Herbie Ward is the winter barley winner

Adam Kelly, Leggygowan Farm presenting to the Lagan Group

Congratulations to Herbie along with Tom Wells, Moira and Kinsley Jordan, Waringstown who were placed 2nd and 3rd respectively within the group.

Yet again the competition was very well supported in the area and the Group Managers would like to encourage any members wanting to enter this years Oats, Winter Wheat and Spring Barley competitions to contact the group office as soon as possible as judging will be carried out in mid July.

The Lagan Group had a number of very informative meetings in 2015/16 with excellent guest speakers including Andy Doyle of the Irish Farmers’ Journal who spoke on the prospects for tillage farming in Ireland and Brian Magee of New Holland who gave an overview of the company’s worldwide operations.

Members of Lagan Group during farm trip to McGuinness Tillage Farm, Co Louth

We were also joined by Adam Kelly of Leggygowan Farm who spoke to the members about the production of goats cheese and the influence that social media has had on sales within his growing business. Adam brought some samples of his local curd and artisan blue cheese as well as some goats milk soap.

The group’s programme ended with an excellent meeting on Rural Planning and Renewable Technologies with Michael Howe of 2020 Architects being the guest speaker. Michael also gave the members an insight into what it was like to build his own rural dwelling which featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme.

The Lagan Group Committee will shortly be meeting to arrange the 2016/17 Winter Programme which will commence as usual with the annual September farm trip.

The Group Managers would like to thank the members for their support over  the past year and again encourage as many as possible to attend the events in the coming year.