Paddy O’Kelly from Broadford has been welcomed by the National Dairy Council (NDC) into its Farmer Ambassador Programme. Ambassadors act as advocates for Ireland’s family-farm-based, grass-fed dairy production system. There are now 15 such ambas-sadors nationwide.
“They are champions for the many initiatives being employed to make Irish dairy more sustainable and environmentally friendly,” the NDC stated.
Paddy went to agricultural college in Pallaskenry and spent three years with the Farm Apprenticeship Board, working on farms in Kerry and Cork. He spent a year travelling and working on farms in New Zealand and Australia before returning home in 1999 and taking over the family farm. Paddy is the 7th generation on the farm and his parents Mike and Kathleen are still very involved. Paddy and his wife Maura have four children: Micheál (14), Emma (12), Aoife (9) and Pádraig (3).
The new NDC ambassador, O’Kelly said: “A lot of emphasis has been placed on sustainability in recent years with the introduction of clover in the grass sward, low-emission slurry spreading, planting of hedges and energy efficiencies.
“It’s so important to balance the debate and show how farmers are making positive strides to meet the challenges in lowering emissions.”