Kilcogy farmer amongst Lakeland winners

A Cavan man was amongst the dairy farmers named as an award winner in Lakeland Dairies Milk Quality Awards.

Sean Kiernan of Kilcogy was named as the highly commended runner up in the less than 500,000 litre category.

Speaking after the awards Sean said it was “nice to be up there with the top lads”.

“The day the Lakeland lads came out I thought there was something wrong,” he recalls modestly of the Co-op’s farm inspection for the awards. “It was the last thing on my mind why they were coming out.”

The Milk Quality Awards winners emerged from among 3,200 farm families across 17 counties supplying the 2 billion litres Lakeland Dairies milk pool.

The awards were presented by Lakeland Dairies’ Chairman Niall Matthews and Group Chief Executive Colin Kelly at a special event in Corick House Hotel, Clogher, Co. Tyrone, together with Edwin Poots MLA, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Sean and his family - wife Claire and children John and Grace - enjoyed the occasion, but had little time to savour it.

“We were milking that evening and we were at silage the next day, it’s just a busy time of year,” he says.

One treat Sean is looking forward to is bringing his “GAA mad” children to the Kerry v Derry match in Croker this weekend.

The Kiernans achieved their Milk Quality Success in a difficult year both in terms of milk price and especially weather.

“It broke in June 2023 and was torrential then right through.

“This year has been a challenge too, even as we speak. Grass growth isn’t hitting where it should be for the time of year,” explained Sean, expressing hope the weather will pick up soon.

Looking to his future in dairying Sean stresses the importance of retaining the Nitrates derogation.

“I know that Lakeland is out in front, pushing the farmers’ views on why we should retain the current nitrates derogation, but if we’re not able to hold that, that’s going to have a major impact on dairying.”

Off the top of his head, he guestimates that he would have to reduce his own herd of 65 spring calving cows by 15-20% if the derogation was removed.

“It would have a major impact because in Cavan there is a lot of fragmented farms, a lot of farms that are highly stocked and if we are not able to retain the current nitrates level, people are going to have to reduce their herds and in a lot of cases it mightn’t be viable to continue in dairying,” said Sean, who is a member of the Erne Valley Discussion Group.

Sean was pipped in the less than 500,000 litre category by Brian and Gene and Gene (jnr) McGinnity, Scotstown, who were also declared Supreme Champions.

“We wish them the best of luck going forward in the competition,”said Sean of the McGinnitys.

Other categories of the Milk Quality Awards include Eoin Corrigan of Trim, who won the >500,000 litre producer category award; with Oisin and Eamon Gallen of Ramelton named the highly commended runners-up and Ivan Thomas, Rahan, Co. Offaly won the Lakeland Dairies Sustainability Award.

In the North the over 1m Litre category winners were Stephen and Mark Montgomery of Drumahoe; while Sean and Ciaran McNaughton of Ballymena claimed the under 1m litre category.