth rate of 2.3 per cent in GDP terms, and 10.6 per cent in gross national product (GNP), during the first quarter of this year substantiates an economy with positive growth trends. The agri-food sector has played an intrinsic part in this recovery and growth, with agri-food exports to the fore. In 2015, Irish agri-food and drink exports increased by an estimated three per cent, to approximately €10.8bn. The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) believes Irish agriculture is presented with an excellent opportunity to reach its full potential, despite the current difficulties of low milk price. However, Budget 2017 must provide for the necessary adjustments to current taxation policy, including the provision of a suitable income volatility management tool, capital tax adjustments and adequate funding for farm schemes, as outlined in our 2017 pre-Budget submission available on the ICMSA website. It is essential that Budget 2017 provides the necessary supports to ensure the continued growth and development of the most important indigenous sector in the Irish economy.Of course, from a farmer’s viewpoint, it is getting to that time of year when you start looking at the impending tax bill. Many will look at the dairy sector and say that, surely, in such a poor milk price year, that there is nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, due to income averaging and the intricacies of being a sole trader, you end up paying tax for previous years in a year in which you have made little or no money.The extent of the extreme volatility in milk price in recent years has been clearly documented. In addition, recent 2015 figures from the CSO illustrate clearly the extent of the collapse in milk price in recent years and show that the total dairy income for 2015 was down €222m on 2014 despite a 14 per cent increase in milk production. The 2016 situation

with regard to milk price is significantly worse, and the ICMSA believes the Government must develop a workable and straightforward agri-taxation measure that will help farmers to manage the inherent volatility within the sector, especially during years of low milk prices.In this context, ICMSA proposes the introduction of an income volatility management tool modelled on the Australian Farm Management Deposits Scheme (FMDS). This would allow a farmer to claim a tax deduction for farm management deposits in the income tax year in which they are made and, when withdrawn in a future year, the appropriate amount of the deduction is included in the tax-assessable income in that income year. The deposits scheme complements other risk-management strategies available to farmers, such as income averaging.ICMSA believes limits could be placed both on the total amount that could be deposited in a given year and the aggregate amount at any time, and suggests a maximum deposit per annum of 30 per cent of farm profit and/or a maximum of €10,000. Funds would remain in the farm management deposit account for a maximum period of five years. In addition, ICMSA recommends that 12.5 per cent tax should apply on a once-off basis for the amounts deposited in the farm management account. This would give all the advantages of incorporation without the necessary cost of compliance and uncertainty associated with farm companies. Farmers would then be able to avail of these funds in the farm management deposit account to support the farm business in the event of a downturn in farm income and/or for investment in the farming enterprise.Where funds are taken from the farm deposit account in the form of income, the normal rate of tax applicable in the year of withdrawal would apply to these withdrawals less a credit for the 12.5 per cent tax which was originally paid on the funds when deposited in the farm deposit account in the first instance. This tax relief measure could be confined to farmers whose sole or principal income is from farming. Realistic off-farm income thresholds could be set. On-farm investment using funds from the farm management deposit account would qualify for all reliefs currently available for on-farm investment, such as capital allowance.This scheme presents the perfect opportunity for the Irish Government to implement a tax code that is focused on farmers and rural communities but income that is dictated by global events.


ICMSA AUGUST 2016 67

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Rosemary Gaffney is equine course director at Kidalton College. But for Rosemary, horses are not just her profession but also her passion. A long-time competitive rider, Rosemary is first reserve for Ireland in para-equestrian dressage at the 2016 Paralympic Games. She tells Irish Farmers Monthly about her journey

