A family from Waterford has been named as the winner of Flahavan's Oat Grower of the Year Awards 2024

The awards were split into two categories - Conventional Oat Growers and Organic Oat Growers - and competition was strong in both categories.

Agronomist and cereals specialist, Ciaran Collins, who acted as independent judge for the competition said: “There was clear evidence of a strong commitment from the growers to produce oats of the highest quality for Flahavan’s.”  

Winners and runners-up in both categories were selected on the basis of overall grain quality, taking into account kernel content; bushel weight; moisture levels; aroma; flavour; colour and cleanliness.

Ciaran Collins reviewed the selected samples and interviewed shortlisted growers, he then reduced the shortlist to just three finalists from each category – a winner and two runners-up.

The finalists were assessed on the basis of grower excellence, which included cereal knowledge; farm practice and technique, as well as environmental  sustainability. 

The Gray family are the winners in the Conventional category. The Gray family, from Co. Waterford has been supplying high-quality oats to Flahavan's for generations.

Specialising in winter oats, they consistently achieve top-notch results, with a bushel weight of 59.5 for Harvest 2024.

Flahavan's has said that their exemplary farming practices include a focus on crop rotation and the shift from minimum tillage to direct drilling, reflecting their commitment to sustainability.

The company added that the Grays' attention to detail extends to chopped straw management and active participation in a local farming discussion group, further enhancing their reputation for excellence.

The winner in the Organic category is Eoghan O’Sullivan, from Donohill, Tipperary town.

Eoghan was a runner-up in 2023. This year he delivered an impressive bushel weight of 60.5, thanks, in part, to an optimised combine setup.

His approach to maximising straw quality involves cutting crops high and re-cutting stubble for bedding. Despite having limited land for tillage, Eoghan makes efficient use of farmyard manure and lime and his dedication to sustainable farming practices is clear.

Runners up in the Conventional category were:

Martin O'Regan from Kinsale, Co. Cork;
Frank Shanahan from Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford.

Runners up in the Organic category were: 

Barry McWilliams from New Ross, Co. Wexford;
Brendan Rafferty from Greenore, Co. Louth. 

In his summation of the awards Ciaran Collins said: “The standard of the growers in the competition was excellent.

"Oats had the lowest carbon footprint in the study and when the carbon sequestered by straw incorporation was included in the calculations many farmers are growing oats at or below net zero.”

Operations manager at Flahavan’s, Johnny Flahavan commented: “The standard of oats supplied to Flahavan’s is consistently exceptional and we’re particularly delighted to see that so many of our suppliers are introducing more and more environmentally sustainable practices into their farming, demonstrating best in class results.

"Our sincerest congratulations to our winners and runners up, a well-deserved recognition for top quality tillage farmers.”

Flahavan’s source its conventional oats from within a 60-mile radius of the mill at Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford.

The majority of its organic oats are already sourced domestically, with the company's key ambition being to fully meet the demand for organic oats with Irish-grown supply in the near future.