Macra na Feirme delegation visits UK agri sites

Derrie Dillon and Paul Smith from the agricultural affairs department of the Macra na Feirme national office, along with nine Macra na Feirme members from various clubs throughout the country, travelled to the UK last month for a three-day study trip .

The first port of call was Harper Adams University in Newport, Shropshire. Jim Huntington, a lecturer in animal physiology, showed the Macra delegates around the impressive facilities on the 550ha university research farm. A 40-point rotary parlour used by the 400-cow dairy herd was one of the most impressive sights on the farm tour, along with the vast tillage and drystock enterprises. Of particular note was the 230-sow piggery, which will be completely depopulated this September to facilitate the introduction of a new genetic dynamic to the herd.

Huntington also spoke of the sizeable poultry and grass-to-beef units that Harper Adams are involved in. After the farm tour, the discussion turned to Brexit and the challenges it poses.

The commercial dairy and drystock components of the farm supply liquid milk and meat to the domestic market and there is a belief that little will change in this respect post-Brexit. Uncertainty lies with where the international students will fit into the picture, and with the various schemes and regulations that affect agriculture.

From Harper Adams, the group travelled to Staffordshire and the farm of Richard Bowers, chair of the National Farmers’ Union Next Generation Forum. In addition to a sizeable tillage and suckler enterprise, Bowers operates a diverse range of recreational activities on his 700-acre farm. From clay pigeon shooting, a mini-airplane flying space, to lamas, donkeys and pigs, the Bowers farm had it all. Situated roughly 50km outside Birmingham city, the Bowers enterprise aims to allow those with no access or experience of farming and rural life the opportunity to do just that.

ABP meat factory

The next day, the group travelled to the €30m ABP meat factory located in Ellesmere in north Shropshire. Seamus Banim and staff at the state-of-the art facility began the visit with an in depth presentation on the work and ethos of the Irish-based company. The group then set off on an access-all-areas tour of the plant, where meat production was literally followed from farm to fork. The factory tour was followed by a trip to a local supplier to ABP Ellesmere. The 1,000-acre holding is a finishing unit for hundreds of mainly Belgian Blue-cross dairy animals, along with 700 ewes and a 75-cow suckler herd. The farm produces all feed used in the system on-site. As had been the case the day before at Harper Adams, discussion quickly turned to the effect Brexit will have on the farm, most notably the eradication of the subsidies being received from Europe.

Following the farm visit, the group travelled to their hotel outside Shrewsbury, for a three-course meal courtesy of the ABP Group. The meal included a superb roast beef main course straight from the Ellesmere factory.

Friday morning saw the Macra na Feirme delegates head southeast, to the New Holland manufacturing plant in Basildon. A tour guide led the group through all the processing procedures involved in producing the T6 and T7 models manufactured on site. The intriguing process was followed by a complimentary lunch after which the group reluctantly made the short journey to Stansted airport to begin their journey home.

Diverse

The tour was a brilliant opportunity to see the diverse agricultural operations in the UK, as well as getting an overview of the threats and opportunities that UK farmers face in the coming years. While some of those involved in the industry seem unfazed by Brexit, there is undoubtedly an underlying fear of the unknown. With the UK one of the main destinations for Irish milk and meat produce, this trip was a valuable insight for the delegation from Ireland.

This was the first international trip organised by the Macra agricultural affairs committee, and huge credit is due to Steven Kelly, James Barber, Derry Dillon and Paul Smith who organised the trip and ensured that everything ran seamlessly over the three days.