A group of students and teachers from the Northwest Missouri State University visited CAFRE Greenmount campus near Antrim this week. Their visit was part of their “2009 British Isles” Tour. The group had already visited the south of England before arriving in Northern Ireland.

The group comprised 14 students studying a 4-year degree course in agriculture along with three members of staff, Dr Jamie Patton, Mr Rod Barr and Ms Lurinda Turner. Northwest Missouri State is a public state-assisted regional university with nearly 7,000 students.

Mr John Fay, College Director welcomed the USA students and staff on their arrival. Greenmount students Denis Nulty (from Slane in County Meath) and Stuart Fulton (from Seskinore, Omagh, Co. Tyrone) showed the group around the CREAM dairy herd (Co-operative in Real Education and Agricultural Management). The visiting group got an insight into the differences in scale of operation as well as climate and pricing structures between Northern Ireland and their home locations in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.

Mr Victor Woods, Farm Manager, then showed the group the CAFRE organic unit. The party were able to view the Lleyn sheep flock and the Shorthorn/Angus cattle on the holding as well as the triticale crop and clover -rich swards in the surrounding fields. The members of the group were impressed by the organic approach to the enterprise in producing and generating so much of the feed and bedding within the farmholding. They appreciated being able to compare the organic system of livestock production with other methods.

Victor Woods of Greenmount Campus in conversation with the USA students about Lleyn sheep on the organic unit

Students from North West Missouri State University at the CAFRE Organic unit along with Greenmount staff Victor Woods and Ciaran Mulholland