NSA Sheep Northern Ireland

This Year's Speakers

John Grant, MRCVS Partner Parklands Veterinary Group - 'Sheep Health and Responsible use of Antibiotics' 

The animal health sector supports important initiatives promoting best practice in animal medicine. In the UK, the responsible use of medicines in agriculture alliance or RUMA was established in 1997 to promote high standards in food safety and animal health and welfare in the livestock industry. RUMA is an independent, non-profit, group with membership from a wide variety of organisations representing all stages of the food chain from ‘farm to fork’.

RUMA has played a significant role in the promotion of the responsible use of antibiotics and has developed a series of guidelines for the responsible use of antibiotics in livestock, which are designed for farmers and veterinary surgeons.

Underlying all these guidelines are guiding principles of disease control. On farm, reducing the need to use antibiotics in the first instance can be achieved by developing and implementing herd and flock health plans with the veterinary surgeon. These bespoke plans take individual factors on farm and animal health history into account and focus on preventative health measures. This means good biosecurity, hygiene, nutrition and reducing stress. The use of vaccines, where available are a key preventative health tool to reduce the incidence or severity of disease and the need to treat infections with antibiotics.

Justin McCarthy, Editor Irish Farmers Journal - 'Guidance on Cost of Production & Driving Profit'

Justin McCarthy became CEO of the Irish Farmers Journal in January 2014, having been appointed Editor of the paper in March 2013. Previously, Justin had held the position of Livestock Editor with the Irish Farmers Journal since August 2005. Having graduated with a Hons Degree in Agricultural Science in 2000, he spent almost two years working with Anglo Beef Processors (ABP) in Shrewsbury learning all aspects of the red meat processing sector. In 2004 he was awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship and travelled throughout Europe and New Zealand researching Profitable Beef Production from the Suckler Herd. On completion of his Scholarship he took up the role as Beef Specialist with Teagasc.  Since joining the Irish Farmers Journal, Justin has travelled extensively throughout Europe, New Zealand and South America. His reports on Brazilian beef production have been well documented both in Ireland and across the EU political arena. In 2008 his articles claimed both national in international awards. Justin still plays an active role in the management of the family suckler beef farm in Co Down.

Farming is a business that now requires a much more astute planning attitude rather than a muddle through approach. Justin will focus on those things that will make a difference and highlight how to have a business plan in place.

Phelim O'Neill Markets Specialist with Irish Farmers Journal - 'Implications of Brexit both North & South'

Phelim comes from a small farming background in Co Tyrone. He graduated in law and spent his working career in the meat industry and served a term as CEO with NIMEA.

Phelim spends some of his time in Europe and will be able to look at Brexit from both sides of the debate. The South of Ireland will be as vulnerable as the North to trade implications as we depend on each other on imports and exports.

If UK gets the deal we would like then trade could carry on with just a little disruption at the border but then we may have differing farm support systems. It is unlikely that the UK will continue direct payments but will it change to environmentally based payment and who will qualify? What will the new EU payments look like in the future? - probably they will also change.

Milk and sheep flow south for processing while cattle and pigs come north. Currency, farm payments, trade barriers and tariffs all make a difference to what the final outcome will be. Phelim may get eye strain with all the crystal ball gazing that will be necessary  over the next few years!

Murray Rohloff, International Sheep Consultant from New Zealand - 'A NZ Perspective on the Way Forward for Sheep Farming' 

In the mid 1980's faced with a budget crisis, New Zealand’s government decided to eliminate nearly all farm subsidies. That was a dramatic reform because New Zealand farmers had enjoyed high levels of aid and the country’s economy is very dependent on agriculture. Prior to the 1984 reforms, subsidies stifled farm productivity by distorting market signals and blocking innovation. Many farmers were farming for the sake of the subsidies. For example, nearly 40 percent of the average New Zealand sheep and beef farmer’s gross income came from government aid. We are not expecting UK to react in the same way as the NZ government but there are certain similarities and from these we may well be able to avoid the harsh times that NZ had at that time. With the removal of subsidies in New Zealand, agricultural practices are driven by the demands of consumers, not by efforts to maximize the receipt of subsidies. At the same time, the whole agricultural supply chain has improved its efficiency and food safety has become paramount. Businesses that deliver inputs to farming have had to reduce their costs because farmers have insisted on greater value for money.

Murray will give us advice on business management after his experiences in NZ
 

Information on Sponsors to follow. Please check back soon.