Members visit Crawford'snew beef unit

Deputy UFU President Barclay Bell was the first speaker of the evening and Charles Crawford welcomed everyone. All present were very impressed with Charles’ new venture.

The unit houses approximately 550 Aberdeen Angus heifers. Everyone received great hospitality and would like to thank Mr Crawford for hosting this event.

2016 started off with the President’s Area Meeting on Monday, January 11, in the Killyhevlin hotel. Chairman David Brown opened the meeting and presented a cheque of £1,000 to Jude McCann, Rural Support. This amount was raised at an auction at our UFU annual dinner dance in November. Thanks go to all the local businesses for donating and all who took part in the auction. The Presidential team spoke on their successes during 2015 and left time for the members to discuss concerns over current issues, such as flooding in Fermanagh.

A new working group for those affected by flooding has been set up and met in the local UFU office, chaired by Mr David Brown, County Chairman. Points discussed in the meeting were brought forward to the executive and to local councillors and politicians. Mr Barclay Bell saw the flooding problems first hand when he recently visited local member’s farms.

Everyone is looking forward to the next group meeting on February 4 at 8pm in the Killyhevlin where Gordan Grey, Erne Veterinary Group, will discuss heat synchronisation and herd fertility. All members welcome.

The annual UFU President’s Dinner will be held in Belfast City Hall on Friday, April 1, 2016, contact UFU headquarters for tickets.