Three growers have won 5ha of Belfry hybrid barley seed courtesy of Seedtech. Seedtech announced the winners of its competition yesterday, September 25.
- Luke Cunningham, Co. Waterford;
- Michael O’Neill, Co. Tipperary;
- Pat Keenan, Co. Kildare.
Belfry is the newest hybrid barley variety to come onto the market. It rates at 108 for relative yield on the Department’s recommended list – the highest of all the varieties.
About the winners
Luke Cunningham runs a mixed farm – tillage, sheep and cattle – alongside his father Matt in Ardmore, Co. Waterford. He has grown Quadra hybrid barley for the last two years and intends to sow 40% of his winter barley crop in hybrid barley this year.
Luke said: “It was a pleasant surprise to win this prize; I planned on growing Bazooka and Belfry hybrid barley this year anyway so this is an added bonus.”
Ellenor McDonnell from Seedtech; winning farmer Luke Cunningham; and Pat Clancy from Denn Feeds. Image source: Seedtech
Along with managing a tillage and beef farm, Michael O’Neill is a busy contractor based in Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
Last year was Michael’s first year to grow hybrid barley. His crop of Bazooka yielded 4.1t/acre in the 2018 harvest. According to Michael, he has achieved better yields from hybrid barley and was “very happy to receive this prize from Seedtech”.
The final prize went to Pat Keenan. Pat runs a mixed tillage and suckler farm in Rathangan Co. Kildare. This will be Pat’s first time to grow hybrid barley and he is keen to try it.
“I’ve been listening to how other farmers are getting on with hybrids and hearing good things, so I’ve been planning to trying them out. This prize gives me the perfect opportunity to do that,” Pat explained.
Ellenor McDonnell presents Pat Keenan with 5ha of Belfry hybrid barley seed. Liam Nugent of Farmhill Agri is Pat’s local merchant.