Passionandprofession


AUGUST 2016 69


RURAL LIFE AUGUST 2016 68

After a fall nine years ago in which Rosemary Gaffney shattered her left leg, she subsequently competed as a Grade 4 rider in para-equestrian dressage. That was until 2014, when Rosemary had another serious fall – this time shattering her right leg in over 40 places.After a long recovery which included a solid month spent in hospital, Rosemary was reclassified as a Grade 3 para-equestrian rider. The category includes athletes who have a severe impairment or deficiency of both upper limbs or a moderate impairment of all four limbs or short stature. Having previously been an able-bodied competitor, the transition to para-equestrian athlete was a challenging one, Rosemary explains.“It’s a whole new learning process when you ride as a disabled person rather than as an able-bodied person. I had to learn how to balance again, how to sit on the horse, and obviously neither of my legs are very strong now so I use two dressage whips, which is permitted within the sport.”There is a process of adaptation for the horse, too.“Para-equestrian horses have to be trained to go off different aids. So just as a horse is trained right at the beginning to go off certain aids, once you become less able with some part of your body they must learn again. Normally, they pick it up fairly quickly.”After her recovery journey, Rosemary’s selection as first reserve for the games shows her obvious steel and determination.“It’s a great honour to be selected. It’s something that I’ve been trying to achieve, and it’s kept me going, particularly after my second serious fall when a lot of people, I’m told, would have given up and not gone again. I’ve tried to get back to recovery, and compete at this level again, so my Paralympics dream has certainly driven me on.”Rosemary competes on her horse Bink, a new horse she has been riding in 2016. “My older horse, Aldhma Mill Dubloon, had a

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AUGUST 2016 69



little problem last year at the European championships and I wanted to make sure that I had back-up.“I bought Bink from Holland in December 2015 and I’ve been very lucky with him. We’ve been going from strength to strength, so I’m delighted with him. He’s been getting some very good marks.”Asked what it’s like to ride such a high-calibre horse as Bink, Rosemary makes an analogy: “It’s a little bit like driving a Ferrari. It goes from 0-60 very quickly!” Ahead of a possible call-up to compete, the months leading up to the Games are a busy period for Rosemary.“Obviously, I’ll ride every day and I’ll train with my trainer at least a couple of times a week. We will also train with our national trainer. As I’m competing on a new horse, I’m taking him to lots of different places so that he sees everything. It’s important to desensitise the horse to noise and people and places and things.”Rosemary acknowledges the contributions of her coach Sue Smallman, the national coach Donie McNamara, and chef d’equipe Dara Kearney, as well as all the help the team is receiving from Paralympics Ireland.On competition days, it’s about keeping things controlled and achieving as much consistency as possible, Rosemary says.“The objective is to try to keep everything the same, as much as you can. You try to keep everything as calm and controlled as possible. You control the controllables – the rest you have to leave up to a higher power!”

Ready to 'Rock and Roll' at RioHelen Kearney will represent Ireland in para-equestrian competition in Rio. The 27-year-old is no stranger to success at such a high level. The 2012 Summer Paralympics yielded three medals for her and Irish sport horse, Mister Cool, in para-equestrian dressage. Helen and Mister Cool’s success gave Ireland its first-ever medal at the Paralympics since the sport was added in 1996 and helped secure Ireland’s first team medal, also.“I had an amazing experience the last time round at London and I think I took a lot away from it also, I think I will be able to go into it this time a lot more relaxed, I think that I will know what to expect and what will be expected of me,” she says. “But I am conscious that Rio is a lot further away, and I have a different horse [Rock and Roll] this time and, while I would love to come home with a medal, I am not sure if it is possible but I will certainly give it a good run.”Helen was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia when she was just 13. It is a progressive degenerative disease that causes loss of coordination and muscle strength in the arms and legs. But it has not prevented her from succeeding as one of the best professional athletes in Ireland. Irish Farmers Monthly wishes Ireland’s Paralympic competitors every success in Rio.

��

��

�� Helen Kearney with Rock and Roll.

�� Rosemary Gaffney.

