The winner of the National Dairy Council (NDC) and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards will be announced tomorrow at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Co. Kilkenny.
Dairy cooperatives throughout the country are invited to nominate their top suppliers for the awards each year.
The farms nominated for the annual awards undergo a detailed assessment by an expert judging panel based on milk quality test results and technical reports spanning a full 12-month period in order to select a shortlist of finalists.
John MacNamara alongside his wife, Olivia and their four children who farm in Gormanstown, Hospital, Co. Limerick were last year’s Quality Milk Award winners.
Quality Milk Awards
The NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards assesses the top dairy farms across several key areas, as follows:
- Animal Health & Welfare;
- Hygiene;
- Dairy and Parlour Facilities;
- Pride and Passion;
- Continuous Improvement;
- Sustainability and the Environment;
Considering the growing importance of sustainability across farming and food production, the NDC and Kerrygold have introduced additional criteria to identify farmers operating a sustainable dairy operation, with clear evidence of excellent practices in the areas beyond quality milk.
The award is given to the farmer who demonstrates their care for the environment, animals, and livelihood.
While the quality of milk produced is the ultimate indicator of excellence, judges are now seeking finalists who achieve optimum performance in five key areas, as follows:
- Quality Milk;
- Nutrient Management;
- Stock Management;
- Business Management;
- Infrastructure.
The finalists
The 11 finalists have been shortlisted for the NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards 2024, which sets out to find and celebrate the top quality milk farmers in Ireland.
Lakeland Dairies’ suppliers, the Corrigan family from Batterstown, Co. Meath are among the finalists this year. Eoin Corrigan is a relatively new entrant and is farming in partnership with his parents, Sean and Catherine, milking 254 crossbred cows.
The next finalist is a representative from the Lee Strand co-op and is the Dillane farm where Paudie Dillane and his son Patrick are farming in partnership operating a spit autumn-spring calving system, milking 100 cows in total.
The Falvey farm is a representative from the Bandon co-op where Brian Falvey of Curranure, Innishannon, Co. Cork, is the eighth generation of his family to farm, where he is now milking 94 cows.
Barryroe co-op supplier Eoin Hayes from the Old Head of Kinsale is the next finalist, where he and his family are milking 63 cows with a passion for grassland management and an efficient approach to dairy farming.
Representing Dairygold co-op is the Kennedy farm where Aidan and Derval Kennedy of Cahir, Co. Tipperary are milking 374 cows through a 50-unit rotary, where the family farm has been converted into a company since 2014.
Aurivo co-op’s representative is the Killeen farm, where former FBD young farmer of the year, Dara Killeen of Bawnmore Dairy Enterprise in Meelick, Eyrecourt, Co. Galway is milking 154 cows alongside his wife Beatrix.
Larkin farm is Arrabawn’s representative which is ran by Michael Larkin and his family in Eyrescourt, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, where this 170-cow enterprise showcases the epitome of family farming and top-tier dairy management.
Drinagh co-op representative is the Lynch farm which is situated in the scenic townland of Coolnaclehy in Skibbereen, County Cork where fifth generation farmer, Oliver Lynch is milking 162 cows while embodying the spirit of innovation, sustainability, and community.
McCarthy farm is the Kerry Agribusiness representative which is operated by Sinead and Eoghan McCarthy in Callinafercy West, Milltown, Co. Kerry where they milk 158 cows while showcasing a remarkable blend of tradition and forward-thinking practices.
North Cork Creameries’ representative is the O’Connell farm where Denis and Brian O’Connell, of Lisanaska, Cullen, Mallow, Co. Cork, run a 48-cow herd in a father-and-son partnership that showcases a blend of tradition and modern innovation.
The Sommers farm of Danny Somers and his son Dan, based in Barnacleagh, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, represent Tirlán in this year’s NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards where they are milking 230 Montbeliarde cows.
Agriland will be at the awards ceremony tomorrow (Tuesday, October 1) where there will be a celebration for the outstanding achievements of all the finalists who represent the highest standards of excellence in milk quality and sustainable farming practices.