Tipperary family wins Dairygold Malting Barley competition

Oliver and Margaret Keating from Co Tipperary were crowned the overall winners of Dairygold's Malting Barley competition at this year's Tillage Conference

(Left to right) Dairygold chief executive Michael Harte, the Keating family – Kate, alongside Oliver and Margaret - and Dairygold chairperson Pat Clancy. Photo: Peter.p.photos

Oliver and Margaret Keating, farmers from Co Tipperary, were crowned this year’s winners of the Dairygold Malting Barley Competition.

On their family farm near Burncourt, Mr and Mrs Keating aim to redefine sustainable farming. Alongside their three young daughters, Emma, Sarah and Kate, the Keating family runs a mixed farming system that combines a significant tillage enterprise with an autumn-calving suckler herd.

The Keating family were recognised by Dairygold as forward-thinking farmers who have consistently delivered exceptional quality grain.

As early adopters of regenerative farming practices, the Keating family are strong advocates for focusing on optimising soil health through building organic matter and now achieves similar yields with reduced chemical fertiliser.

The Keatings have also adopted precision farming by utilising GPS and auto-steer technology.

Speaking at the Dairygold Annual Tillage Conference in Corrin Event Centre in Fermoy, Co Cork, Chairperson Pat Clancy said: “Congratulations to all our regional winners and finalists in the Malting Barley Competition on their exceptional commitment to delivering the highest quality grains.

"In particular, I’d like to acknowledge our overall winners, the Keating family. Oliver and Margaret prove on their family farm that sustainability and productivity can go hand in hand.”

“It continues to be a challenging period for tillage farmers, and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate the commitment to excellence on display among today’s top-class growers,” Mr Clancy said.

Regional winners included: North Cork winner Dan Kiely, from Carrigoon, Mallow; East Cork winner Kieran Horgan farming in Carrigane, Carrigtwohill and South Cork winner Michael and John Henry O’Driscoll, from Kilcrea, Ovens.

The 11th Dairygold Tillage Conference brought together farmers, agribusiness professionals and technical experts, with a focus on the challenges and opportunities for today’s tillage sector in the context of the wider global environment.

A large crowd listen to the speakers at the Dairygold Annual Tillage Conference at Corrin Event Centre, Fermoy, Co Cork. Photo: Peter.p.photos

At the conference, Dairygold confirmed a minimum contract price of €230/t for the 2026 protein bean crop. The early pricing offer is designed to deliver a welcome security to growers who want to be in a position to make informed business-based decisions at an early point in the season.

Dairygold’s Beef and Tillage business manager, Liam Leahy, said: “This is a valuable and important native crop, and our early minimum contract price for protein beans reflects our support for an important crop for the season ahead. Our range of dairy and ruminant feeds utilises both Irish grains and the valuable native protein.” 

Farmers heard from experts who discussed the economic projections, tillage sector challenges and opportunities in contract forage crops, and within the renewables area for tillage farmers.

Chief executive of the Malting Company of Ireland (MCI), Paul McGillicuddy, highlighted the challenges and opportunities for the global distilling and brewing sector and outlined work underway to provide future value-added malting opportunities both nationally and internationally.

A panel on the wider complexities within the global food supply chain and evolving consumer trends heard input from MEP Seán Kelly and Bord Bia’s head of dairy, David Kennedy, who highlighted the importance of targeting premium segments to provide long-term resilience and help ward against volatility in the global commodity markets.

Mr Kelly also commented on the progress and direction of the ongoing Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) 28 discussions, as he highlighted they could have a significant impact on tillage farming into the future.

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A new voluntary pilot Sustainability Assurance Scheme for Tillage was also highlighted at the conference. The scheme recently announced by the Department of Agriculture aims to leverage the value of strong traceability, quality, and sustainability credentials for Irish-grown cereals among domestic and international customers.

The scheme is being developed in partnership with Bord Bia, the Cereals Association of Ireland, who oversee the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme (IGAS), MCI, as well as industry and farmer representative groups.

A long-term objective of this pilot scheme is to verify assurance protocols already in place for malting barley to target improved market access and premium pricing based on certified quality and sustainability.