News

Top Oats Grower announced

UFU Watch 

The Ulster Farmers' Union along with competition sponsors Syngenta have crowned William Russell from the North Tyrone Group first place in the UFU Oats Cereal Competition category.

A very close second place was awarded to Graham Furey of the UFU North Down Group and coming in a respectable third place was Rory McKibben from the UFU Donard Group. 

The judging team for the Oats category this year included:  Dr Eric Long CAFRE, John Best and UFU Deputy President Barclay Bell. 

Speaking on behalf of the competition judges, Dr Eric Long said; "On behalf of the judges I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate William Russell, from Ardstraw, on winning this year's Oats competition with his excellent field of Gerald Winter Oats.  Again all the entrants crops were of a very commendable standard this year, which demonstrates the very high level of expertise and professionalism our cereal growers have here in Northern Ireland.  There was very little separating the top fields, with Graham Furey being awarded 2nd place and Rory McKibben receiving 3rd place in the Oats category.  The winning crops excelled in having high yield potential.  The management of all crops was good, with commendable levels of weed and disease control.

UFU deputy president Ivor Ferguson added; "I would like to thank the sponsors for the Oats category Syngenta who continue to enthusiastically support and promote our cereal competitions,  the competition judges, our Group Managers who co-ordinate the local competitions, and the many UFU members who entered this year's Oats competition. There were a number of excellent crops grown this year, which I know made it very hard for the judges on selecting the winners."

The awards ceremony for the winners of the Winter Barley, Oats, Winter Wheat and Spring Barley cereal competition categories will be officially presented at the 2014 Seeds and Cereals Presentation lunch planned for later this year.