Leitrim expert on farmer advocacy joins the National Dairy Council

The National Dairy Council is delighted to announce the appointment of Majella McCafferty as Farmer Advocacy Manager.

Farming is in Majella’s blood having grown up on a farm in Kiltyclogher, Co Leitrim, she qualified from Dundalk IT with a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing specializing in large animals.

In 2015 Majella was awarded Irish Veterinary Nurse student of the year competing with 450 students throughout Ireland alongside the overall Enterprising student of the year from the business school for demonstrating leadership and entrepreneurship serving the farming community.

Majella was Farm Development Manager for LacPatrick Dairies, continuing to Lakeland Dairies using the combination of agriculture and veterinary experience to educate and advise farmers on how to manage businesses more efficiently advising on the return on financial management, profitability, animal breeding and health.

Her most recent role was in the West of Ireland as Farm Profitability Specialist with Aurivo co-operative.

Majella established, developed facilitated and drove programmes for farmers such as “Practice to profit” LacPatrick Dairies young farmers, and The Aurivo Leading Ladies, all women agricultural group to improve gender diversity in farming enterprises in the west of Ireland.

Majella said, “I am really excited to be joining the National Dairy Council as an expert in farmer advocacy and relations. I have worked with NDC over the last number of years primarily on the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards where I have been instrumental in advising and coaching three farms to win the overall national title, two from the West of Ireland for the first time in history.

“I will be working with the team to strengthen our Farmer Advocacy programme to build and support the ongoing success of our 17,500 dairy farmers operating the Irish dairy industry”.