Offaly native a winner in awards highlighting benefits of implementing sustainable practices

AN Offaly native was among the winners of the inaugural Sustainable Farmers Awards at Tullamore Show on Sunday.
Coolderry native Joe O’Meara, who farms with his wife Caitriona in Camross, county Wexford, captured the Dairy Calf-to-Beef Award.
Two Laois competitors also featured among the finalists of the inaugural awards - Hubert and Ivan Austin, Coolrain and Michael Dunne, Portarlington.
The winners of the awards, a partnership between the FBD National Livestock Show, Bord Bia, Teagasc and the Irish Farmers Journal, were presented with their prizes by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue at the show.
These awards formed an important part of the first ever Sustainable Livestock Village at the show and showcase the positive sustainability practices being implemented on beef and lamb farms across the country.
Show Livestock Chairman, Michael Dolan, commenting on the awards said: “The award winners highlight the good work being done on farms to implement sustainable practices, They provide useful pointers for other farmers as they work to improve the sustainability of their enterprises.”
The five winners were: Suckler calf to weanling/ store – Margaret and Jack Stevenson, Co. Donegal; Suckler to beef – Vincent Keane, Co. Galway; Dairy calf to beef – Catriona and Joe O'Meara, Co. Wexford; Beef finisher – Samuel Hill, Co. Cavan; Lamb – PJ Finnerty, Co. Roscommon.
Bord Bia's Jim O'Toole congratulated the winners and thanked all the finalists for their participation in the Sustainability Awards.
“The finalists were selected from almost 56,000 members of our Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme using verified audit data. These farmers are among the top performers with regard t their carbon footprint, grassland and manure management and soil fertility. Farm sustainability is increasingly important in driving the purchasing decisions of global buyers and through the participation of Irish farmers in Origin Green we can continue to build on the positive reputation of Irish meat and dairy,” he added.
Commenting on the awards, Adam Woods, Deputy Editor of he Farmers Journal said his newspaper was delighted to partner with the industry in the awards.
“In a changing world it has never been more important to highlight the huge amount of work that is already taking place on farms in relation to climate change. We hope that this new initiative will give more farmers the confidence to make changes to their farms, which will leave them more profitable and lower their carbon footprint.”
Teagasc cattle specialist, Aidan Murray said livestock farmers are embracing technologies to farm ina more sustainable way.
“The finalists in this competition are excellent role models of how farmers are working with nature and using modern science based technologies to improve their economic and environmental sustainability.
“The Signposts programme – Farmers for Climate Action – which is supported by over 60 organisations and 120 signpost farms is demonstrating best practice to reduce greenhouse has emissions from farming. A free signpost service is available to all farmers who register with Teagasc.”
The other finalists apart from the award winners were Julie and James O'Brien, Co. Cavan, Jerry Casey, Co. Cork, Martin Kelly, Co. Galway, Hubert and Ivan Austin, Coolrain, Co. Laois, Michael Dunne, Portarlington, Co. Laois, Michael Gleeson, Co. Limerick., Gerard Kelly, Co. Roscommon, Ray Tully, Co. Sligo, Edmond Phelan, Co. Waterford, Padraig Keane, Co. Wexford and Brian Mulligan, Co. Wicklow.