The Overall Winner of the Pasture Progress Award 2025 has been named as Liam Rochford from Croase, County Wexford, as the Pasture Progress and Student Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards were presented by Minister Noel Grealish T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, on Thursday last, 18 June at the Teagasc Crops Research Centre in Oak Park, Co. Carlow.
The Pasture Progress Awards took on a change of format for 2025 recognising grassland farmers who, not only have impressive levels of sustainable pasture production, but have also made the most progress in this area in recent years. These farmers are growing and utilising more grass on their farms, contributing to sustainable livestock production systems.
Minister Grealish acknowledged the county winners and congratulated the regional finalists, and the overall winner Liam Rochford. To the student finalists he said they were ‘the ambassadors for good grassland management and the future of farming’. He congratulated the Student Category Winner, Glen Williamson from County Cavan, representing Ballyhaise Agricultural College.
Winners were selected in every county with the regional and overall winner being selected from county winners. The student category award recognises students from agricultural colleges across Ireland excelling in grassland management and knowledge. The awards are supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with an overall prize fund of €40,000.
Farmer Category winners
Overall winner and Leinster winner in the farmer category as Liam Rochford, Croase, Co. Wexford. The Munster winner: Partnership of Anne Keane, Esther Walsh and Oisin Shannon, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford. The Connacht/Ulster winner: David, Ian and Glen Williamson, Bailieboro, Co. Cavan.
Student Section
Student Category winner was Glen Williamson, Ballyhaise College. Student Category finalists were: Emily Needham, Gurteen College; Owen McCarthy, Clonakilty College; James Lynch, Pallaskenry College and Thomas King, Mountbellew College.
County Winners
The Cork winner was Darragh Scully. Waterford were represented by Anne Keane, Esther Walsh and Oisin Shannon. The Tipperary winner was Shane Kennedy, while Declan Flynn was the Limerick winner.
The Pasture Progress Awards are part of the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign – which is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, AIB, FBD, Grassland Agro and the Irish Farmers Journal – which focuses on promoting efficient nutrient management, high grass/clover pastures, routine grass measurement and overall good grassland management.
