Ardboe farm is really milking it!

Seamus & Gerard Quinn, Ardboe, won the Lakeland Dairies Supreme Milk Quality Award and also won the overall Northern Ireland Milk Quality Award. They were presented by Irish Agriculture Minister Michael Creed. Pictured (l to r) are: David Gunn, Easyfix; Michael Hanley, Group CEO, Lakeland Dairies; Seamus Quinn; Minister Creed; Margaret Quinn, Colin Kelso, Vice-Chairman and Alo Duffy, Chairman of Lakeland Dairies.

Seamus and Gerard Quinn, Ardboe, won the Lakeland Dairies Supreme Milk Quality Award and also won the overall Northern Ireland Milk Quality Award.

The awards publicly recognise the achievements of Lakeland Dairies milk suppliers who are committed to efficiency and quality in milk production.

The awards were presented at a special ceremony by Irish Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, together with Lakeland Dairies Chairman Alo Duffy, Chief Executive, Michael Hanley and the Board of Lakeland Dairies.

Keith and Robin Crawford, Cookstown, were the overall Northern Ireland Runners-Up in the Lakeland Dairies Milk Quality Awards. They were presented by Irish Agriculture Minister Michael Creed. Pictured (l to r) are: Michael Hanley, Group CEO, Lakeland Dairies; Linda and Keith Crawford with son Timothy; Minister Creed; Robin and Doreen Crawford with Colin Kelso, Vice-Chairman and Alo Duffy, Chairman of Lakeland Dairies.

The overall Northern Ireland Runners-Up were Keith and Robin Crawford, Cookstown.

In the category for New Entrants to Dairy Farming, Raymond, James and Graham Harrison, Hillsborough, won awards for exceptional milk quality.

Lakeland Dairies operates across 15 counties on a cross border basis. Farmers from Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Offaly, Westmeath, Down and Tyrone received awards for Excellence in Milk Production at this year’s event.

Lakeland Dairies Chairman Alo Duffy said: “The global demand for food will continue to increase over the next thirty years. Having access to natural and wholesome dairy products, made using sustainable methods, will become increasingly important in the future and this island is very well placed to meet this increasing global demand.

In the Lakeland Dairies Milk Quality Awards, Raymond, James and Graham Harrison, Hillsborough, Co. Down won the Best New Entrant Award for the exceptionally high quality of milk produced on their farm.. They were presented by Irish Agriculture Minister Michael Creed. Pictured (l to r) are: Michael Hanley, Group CEO, Lakeland Dairies; Raymond and James Harrison; Minister Creed; Graham Harrison, Colin Kelso, Vice-Chairman and Alo Duffy, Chairman of Lakeland Dairies.

“Our green image, our environment and our pasture based production model are exceptionally important and this is most certainly a priority for Lakeland Dairies. As a dairy processor we need to be able to provide a continuous level of reassurance to our customers about our products.

“We simply couldn’t do that without the commitment of all our producers whose dedication and achievements are strongly exemplified by the winners of our milk quality awards.”

Lakeland Chief Executive Michael Hanley said: “Agriculture and dairying will be key engines of economic progress as we continue to grow our food exports in the future. Lakeland Dairies is committed to the achievement of dairy industry scale, efficiency and competitiveness, for the long term benefit of producers and rural communities.

“With the strategic investments we have made, we are able to process as much milk as our suppliers can provide. We have a strong presence in international markets, exporting nearly 100% of our output, including major volumes from our foodservice manufacturing site and Global Logistics Centre in Newtownards. We have built a name for quality and reliability on a worldwide basis. The winners here today understand that requirement. We could not be successful without the total quality commitment of all our producers.

“These awards are a tribute to excellence in farming, and they are exemplary of the very high quality milk suppliers who we are fortunate to have in Lakeland Dairies.”