Ballina woman scoops AIB/Teagasc Award

EDEL Boyd from Carrowmore Lacken, Ballina, has been awarded the Mountbellew Agri College Best Farm Business Plan Award sponsored by Allied Irish Banks plc (AIB).

Edel won the award for her interview and farm business plan which focused on improving on-farm infrastructure and increasing sheep and cattle stock numbers.

Five students represented their respective Teagasc, CAFRE and private agricultural colleges and competed for the AIB/Teagasc Best Farm Business Plan All-Ireland Award in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, after each had won the individual college award.

Speaking at the awards presentation, Mark Glennon, agri advisor, AIB, said: “My fellow judges and I were very impressed by the quality and comprehensiveness of farm plans and by the confidence of the students we met at the national final and indeed at each of the agricultural colleges. In the dynamic agri sector we operate in, I have no doubt that all our finalists have the skills, attributes and ability to excel in the future.”

Frank Murphy, Teagasc curriculum development and standards manager ,highlighted the importance of planning for any progressive farma business.

The farm plan encapsulates all the learning outcomes of Teagasc courses by setting genuine physical and financial targets for a student’s home farm.

He invited all finalists to continue their contact with Teagasc through advisory events, discussion groups and the various short courses which are offered by Teagasc.

The other finalists were: Frank Smyth (Kildalton); Enda Farrell (Ballyhaise, overall winner); Andrew Naughton (Pallaskenry) and Andrea Rooney (Greenmount). Each of the finalists were presented with their respective college awards on the day.