For instance, Origin Green which is Ireland’s food and drink sustainability programme, proclaims the importance of local sustainable sourcing, reducing the carbon footprint, and serving local communities. Mark Browne questioned if shunning Irish barley in favour of importing maize produced to lower environmental standards, over vast distances, was compatible with the sustainability principles of the programme. He concluded by emphasising that tillage farmers would not continue to tolerate this undermining of the Irish cereal sector. He called on all stakeholders in the animal feed sector, including the government and Bord Bia, to address the issue immediately by supporting the inclusion of local grain in feed rations.


ELAND AND LACPATRICK – MERGER NOW COMPLETE The completion of the merger involving Lakeland Dairies’ Co-operative Society Limited and LacPatrick Co-operative Society Limited has been confirmed


The new Society formed by the merger is to be called Lakeland Dairies’ Co-operative Society Limited and will be known as ‘Lakeland Dairies’.


A Transitional Board has been established (including Lakeland and LacPatrick Board members) to cover the initial 12-month period post-merger.


At the first Board meeting of the new Society, Alo Duffy, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan was appointed Chairman of the Co-operative together with two Vice-Chairs, Colin Kelso from Omagh, Co. Tyrone and Alan McCay from Dunamanagh, Co. Tyrone.


Michael Hanley, the current CEO of Lakeland Dairies, will continue to serve as the Group CEO in the new Society.


Lakeland Dairies is now the second largest dairy processor on the island of Ireland with a cross-border milk pool of 1.8bn litres, produced by 3,200 farms from a catchment area covering 16 counties. The co- operative, which also has major grain procurement and compound feed manufacturing operations, will have a combined annual turnover in excess of ÷1bn.


Alo Duffy, Chairman of Lakeland Dairies, said: “This is an historic and progressive development. The fruits of the merger will be realised as we continue to grow and develop our co-operative for the long-term benefit, sustainability and livelihood of dairy farmers. I welcome all members and milk producers collectively into our new co-operative society.


“Our mutual progress will be underpinned by the confidence that comes from working together to create a strong and secure future for our dairy farming families and our generations to come.


“The major contribution that we make through our co-operative enterprise, to the economic wellbeing of rural communities and the progress of the dairy industry north and south on this island, will be further strengthened and will continue long into the future.”


Group CEO, Michael Hanley said: “Together with my management


colleagues throughout the business, and under the direction of the current and future Boards of the Society, we are deeply committed to the future success of this enterprise.


“Both of the Societies now forming Lakeland Dairies have a proud heritage of excellence in dairy farming. From today, we combine our mutually valued heritage into one. There is no looking back, only a collective movement driving forwards to achieve commonly held goals.”


He added: “Lakeland Dairies is farmer-owned and farmer controlled and we exist for the benefit of our milk producers. We are now bringing all of our capabilities together into a single and unified organisation whereby we will create new efficiencies and economies of scale as we continue to serve our valued customers throughout the world. “We look forward to the future success of Lakeland Dairies as a fully integrated dairy industry player, creating further value for milk producers, with modern processing technologies and enhanced global market access for our high quality dairy products.”


IN MY OPINION … RICHARD HALLERON Tillage still has a lot to offer Irish agriculture


I am not an arable expert. But it doesn’t take Albert Einstein to work out that all cereal crops have performed well so far this year.


Conditions were very benign last autumn and winter crops have benefitted accordingly. Adding to the feel-good buzz is the fact most spring-sown cereal crops are now well established and growing-on in excellent fashion.


But nature has a wonderful way of re-bounding. The images of the ‘salvage’ harvests that confronted many parts of Ireland’s tillage sector in 2017 and 2016 are still fresh in the minds of many growers. The science pertaining to the actual growing of high yielding combinable crops under Irish conditions has been well worked through by this stage. The big imponderable remains that of getting crops successfully harvested in what can be very challenging weather and ground conditions.


I know that research work in Scotland has looked at the feasibility of growing cereals in raised beds. Under such circumstances, crops would actually grow in soil that is physically above ground water levels in even the wettest of years.


Another arable research priority is that of improving straw quality. Dairy and other livestock farmers are now keen to include straw in the winter rations they feed their stock. One assumes that the higher the feeding quality of the straw, the more money they will be prepared to pay for it.


There has been a lot of negativity expressed regarding the future prospects for the tillage sector in Ireland. However, the reality is that the industry has lots to offer Irish agriculture as a whole. Let’s just hope that the summer and early autumn of 2019 provide the harvest conditions which growers need to end the year on a genuine high.


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Alltech.com/ireland AlltechNaturally @Alltech Sarney | Summerhill Road | Dunboyne | Co. Meath FEED COMPOUNDER MAY/JUNE 2019 PAGE 23


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