The Ulster Farmers’ Union has recognised Northern Ireland’s top cereal growers of 2013 at their Annual Cereal Competition awards ceremony in the Rosspark Hotel, Kells this week. Winners of the four categories (Spring Barley, Winter Barley, Winter Wheat and Oats) joined UFU Deputy President Barclay Bell and representatives from the competition sponsors BASF, Bayer CropScience, Clarendon Agri-care, Joseph Morton Ltd, Origin NI and Syngenta to recognise Northern Ireland’s first class growers.
Speaking following the awards ceremony, UFU Deputy President Barclay Bell said; “The UFU’s Cereal Competition is no doubt one of the highlights in the annual agricultural calendar. It gives the industry an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the first class growers we have right here in Northern Ireland. We are very pleased that the competition was such a great success and that the entries across all four categories were of such a high standard. This competition has demonstrated that our growers are committed and continually strive to get the best from their crops. It has also shown that Northern Ireland’s cereal producers can produce crops as well, if not better than any other grower in Europe.”
Barclay continued; “I would like to congratulate all the winners for their hard work and efforts, commend the UFU Seeds and Cereals committee for their dedication and hard work in organising the competition, and also thank the UFU Group Secretaries for their continued dedication in encouraging Union members to participate in the competitions. I would also like to thank the competition sponsors who continue to enthusiastically support and promote the Ulster Farmers’ Union cereals competition and for giving up their time to travel around Northern Ireland to assist in the judging of the 2013 cereals competitions.”
The winners were as follows: William Russell, UFU North Tyrone Group, winner of the Winter Wheat competition; Edgar Carson, UFU Donard Group, winner of the Spring Barley competition; William Taylor, UFU NE Derry Group, winner of the Oats competition; and Richard Kane, UFU Mid Down Group, winner of the Winter Barley competition.
Image:Pictured (left to right): Edgar Carson, UFU Donard Group, winner of the Spring Barley competition; UFU Deputy President Barclay Bell; William Taylor, UFU NE Derry Group, winner of the Oats competition