NEWS RELEASE
9 January 2014
NEW SERIES OF RARE BREED – A FARMING YEAR STARTS ON UTV
A new series of Rare Breed – A Farming Year starts on UTV this Monday 13
January at 8pm.
New farms, new families and new stories – plus Rare Breed revisits some familiar
faces. From arctic winter weather and torrential rains to record summer
temperatures, UTV cameras have been out in all weathers and on every type of farm
to bring the very best of Ulster’s farms and farming families.
Michael Wilson, Managing Director, UTV Television said: “Coming from a farming
background myself, I was delighted that the first series of Rare Breed in 2012 proved
a tremendous success with viewers - regularly attracting more than 200,000 viewers.
“This new series builds on that success, showing the highs and lows farmers
experience in what is one of Northern Ireland’s most important industries.”
The series is produced for UTV by local independent production company Crawford
McCann. Kelda Crawford McCann, Executive Producer said: “Filmed throughout
2013, we see how 17 families try to survive one of the toughest farming years in
living memory. Working hand in hand with nature and the weather we see how young
and old share in this seasonal rhythm that brings food from the soil to the kitchen
table.
“Right across Northern Ireland we’ll see the breeders of pigs, poultry, sheep, and
cattle; the growers of the grain and grass and the producers of eggs, fruit and
vegetables. We’ll discover how our local produce is a now global commodity worth
tens of millions to our economy and providing jobs for many of thousands of people.”
Sponsored by Irwin’s Bakery and shot in High Definition, Rare Breed – A Farming
Year starts on UTV on this Monday 13 January at 8pm.
-EndsFor further information please contact Felicity Templeton, UTV Communications on
028 9026 2129
Note to editors – programme information follows.
Rare Breed – A Farming Year – Series 2
Programme 1 – ‘January’ – UTV 13 January 2014 at 8pm
A brand new year begins and while many of us are still in bed, on farms across
Northern Ireland a working day is just beginning. Omagh husband and wife team
Drew and Valerie McConnell are up before dawn milking their Holstein herd. Near
Limavady, arable farmer Richard Kane is waiting for the torrential rain to stop so he
can begin sowing for rapeseed. Down outside Saintfield, brothers Jason and Adam
Kelly’s goat herd is rapidly expanding. Up in the Sperrins, Harry Sinclair is keeping a
close eye on his sheep as heavy snow starts to fall. The Wilson Family from
Fermanagh returns to Rare Breed and they’re heading to the crucial Pedigree
Hereford sale in Dungannon. For Moira pig farmer John Tate, the worsening weather
isn’t a problem as he raises his stock indoors but falling prices are a major concern.
For the Bell family near Ballymena, lambing season is almost upon them – it is vital
for their business that they produce the maximum number of lambs. All our farmers
will have to make crucial business decisions that will impact on the rest of the year –
choices that will make the difference between success and failure.
Programme 2 – ‘February’ – UTV 20 January 2014 at 8pm
Northern Irish livestock is in demand across the world and in Armagh, pedigree Limousin
farmer Henry Savage welcomes potential buyers from Holland. These Dutch breeders are
willing to pay big money and are keen to strengthen their herd’s bloodlines. In Moria, John
Tate is keen to see if a recent A.I. program has been successful on his pig herd. Across in
Omagh and Drew McConnell is checking when the cows will be ready to go back into calving.
Contractor Davy McKay is flat out in County Antrim cutting hedges – this work must be
completed before the nesting season for wild birds. Meanwhile the Bells near Ballymena are
planting new hedgerow at their sheep farm. At Drew McConnell’s Omagh dairy farm, it’s a
chance to spread some slurry. In Saintfield there are surprise new arrivals at the Kelly
brothers’ goat herd. Draperstown’s Harry Sinclair takes a break from his day job on the farm.
As president of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, one of his biggest concerns is farm safety. At the
Kane’s in County Londonderry they’re not just growing rapeseed but are now processing it as
cooking oil. In Downpatrick at the Carson family’s organic beef farm, they are tagging and
removing the horns from young calves.
