Teagasc has added to its team of beef specialists. James Keane has been appointed as a Cattle Knowledge Transfer Specialist covering the West and Midlands region.
Speaking following his appointment James Keane said; “It’s a challenging time at the moment for all cattle producers, facing pressures from the market place and high costs. However the 2013 e-Profit monitor analysis for 2013 shows that achieving higher levels of technical performance is the best way for individual farmers to protect their incomes.”
He joins the team of Teagasc Cattle Specialists led by Pearse Kelly, which includes Aidan Murray, Adam Woods and Karen Dukelow.
Based in the Teagasc office in Mohill, Co. Leitrim, James Keane will be working with the Teagasc Business and Technology drystock advisers, cattle farmers and the wider beef industry to increase the adoption of technology at farm level to improve the physical and financial performance on farms. He will work with Teagasc research teams in identifying and implementing relevant cattle research and work with advisers to develop and expand the beef advisory programme in conjunction with the Drystock specialist team. James will continue to facilitate his own BTAP discussion groups until the end of this year. Other priorities include providing support for the joint Teagasc/Industry programmes and contributing to the development of new industry initiatives.
From a farming background in county Leitrim, James was working with Teagasc as a Business and Technology Drystock adviser in Longford. He joined Teagasc in 2001 initially based in Cavan. His early career was as a Reps planner with Philip Farrelly and company. He qualified with a B.Agr.Sc from UCD and then completed a Masters in Environmental Science.