The Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) successfully organised their annual Silage Assessment Finals on Tuesday, July 4th, at the College of Agriculture Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Greenmount Campus. This event, kindly sponsored by Thompsons Feeding Innovation, drew an impressive turnout of over 100 finalists and proved to be a resounding success.
The journey to the finals began with heats held across all six counties in Northern Ireland, where participants showcased their skills and expertise in assessing silage quality. The top performers from each county advanced to the much-anticipated final event.
Thompsons representatives travelled to all county heats to assess and grade the silage, as well as share their knowledge and expertise with our members. It was then down to the finalists to assess each silage sample and make their own judgment on the forage quality. The participants then presented their final assessments, showcasing their understanding of silage evaluation.
YFCU expressed their gratitude to Thompsons Feeding Innovation for their generous sponsorship and support, without which the Silage Assessment competition would not have been possible.
Speaking before the YFCU Silage Assessment Final, John Thompson & Sons Ltd Representative, Richard Moore, explained the importance of making good silage and why it is essential to have your silage analysed so that the correct compound ration can be fed at the right feed rate. Richard also pointed out that Thompsons would base their winter feeding rations around the analysis of their customer’s silage samples to ensure the most productive results were obtained.
“We would like to congratulate everyone that has made it to this stage in the competition and wish them every luck for the final. The knowledge being passed down through the Young Farmers, is a testament to the ability of the Young Farmers organisation to educate and encourage their members to push themselves, creating future farmers that are ready to take on any challenge,” added Richard.
A special thanks was extended to the Thompsons Feeding representative, Phillip Donaldson, who is also a proud YFCU member. His presence and expertise greatly enhanced the competition, and his contribution was highly appreciated by all involved.
The Silage Assessment Finals served as a testament to the dedication and talent of the YFCU members. The Organisation remains committed to providing engaging platforms for agricultural enthusiasts to hone their skills and further contribute to the industry's growth.
Results
12-14
1st- Cameron Orr, Moneyrea YFC
2nd- Matthew McMaster, Gleno Valley YFC
2nd - Catherine Wallace, Lylehill YFC
3rd- Claire Fulton, Dungiven YFC
14-16
1st- Eva Price, Garvagh YFC
2nd- Sophie Coulter, Donaghadee YFC
3rd- Samuel Maxwell, Clogher Valley YFC
16-18
1st- Deon Fleminng, Glarryford YFC
2nd- Rebekah Nicholls, Lisbellaw YFC
3rd- Callum Reid - Hillhall YFC
18-21
1st-Jack Shanks, Lylehill YFC
2nd- James Ritchie, Lisbellaw YFC
3rd- Rachael Boyce, Garvagh YFC
21-35
1st- Jonny Agnew, Mountnorris YFC
2nd- Callum Nelson, Ballywalter YFC
3rd- Jack Wilson, Lisbellaw YFC
25-30
1st- Matthew Mulholland, Kilrea YFC
2nd- Steven Doole, Randalstown YFC YFC
3rd- Shannen Vance, Trillick & District YFC
