UFU Larne group head to Scotland
The last time that the Ulster Farmers’ Union Larne group ran a farm visit to Scotland was before covid, so needless to say another trip was well overdue.
Over 30 members from the local area met bright eyed and bushy tailed on an early September morning to catch the first sailing from Larne to Cairnryan.
The first visit of the day was to see Lamont Hair just south of Stranraer, who runs a beef and sheep enterprise on what is largely a tenanted farm using a system whereby very few animals are housed during the year and there is little need for slurry storage.
The members were treated to a very informative farm tour in the morning sunshine followed by lunch on farm, thanks to his wife Sally and their family.
After lunch the group made their way to John McIntosh, who previously had solely a large suckler beef herd and contracting business, but whose son has more recently set up an impressive dairy unit milking a mix of Holstein and Jersey cattle.
Automation was a key feature of the farm with six robotic milking machines and an automated diet feeder and feed mixing kitchen located in one centralised shed.
Still quite full after a superb lunch, the group made some room for a fantastic dinner at Tigh Na Mara hotel and restaurant in Sandhead, just a short distance away, before heading off to catch the evening ferry back home.
Coming up on the winter programme for the group is the County Antrim dinner on Saturday 14 November, VIP lounge access to watch Larne FC play against Glenavon on Friday 21 November and the group Christmas dinner scheduled for Thursday 4 December. Contact the local office on 028 2827 2728 to find out more information on any of the above events or to book your place.