Congratulations to our winners of our Christmas Draw which took place in our office yesterday, Thursday the 21st of December 2017.

Winners

1^st Prize           20 bags of Super Beef Nuts: Paddy and Donal Kennedy, Co. Leitrim.

2^nd Prize           1 year subscription to Herdwatch: Mark Callaghan, Carracastle, Co. Mayo

3^rd Prize            €80 fuel voucher: John Towey, Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon

4^th Prize            Bottle of whiskey & box of chocolates: Bernard Hunt, Gurteen, Co. Sligo.

5^th Prize           €50 meal voucher: Michael Killeen, Tooreen, Co. Mayo

6^th to 10th Prizes: Farmers Handbook 2018: Tom Campbell, Cloonaghboy, Swinford, Co. Mayo, Martin and Eileen O’Brien, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, Damien Tiernan, Hillstreet, Co. Roscommon, Kevin Tighe, Aghamore, Co. Mayo and John Walsh, Swinford, Co. Mayo

Thank you for all your entries. Wishing all our customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Our office will close on Friday 22^nd of December and will re-open on Wednesday 3^rd of January 2018

We are delighted that the official opening of our new office (Friday 10th of February) is now just days away and will be performed by Mairead McGuinness, MEP and VP of the European Parliament. The full itinerary for Friday is as follows:

9am to 11am: The Tommy Marren Mid-West radio show will be live from our new office. Guest speakers on all agri-related matters.
11am to 1pm: Meet and greet events with our customers and the general public.
2pm to 4.30pm: Meet and greet events with our customers and the general public, networking with agri-business representatives and official opening of the office at 2.30pm by Mairead McGuinness.

All are welcome.

Carroll Consultancy are delighted and very excited to announce that Mairead McGuinness, MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament will officially open our new office on Bridge Street, Swinford, Co. Mayo on Friday 10th of February at 2.30pm. We are moving from our existing premises on Main Street to this larger modern facility on Bridge Street to facilitate the ongoing growth and expansion of our business and in line with our strategic growth plan. It also has a custom built meeting room that will be used for training events for our customers and also for the implementation of the Knowledge Transfer Programme.

The move to our new office will help us to deliver quality, knowledge, experience and value to our clients in a professional, timely, friendly and cost effective manner. We would like to thank all of our existing customers for their loyalty and custom in the past and we look forward to enhancing our services to them.

All existing clients and new customers are very welcome to join us on this very special occasion.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dermot Brennan as an Agricultural Consultant to our firm. Dermot graduated from University College Dublin this summer with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree. He will be assisting in the strategic development of the advisory service of the firm with particular emphasis on all the new measures under the proposed Rural Development Programme – GLAS, the BPS and the KT programme. A native of Sligo, Dermot spent six months in New Zealand in 2015 for this student work experience and he was a member of the UCD Agricultural Society in his final year.

Farmers as participants in the Beef Data Genomics Programme must complete their Carbon Navigator before October 31st 2016. All farmers can avail of this service here at Carroll Consultancy as we are approved DAFM Carbon Navigator advisors.

Agriculture accounts for approximately 30% of Irish greenhouse gas production with most of the remainder being contributed by the transport and domestic sectors. Ireland is committed to reduce green house gas emissions by 20% by 2020. Reductions in agricultural emissions per unit of output can be achieved by improving farm efficiency. The Beef Carbon Navigator focuses on the 6 main
efficiency measures that reduce GHG emissions and increase profit.

1. Longer grazing season
2. Lower age at first calving
3. Increased Calving Rate
4. Improved Growth Rate
5. Improved nitrogen use efficiency
6. Improved slurry management

For more information on completing the Carbon Navigator, please contact us. You do not have to be a client of our firm to avail of the service and there is no charge for completing it.

We now have a vacancy for an Agricultural Consultant / Advisor.

Responsibilities will include:
• Assisting our clients with their farm scheme applications including GLAS, AEOS,NR/YFS and BPS.
• Coordinate, participate and advise our clients in our Knowledge Transfer groups.
• Assist in all other agricultural consultancy activities of the business.
• Contribute to the implementation and management of the specific objectives and strategy of the business.

The successful candidate must meet the following requirements:

• Have a third level qualification in Agricultural Science.
• A drive and passion to work in the private advisory service and enthusiasm to assist management with the strategic plan of the business.
• Excellent communication and IT skills.
• Ability to work on their own initiative and as a team member in the business.
• Current drivers licence and own transport.

A competitive remuneration package is available.

Interested candidates should apply with their Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter to:
The Managing Director, Carroll Consultancy, Main Street, Swinford, Co. Mayo or by email to edwina@carrollconsultancy.ie
Closing date for applications is Friday 23rd September 2016

Farmers as participants in the Beef Data Genomics Programme must complete their Carbon Navigator before October 31st 2016. All farmers can avail of this service here at Carroll Consultancy as we are approved DAFM Carbon Navigator advisors.

Agriculture accounts for approximately 30% of Irish greenhouse gas production with most of the remainder being contributed by the transport and domestic sectors. Ireland is committed to reduce green house gas emissions by 20% by 2020. Reductions in agricultural emissions per unit of output can be achieved by improving farm efficiency. The Beef Carbon Navigator focuses on the 6 main
efficiency measures that reduce GHG emissions and increase profit.

1. Longer grazing season
2. Lower age at first calving
3. Increased Calving Rate
4. Improved Growth Rate
5. Improved nitrogen use efficiency
6. Improved slurry management

For more information on completing the Carbon Navigator, please contact us. You do not have to be a client of our firm to avail of the service and there is no charge for completing it.

The 2016 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was opened by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine this week. All farmers must submit their application on or before 16th May 2016. In a new development, all GLAS participants must submit their BPS through the online facility. The transfer of farm entitlements application form is also available now.

If you wish to receive any farm support payments in 2016 or commenced farming in 2016, you also must declare all farmed land before this deadline.

Contact us if you wish to discuss your BPS application, buy/sell entitlements or need any advice.

Our Managing Director, Breian Carroll, will be part of the Judging Panel for the Agri-Business Awards 2015.

The Agribusiness Awards have been launched to celebrate and recognise the organisations and individuals who have contributed to Ireland’s position as a global leader in the sector. The awards covers all areas of the agribusiness industry including dairy, beef, poultry, beverages, seafood food processing and more. The programme is a platform to recognise key achievements in the industry and honour key people.

Other members of the Judging Panel are Prof. Willie Donnelly – President of Waterford Institute of Technology, Sean Farrell – Head of Agriculture Bank of Ireland, Zoe Kavanagh – CEO National Dairy Council, Anne Finnegan – Agri Strategy Manager Allied Irish Bank and Dr. Karina Pierce – Lecturer School of Agriculture and Food Science UCD.

The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, December 8th in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Dublin.