Receiving the Special Commendation Award in the 2026 RDS Teagasc farm forestry category is Mayo farmer Joe O’Neill. Pictured at the awards were Noel Kennedy, Teagasc forestry advisor, Finian O’Neill, Mary O Neill, Joe O Neill, Frances McHugh, Teagasc forestry communications and digital media specialist, and John Spink, head of the crops, environment and land use programme in Teagasc.

Mayo farmer wins RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award

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A MAYO farmer has been honoured at the 2026 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Awards.

The Special Commendation Award in the farm forestry category has been presented to Joe O’Neill from Bohola.

Mr. O'Neill, now semi-retired from business, runs his substantial forestry enterprise alongside small-scale beef production on the home farm.

He planted his first forest in 1987, which has been successfully harvested and replanted.

Joe is keen to balance the commercial and environmental benefits of forestry and in the years since he has planted several new forests of both commercial conifers, and native broadleaves, bringing his forestry area to 38 hectares.

The overall winner of the 2026 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award was Kildare farmer Stephen Morrison.

Stephen Morrison has an organic herd of spring calving suckler cows with all progeny brought to beef on the farm. Stephen converted to an organic farming system three years ago and over the last six years, 24 hectares of native forestry has been planted. This along with the establishment of hedgerows, digging of farm ponds and the preservation of a unique fen has really enhanced the biodiversity on the farm.

The 2027 RDS Farm Forestry Awards, incorporating the Teagasc Farm Forestry Award, will open soon for entries.

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