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Date for your diary – All Ireland and UK Mushroom Conference & Trade Show Thursday 17th October 2013

UFU Watch 

The All Ireland and UK Mushroom Conference & Trade Show will take place on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th of October 2013 in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan.  This year’s event, sponsored by Bord Bia, will once again bring together growers, scientists and suppliers not only from Ireland but from right across the UK for the inaugural 2013 All Ireland and UK Mushroom Conference and Trade Show.

Speaking in advance of the event, UFU deputy president Barclay Bell said; “The All Ireland and UK Mushroom Conference is shaping up to be the event of the 2013 mushroom calendar, with the theme for this year’s conference focusing on “Investing in the Future”.  As always, the conference will include a varied programme of talks, presentations and farm walks and is sure to be a huge success.”

The range of topics covered over the two days will include: an update on “MushTV” on the EU collaborative research programme developing solutions for the Mushroom Industry to deal with Trichoderma and Mushroom Virus, strategies to maximise profit through picker management and compost fill rate for production profitability, an energy update for the sector and details of the latest mushroom marketing, promotion and Industry trends. The tradeshow will also run alongside the conference, where all major Industry exhibitors will showcase the latest equipment, machinery, renewable energy technology, packaging, supplies and growing facilities.

Barclay continued; “A number of farm visits will take place on Friday 18th October where growers will be given the opportunity to visit production facilities across Ireland two of which will be in the North.  Eamon Murray and Jelena Milos will open their doors to Orchard Mushrooms and Annaghmore Mushrooms near Lurgan, to showcase the newly installed pack-house.  A visit to Martin McKee’s farm near Keady is a must for growers interested in brown mushroom production and finally a visit to Kildorough Mushrooms has been organised for those who want to find out more about wood chip Biomass Steam Boiler technology.”

The organising committee for this years’ event include representatives from AFBI, Bord Bia, CMP, DAFM, DARD, HDC, IFA, Monaghan Mushrooms, Northway Mushrooms, Sylvan, Teagasc and the UFU.