Programme 3 – ‘March’ – UTV 27 January 2014 at 8pm
As March begins, there is no hint of the severe snowstorms that are about to hit Northern
Ireland. James Alexander near Toomebridge shows how global our Agri-food industry is
becoming – they’re shipping 65 weaned calves to Italy. The Wilsons in Fermanagh strengthen
their pedigree Hereford herd when they buy a new bull from County Offaly. At Drew
McConnell’s dairy farm near Omagh, they’re planning for new arrivals. It’s not so good news
for arable farmer Richard Kane near Limavady. The wet and cold weather means his
rapeseed crop is behind schedule. But much worse is to come as artic weather cripples much
of the country. For our sheep farms, the sub-zero temperatures couldn’t have come at a
worse time – lambing season. With sheds overflowing, farmers are racing to rescue
thousands of sheep that are buried in snowdrifts. Harry Sinclair leaves his farm in the
Sperrins to see some of the worst affected areas in Dromara and Rathfriland where flocks are
being wiped out. Over in Ballymena, there is no let-up for the Bells as lambs arrive thick and
fast through one of the coldest nights on record. It could take years for many farms to recover
from the winter storm – for others it could mean the end.
Programme 4 – ‘April’ – UTV 3 February 2014 at 8pm
Following the catastrophic spring blizzards, many farms are now at breaking point. As the
thaw begins it reveals a new crisis - the ground is too sodden for livestock and on many farms
silage is running out. For arable farmers the typical calendar has been thrown into chaos,
some are already a month behind sowing this year’s crop. At the Bells near Ballymena, the
lambs continue to arrive but thankfully a team of American vet students are helping out. As
the weather slowly improves at the Kanes near Limavady, the race is on to drill the fields for
rapeseed. Finally, the weather is good enough for potato growers like the McCartney family
near Dungiven to begin planting. And at the Savages in Armagh, after the longest winter
indoors for cattle, livestock can at last be turned out into the fields. With sheds emptying
across the country, near Dungannon hen breeder Ian Trimble is about to fill his poultry
houses with 32,000 birds. In Fermanagh, the Wilson’s new stock bull is beginning to settle in.
And at James Alexander’s beef farm near Randalstown, he’s trying to improve his herd by
using embryo transfer method. The weather has finally broken but the financial impact of the
spring blizzards will be felt for months and years to come – both for farmers and consumers.
Programme 5 – ‘May’ – UTV 10 February 2014 at 8pm
After one of the harshest winters in living memory, our Rare Breed farmers are more than
ready for a boost. And it comes in the shape of Balmoral - the largest Agri-food event in the
country. This year the show is making history, taking place for the first time ever at The Maze.
With over eighty thousand spectators and around 500 exhibitors, it is not just a shop window
to show the very best of Ulster farming, it's a great chance to do big business with buyers
from across the UK and Ireland. Many of our Rare Breed farmers are here - showing
livestock, selling produce or just catching up with friends. Randalstown beef farmer James
Alexander is hopeful of doing well in the commercial classes. There is lots of tension and
plenty of competition as the Wilsons of Fermanagh are showing in the pedigree Herefords.
Meanwhile, with potential buyers looking on, Henry Savage from Cullyhanna has his Limousin
heifers competing. Nearby, in the food hall, the Kanes from Limavady are promoting their
rapeseed oil and the Kellys from Saintfield are introducing their goat’s cheese to the market.
For the Bell family it’s a great day out away from their Ballymena farm – but the sheep aren’t
too far from their minds as they are taking a keen interest in the shearing competition.
