With incomes on dairy farms under real pressure at present, a relentless approach to improving the overall efficiency of all aspects of the farm business is essential for long term survival. Why not take the opportunity to discuss how the latest research findings from the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute can help you improve the technical efficiency and profitability of your farm business? A wide range of topics will be covered on the AFBI stand, including lameness, crossbreeding, the Nitrates Directive Derogation and greenhouse gases.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) will be promoting the Cattle Health Scheme for bovine viral diarrhoea, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, Johne’s disease and leptospirosis at this year’s RUAS Winter Fair. The scheme allows herdowners to demonstrate freedom of their herds from these diseases, which are four of the most economically important infectious disease agents present in herds in Ireland, or to monitor and eradicate these infections as appropriate.
Dr Glenn Kennedy, Chemical Surveillance Branch (VSD) with Aden Do and Jin-Hee Lee from the Korean Food & Drugs Administration.
On the afternoon of Tuesday 27 October 2009, a group of final year undergraduate BSc (Agricultural Technology) students from Queen's University Belfast, visited Veterinary Sciences Division, AFBI (Stormont).
AgriSearch organised a research seminar on 21st October 2009 to highlight results from beef research programmes which they fund jointly with DARD. The title of the seminar was ‘From beef production to consumption – a seminar for specialists’ and was held at AFBI Hillsborough.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA, officially opened the refurbished courtyard and buildings at the AFBI Hillsborough site.
An industry wide Pig Event will be hosted by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough on the 16 September 2009.
Agriculture Minister, Michelle Gildernew together with DARD Permanent Secretary Dr Malcolm McKibben took some time during their visit to the Fermanagh Show in Enniskillen yesterday to speak with some of the AFBI staff on duty on the AFBI Promotional trailer.
The AFBI promotional trailer made its first appearance at the Clogher Valley Show in Augher on Wednesday 29th July. A good turnout enjoyed the fine weather with quite a few visitors joining us on the AFBI stand to obtain details on the AFBI Cattle Health Scheme, Bluetongue disease and grass breeding.
AFBI recently supported Belfast Zoo in their Native Species Week (22-25 July 2009). The aim of the week was to celebrate indigenous biodiversity, in parallel to all the exotic animals found at the zoo. The AFBI stand was on local invertebrates, virtually all of which could be found in gardens and parkland in Belfast, e.g. slaters, centipedes, millipedes, slugs, beetles and flies.
The Northern Ireland Pig Event will be held on 16th September 2009 at AFBI Hillsborough. Displays will be open for viewing from 10am and presentations will commence at 11am. A second session will open at 6pm with presentations starting at 7pm. Both sessions will be identical and everyone from the pig industry is invited to attend one of the sessions.
AFBI was in attendance at the Environmental Careers Awareness Event
at Queens University Belfast recently. The event was well attended by undergraduate and postgraduate
students across all degree disciplines to learn more about careers in the 'Green Economy' and find out
what it is like to work within one of the fastest growing and most innovative career areas. AFBI was
represented by Dr Suzanne McCormick of Agri-Environment Branch and Laurence Rooney of Fisheries and
Aquatic Ecosystems Branch.
Lorraine freeborn
and Aine Maguire (QUB) discuss careers in scientific research with Dr Suzanne McCormick of AFBI
Dr Suzanne McCormick
(AFBI) with Emma McAleenan (QUB)
The AFBI stand
at the Whitla Hall drew particular interest from both undergraduate and postgraduate students at the
Environmental
.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is holding an open
meeting on Wednesday 25 February 2009 at 10.45 am at AFBI Headquarters, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX.
The New Year kicks off on a high note with NIIAS hosting an important debate on the topic of Genetic Modification (GM) and the implications of this fast evolving technology for the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland.
