Louth farmer runner up at Oat Grower Awards

For the third year running, Flahavan’s have announced the winners of their “Oat Grower of the Year Awards 2024.” The awards were split into two categories—Conventional Oat Growers and Organic Oat Growers—and Flahavan’s says that competition was strong in both categories, reflecting the high quality of entries.

Agronomist and Cereals Specialist Ciaran Collins, who acted as the independent judge for the competition, said, “There was clear evidence of a strong commitment from the growers to produce oats of the highest quality for Flahavan’s.”  

Brendan Rafferty from Greenore, Co. Louth, secured the Runner-up position in the Organic category, recognised for his strong performance and commitment to excellence, alongside Barry McWilliams from New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Winners and runners-up in both categories were selected based on Overall Grain Quality, taking into account kernel content, bushel weight, moisture levels, aroma, flavour, colour, and cleanliness. Ciaran Collins reviewed the selected samples and interviewed shortlisted growers, reducing the shortlist to just three finalists from each category—a winner and two runners-up. The finalists were assessed on the basis of Grower Excellence, which included cereal knowledge, farm practice and technique, as well as environmental sustainability. 

The winner in the Organic category is Eoghan O’Sullivan from Donohill, Tipperary town. Eoghan was a runner-up in 2023. He delivered an impressive bushel weight of 60.5, thanks in part to an optimised combine setup. His approach to maximising straw quality involves cutting crops high and re-cutting stubble for bedding. Despite having limited land for tillage, Eoghan makes efficient use of farmyard manure and lime, and his dedication to sustainable farming practices is clear. 

The Gray family are the winners in the Conventional category. The Gray family, from Co. Waterford, have been supplying high-quality oats to Flahavan's for generations. Specialising in winter oats, they consistently achieve top-notch results, with a bushel weight of 59.5 for Harvest 2024.

Their exemplary farming practices include a focus on crop rotation and the shift from minimum tillage to direct drilling, reflecting their commitment to sustainability. Their attention to detail extends to chopped straw management and active participation in a local farming discussion group, further enhancing their reputation for excellence.

In his summation of the awards, Ciaran said, “The standard of the growers in the competition was excellent.” He added that, “recent research by Teagasc shows that the carbon footprint of Irish grain is very low compared to grain produced in Europe and North America. Oats had the lowest carbon footprint in the study, and when the carbon sequestered by straw incorporation was included in the calculations, many farmers are growing oats at or below net zero.” 

Johnny Flahavan, Operations Manager at Flahavan’s, commented: “The standard of oats supplied to Flahavan’s is consistently exceptional, and we’re particularly delighted to see that so many of our suppliers are introducing more and more environmentally sustainable practices into their farming, demonstrating best-in-class results. Our sincerest congratulations to our winners and runners-up—a well-deserved recognition for top-quality tillage farmers.”

Flahavan’s source their conventional oats from within a 60-mile radius of the Mill at Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford. While the majority of their organic oats are already sourced domestically, the company's key ambition is to fully meet the demand for organic oats with Irish-grown supply in the near future.