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Macra Agricultural Skillnet recognised its outstanding young leaders at the 2020 ABP National Leadership Awards tonight, Wednesday 2nd on Zoom. The winners were: John Keane, Devils Bit Macra, North Tipperary Helen Dempsey, Mountmellick Macra, Laois Helen Hayes, Devils Bit Macra, North Tipperary The other finalists were: John O Driscoll, Caheragh Macra, Carbery Region, Cork Claire Gough, Athboy Macra, Meath Jonathan Dwyer, Devils Bit Macra, North Tipperary The purpose of the competition is to promote Young Leaders and acknowledge the volunteers in Macra and the massive amount of work they put into developing their local communities. “The participants across the competition demonstrated...

Live on RTE Radio1 Countrywide this morning, Damien O Reilly announced the 2020 FBD Macra Young Farmer of the Year. This morning, Saturday 28th live on Countrywide, Damien O Reilly announced the Young Farmer of the Year Winner as Dara Killeen, a dairy farmer from Co. Galway. Dara is farming a dairy enterprise in Meelick Co Galway in partnership with his father. They are new entrants to dairy farming since 2017. They are a focus farm for Aurivo, whom they supply their milk to. Dara and his father milk 150 high EBI crossbred cows. “It is a huge honour for me...

The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Final was held for its first time ever as a virtual presentation live on the Macra na Feirme Facebook page. The awards, now in their 22nd year, are sponsored by FBD Insurance and supported by the IFA and the National Rural Network. The evening introduced us to the four finalists and gave us an overview of the farming enterprises they are running. Macra na Feirme National President Thomas Duffy thanked all that applied and participated in the competition, “We were blown away by the volume of applications this year. This is a testament to...

 Joe Melody, a dairy and purebred suckler farmer from Bunratty, Co. Clare, was named the 2020 National Rural Network Biodiversity Farmer of the Year at this year's FBD Macra na Feirme Young Farmer of the Year Awards on Friday evening (27 November). The National Rural Network Biodiversity Farmer of the Year Award recognises a farmer who is farming sustainably by encouraging biodiversity and protecting the environment. Joe farms 360 acres in partnership with his father. Around 260 acres of the farm is used for the purebred suckler cows, their calves, and rearing the dairy replacement heifers. Joe is an active participant...