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NEWS


Six decades of memories as Greenmount Class of 1966 prepares for special reunion
Lisa Burrows, Greenmount Association President, encourages the class of 1966 to attend the 60-year reunion. Saturday 17 October 2026 Former students who attended Greenmount Campus in Antrim are being invited to turn back the clock and reconnect with old friends as the Class of 1966 prepares to celebrate its 60-year reunion. The special gathering, organised by the Greenmount Association, will take place on Friday 23 October, bringing former classmates together six decades afte
4 days ago


CAFRE partnership targets health challenges facing next generation of farmers
Emma McElhone, Margaret Purdie, Jill Stewart, Doreen Bolton and Christina Faulkner, pictured at CAFRE's recent Freshers Fair. Wednesday 07 October 2026 A new health and wellbeing partnership is targeting some of the pressures facing Northern Ireland’s next generation of farmers after research identified concerns around mental health, diet, alcohol use, cancer awareness and physical inactivity. The initiative brings together the Northern and Western Health and Social Care Trus
Oct 7


Tree growers, foresters and researchers invited to Greenmount for industry gathering
Dr Konstantinos Xyntaris invites those with an interest in tree planting to attend the Growers Gathering at CAFRE this month at Greenmount Campus. Monday 05 October 2026 Tree growers, foresters and others involved in woodland creation across Northern Ireland are being invited to Greenmount Campus in Antrim for an industry event exploring the future of tree production and planting. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) will host ‘A Growers’ Gathering fo
Oct 5


Dairy farmers to explore genetics and breeding gains at Greenmount conference
Hannah Martin, Sustainable Ruminant Genetics with dairy farmer Andrew McCollum, Ballycairn Farms discuss plans for Session 2 at the Dairy Conference 2026: Driving Profitability, Delivering Sustainability. Sunday 04 October 2026 Northern Ireland dairy farmers will be shown how genetic information can be turned into practical breeding decisions to improve herd performance, profitability and sustainability at a major industry conference in Antrim later this month. Dairy Conferen
Oct 4


CAFRE Open Week invites students to explore courses and campus life close to home
(L-R) BSc (Hons) Food Innovation Management students, Olivia Acheson, Cookstown, and Ellen Nelson, Tobermore, along with Mr. Fintan McCann, Head of Food Education invite you to attend CAFRE’s Open Week from Tuesday 06 October to Saturday 10 October 2026 at Loughry Campus, Cookstown, Greenmount Campus, Antrim and Enniskillen Campus Sunday 04 October 2026 Students considering their next move after school can explore courses, facilities and campus life at the College of Agricult
Oct 4


Thinking about a career in horticulture or floristry? Greenmount Open Day is coming up
Horticulture students Charley Benson (Lisburn), Ramona McCluskey (Ballymena) and Barry Wheeler (Antrim) encourage prospective students to explore Greenmount Campus facilities at the upcoming Open Day Wednesday 23 September 2026 Greenmount Campus in Antrim is opening its doors next month to prospective students interested in careers ranging from landscaping and plant production to sports turf management and floristry. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFR
Sep 23


CAFRE Greenmount Open Day to showcase agriculture and engineering career opportunities
Land-based Engineering students Emily Scott (Garvagh) and Oliver John (Ballycastle) invite you to attend Greenmount Campus Open Day. Young people considering a future in agriculture, agri-food or land-based engineering will have the chance to explore courses, career opportunities and campus life at a special Open Day at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus next month. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) will welcome prospective students to its Antrim campus on
Sep 13


Tobermore dairy herd shows potential of £16.6m cattle genotyping scheme opening next week
Albert and William Wallace discuss genotyping with CAFRE Dairy Adviser, Luke Murray. A Tobermore farming family whose dairy herd ranks among Northern Ireland’s highest-performing producers is highlighting how genetic testing can help farmers make more informed breeding decisions, ahead of a major government-backed genotyping scheme opening on Tuesday. Albert Wallace and his son William, who farm just outside Tobermore, have been using genotyping for six years to identify the
Aug 29


Greenmount Autumn Farm Walk returns with visit to award-winning Kilvergan Holsteins
Aaron Haffey (Kilvergan Holsteins) along with Greenmount Association’s Lisa Burrows, Robert Edwards and Patrick Fee invite you to join a Farm Walk in September. A long-running agricultural event is returning next month, giving farmers, former students and friends of Greenmount the opportunity to see inside one of Northern Ireland’s high-performing dairy herds. The Greenmount Association will revive its Annual Autumn Farm Walk on Wednesday 16 September, with this year’s visit
Aug 22


Missed out on a university place? CAFRE opens UCAS Clearing for September degree courses
CAFRE’s Student Recruitment Advisers, Toni Donnelly, Laura Browne and Caoimhe Hegarty are on hand to answer your UCAS Clearing questions. Students who have not yet secured a university place for September still have time to apply, with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) opening a range of degree courses through UCAS Clearing. The move gives prospective students across Northern Ireland another opportunity to begin higher education this autumn, with p
Aug 5


