NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards 2018 Opens for Entries

Excellence in Dairy Farming

1st May 2018: This year’s Quality Milk Awards have officially opened for entries; the competition is designed to identify and reward the country’s top dairy farm. Dairy co-ops throughout the country are invited to nominate their top milk suppliers before the closing date of Friday 25th May 2018.

Last year’s overall winners were John and Maria Walsh, from Co Tipperary who supply their milk to Dairygold Co-op.

The judges for this year’s awards are Dr Jack Kennedy, Dairy Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, Professor Pat Wall form UCD and Dr David Gleeson from Teagasc. We are delighted to have Irish Chef and Food Writer Clodagh McKenna as our QMA Food Ambassador again this year. Clodagh is a passionate advocate of quality Irish Dairy produce and said:

“As an Irish chef working abroad, Irish dairy produce has a superb reputation for quality in global markets. In Ireland, many of us take it for granted that we have countryside with so many fields of grass – but our green countryside is a tremendous asset because the pasture-based model of dairy farming is a vital ingredient for the success of Irish dairy produce all over the world”.

The judges will initially undertake detailed assessments based on the nomination forms and technical reports spanning a full 12-month period in order to select a short-list of finalists.  The judges will then arrange to visit each of the finalist farms for an inspection over the summer months. 

Zoe Kavanagh, CEO of the NDC said: “Our work in the NDC is really made possible because of the high quality of Irish milk and dairy produce available to consumers here, produced from top quality farms, off grassland”.

In addition to identifying the top dairy farm, the national judges reserve the option to award specific category awards in sectors which stand out from year to year, such as care for the environment or animal care and welfare. 

Ciara O’Callaghan, Brand Director at Ornua said: “We are once again proud to partner with the NDC for this year’s Quality Milk Awards. As the Kerrygold story is, to a large degree, the story of Irish dairy farming, it is fitting that we support these awards which recognise and celebrate the dedication of Irish dairy farmers. These farmers produce the highest quality milk which gives Kerrygold its distinctive and globally-loved taste and to them, we owe many of our successes”.

Nominations for the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards should be submitted from co-ops and co-op farm services managers using the official nomination form, before Friday 26th May, 2017.  For further information and entry forms please contact Lynda Thompson at the National Dairy Council on 01 290 2511. 

Please note that the minimum qualifying standard for entry for this national competition is TBC of 15,000 or less/ml average per month; and average SCC of 200,000 or less/ml with no count greater than 400,000 ml in any given month of the year in question.  The winners will be announced at a special awards lunch on 3rd October 2018 in Dublin.

CO-OPS MAY DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORMS HERE:

Nomination Form  |  On Farm Checklist