Programme 6 – ‘June’ – UTV 17 February 2014 at 8pm
June begins with yet more rain but it isn’t long before the sun starts to shine and at last, warm
weather returns. At Drew and Valerie McConnell’s dairy farm near Omagh, the cows can
finally be let out to graze – six weeks later than normal. At James Alexander’s Randalstown
beef farm it’s breeding season and he’s also playing host to the a charity BBQ. In Comber,
the Herrons are now able to begin planting winter cabbages and Brussels sprouts. Near
Dungannon, Ian Trimble’s breed hens are now laying 24,000 eggs per day. These are sent to
Donaghmore Hatchery, which sets two million eggs per week. Once hatched, these birds are
destined for standard, high welfare, organic and free-range broiler poultry farms across the
country. In Moira, pig farmer John Tate also has plenty of new arrivals. Philip Troughton’s
Armagh apple farm is now in full bloom. At the Kane’s, just outside Limavady, they’re
welcoming visitors from the U.S.A. who are keen to try the rapeseed cooking oil. Hill sheep
farmer Harry Sinclair from Draperstown meets some of our farmers of the future as guest
speaker at the Greenmount College graduation. The continuing warm weather means agricontractors, the McKays, are working round the clock in County Antrim to get the silage in.
Meanwhile the Bells near Ballymena are also refilling their silos.
Programme 7 – ‘July’ – UTV 24 February 2014 at 8pm
July and all our farms are enjoying the heat wave. The record temperatures mean it’s a
chance to try and catch up following a disastrous spring. Record high temperatures mean it is
perfect weather for cutting silage - so agri-contractors, the McKays, are working flat out for
farmers the length and breadth of County Antrim. In Dungiven, potato growers the McCartney
family, are spraying their crop for blight. Near Ballymena, it’s time for the Bells to sell some of
their lambs. With the rest of the sheep out in the fields, their sheds are now home to 3,500
free-range turkeys. The soaring temperatures have seen a dramatic rise in the fly population
around the McConnell’s Tyrone dairy farm. The flies can cause serious infections within the
herd - with disastrous consequences. Elsewhere in Tyrone sees the arrival of a new flock of
almost 20,000 free-range birds at Kenny Watters’ poultry broiler farm. It’s a big month for the
Wilsons from Fermanagh. Their eldest son, 15-year-old Jack, is judging a cattle class for the
very first time when he heads to County Longford Show. In Downpatrick, the Carson’s organic
beef farm welcomes a VIP visitor. Meanwhile across in Saintfield, the Kelly brothers’ goat
cheese business reaches a milestone as they begin production on their farm. They’re also
selling off male kids to goat farmer William Haire from the Belfast hills. The summer heat
wave comes to a sudden and stormy end.
Programme 8 – ‘August’ – UTV 3 March 2014 at 8pm
August and many of our Rare Breed farms are ready to harvest. The recent heat wave means
the Herrons near Comber are able to cut their Pointed Cabbage crop early. But the warm
weather has greatly increased the number of aphids so they’re spraying the Brussels sprouts.
In Limavady, Richard Kane is beginning to harvest his rapeseed. At Kenny Watters’ freerange broiler farm in County Tyrone, the birds are eight weeks old and almost ready for the
supermarket shelves. Across in County Armagh, the Savage’s pedigree herd is being judged
in the annual Northern Ireland Limousin competition. In Fermanagh, the dry spell is the ideal
chance for the Wilsons to carry out much needed drainage work in some of their wettest
fields. Reclaiming this land is vital for their ever-expanding herd of pedigree Herefords. It is
also calving time at James Alexander’s Toomebridge beef farm. But there’s a problem with a
delivery and the vet is called in to perform a caesarean. Elsewhere in County Antrim and the
Bells are hosting a workshop for young shearers. In Moira it is weaning time at John Tate’s
pig farm. Meanwhile near Omagh, Drew McConnell is already preparing for next year’s silage
crop by reseeding his fields.
Programme 9 ‘September’ (in production) on UTV 10 March 2014 at 8pm
Programme 10 ‘October’ (in production) on UTV 17 March 2014 at 8pm
Programme 11 ‘November’ (in production) on UTV 24 March 2014 at 8pm
Programme 12 ‘December’ (in production) on UTV 31 March 2014 at 8pm