IFM_August2016.indd 69 28/07/2016 13:25

Last month’s book winners:Gladys Anderson, Killeslandra, Co Cavan; Trish O’ Sullivan, Minane Bridge, Co Cork; Elaine Rispin, Enfield, Co Meath; Jordan English, Kells, Co Meath; Ciaran Mccarthy, Clonakilty, Co Cork; Dara Jennings, Bandon, Co Cork; Noreen Lacey, Rathmore, Co Kerry; John Roche, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford; Andrew Guerin, Newcastle, Co Limerick; Kathleen Mullaney, Ballina, Co Mayo; Nicolas Coyle, Naul, Co Dublin; Elizabeth Harrington, Kinsale, Co Cork.

Somewhere Inside of HappyAnna McPartlin

“And just like that my boy was gone.”Maisie Bean is a fighter. A survivor. Seventeen years ago, she went on a first date that went

so badly it was enough to put the girl off chips. The marriage that followed was hell but it gave her two children: funny, caring Jeremy; and bullish but brilliant Valerie.Just as it seems everything might finally start going right, 16-year-old Jeremy goes missing. The police descend and a media storm swirls, over five days of searching that hurtle towards an inevitable, terrible conclusion.Maisie is facing another fight, and this time it’s the fight of her life. But she’s a survivor. Whatever the odds, she’ll never give in. From the bestselling author of The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes comes a heart-breaking yet uproariously uplifting new novel about love, resilience and the life-changing power of hope.What are the names of Maisie's children?

All Things NiceSheila Bugler

Charlotte Gleeson is living the life she always dreamed of, but it's nothing like she imagined. Her daughter hates her, her husband is having

an affair, her drinking is out of control. And now she’s the prime suspect in a

murder investigation. For DI Ellen Kelly, this is her first big investigation in eight months – since she let a serial killer get away. There’s an awful lot riding on a good result, which means keeping up the pressure on Charlotte Gleeson and her messed-up family.As Ellen investigates, it becomes clear the Gleesons are harbouring some dangerous secrets. The more she digs, the more she uncovers and the closer she comes to a deadly confrontation.All Things Nice is the third in the Ellen Kelly series of crime novels.How many months has it been since DI Ellen Kelly has had a big investigation?

The Balls.ie Guide to LifeO'Brien Press

Ireland’s favourite sports website presents a hilarious guide to life on and off the soggy Irish pitch.

Learn how to streak like a champ, how to talk like a proper GAA head, and how to give safe and enjoyable piggybacks to your fellow players. It's got quizzes, sports-star interviews and a guide to the events that will have us losing our rags at all hours of the day and night in 2016 – plus a never-before-attempted ranking of every priest ever mentioned in Father Ted. And Sean O’Brien’s inner hippo! And Roy Keane not looking like Roy Keane! And football hipsters and GAA tea ladies. We could go on.What three things will The Balls.ie Guide to Life teach you how do?

Prizes galoreIFM has three excellent page-turners up for grabs this month: Somewhere Inside of Happy by Anna McPartlin; All Things Nice by Sheila Bugler; and The Balls.ie Guide to Life. To be in with a chance to win, answer the questions below and send them to: Competitions, Irish Farmers Monthly, 31 Deansgrange Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Answers must arrive by Friday, August 12.



Don’t forget to follow the Irish Farmers Monthly twitter feed @farmersmonthly

Who’s saying what on Twitter? A snapshot of our favourite tweets

over the past few weeksDublin Zoo@DublinZooTake a look at this clip of Upali and the elephant calves having fun in the mud last week!

The Irish Field@TheIrishField"My favourite day was Bolger’s 10th La Touche on Spot. He was an unbelievable horse." RIP JT McNamara

IrelandsFarmers@IrelandsFarmersFarm crime. What, if any technology do you use? I'll go first.

