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North Antrim Dairy Farmers' Development Group was established in 1994 and initially operated as a purchasing group with a membership of 12, growing to 54 dairy farmers.

The group have been actively involved in the organization of a wide range of training courses delivered by Greenmount and other training providers. We have benefited from sharing experiences through farm walks, discussion groups and group competitions. Study tours have been undertaken to the south of Ireland , France , Holland and England.

North Antrim Co-Operative Enterprises Ltd
North Antrim Co-op has been in existence for almost 40 years. It was formed as a Co-operative to market suckled calves with its livestock mart based at the Fairhill in Ballycastle. Over the years the Co-op has also been a focal point for the sale of lambs.
The group went on a study tour to Scotland visiting a number of farms. The touring party also took in the Highland Show, which was both educational and entertaining. The benefits of getting out of your own territory to see other farms is useful but also encourages members to take stock of the quality farming
locally.

Loughgiel Farmers Development Group Ltd.

L.F.D.G. was formed in 1996 and has endeavoured to look at Rural Development opportunities. This has challenged the committee to think beyond traditional agriculture. Members of the group are actively involved in looking at alternative business options - Anaerobic Digestion, wind energy, IT business programs and co-operative marketing of lambs. The group networks with other farmers groups and relevant agencies, acting as an information highway for all concerned. The group was involved in the N.A.A.A. program and benefited from collective action to improve milk quality and suckled calf production. More recently the group has acquired funding through the Rural Development Program to supply spring water to family farms and the erection of eight 20KW wind turbines. Funding for another three 20KW turbines has also been acquired from the DETI. More success came through a 1.6 application to DARD (Facilitation for Farmers) and the outcome of a 1.9 application (Investment in Agriculture Holdings) should be known shortly. The Group encourages recognition as to the importance farming has in the heritage of the area.

Causeway Coast Quality Lamb Group
The group has been operating as a lamb producer group since 1992. The group membership comes from the Ballymoney, Coleraine and Bushmills area. The group has seen the quality of lamb improve over the years and to some extent this has been due to the feedback that is available to members from the meat plant. Members have a real pride in the quality of lambs marketed through the group and each year there is keen competition within the categories for significant prizes donated by commercial companies. Frank McCaughan and Victor Chestnut act as co-ordinators.
The group recognizes the challenges and opportunities that are facing farmers through the revised system of payments through the new single farm payment. How to react to the new situation will be a topic for discussion and important decisions will have to be made over the coming year.

Causeway Dairy Farmers Development Group Ltd began 25 years ago as a discussion group. The membership has remained at a steady number.

  

Green Glens Marketing Ltd was formed in 1991, becoming a co-op in 1993. Their main focus was as a buying group and over time a social aspect developed. Currently there are about 100 members. They applied Peace II for funding under the 1.6 Measure.

  

Inner Glens Farmers Ltd aims to represent members' interests, promote discussion and share information which will develop members' farms. This includes accessing available grant funding. It is hoped that membership will expand as the group matures.

North Antrim Environmental Systems (NAES)
This special interest group was formed in 1999 to primarily look at how an anaerobic digester plant might assist in solving the issue of slurry and organic waste disposal. As farmers we recognized the effect that slurries are having on soils and their potential pollutant effects. Through a series of trips to Denmark, Holland, Germany and Devon we have seen how European countries are adopting technology to deal with waste and in the process create energy for
sale. The whole area of crops for energy production is now being looked at. We feel that we should be actively engaged in responding to change, with the environmental /energy aspect possibly providing opportunities for North Antrim farms in the future. We may hold a public meeting in 2005 to update people on progress that is being made in other countries and hopefully one day in North Antrim.

The Glens of Antrim Agricultural Development Group was established in 2000. It was an opportunity to identify issues affecting farmers in the Glens and to agree on positive ideas and actions for the future. As a relatively new group plans for projects are undergoing discussion and appraisal.