‘RARE BREED – A Farming Year’ continues where it’s now August

Alise and Arthur Callaghan

RARE BREED – A Farming Year’ continues this Thursday where it’s now August.

‘Rare Breed – A Farming Year’ was filmed during 2023, each episode captures the highs and lows of each month of the year, as the families deal with economic and environmental challenges. 

It’s August and Northern Ireland’s facing a summer wash-out. Farmers across the country are worrying about getting their harvest in. Near Limavady, Jonny Kelly is running behind. He’s got 60 acres of winter barley to lift, and he’s counting the cost of bad weather.

Seventy five miles away in Killinchy and Emily McGowan is assessing the damage to her sunflower crop. It was planted in May to raise money for charity. The flowers are in full bloom but high winds and heavy rain have caused havoc.

And August also means it’s time for the summer honey harvest. Near Loughgall in Armagh, beekeepers Jack and Grand-dad William Wilson love this work.

Eighteen year old Dan McCaffrey who farms on the Belfast hills, is planning the next batch of new calves.

Near Maghera, Leanne and Trevor Hutchinson have hens and pigs, and now they’re enthusiastically launching into their latest venture – 75 Christmas turkeys!

This episode ends with brother and sister team Alise and Arthur Callaghan, who farm on the foothills of the Mournes near Kilkeel. They produce high quality commercial cattle, and in this episode they’re preparing for the Commercial Club Show in Ballymena in September.

UTV’s Rita Fitzgerald narrates this episode. Sponsored by NIE Networks, ‘Rare Breed’ – A Farming Year continues on Thursday 21st March at 8.30pm on UTV.

You can catch up afterwards on ITVX. Simply select ‘Categories, then News, select UTV as your region from the box and scroll across to find the episode.