A number of West Cork dairy farming enterprises have been honourd at this year's NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
BY EMMA CONNOLLY
A NUMBER of West Cork dairy farming enterprises have been honourd at this year’s NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
The Crowley family from Bauravilla Upper, Skibbereen, were one of only three finalists to receive an Excellence in Dairy award.
Nominated by Drinagh Co-op, Michael and Marguerite Crowley were acknowledged for ‘Best Percentage Solids.’ Well known in farming circles, the Crowleys are involved in the soon-to-launch innovative West Cork AgriTours.
Five farms received a National Category Award, including Robert and Shirley Shannon, Droumgarriffe, Ballinscarthy. Nominated by Lisavaird Co-op, they were recognised for ‘Highest Milk Solids per Hectare.’
This marks further success by the couple who were delcared Dairy Famers of the Year at the recent 2017 West Cork Farming Awards in association with The Southern Star. Norman Perrott, Grange, Timoleague, who supplies Barryroe Co-op, was presented with a Nationalist Finalist Award.
The country’s top prize for best quality milk went to John and Maria Walsh, from Co Tipperary who supply their milk to Dairygold Co-op.
The NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards has been running since 1996 and celebrates excellence in Irish dairy farming.
Presenting the prizes on Wednesday, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said: ‘Irish farmers and their families’ commitment to delivering world class quality milk, day in day out, coupled with our grass based farming systems, has enabled us to build successful markets for dairy products around the world.’
