2 March 2023 - Flipbook - Page 33
LYOUTH
FARMWEEK
JANUARY 28 2021
33
impress in climate change competition
n Jessica Pollock, Derg Valley YFC, who was highly commended in the
recent YFCU Climate Change competition.
invested and committed
they are to addressing
climate change.
“I was particularly
impressed by our under
18 category.
“Our young farmers
are the future of the
industry.
“It is extremely
encouraging and positive
to see how they are
reducing emissions and
of their plans to develop
their farm in this area
going forward.”
n Alastair Crawford, Seskinore YFC, under 18 winner of the recent YFCU
Climate Change competition.
A
‘Hemp for a
sustainable future’
project wins
Teagasc award
CIAN Walsh, pictured
right, a transition year
student at St Brogan’s
College, Kilbrogan,
Bandon, County Cork,
has been announced as
the winner of the Teagasc
award at the BT Young
Scientist and Technology
Exhibition 2021 (BTYSTE).
Cian’s project looked at
the social, economic and
environmental benets
and drawbacks of growing
hemp and to determine if
it can promote sustainable
farming in Ireland. Cian’s
teacher is Ms Laura
O’Regan.
A variety of Cannabis
sativa, hemp is often
confused with marijuana;
and, although it
contains the same
active ingredient, the
concentration is much
lower in hemp. Hemp
was one of the rst plants
in the world to be spun
into useable bre and
has since been used for
many other purposes.
Cian explains: “100 per
cent of the hemp crop can
be processed into many
different eco-friendly
products; some examples
include hempcrete, hemp
insulation and hemp
bioplastic.”
Cian surveyed farmers
to determine the current
knowledge surrounding
hemp. He found that there
was a great interest in the
crop, but that only 36 per
cent of those surveyed
would consider growing
the crop.
Cian explains: “This
was a gure I set out to
change. I hosted a hemp
information meeting
on Zoom with the
farmers’ surveyed, which
included a presentation
on hemp research in
Ireland by Barry Caslin,
Teagasc’s Energy & Rural
Development Specialist. At
the end of the conference,
I resurveyed the farmers
and found a signicant
increase in interest in
growing the crop (from
36 per cent to 64 per
cent) if there were hemp
processing facilities near
to their home farm.”
Cian added: “The
benets of growing hemp
are endless, farmers
are willing to make
the change. But it is
government investment in
the industry that will be
needed in order to grow
Ireland’s hempire.”
Barry Caslin
complemented Cian on
his excellent achievement
saying: “There has been
a huge interest from
farmers and industry
representatives in
developing a hemp
industry in Ireland. Many
farmers are seeking
land use alternatives,
especially in light of the
lack of income from the
drystock sector which was
highlighted in the recent
Teagasc National Farm
Harper student beats
off stiff rivalry to win
national dairy award
Survey report.
“Hemp is an excellent
break crop, bringing other
benets to crop rotation,
including higher yields in
following wheat crops.”
Teagasc Director
Professor Gerry Boyle
congratulated Cian on his
award and commended all
the students who took part
in this year’s virtual event.
Professor Boyle said:
“There has been a fairly
rich history of hemp
research in Teagasc even
going back to the 1950s
at An Foras Taluntais.
This research was geared
towards the agronomy
of hemp; although there
were different uses of
hemp in mind. This
research proved that
industrial hemp can grow
well in Irish soil and
climatic conditions.”
The Teagasc special
award is presented to
the project that best
demonstrates a thorough
understanding of the
science of agricultural or
food production, or the
use of science to improve
technologies available
to agricultural or food
production.
Cian’s video
presentation can be
viewed on the BTYSTE
2021 portal: http://bit.ly/
BTYSTE2021Teagasc
nal year student from
Harper Adams University
has beaten off six other
nalists and one of the highest
number of entries to scoop this
year’s RABDF Dairy Student of
the Year Award, sponsored by
Mole Valley Farmers.
Agriculture with Farm
Business Management student
Katie Ackland (pictured above),
from Devon, won the award
after going through a rigorous
application process, which
included writing a 1,500-word
essay on a case study and
delivering a presentation to the
judges over Zoom.
The competition, run by the
Royal Association of British
Dairy Farmers, is designed
to reect real life challenges
seen on dairy farms and
wider policy issues as well as
identifying some of the sectors
rising stars and new entrants.
Katie, who takes home £750
and a trophy, said on winning
the award: “I am absolutely
delighted to have won. From
growing up on my family
dairy farm in Devon, through
to completing my placement
year on a dairy farm in Kent, I
have always loved working and
being involved within the dairy
sector. Winning this award will
give me a great opportunity
to be recognised within the
industry.”
Runner-up was second year
Animal Science student Jessica
Langton from Nottingham
I have always loved
working and being
involved within
the dairy sector.
Winning this award
will give me a great
opportunity to be
recognised within
the industry.
Katie Ackland
University.
She hails from a small dairy
farm in the Notts/Derbyshire
border and has bold ambitions
to grow the herd as well as
diversifying.
She says entering the
competition has increased her
condence and allowed her to
demonstrate her passion for
the industry to the judges. “It’s
been a great experience and
will hopefully help me on my
career path in the industry.”
This year’s competition saw
some of the highest number of
entries from universities and
colleges right across the UK.
The calibre of the entrants was
so high that seven individuals
were shortlisted in the nals
rather than ve.
RABDF Vice Chair and
competition judge Di
Wastenage said: “I was
really impressed with the
quality of the nalists in this
year’s competition. Students
from six universities and
colleges ensured it was very
competitive and a really
difcult job for the judging
panel.”
Robert Craig, RABDF Vice
Chair and judge, added: “The
optimism and enthusiasm
conveyed during the individual
presentations was great to see
and conrms the industry is in
safe hands for the future.”
Judge Chloe Cross, from Kite
Consulting, who set the case
study, said the students had a
great technical understanding.
“This year’s nalists showed
great understanding and
sympathy toward the issues
posed for the farming example
set, touching on the ambition
and desires of the family rather
than just pushing for a system
that they know and have
experienced.”
Judge Robin Hawkey,
from sponsors Mole Valley
Farmers, said the passion
and commitment from all
candidates was admirable and
to be congratulated.
“The entrants were of a very
high standard, demonstrating
good knowledge of the current
industry, but also of the
challenges the industry faces
with ideas and suggestions for
the way forward.”