News

Co Antrim Farmer wins 2014 Spring Barley Competition

UFU Watch 

County Antrim cereal grower and Ballyclare group member Henry Boyd has been announced as the Ulster Farmers’ Union 2014 Spring Barley competition winner, with his winning field of Kelim.  Second place was awarded to Edgar Carson from the UFU Donard group, and coming in third place was William Russell from the UFU North Tyrone group. Spring Barley growers across Northern Ireland entered the competition, which was sponsored this year by ORIGIN NI and BASF.

The judges of the Spring Barley category were Erne Roulstone (ORIGIN NI), Gerry Kelly (BASF) and Robin Bolton (CAFRE)

On behalf of all the judges Gerry Kelly from BASF said; “We would like to congratulate the winners and all those who entered the competition and wish all a successful harvest and bumper yields. The standard of the spring barley crops in this year’s cereals competition was of very high standard and the benign growing season has produced crops with high yield potential. However, yield potential was badly compromised by straw breakdown following the heavy pre-harvest rainfall experienced.  This was very frustrating for the entrants, as well as making the judging of the crop very difficult.  However, the winning crop stood out and was unique in achieving the perfect balance between pushing yield potential to the limit without running the risk of straw breakdown.  It was a remarkable achievement in difficult circumstances.”

UFU deputy president Ivor Ferguson said the Spring Barley competition had been closely fought between the top growers in Northern Ireland and he praised the efforts of farmers who had produced excellent crops. Ivor added; “I would also like to thank sponsors ORIGIN NI and BASF for their continual support to the UFU cereals competition also to the UFU members and Group Office teams who made the competition possible.”

The awards for the Winter Barley, Oats, Winter Wheat and Spring Barely cereal competition categories will be officially presented at the 2014 UFU Cereal Competition Lunch hosted by the sponsors later in the year.