Spotlight on farming during Farm24

THE Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) is supporting Farm24. Kicking off at 5am on Thursday 3 August the annual Farmers Guardian initiative celebrates the work of local farmers and aims to give consumers an insight into the high standards upheld in food production.

Commenting LMC chief executive, Ian Stevenson said, “Farm24 brings consumers onto farms in a virtual sense to see firsthand the work involved in producing wholesome, natural food that meets world leading quality standards.

“Since its launch in 2015 support for the initiative has grown with industry profiling the immense contribution of £3 billion in gross output value that farming makes to the economy in Northern Ireland. Farmers on the ground actively sharing what 24 hours in a farming day can look like allows wider society to get an insight into farming.”

Now a key date in the LMC calendar, Farm24 will see the Commission share a broad range of content across various social media channels.

Ian continued, “The farming sector in Northern Ireland is made up predominantly by family farms, with care for livestock often on a par with, or exceeding the level of care farmers provide for themselves. It is no surprise that Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured (NIFQA) beef and lamb farmers are world leaders when it comes to the health and welfare of their animals.

“Farmers are also proud custodians of the countryside and manage and maintain the landscape which we all enjoy. Farmers in Northern Ireland are critically important to maintaining the fabric of rural communities and they utilise approximately £2.2 billion of gross inputs each year in the production of their farming outputs, much of which is sourced from local suppliers in their areas. Sustainable, eco-conscious farming practices are ensuring that we can safeguard the sector for future generations.”

Encouraging farmers to participate in Farm24, and consumers to engage with the initiative, Ian concluded, “In a broad sense the Farm24 provides a platform to inform the public about ongoing workstreams within the agricultural sector and to helps bridge the gap between the farm gate and consumers plate. Social media will undoubtedly be a hive of activity with positive messages about our sector. LMC will join farmers and industry stakeholders, proudly championing the work of NIFQA farmers and sharing informative posts about the nutritional, health and environmental benefits of NIFQA beef and lamb.”