ABP has announced a new initiative to support young farmers within its Northern Irish supply base. The Future Farmers Programme is aimed at suppliers under the age of 40. It provided insights into ABP’s operations as well as market requirements, integrated supply, farm business planning and sustainability.
Meeting during September and October, 20 farmers have taken part in the programme. Starting with a behind-the-scenes visit to ABP’s Dungannon facility they gained insights into the ABP business, operations and supply chain priorities. Guest speaker, Colin Smith from the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) provided an overview of the beef market.
Following on from this a range of speakers from NFU, Rural Support, Ulster Bank and the UFU meet with Future Farmers to provide wider industry perspectives on various topics. Speakers covered practical issues facing the next generation of farming businesses such as farm inheritance, succession planning and business structures, alongside finance, borrowing and farming representation. A representative from SRG then outlined the opportunity for cattle genotyping under the Bovine Genetics Project.
Future Farmers also visited an ABP calf unit where they were given insight into ABP’s integrated systems. ‘FarmDrive’ also demonstrated its livestock management and agri-tech software platform for streamlining compliance, record-keeping, and supply chain tracking for beef and dairy farmers.
The third leg included a tour of ABP’s Ellesmere retail packing operation in England. The group also visited the farm of Gordon Tomley, a participating farm in ABP’s PRISM 2030 sustainability programme. The trip concluded at ABP’s Demonstration Farm, ‘Bromstead’ near Birmingham.
Speaking about the initiative, Lisa Burrows, ABP’s Environmental Sustainability Manager, said “Future Farmers forms part of ABP’s wider commitment to building strong, long-term relationships with our suppliers and supporting the future resilience of the Northern Ireland beef industry.
“Our aim is to assist the next generation of farm owners in taking progressive steps towards a successful future as farm business owners and managers.”
The initiative has been developed and delivered in partnership with Certified Irish Angus. Mark McCoy, who is Certified Irish Angus’ Agri-Development Manager added, “This programme builds on ABP’s wider commitment to developing future talent in agriculture. It complements the ABP Angus Youth Challenge, where we partner with ABP at secondary school level to offer teenagers early engagement with agriculture and agrifood careers.”