Bar Tech Winter 2021

As we approach the end of another year, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all once again for your support and update you on a few of the things happening with Barenbrug.

It has been a good year in general and there is absolutely no doubt that homegrown feed, grass and forage are going to be exceptionally important going forward for a number of reasons including input prices, policy changes, and processor and public demands. Many areas of the country had another enjoyable dry summer although it did get too extreme at some points. 2021 was a positive year for trade with fat, store and breeding stock, a decent milk price and relatively kind back end.

For 2022, we are launching four new varieties which will play an important part in our Barforage grass seed mixtures. Baronaise, is a fantastic new timothy variety, Barimax is the first ever Barenbrug bred Italian ryegrass to be listed first choice on the Scottish Grass and Clover Varieties Guide whilst the final two are both late diploid perennial ryegrasses called Ballyvoy and Dundrod.

We are expanding the testing of our grass across a number of sites to support the varieties further than the recommended list, and over time will be bringing in a much broader range of parameters both above and below ground. In November, we welcomed a new colleague to the team. John Charlton has begun working with myself to support our customers across Scotland and North England whilst I transition to full time in the role as Product Manager. I look forward to being able to introduce him too you in the new year in person.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that Agriscot will be able to go ahead on the 9th of February and we’ll be able to see friends and colleagues from across the industry again but until then, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic Hogmanay!

Mhairi Dawson, Product Manager 

2021 has been a roller coaster of a year for Agriculture in Northern Ireland with strong prices, exceptional weather and plenty of reseeding. The weather was definitely kind to us, as seed companies struggled to keep up with demand mid August, but thankfully the weather held out and everyone got their reseeding carried out in very favourable conditions.

At the recent RUAS Winter Fair, farmers were in buoyant form and whilst there is concern about rising costs like fertiliser, as always they remain focused on making a hard situation work. We had plenty of interesting conversations on our stand about soil health, ph and clovers, not forgetting multi-species swards. It is encouraging that going forward, we are thinking more about what is happening below the ground, before we start applying expensive inputs. If fertiliser is to remain expensive, we must react and realise that feeding an old sward on soil with poor ph is a waste of money. Correct your soil and establish a new sward of productive grasses to get the best results.

Another milestone was marked in 2021 with the 30th anniversary of the partnership between Barenbrug and AFBI grass breeding programme at Loughgall. It was an honour to mark the occasion when I joined Mhairi on a visit to AFBI Loughgall to present Gillian Young, AFBI grass breeder with a painting of Strangford, a beautiful village in Co Down and one of the first names she chose for a new variety since taking on her role.

We have had a great year and I would like to thank everyone for their support in a year that had its fair share of difficulties with Covid and Brexit. I look forward to working with you all in 2022 but until then Merry Christmas to you and your family and here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.  

David Linton