New role for Teagasc Wexford REPS planner
A REPS (Rural Environment Protection Scheme) planner with Teagasc in County Wexford has been appointed to a new specialist role within the organisation.
Martina Harrington, who is originally from Birr, in Offaly, has worked in county Wexford since 2002.
She graduated with a
B.Agr.Sc. from UCD in 2000 and later completed a Masters in Rural Environmental
Conservation Management.
She began her career with
Kirwan Agri-consultants in
Offaly before joining Teagasc in 2002 as a REPS planner in
Enniscorthy.
Since 2014 her role in Wexford has been as a Business and Technology drystock advisor where she worked with beef and sheep clients through discussion groups and one-to-one consultations.
She is one of two people appointed to new cattle spe- cialist roles within the organisation and she will have responsibility for the south east region.
Ms Harrington is also the new programme manager of the Teagasc-Irish Farmers Journal BETTER Farm Beef Challenge programme.
Speaking about her new role she said is looking forward to it: ‘I am really looking forward to the opportunity to work with the farmers, advisors and wider stakeholders.’
Commenting that the beef sector is going through ‘uncertain times’ she said there are pressures coming ‘from price to specification, to carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions’.
‘It is our job to look at these pressures and break them down for farmers,’ she said.
‘While we know there are many efficiencies that can be implemented on beef farms to improve profitability and sustainability.’