Joe Harte

Joe Harte

Joseph Harte qualified with a degree in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin in 1956 and received his Masters degree two years later. After a short spell working with the Land Commission, Joe joined An Foras Talúntais in May 1959 and together with Roger McCarrick and Aidan Conway, was one of the original research leaders at Grange. Initially he undertook research on various aspects of the breed, nutrition and early weaning of calves. In 1962 he commenced a series of experiments on indoor and outdoor bull beef production systems. He quickly developed a significant national and international reputation as an expert in calf rearing and beef production systems, publishing his findings at both scientific conferences and in peer-review journals.

While fulfilling the roles of both a research scientist and officer-in-charge at Grange he also completed his PhD (Trinity College Dublin; 1966). He spent a period of sabbatical study at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, starting in October 1966, and in 1970 he presented the third Edward Richards Orpen memorial lecture at the winter meeting of the Irish Grassland Association. Over the years Joseph Harte undertook a number of international consultancy roles and represented Ireland at international scientific meetings organised by the European Economic Community. He retired from Teagasc in 1988 after which he was active in journalism (Farming Independent), private consultancy and farming.