Sligo man Neill Boland from Carrowgarry, Enniscrone, is the winner of the ‘Making the Most of your Grass Silage’ competition, Macra na Feirme and Forage Systems have announced this afternoon.

Six finalists took part in the All-Ireland final, which consisted of a challenging interview on silage production. The other finalists were: John Murray Bellinderry Carrick on Suir Co Tipperary, Matt Ambrose Cahirbaroule Macroom Co Cork, Philip Brady Ballinlough Kells Co Meath, Siobhan Walsh Loughteague Stradbally Co Laois and Siobhan Scanlon Finod Easkey Co Sligo.

Macra National President Kieran O’Dowd said: “We are delighted to be able to offer our members this valuable competition with the support of Forage Systems. The competition was fierce this year and I’d like to congratulate all the finalists.”

KW Forage Systems director Jim Buckley said: “We are again delighted to be associated with Macra for this competition. The standard this year was very high and the winner this year was the best silage that we have seen in seven years of this competition. We would like to wish Macra and all their members the very best for the future.”

The six finalists won a €65 voucher for Grasstec products and services. The overall winner, Neill, has won a place on the Today FM Ian Dempsey ski trip.

During the season, Forage Systems nutritionists will keep in touch with the regional winners to help them progress and improve their farming practices with the aid of Forage Systems unique products.