John Fagan

John is a full time sheep farmer in Westmeath. He farms 1100 ewes and 125 beef cattle on 180 ha. He is an advocate of finishing all stock off grass with limited bought in feeds. John graduated from UCD in 2001 with a degree in Agri-Business and Rural Development, and in 2002 he won a Nuffield Scholarship where he highlighted the lack of traceability in South American Beef production. Having travelled extensively, John believes that efficient grassland management can reap massive benefits for Irish farmers whether in beef, sheep or dairying. John found his time on the IGA council hugely interesting. He hosted an Irish Grassland Association reseeding demonstration on his farm and spoke at the student conference in 2011 and at the sheep conference in 2012. John says he really enjoyed being on the IGA council as it brought him into contact with go ahead, positive people; a place any right thinking person wants to be when there can often be a lot of doom and gloom. John feels strongly that anyone pursuing a career in farming should consider membership of the IGA a must, and he looks forward to lifelong membership of Association. John served on the Council of the Irish Grassland Association for 3 years.