HSE Ireland@HSEliveThe majority of smear test results are normal. Learn more

Pete Lewis@endofthebitumen@RTECountryWide's Damien O'Reilly wins @IFAJ Star Prize for Radio Broadcasting @IFAJ2016 #Slainte

Irish Food Board @BordbiaCEO Aidan Cotter opening our#BordBiaBrexit briefing this morning! #Brexit #IrishFood

Fáilte Ireland@Failte_IrelandMinister Officially Opens Revamped Derrigimlagh Discovery Point #wildatlanticway

WIN A TWO-NIGHT BREAK AT THE TRIDENT HOTEL, KINSALE

IFM_August2016.indd 70 28/07/2016 13:25




COMPETITION AUGUST 2016 71

July 2016 ANSWERSACROSS: 7. Denis Naughten. 8. Clavicle. 9. Mali. 10. Garth. 12. Assisi. 14. Oyster. 16. Easel. 18. Ogle. 20. Faithful. 22. Victoria Cross. DOWN: 1. Bellaghy. 2. Silver. 3. INEC. 4. Fuselage. 5. Thomas. 6. Cell. 11. Hartford. 13. St. Louis. 15. Treaty. 17. Sahara. 19. Grid. 21. Iran.

ACROSS: 1 What is the name of Kilkenny’s annual comedy festival? (3,6) 8 What do you call the flag flown by a ship to show its nationality? 9 Former TD and IFA president now the director of the Construction Industry Federation. 10 “You guys are the absolute ____ of the world”, from an infamous John McEnroe rant at Wimbledon. 12 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain famously promised “peace for ___ time” in 1938 13 Dutch cheese with a distinctive red skin. 16 Michael ______: star of Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie. 17 Co-presenter of RTE’s Nationwide. 18 Superhero played by Chris Hemsworth. 21 Juice which circulates in plants. 22 What is the name of the boy in the Toy Story films? 24 Who refused an Oscar for The Godfather? 25 ______ Brothers went bankrupt in 2008. 26 Croaghgorm is the highest peak in the ____ _____ Mountains (4,5) DOWN: 2 Sign of the zodiac represented by a ram. 3 The most recent of Daniel Day-Lewis’s three Best Actor Oscars was for which film? 4 Fine Gael’s headquarters are on _____ Mount St 5 Tyrone manager who has led his county to three All-Ireland titles. 6 Which organisation runs the lifeboat service? (1,1,1,1) 7 Des Moines is the capital of which US state? 10 What do you call a TV programme that is test run for a possible future series? 11 Buenos Aires’ famous ballroom dance 14 Inventor best known for his bag-free vacuum cleaner. 15 July and Mexico are songs by which Irish singer-songwriter? 17 Shakespeare: what is Juliet’s family name? 19 What was pictured on the Irish threepence coin? 20 Adjective used in connection with the kidneys. 21 The country’s second-busiest garda station is on Dublin’s _____ Street. 22 Phrase meaning improvised or impromptu (2,3) 23 Torvill’s partner.

WIN A TWO-NIGHT BREAK AT THE TRIDENT HOTEL, KINSALEWin two nights bed & breakfast plus one evening meal for two people sharing in the Trident Hotel in Kinsale, Co Cork.The Trident Hotel is a four-star hotel, spectacularly located on the water’s edge overlooking Kinsale Harbour at the start to the Wild Atlantic Way. Guests can enjoy dinner in The Pier One Restaurant, which is one of the only restaurants in Kinsale with water views. The Wharf Tavern offers the charm and character of a traditional Irish pub, as popular with locals as it is with hotel guests, with the added bonus of a spectacular location right on the water’s edge! Only five minutes’ walk from the centre of Kinsale, the Trident Hotel

is an excellent base to explore the winding streets and many shops, cafés, galleries and restaurants for which Kinsale is famous. The Trident Hotel is an ideal venue for any relaxing break away. Guests also enjoy complementary access to Actons Hotel leisure centre only five minutes’ walk away.

You can experience all that Kinsale has to offer with bed & breakfast for two people sharing from only €150 per night. To book this great offer in the Trident Hotel or to view our other hotels nationwide, visit www.selecthotels.ie or call us 1850 200 560 Last month’s winner:

Cliodhna MacMahon, Dublin

1 2 3 4 5

6 7

8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25

26

To be in with a chance of winning this prize, simply send the answer hidden

in the red boxes, along with your name and address, by post to Crossword

Competition, Irish Farmers Monthly, 31 Deansgrange Road, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Entries must arrive

by Monday, August 15.

