All set for young farmers’ conference

The annual young farmers’ conference is taking place in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel on October 25, starting at 2pm as part of the Macra Rally.

The conference will follow a morning of farm walks which will kick off at 10am.

The theme this year is ‘Young Farmers — the new environmentalists’.

Contributors will include Oisin Coghlan, director of Friends of the Earth; Mairéad McGuinness, vice president of the European Parliament and MEP, as well as a well-known former presenter of RTÉ’s Ear to the Ground programme; Seán Coughlan. Mr Coughlan is also chairman of Macra’s agricultural affairs committee and is also a mixed-stock farmer in Co Mayo.

Matteo Bartolini, from Italy, president of CEJA, will also be in attendance.

Mr Coughlan, speaking ahead of the conference, said: “Irish young farmers have positioned themselves as some of the most environmentally friendly commercial farmers in the world. We want to convey this message to the wider public.

“We have an excellent panel of speakers lined up for the conference representing all sides of the environmental debate who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conference”.

Delegates and non delegates will have the opportunity to go on one of a number of farm walks. These will include a dairy tour at the Rochford family farm in Mountmellick Co Laois,and at the farm of Bernard Ging, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

Beef tours will take place on the farm of Robin and Anne Talbot at Ballacolla, Co Laois, and on Paul Delaney’s farm at, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

Tillage tours will take place at Teagasc Oak Park Carlow, and atJohn Deering’s farm in Emo, Co Laois.

Macra’s annual conference takes place over the October bank holiday weekend in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise, with the young farmers’ conference taking place on Saturday, October 25, in the Abbeyleix Manor as part of the annual conference.

Those not affiliated to Macra are welcome to attend the agricultural conference as well as the wider weekend of activities.

The cost of the conference is €20 which includes farm tours, lunch, entry into the agricultural conference and transport from the Hertiage Hotel, Portlaoise return.

Ideally, places should be booked beforehand, by emailing Annemarie Ging at [e-mail]