Young Farmer Forum event in Kilbeggan focuses on innovation and resilience
Participants of the Young Farmer Forum gathered in the midlands recently for the latest instalment of the programme, a collaborative initiative being carried out between Kepak and Musgrave.
The Kilbeggan-based event provided participants with an opportunity to explore both on-farm innovation and the wider beef supply chain, reinforcing the aim of the programme to equip young farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to build resilient farm businesses.
The day began with visits to the progressive beef enterprises of Noel and Eamon Dunne, and John Dooley in Laois, and ended at Kepak Kilbeggan.
The Dunne farm provided participants with an insight into succession planning and structured farm partnerships in driving on-farm investment.
Operating a 130-cow dairy herd alongside a dairy calf-to-beef enterprise, the father-and-son partnership enabled the business to access grant support which facilitated the installation of two robotic milking units.
This investment has significantly improved labour efficiency, herd management and work-life balance, while supporting the continued expansion of the business.
By undertaking and investing in these developments, the Dunnes have created a highly efficient, scalable farming system that demonstrates how collaborative farm structures can unlock opportunities for growth and innovation.
The second farm visit took place at the holding of John Dooley, who shared his experience of finishing cattle off grass using a zero-grazing system.
John has been operating a zero-grazing system since 2018, producing high levels of grass and finishing store cattle without the use of chemical nitrogen fertiliser.
The system uses fields of ryegrass and white clover, with slurry spread back onto the land in an environmentally-friendly way, while enabling soil to absorb as many nutrients as possible.
Maintaining soil fertility is a priority, and pH, phosphorus and potassium levels are closely monitored to support clover performance and grass production.
According to John, the combination of clover, slurry and sound soil management ensures the farm maintains a high stocking rate while significantly reducing reliance on purchased inputs.
A highlight of the day was the visit to Kepak's Kilbeggan facility. Hosted by site manager Conor Seery, the session included talks from two expert industry speakers.
Laura Tully of Fit Farmers delivered an engaging presentation on mental and physical wellbeing, focusing on practical actions farmers can take to manage workload pressures, improve resilience and protect their long-term health. Participants also received access to the Fit Farmers platform to support ongoing wellbeing development.
The financial aspect of farm development was addressed by Nicola Featherstone, agri advisor with AIB. Her presentation covered funding opportunities available to farmers, preparing for discussions with lenders and key considerations when investing in business expansion, technology and infrastructure.
The Young Farmer Forum continues to bring together ambitious young farmers for a series of educational and networking events throughout 2026.
By combining practical farm visits, industry exposure and expert-led learning, the programme aims to support the next generation of farmers in building profitable, sustainable and future-focused enterprises.
About the Young Farmer Forum
The Young Farmer Forum was launched earlier this year by Kepak and Musgrave to support the future sustainability of Ireland's beef and sheep sectors. Through a programme of on-farm events, industry visits and educational experiences, participants have the opportunity to engage directly with experts from across farming, processing, retail and education while helping to shape conversations around the future of Irish agriculture.
The programme builds on the success of the 2025 Forum, which delivered a farmer-led recommendations report to Government and established a dedicated producer group focused on succession, land access and long-term farm viability. This year's programme continues that work while strengthening connections between farmers, processors and retailers.