NDC Milk Quality Awards

NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards

“The more efficient you are with what you put out, the less risk you have on the environment”

The Annual National Dairy Council (NDC) and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards set out to identify and reward the top quality dairy farmers in Ireland. The competition creates an oppourtunity to showcase to consumers the excellence of our pasture-based dairy farming systems, with a focus on sustainability, innovation and animal welfare. There are 13 finalists every year nominated by their milk processors. IHFA farms have been consistently successful in these awards since their conception and 2022 was no different with three members reaching the finals on the 14th of September.

2022 NDC & Kerrygold Finalists:

Frank & Eoin Egan, Abbeydorney, Co.Kerry – Kerry Agribusiness Brian & Pat Hogan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary – Centenary Thurles Gearoid Maher, Cappamore, Co. Limerick - Dairygold

Following nomination by their milk processors, all 13 finalists underwent a robust and detailed independent assessment by an expert judging panel including Professor Pat Wall Professor of Public Health at UCD, Dr David Gleeson Research Officer Livestock Systems at Teagasc, and Dr Jack Kennedy, Deputy Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal. For the first time in 2022, specific category awards were presented to finalists, acknowledging excellence in milk quality, sustainable practices including care for the environment and on-farm animal welfare, as well as technical knowledge and management of facilities.

Gearóid Maher

Gearóid Maher’s family farm (Killuragh Herd) is in Cappamore, Co. Limerick. He lives there with his wife, Sarah and young daughter Sally Kate. A 4th generation farmer, Gearóid’s family have been farming the land since the mid-1800’s. Having completed an Agricultural Science degree in 2011, and became a Farming for Nature ambassador after participating in the European Innovation Project. Ever the optimist, Gearóid’s outlook on life is to make the most of what you do and to enjoy yourself while doing it. A family man, he priorities finishing at a normal hour to spend quality time with his wife and daughter every evening. Gearóid credits Sophie, a neighbour studying Farm Management, for her dedication and support on the farm. Gearoid won this years “Working with Nature” award and has a very clear opinion on how we can protect our environment: “The more efficient you are with what you put out, the less risk you have on the environment”.

Eoin Egan

Eoin Egan lives in Abbeydorney, Co. Kerry, with his wife Siobhán, two small children, Ruairí and Síne, and his parents, Frank and Mary (Aulane Herd). Eoin, Frank and Mary work in a threeway partnership, with the Egans farming the land since the early 1800s. Eoin has been farming with his parents for as long as he can remember. He always showed a huge interest in the farm from a young age and spent as much time as he could learning the ropes from his father. Frank took over the farm full time at the age of 19, and distinctly remembers taking the bus into school at the age of 14 and longing to join the farmers he passed by each

morning. Frank and Eoin have a keen interest in modern science and technologies and are always looking for ways to improve processes on farm. “If you don’t drive on and move with the times you’ll be left in the past. We farm as sustainably as we can, We’re working with the environment every day” Frank and Eoin won the “Farm Infrastructure Development award”.

Brian Hogan

Brian, a fourth-generation farmer from Thurles, Co. Tipperary, works side-by-side with his father, Pat, on the family farm (Coolkip Herd). Joining Brian on the Hogan farm are his wife Lorraine and three children, Caoimhe, Bríana and Liam. Brian has been helping his father since the age of six and has always shown a keen interest in taking over the family farm. Having travelled and witnessed other dairy farm operations, Brian was eager to bring his learnings back home. The family have a huge respect for the effort and passion that has gone into maintaining the land before them. The Hogans are committed to marrying invaluable learnings from times gone by with new and innovative ideas and practices, and they know the importance of hard work. “It’s very challenging, but it’s very rewarding also. You will put in the extra effort to have things right” Brian and Pat won this year’s “Herd Genetic EBI” award.

Award ceremony Comments

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue was in attendance at this years awards and commented “the NDC & Kerrygold quality milk awards are a unique way of celebrating what is truly special about Ireland – high quality, sustainable food production. Zoe Kavanagh, NDC CEO recognised the dairy excellence on display “If dairy farming was an Olympic Sport, Ireland would win gold every time. Your excellence everyday, produces a nutritious, accessible and affordable product in a sustainable way. Irish Dairy not only nourishes the domestic consumer but millions of consumers across the world.” Jack Kennedy, IFJ remarked “Not only is it the dedication and passion, it’s the communication piece, the discussion groups, the talking to one another – it’s all so important for the community and for the dairy industry”.

“It’s very challenging, but it’s very rewarding also. You will put in the extra effort to have things right” “If you don’t drive on and move with the times you’ll be left in the past”