IFM_August2016.indd 71 28/07/2016 13:25

AsmootherYeti


MOTORING AUGUST 2016 72

The appeal of the crossover relies on a mix of practicality and drivability. Skoda has had a telling impact on the refinement of that delicate balance through its development of the Yeti range since 2009. The latest Yeti generation aims to build on that success and comes in five trim levels, the Active, the Ambition, the Style, the Outdoor and, under the spotlight here, the Monte Carlo.

SportyThe Monte Carlo aims to appeal to a sportier buyer and comes with some stylish touches to make it stand out in the segment, including: a panoramic glass roof; 17-inch black Origami alloy wheels; and a front spoiler and rear diffuser, as well as a coloured roof. The look of the Yeti divides opinion; if you think it’s too quirky, these sporty touches will not change your mind, but if you’ve fallen for its offbeat charm, then these enhancements make for a decidedly sleek package. Inside, the interior is up to the level you would expect, although it lacks a little in excitement. Having said that, Skoda has introduced black and red sports seats and a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel to add some zing. Tech fans will welcome the SmartLink technology for smartphone connection using MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Bolero colour touchscreen radio also livens up the dash layout. But it’s on the road that the Monte Carlo really convinces. The 2L diesel engine packs plenty of punch and

is paired with a reliable, accurate manual transmission. The steering is responsive and the Monte Carlo is a pleasure to drive along either a dual carriageway or a bumpy, country lane.

RoomySurprisingly compact and parking-friendly, the five-door Monte Carlo design makes good use of its interior space. There’s a sizable boot and the three separate rear seats offer various layout options. Each of the rear seats can be adjusted individually and the middle seat can be taken out to give greater roominess for two backseat passengers.One reservation about the Monte Carlo is that while it’s enjoyable to drive and inventive in maximising space, it may be more suited to town than country. And, at over €31k, you may feel like you’ll need a little luck at the casino tables in Monte Carlo to afford one. If you’re a Yeti fan but don’t need all the Monte Carlo’s bells and whistles, it would be worth looking at the Outdoor, which delivers a sizeable proportion of what’s offered by its smoother stablemate at a lower price.

Model Yeti Monte Carlo

Price €31,165Engine 2.0TDI 150BHPFuel consumption (combined) (manufacturer’s figures) 4.8L/100kmCO2 emissions (manufacturer’s figures) 126g/km

The Monte Carlo adds a sleek edge to the Yeti range, writes Bernard Potter

Changing livesPlease text CNOH to 50300 to donate €4 to the Cappagh Hospital Foundation.100% of your donation goes to Cappagh Hospital Foundation across most network operators. Some operators apply VAT which means that a minimum of €3.25 will go to Cappagh Hospital Foundation. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076680 5278. www.chf.ie

Cappagh Hospital, Ireland’s specialist orthopaedic centre, has a tradition of providing excellence in orthopaedic surgery coupled with the fi nest nursing care. It’s what makes us unique. We change lives.

“When I fi rst got the prosthetic ‘blade’, I was like a kid with a new toy and it was a very emotional time for me. None of what I have achieved would have been possible without great people around me.” Simon Baker,Chairman, IAFA

cappagh 2_A4.indd 1 22/02/2016 10:11

IFM_August2016.indd 72 28/07/2016 13:25


MOTORING AUGUST 2016 72

Changing livesPlease text CNOH to 50300 to donate €4 to the Cappagh Hospital Foundation.100% of your donation goes to Cappagh Hospital Foundation across most network operators. Some operators apply VAT which means that a minimum of €3.25 will go to Cappagh Hospital Foundation. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076680 5278. www.chf.ie

Cappagh Hospital, Ireland’s specialist orthopaedic centre, has a tradition of providing excellence in orthopaedic surgery coupled with the fi nest nursing care. It’s what makes us unique. We change lives.

