07 June 2024
Cavan farmer foresters scoop 2024 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award
Derek and Yvonne McCabe’s sustainable integration of their farming and forestry enterprises makes them worthy winners of 2024 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award. Noel Kennedy tells us more.
Teagasc congratulates Derek and Yvonne McCabe who are the winners of the 2024 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award.
The McCabes were presented with their award in Dublin on Thursday, May 2nd by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett and Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc.
Pictured above: Derek McCabe receives the 2024 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award from Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett, Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc and President RDS, John Dardis.
Receiving the Special Commendation Award in the 2024 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Category were Westmeath farmers James and Martina Ham.
Now in its 7th year the Teagasc Farm Forestry Award recognises working farmers who are integrating forestry and farming for environmental, social and economic benefits. It acknowledges the farmer’s role in actively managing the forest and promoting forest and tree planting to strengthen wider farming sustainability.
Living in Mountnugent, County Cavan, Derek McCabe and his family combine a busy beef enterprise with 70 hectares of forest which he manages himself. They run a mixed herd of pedigree Angus and Continental cattle and are on the road to getting into organics. In addition Derek is a keen breeder of Irish Draught Horses.
Derek has used his forestry management experiences and entrepreneurial skills to add value by developing a firewood and fencing business. He believes that forestry has made his farm holding sustainable and that each new generation in the family should be able to benefit from managing the forests into the future.
As well as his interest in his own forests, Derek looks forward and outwards and is deeply involved in the Northeast Forestry Group which links local forest owners who are interested in maximising their forests’ potential. He also believes strongly in sending a really positive message to the younger generation about forestry by working with schools to provide information and build knowledge.
On receiving the 2024 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award, Derek commented: “We are delighted to win the Teagasc award today. We’ve worked hard to develop our forest into something that will bring many kinds of rewards into the future and it’s great now to get this independent validation!”
Congratulating Derek and Yvonne McCabe, Teagasc Director, Professor Frank O’Mara, highlighted how “The award acknowledges Derek and Yvonne’s role in future proofing their family farm through the sustainable integration of his forestry and farming enterprises”. Professor O’Mara added: “Derek is also an excellent example of a farmer demonstrating innovation and entrepreneurship in downstream forest business development. Teagasc is delighted to be associated with the RDS Forestry Awards through our sponsorship of the Farm Forestry Award Category.”
Kevin O’Connell, Teagasc Forestry Advisor said: “Derek and Yvonne’s award is well deserved and his successful diversification into forestry highlights how farms and forests can work so well together with strong economic, practical, social and environmental benefits. Their success is a great example for others to aspire to.”
James and Martina Ham from County Westmeath received the runners up award in the 2024 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award.
James and Martina love their forests. They started planting 20 years ago and now have an area of forest equal to their land area still in farming, a combination which is now attracting their kids back to the home place. They are anxious to push the compatibility of organic farming, forest production and biodiversity and are putting plans in place to make this happen.
James and Martina set a great example to others that forestry, biodiversity and on-farm financial sustainability can go hand in hand, making them very worthy recipients of this year’s runner up spot.
James and Martina Ham from Westmeath were recipients of the Special Commendation Award in the 2024 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Category
Do you have what it takes to be a RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award winner?
If you believe you are successfully integrating your farm and forest for environmental, social and economic benefits why not put your name forward for the 2025 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award.
The 2025 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award will open soon for entries. The Award winner will receive €2,000 and an RDS Spring Awards Trophy with a Runners-up prize of €1,000 and an RDS Certificate of Merit
For more updates on the 2025 Award and information on this and all aspects of forest creation, management and training click here or contact noel.kennedy@teagasc.ie