The board of AgriSearch has appointed a new chair, and vice chair of AgriSearch’s Sheep Advisory Committee.
Roger Bell has taken up the role of chair. Bell farms 1,500 lowland and upland sheep on a rotational grazing system, in partnership with his wife Hilary.
The farmers from Kells, Co. Antrim also have a herd of 70 beef cattle. Bell has participated in a number of AgriSearch projects including GrassCheck, Beacon Farm Network and a European Innovation Project (EIP) on multi-species swards as well as ARCZero.
Their farm is also a CAFRE Technology Demonstration Farm. Their farm is also used as a College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) technology demonstration farm.
Alastair Armstrong has been announced as the new vice chair. Armstrong farms in partnership with his father Sinclair in Tempo, Co. Fermanagh.
They farm 250 North Country Cheviot ewes plus 100 gimmers across the farm’s 160ac, as well as 1,200ac of hill grazing on the heather or grouse moor of the nearby Aughentaine Estate, Fivemiletown. In addition, Armstrong shepherds the 100-ewe flock owned by the estate.
Armstrong was part of the first Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) next deneration group and he currently chair’s the UFU Hill Farming Committee.
AgriSearch
AgriSearch’s operations manager, Sean Kane said: “I am delighted to welcome Roger and Alastair as the new chair and vice chair of AgriSearch’s Sheep Advisory Committee.
“Both bring a wealth of experience and understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the sheep sector. Their hands-on knowledge and commitment to innovation will be invaluable in shaping future research priorities and driving forward practical, farmer-led solutions.”
AgriSearch’s sectoral advisory committee’s provide technical and practical guidance to the board of trustees. The committee identify topics requiring further research, review proposals from research organisations and make recommendations to the board of trustees.
They also review progress of ongoing research and innovation and monitor and advice AgriSearch on its dissemination activities.
