Award-winning Monaghan dairy farm to open gates for farm walk

The McKenna family farm in Co Monaghan, winners of the 2018 Quality Milk Awards, is to host a farm walk and seminar on 12 June 2019.

Organised by the National Dairy Council (NDC) in association with Teagasc, Ornua and Lakeland Dairies, the farm walk will follow a seminar focusing on food and sustainability.

Members of the public are invited to visit the 105-cow dairy farm run by Darran and Denise McKenna from 1.30pm.

Teagasc dairy knowledge transfer specialist Tom O'Dwyer urged farmers to avail of the opportunity to visit the farm: “The McKenna farm is great example of a top-class dairy farm and all dairy farmers and those thinking of entering the sector should come along on 12 June to see the farm for themselves and meet the family.”

Investment

Investment in the farm began in 2007, when sheds, parlour and tunnels were constructed to allow the fifth generation farming in Derrygasson build cow numbers from 60 to 105.

On the farm walk, groups will be led around the McKenna farm to cover the following topics:

Sustainability seminar

The morning’s seminar will include speakers Dr Marianne Walsh, who is senior nutritionist with the NDC, and award-winning chef and owner of Kai Restaurant in GalwayJess Murphy.

Jess said: “Food waste is one of the world’s biggest sustainability issues, but [is] easily preventable with the introduction of food education.

"Not only would this help individuals become more adventurous with what they’re eating, it would help save their hard-earned money.

“The area of land needed to grow the food that ends up in landfill is larger than the size of China.

"We have to focus on increasing awareness and education, [they] will be key to tackling this global issue."

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