Longford farmer scoops Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year

A Longford dairy farmer has been announced as the best grassland farmers in the country for 2024.
Patrick O'Neill was announced as the overall winner of the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year for 2023.
“I wasn't surprised, I was shocked,” Patrick told the Leader of his award, “I wasn't expecting a whole lot going down. I knew I was on the final panel, but didn't know I had won anything.”
The Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year award in its seventh year. It recognises the best grassland farmers in the country who are growing and utilising more grass on their farms.
Pat was announced as the overall winner at the awards ceremony at Ballyhaise Agriculture College on Thursday, by Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue.

Farming in Fairmont, near Edgeworthstown he works 60 hectares of mixed soil types near Mostrim, along with his father Tom, since returning from New Zealand in 2013. The father and son team milk 120 cows.
“When the dairy category was announced I as delighted. Then they announced the overall winner and I couldn't believe it,” he said.

The agri competition recognises sustainable grassland excellence: “It's down to growing grass in the most sustainable way you can,” Pat explained, “In the most environmentally and financially sustainable manner. We sow a lot of white clover on our farm. That fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere, so therefore we're not spreading as much fertilizer.”
Sustainability is a broad consideration: “It's all down to your infrastructure. It takes into account the yard, the roadways, your fences in and out of paddocks. And how you are getting cows out to grass. We milk in a 16 unit Dairy Master milking parlour. It's a double sided,” he tells.
Pat says each week he records grass growth: “You allocate the grass you need for the cow's diet. If you have more grass than you need, you take it out for silage. And if you have less, you give more meal.
“Every week we grass measure to see where we're at. You want to maintain your soil indexes at 3s and 4s for white clover and a pH level at 6.5,” he said.
Minister McConalogue said the awards are supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with an overall prize fund of €33,000.

The Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year awards are part of the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign which is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, AIB, FBD, Grassland Agro and the Irish Farmers Journal.
The Grass10 programme has placed a focus on improving nutrient management and efficiency on farms and clover establishment and its management.
Pat took the top spot in the Dairy Category when announced as the overall winner at the Ballyhaise ceremony.