Four Offaly finalists in FBD Better Farming Awards

Offaly boasts four finalists in this year’s FBD Better Farming Awards awarding the highest levels of achievement made in the industry’s move towards a more sustainable sector.

The awards reward initiatives, research and practices that are helping Irish agriculture meet its economic, social and environmental challenges. They go beyond the headlines to recognise the real difference achieved by those who have excelled in various areas of agriculture.

The Offaly finalists are -

AgTech Ireland Best Agritech Hardware Product

* Agri Data Analytics

Small Sustainable Food Producer of the year (under 20 employees)

* Fox Covert Partnership

Small Sustainable Food Producer of the year (under 20 employees)

* Feighery’s Farm

Herdwatch Biodiversity Farmer of the year

* Adrian Egan

FRS Network Diversification Farmer of the year

* Anne Marie Feighery

The Bovine Breathalyser from Agri Data Analytics is a non-invasive machine that measures enteric methane emissions from ruminants. Using a small amount of feed, ruminants are enticed into a feeding area where testing takes place. While eating, multiple breath samples are collected and passed through specialised gas sensors that accurately measure the amount of methane produced.

Fox Covert Farm Hemp Seed Products, based in the heart of Ireland in Offaly, is reducing their carbon footprint and building sustainability within their farm while being mindful of nutrition and healthy eating led them to discovering hemp seeds and to process hemp hearts and milled hemp as part of their products.

Feighery’s Farm first launched Irish Beetroot Juice in March 2019 and the only option for the Irish consumer was to drink imported versions from the UK and Germany predominantly. It is a family orientated business as the beetroot for the juice is all grown pesticide-free on the family farm in the heart of Ireland in Co. Offaly.

Adrian Egan farms is a 38-hectare, organic weanling to beef enterprise at Tumbeagh, Offaly comprising pasture, forestry and tillage, which joined the Farm Carbon EIP in 2021. About 20% of the farm is now managed for biodiversity and habitat conditions have improved across the farm through simple measures.

The inaugural Better Farming Awards gala evening presentations will take place in the Heritage Hotel, Killenard, Laois on Thursday, November 30, 2023.