Advantage Beef Programme
The awards event formed part of the Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show.
According to the ABP Food Group, the awards aim to recognise farmer suppliers "who have demonstrated excellence across beef, dairy beef, dairy steer, organic and lamb supply categories - reflecting the quality, consistency and commitment of suppliers to ABP Ireland and Irish Country Meats".
This year’s award winners are:
- ABP Suckler Bull Benchmark Award: Patrick Noel Higgins, Athenry, Co. Galway;
- ABP Suckler Heifer Benchmark Award: Graham Kavanagh, Kilbride, Co. Carlow;
- ABP Suckler Steer Benchmark Award: Nicholas Doherty, Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny;
- ABP Dairy Beef Bull Benchmark Award: Aidan Connolly, Drumhillock, Co. Monaghan;
- ABP Dairy Beef Heifer Benchmark Award: Thomas O’Keeffe, Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny;
- ABP Dairy Beef Steer Benchmark Award: Patrick O’Neill, Cahir, Co. Tipperary;
- ABP Dairy Steer Benchmark Award: Edward and Eamonn Corcoran, The Rower, Co. Kilkenny;
- ABP Advantage Beef Programme Farmer of the Year: Jimmy Madigan, Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny;
- Irish Country Meats Supplier of the Year: Ellen and JP Furlong, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford;
- Good Herdsmen Organic Supplier of the Year: Colm McElroy, Lisnalong, Co. Monaghan.
Commenting on the awards, managing director of ABP Ireland, Jerome Aherne, said: “These awards are an important opportunity to recognise the quality, professionalism and commitment of our farmer suppliers.
"The standard represented by this year’s winners is exceptional and reflects the care, expertise and consistency that underpin Irish beef production."
Managing director of Irish Country Meats (ICM), Daniel Lyons, said: "Our lamb suppliers play a vital role in supporting the quality and reputation of Irish lamb in domestic and export markets.
ABP Ireland's agri-sustainability manager, Stephen Connolly, said: “The farmer recognition awards are a strong reflection of the progress being made by supplier farmers across efficiency, animal performance, and sustainability.
Winner of the ABP Advantage Beef Programme Farmer of the Year award Jimmy Madigan said: “It is a great honour to receive this award and to be recognised among so many excellent farmers.
"The ABP Advantage Beef Programme has helped us focus on the areas that matter most on farm, including animal performance, efficiency and sustainability.
"Awards like this are important because they recognise the work that goes on every day at farm level and the commitment of families and farm teams to producing quality Irish beef.”
ABP has been honouring farmers with the Farmer Recognition Awards for the past five years.
The group and its affiliates are among Europe’s leading privately owned agribusinesses, and it is the largest beef processor in Ireland and the UK.
ABP employs more than 14,000 people and has over 50 manufacturing plants operating across nine countries.