Horse lovers urged to seize last chance to apply for CAFRE equine courses this September
Equine students enjoying unique teaching and learning at CAFRE, Enniskillen Campus. School leavers hoping to build a career working with horses are being encouraged to act quickly, with places still available on a range of equine courses starting this September at CAFRE’s Enniskillen Campus. Applications remain open through UCAS Clearing for degree programmes, while students leaving school after GCSEs can still apply directly for a selection of full-time courses and apprentic
Jul 24


CAFRE equine graduates celebrated as Broughshane student picks up prestigious industry award
Amy Barr from Broughshane, Co Antrim was awarded with the Erne Veterinary Group Cup. Congratulating Amy is Jane Elliott, Head of Equine, CAFRE. Students from across Northern Ireland have marked the culmination of years of study, early mornings and hands-on industry experience as CAFRE’s latest cohort of equine graduates celebrated their achievements at a special graduation ceremony. Among those recognised was Broughshane student Amy Barr, who received one of the event’s stand
Jul 5


CAFRE students get hands-on insight into engineering careers during dealership visit in Limavady
CAFRE Land-based Engineering students visited D.A. Forgie, Limavady building their industry knowledge of machinery sales. Students considering careers in agricultural engineering were given a behind-the-scenes look at one of Northern Ireland’s leading machinery dealerships during an educational visit designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry experience. A group of students studying the Level 3 Land-based Engineering programme at the College of Agricul
Jul 4


From robotic welders to trailer production: CAFRE students get an inside look at local engineering
Land-based Engineering students from CAFRE visited McCauley Trailers to expand their learnings in machinery manufacturing. Students studying land-based engineering at CAFRE were given a firsthand look at modern manufacturing during an educational visit to McCauley Trailers in Toomebridge, offering valuable insight into the technology, skills and career opportunities that drive one of Northern Ireland’s leading engineering businesses. The visit allowed Level 3 Land-based Engin
Jun 24


From muddy wellies to sunshine-filled crowds: thousands enjoy CAFRE’s Open Farm Weekend
Past CAFRE student William Burnett, alongside Nicola, Abigail, Matthew and Callum Turner viewed the dairy calves at Greenmount Campus. Thousands of people stepped behind the gates of CAFRE campuses at Enniskillen and Greenmount over the weekend as this year’s Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend combined hands-on learning, family fun and a closer look at Northern Ireland’s farming and food industries. From primary school pupils meeting farm animals for the first time to families
Jun 18


Develop your knowledge of equine through flexible study with CAFRE
CAFRE’s online and short courses offers the best of both worlds to develop your knowledge and skills For people working in the equine industry, balancing education with employment, family commitments and the demands of horse care can be a significant challenge. CAFRE is aiming to bridge that gap with a range of flexible online and blended-learning equine courses designed to fit around busy lives. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is encouraging pro
Jun 14


Late-calving cows putting suckler herd profits at risk, CAFRE warns
Farmers allowing calving seasons to drift over long periods are quietly losing efficiency, calf weight and profitability, according to a new warning from CAFRE beef and sheep adviser Jack Friar. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise says maintaining a compact calving pattern remains one of the clearest indicators of reproductive performance in suckler herds — with late-calving cows creating a knock-on effect that can become increasingly difficult to reverse. M
Jun 7


Magherafelt student says US exchange was ‘the best thing I’ve ever done’ after life-changing four months in America
Maeve Owens while studying at MSU took the opportunity to travel to Chicago A student from Magherafelt has described her four-month study experience in the United States as “the best thing I’ve ever done” after returning home from a life-changing exchange programme at one of America’s biggest universities. Maeve Owens, who studies BSc (Hons) Food Business Management at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), recently completed a semester abroad at Michi
Jun 4


Free family day out to showcase life at CAFRE Greenmount during Open Farm Weekend
CAFRE staff, Lori Hartman and James Crawford, welcome visitors to Greenmount Campus, Antrim, for Open Farm Weekend. Enjoy exploring the campus and browse a wide selection of plants available to purchase throughout the event. Families, food lovers, aspiring students and farming enthusiasts are set to get rare behind-the-scenes access to one of Northern Ireland’s leading agricultural campuses later this month as CAFRE Greenmount opens its gates for Bank of Ireland Open Farm Wee
Jun 4


CAFRE students reach agri-food debate semi-finals after standout performance
Students Niamh Reid (Glenarm), Jessica Cuthbertson (Sixmilecross), Caleb Orr (Ballymena), TJ Hamilton (Armagh), Jane May (Portadown) and Grace Hunter (Dungannon) represented CAFRE at the Great Agri-Food Debate. Students from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) have reached the semi-finals of a major all-island agri-food debating competition after impressing judges with arguments on some of the biggest challenges facing farming and food production. Th
May 25
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