National Dairy Council invites nominations to find top dairy farmer

THE search is on to find this year’s top dairy farmers with the invitation of nominations for the National Dairy Council Quality Milk Awards.

Dairy co-ops in the Republic of Ireland have until April 30 to nominate their top dairy farmers for the awards, which aim to identify and reward high standards of milk production.

The overall winning farmer will receive a €5,000 prize and a perpetual trophy. It is also at the discretion of the judges to select category prizewinners.

This is the second year that the Quality Milk Awards has run with support from the National Dairy Council.

Last year’s overall winner was Brochan Cocoman, Kilwarden, Kill, Naas, Co Kildare, a supplier of liquid milk to Glanbia.

A national category award was also presented in 2009 to manufacturing milk supplier Michael O’Donovan, Gurranes, Ballineen, Co Cork, who supplies Lisavaird Co-op.

Co-ops may nominate farmers living in and farming in the Republic who are producing liquid or manufacturing milk.

The judges will initially select a short list based on the entry form details. They will then visit and inspect the farms of the finalists in order to select the overall national winner.

National Dairy Council chairman Dominic Cronin said the awards create an opportunity to showcase to consumers the top quality of dairy farming. They also help to build awareness about the dairy farmers who are behind local dairy brands.

“From a farming perspective, these awards provide a valuable platform for co-ops to highlight to their own suppliers the technical requirements, standards and techniques which drive top quality milk production,” he said.