“When I fi rst got the prosthetic ‘blade’, I was like a kid with a new toy and it was a very emotional time for me. None of what I have achieved would have been possible without great people around me.” Simon Baker,Chairman, IAFA

cappagh 2_A4.indd 1 22/02/2016 10:11

IFM_August2016.indd 73 28/07/2016 13:25

Reality check looming for IFA membersJob description: Work all hours, be at everyone's beck and call, be subject to regular criticism and receive a remuneration package that is scrutinised by 180,000 members. Diplomatic and political skills, along with a hard neck and thick skin, would be advantageous talents. A background in horse-trading is considered a prerequisite to securing a first interview. An ability to know which way the wind is blowing, allied to being able to make decisions on the hoof in an organisation that strives to be all things to everyone, are not listed as job requirements but are essential for survival and success. In addition, there is a variation of the Abraham Lincoln dictum to be adhered to: 'You may please some of the members all of the time, and all of the members some of the time, but you will never please all of the members all of the time.'The fact that the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has advertised for a director general – even the new title and job description heralds a move away from the traditional general secretary role – means that the organisation will soon have to face up to a set of realities that may be very uncomfortable for many of the membership, especially those who were so vocal and critical of the remuneration of the previous general secretary. The appointment of a director general will present a real conundrum for the IFA leadership. It has been well stated publicly that the remuneration for the first incumbent in this newly refurbished role will be less than was paid to previous officeholders in the original role of general secretary. How realistic is this proposition? Less, of course, can mean anything. Unless the figure is significantly less, it will not

satisfy those who were ultra-critical of previous salaries. But how low can the salary be pitched? Firstly, a very low pay scale, relatively speaking – anything less than €150,000 plus pension and perks – is unlikely to attract the kind of candidate that the organisation requires. More important, perhaps, is the reality that a salary that is lower than some of the senior staff members in IFA are currently earning would be neither practical or acceptable. How feasible or realistic would it be to expect the director general of an organisation to accept a salary that is lower than several of the staff members working under him/her? Unfortunately, we are speculating in the dark somewhat on this issue because, despite all of the proclamations of openness and transparency around the finances and salaries within the IFA, we still do not know what any of the senior members of staff in the IFA earn. So be it. Maybe we don't need to know, except as a matter of curiosity, but the reality remains that a new head of the IFA executive staff could not be expected to be on a lower salary than those further down the pecking order. That may mean that those who were so critical of what they deemed to be excessive pay scales may have to suffer a severe reality check in accepting that the newly constructed role of IFA director general will likely require a salary that is, at least, in line with those available for similar roles in public and private sector organisations. That may be difficult for the rank and file to accept, even after another reality check dawned a couple of months ago with the disclosure that the chairman of Glanbia is earning €185,000 per annum for a role that could not be considered any more onerous than that of an IFA president.


VERY END AUGUST 2016 74

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VERY END AUGUST 2016 74

Pasta Secure

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The fast way to eliminate rodent infestations Delivers a lethal dose in a single feed Effective even against resistant strains Save time and money in application

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Storm® contains flocoumafen. Storm® is registered trademark of BASF. Use biocides safely. Always read the label and production information before use.

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Bovilis Bovipast RSP contains inact. BRS strain EV908, PI-3 strain SF-4 Reisinger and Mannheimia haemolytica A1 strain M4/1Bovilis IBR Marker Live contains live, attenuated IBR marker vaccine BHV-1 strain GK/D (gE_ ).For the active immunisation against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus.Use medicines responsiblyWithdrawal periods: zero days. Legal Categories: ROI POM(E) NI POM-V .For further information see SPC, contact prescriber or MSD Animal Health,Red Oak North, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland.Tel: +353(0)1 2970220. E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.msd-animal-health.ie* Mannheimia haemolytica§ Anon 2014. AFBI/DAFM, All-island Animal Disease Surveillance Report 2013.IE

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Documents

AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH - Irish Farmers Monthly fileIFM_August2016.indd 1 28/07/2016 13:24 Bovalto ® Respi 3 and Bovalto Respi 4 contain inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus,