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The sessions, at 3pm and 7pm, will be focused on the topic of building profits and reducing costs through conscious parasite control.

John Martin is one of seven Northern Ireland famers who have been working with AgriSearch over the past two years as part of a European Innovation Partnership (EIP) project, looking at the practicality of implementing targeted and selective use of anthelmintics on commercial farms.

The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) scheme is part of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP). It is jointly funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

The Targeted Selective Treatment of Anthelmintics EIP group meeting on the farm of John Martin who will be hosting the farm walk on Monday 26 June.

At the event, John will be detailing the reasons he got involved in the project, the benefits and challenges that arose and the decision making processes on his farm with regards parasite control.

John will be joined by Professor Eric Morgan and Dr Chris McFarland from QUB, who will provide an overview of the wider findings of the EIP project across the dairy, beef and sheep sectors, as well as providing an overview of the practical steps that can be taken when beginning to consider targeted selective treatment of anthelmintics on farm, such as taking samples for faecal egg counts.

Taking a whole farm approach to parasite control can be beneficial for many reasons and Phil Carson of NFFN will speak on how working with nature as part of a whole farm approach can reduce farm costs.

Bruce Thompson, a Nuffield scholar from Portlaoise, will join him and share his experience of how dung beetles have helped reduce parasite burdens and anthelmintic use on his farm.

He will provide a practical demonstration of how to identify dung beetles in the field.

The event will conclude with refreshments and all speakers will be available for further questions and discussion. All are welcome to attend the conference and/or farm walks, however, registration is required via the website: www.agrisearch.org

Farm walk to be held on parasite control: A whole farm approach