Growers are cream of the crop
COUNTY Wexford barley growers Edward Harpur, from Carrrig on Bannow and Aidan Kavanagh, from Ballydonfin, Enniscorthy are the cream of the crop.
The pair have been awarded for their excellent malting barley crops in the Wexford and New Ross and Enniscorthy supply regions at the 2017 Irish Malting Barley Excellence Awards held recently at the Guinness Storehouse.
The awards, organised by Boortmalt, one of the largest producers of malt in the world and hosted by Diageo, the largest purchaser of malting barley in Ireland, acknowledge excellence in malting barley production and promote sustainability in the supply chain.
Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle was the guest of honour and key speaker at the awards ceremony.
There are over 600 barley growers in Ireland and the Malting Barley Excellence awards bring together the best growers from the main barley supply regions of Ireland while also recognising the best seed producers.
Edward Harpur, Bannow Island, a second-generation barley grower, shared his tip for success saying, ‘Our malting barley is grown on the idyllic Bannow Island on the southeast coast of Ireland, the only malting barley which is grown on an island for Boortmalt. You must look after soil fertility and give the barley the nutrition it requires to get the maximum potential out of the crop.’
Aidan Kavanagh, a second-generation malting barley grower, has his crop located in Ballydonfin Glenbrien outside Enniscorthy, shared his formula for success, ‘Well sown, half grown! Knowing the capabili- ties of your land and farming to optimise these capabilities. If ground conditions aren’t right, don’t rush in to sow. Close monitoring of the crop throughout the growing season is priority, in order to meet all the specs for malting barley at harvest.