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by Dr Stephanie Woods (CREAM project co-ordinator)Andrew Fyffe (HND 2009), Omagh, graduated from CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus in May 2009 with a Higher National Diploma in Agriculture. As part of his HND work experience Andrew spent some time in South Dakota, USA, on the farm of Rodney Elliott, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Upon completion of his HND Andrew decided to progress to the Agricultural Technology Degree. This involves a two-year top up, the first year of which is taught at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus; with the second (and final) year taught at Queen’s University Belfast. Upon completion of his degree, Andrew hopes to enter a career in animal nutrition.
Robert Mc Conaghy (HND 2009), Drumnafivey Ballymoney, also graduated from CAFRE Greenmount Campus in May 2009. During Robert’s year of work experience he spent 7 months in New Zealand (pictured below) working on a low input, grass based dairy farm. When at Greenmount Robert was successful in being awarded Greenmount’s top Dairy student and runner up Young Dairy Farmer of the Year in the RABDF annual UK wide competition. After graduation, Robert returned to the home farm where he and his father milk 110 cows. Robert feels that the opportunities provided by his course at CAFRE have given him the confidence to take an active role in the industry and plans to implement some of the “best practices” observed on his year out and his time at Greenmount on the home farm. This includes improved grassland management, improvement of fertility with the use of pedometers and increasing selection pressure on health and milk composition traits when selecting bulls.
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