A beef farmer from Co. Longford has been awarded the title of the 2024 Irish Hereford Prime Farmer of the Year.

This year's winner is Mervyn Johnston from Cureen, Lanesborough, Co. Longford. Farming on the banks of the River Shannon, the part-time farmer runs a suckler-to-beef system dominated by Hereford genetics.

Mervyn Johnston farms alongside his wife, Karen, and their three children - Andrew (15), Elliot (14), and Ruth (10).

Over 95% of the cattle on the farm are Hereford-bred cattle and a pedigree Hereford bull, sourced from local breeder William Jones of the Keenagh Herd, is currently stationed on the farm to cover the herd of predominantly Hereford-cross cows.

Hereford-cross (HEX) store cattle are also bought at Ballymahon Mart in Co. Longford and all male cattle are finished as steers, with the exception of a select few pedigree bulls which are sold to local dairy farmers.

Mervyn has been supplying his cattle to Kepak Athleague through procurement manager Frank Clarke since the farm joined Irish Hereford Prime in 2013.

The table below details some of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the carcass performance in the herd:

Almost half of Mervyn’s HEX heifers and steers grade an R for conformation.

The farm has a heavy soil type but typically, younger cattle are turned out to grass by early March and housing generally begins early with some cows housed by late September.

A paddock grazing system is in place to maximise grass utilisation and optimise animal performance.

Mervyn is also using protected urea as his primary nitrogen (N) fertiliser, and reseeding is a regular feature of his farming system, with a percentage of the land refreshed annually to maintain productivity.

The award winner said that he chooses Hereford cattle because of their “ease of finishing, ease of calving, and above all, the Hereford bonus at the time of slaughter makes it all worthwhile."

He also said he likes the cattle breed for their docility and ease of handling as well as their early finishing, achieving good carcass performance at a younger age, which contributes to both farm profitability and environmental sustainability.

The farm has embraced agri-environmental initiatives and is involved in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).

Under the scheme, Mervyn maintains land designated for breeding waders, leaves sections fallow, and preserves permanent pasture while tracking biodiversity performance.

A portion of his farm falls under ANC (Area of Natural Constraint) classification, reflecting the land’s natural characteristics and supporting the maintenance of local fauna and flora.

His involvement in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) scheme further underscores his commitment to improving the environmental sustainability of Ireland’s suckler beef sector.

Mervyn is also part of a pilot environmental programme with Irish Hereford Prime, which collects on-farm data across four key pillars:

Soil health;
Soil carbon;
Hedgerow management
Water quality.

This initiative is in its early stages but aims to provide valuable technical insights to guide sustainable practices across the sector.

Mervyn and Karen are strong advocates of lifelong learning. Karen is currently pursuing an Innovation for Sustainability professional diploma at University College Dublin (UCD), which includes the creation of a sustainability report for a beef farm - an area where their first-hand experience proves invaluable.

The Johnstons have also taken an interest in homeopathy, particularly Karen who, as a practicing Homeopath, uses natural remedies at key stress points throughout the year.

They have noted particular success in easing weaning stress for calves and in administering herd-wide treatments during critical periods such as calving, mating, and housing.

While still a relatively novel practice in Irish agriculture, homeopathy is gaining traction, especially for helping to treat conditions such as mastitis.

Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime said: "With a strong focus on efficiency, sustainability, and animal welfare, Mervyn Johnston’s farming approach demonstrates the best of modern Hereford beef production.

"His recognition as the 2024 Irish Hereford Prime Farmer of the Year is a testament to his dedication and forward-thinking approach in the sector."