Offaly duo win Glanbia grain award
An Offaly duo have won a category award at the Glanbia Ireland Grain Supplier of the Year Awards for 2021
Paul and PJ McGrath, Tara, Durrow, Tullamore, received the Dried Feed Barley award.
Paul and PJ McGrath farm together with their families. Crops grown on the farm include winter oilseed rape, winter wheat, winter and spring barley, gluten free oats and fodder beet. Oilseed rape and fodder beet are key break crops on the farm and usually succeeded by gluten-free oats and winter wheat. The majority of grain grown on the farm is dried and stored to be sold post-harvest. All crops are established using minimum tillage cultivation methods, including fodder beet. Every effort is made to minimise soil compaction and a sub-soiler is usually used in front of the seed drill. The use of organic manures is a consistent feature of the tillage enterprise.
The McGraths’ Glanbia agronomist is Tim Scott.
Kildare grain growers Matt, the former Irish Farmers Journal editor, and Luke Dempsey claimed the overall Glanbia Ireland Grain Supplier of the Year Award for 2021, amid strong competition from across the country following a bumper harvest.
From barley to beans, the annual awards programme recognises the excellence of the top-class Irish crops delivered by growers each year and 12 suppliers in total were honoured for their dedication and attention to detail in grain production.
Glanbia Co-op Chairman John Murphy said the calibre of the entrants to the awards is a reflection of the hard work, dedication and professionalism displayed throughout the grain sector. “We are extremely proud of our top-class portfolio of grains and the high quality is a direct result of the pride that our growers take in their work each and every day. The weather often takes a toll on farmers, particularly grain growers, and it was good to note the favourable conditions and excellent yields were matched by strong prices for the 2021 harvest.
“We feel it is important to recognise the efforts that growers make to produce top quality grain on a consistent basis and to adopt sustainable practices. It is noticeable that some growers are winning an award for a second or third time in different categories.”