Farm Walk and Talk Returns to Lyons Farm

The farm in Kildare welcomed students from Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford, Westmeath, Laois, Offaly and even as far as Sligo to give them a practical insight into many of the themes in the Leaving Certificate agricultural science syllabus.

Agri Aware Farm Walk & Talk returned to UCD Lyons Farm in the middle of lambing season. The ag science Students even rolled up their sleeves & helped deliver some of the new arrivals under the watchful eye of Professor Tommy Boland.

Farm Walk and Talk is a longstanding collaboration between Agri Aware, Teagasc, UCD and the Irish Farmers Journal.

The senior-cycle students made their way around the stations that covered topics linking in with the new Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science syllabus including Crops and Machinery, Farm Health and Safety, Dairy, Multi-Species Swards, Lambing and Equine and included talks from Agriaware and an introduction into UCD’s undergraduate programmes from Marketing Manager Damien Dempsey. 

Ahead of the event, Professor of Dairy Production Karina Price said “at the Farm Walk and Talk students will get exposure to the latest in sustainable livestock production systems and all the exciting research that’s ongoing in that area. It’s a really busy week on the farm here; it’s the busiest week in the lambing sheds so students can expect to see a lot of action with the sheep while they’re here so it promises to be a really exciting day and we’re really looking forward to meeting everyone.”

Marcus O’Halloran, Agri Aware Executive Director said: “The Farm Walk and Talk is an important event for Leaving Cert Ag Science Students and gives them the chance to put the theory into practice. 

Agriculture is hands-on and events like the Agri Aware Farm Walk and Talk provide students with an insight into the practicalities of farming and the hard work that farmers do each day.

“It’s great today just to see so many students back, in-person enjoying the event, thank you so much to UCD Lyons for hosting what was a brilliant day.

“We hope those who take part will leave with a greater understanding of what a future in agriculture could be and how these students might help to shape it.”