Louth man wins Young Farmer of the Year award

Young Farmer of the Year Jonathan Marry

This year’s winner of this year’s Macra na Feirme/FBD Young Farmer of the Year is a farmer from Co Louth.

Jonathan Marry was chosen from six finalists, which where whittled down from 28 regional winners.

Jonathan runs a 540 integrated sow unit, which has fattening accommodation for 800 pigs.

The farm is fully compliant with Bord Bia and EPA licenced and there are three full-time staff, including Marry himself.

He told the judging panel that his future plans include to go home milling and to become fully sufficient in building an extra 800 fattening places.

Bio security and keeping up to speed with the top genetics to optimise the farm’s productions as margins are getting significantly tighter, he identified as his key challenges.

The Tullyallen Macra member said he’s also involved in breed societies and local community groups.

“I am a member of the Macra for nearly 10 years. I fish and hunt locally rearing 300 of my own ducks each years. I am a member of the local gun club and hunting is my favourite past time.

“I participate in an a annual 80k charity cycle to raise awareness of suicide. I am a member of EPP (European Pig Producers) which we will be hosting in Dublin in 2016,” he told the panel.

The other five finalists for the Macra Young Farmer of the Year were:

• Graham Grothier – Co. Carlow
• Thomas O’Connor – Co. Kildare
• Garry Kinsella – Co. Wicklow
• John Tully – Co. Galway
• PJ O’Keeffe – Co. Kilkenny

The FBD Young Farmer of the Year awards is run by Macra na Feirme in partnership with the IFA. The aim of the competition is to recognise and reward the top young farmers in the country.

Entrants are judged according to a number of criteria including farm business initiative and innovation, levels of farm efficiency and enterprise quality, farm safety and environmental protection awareness, as well as agricultural knowledge and community involvement.

Final entries sought for FBD Farmer of the Year competition

Launching the FBD Young Farmer of the Year competition in Louth were from left: Leah Kehoe, FBD Insurance; Tomás O’Reilly, North Louth Macra; Aidan Ruddy, Louth FBD Young Farmer of the Year finalist 2013; and Matthew McGreehan, Louth IFA Chairman

Final entries are being sought for this year’s Louth FBD Young Farmer of the Year.

Now in its 16th year, the aim of the competition is to recognise and reward the top young farmers in the country. Entrants are judged on many areas including farm business initiative and innovation, levels of farm efficiency and enterprise quality, farm safety and environmental protection awareness, as well as agricultural knowledge and community involvement.

A county winner will be chosen who will go through to the All-Ireland final in September. The competition was launched by organisers, Macra na Feirme, sponsors FBD and partners, the IFA.

Aidan Ruddy, who was the Louth County winner last year said: “I think it’s a very worthwhile competition to enter as it shows you what other farmers are doing to improve their own enterprise and become more efficient at producing their product, it’s a great experience and helps to set out plans for the future.”

Macra National President, Kieran O’Dowd, said: “This is a prestigious competition which recognises the drive, ambition and hard work of the young farmers working in the sector today and it’s important to use it as a springboard for their future career.”

If you want to find out more, watch Irish and International rugby star, Seán O’Brien and the current FBD Young Farmer of the Year, John Buckley, talk about why they think every young farmer should enter on www.macra.ie/videos.

The overall winner of the competition will receive a bursary to undertake international travel and study farm practices. Young farmers can also be nominated for the competition. Anyone who nominates a young farmer will go into a draw for two nights B&B for two adults in any FBD hotel including dinner on one night.

Forms are available from Macra na Feirme national office by phoning 01-426 8900, from your local IFA or FBD offices and for download on www.macra.ie and www.ifa.ie. You can also apply online – just log on to macra.ie.