Sam Chesney - M&S Outstanding Producer Runner-Up 

A local producer for Marks & Spencer has been rewarded for his talent as a producer at a M&S ‘Farming for the Future’ Award presentation, which took place at the Balmoral Show.

Sam Chesney from Kircubbin, Co. Down scooped runner-up in the Outstanding Producer Category which champions forward-thinking individuals whose technical ability or business aptitude promises to make a positive impact on their sector.

Sam runs a beef and sheep farm together with his daughter, Lauren, and son, Robert. In between calving 150 Limousin cows and lambing 100 mule/Texel ewes, Sam also holds a range of roles in the agricultural industry and is currently chair of the Beef and Lamb Committee at the Ulster Farmer’s Union and vice-chair of Agrisearch Beef.

He has won a range of awards for his grassland management and is a member of GrassCheck Northern Ireland. Here he is one of a small group of farmers that regularly record grass growth and weather on their farms to provide up-to-date information to the wider industry, supporting fellow farmers with grassland management decisions.

“Making the most of grass is a very important part of my farming system”, says Sam. “We work hard to continually improve our business and I spend time researching feed efficiency and genetics to produce the best, most efficient stock we can.”

And this focus certainly runs in the family. Robert is studying Level 5 Agriculture at CAFRE and Lauren is currently undertaking a PhD in grassland utilisation in beef production, to develop the farm’s knowledge even further in this area.

Keith Williamson from M&S beef and lamb supplier Linden Foods explains why he nominated Sam for this award: “Sam’s effort and enthusiasm for beef and lamb production is fantastic. He researches every detail of the production process, ensuring he is using the latest practices to produce the best animals he can. This forward-thinking attitude makes him an obvious candidate in the M&S Outstanding Producer category.”

Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries at M&S said: “The Farming for the Future awards are now in their eleventh year, acknowledging the dedication and commitment our farmers and growers are making towards Plan A and sharing best practice amongst the agricultural community across Ireland and the UK.

“Sam is a very worthy runner-up and has proved this by demonstrating his innovative thinking, commercial success and social responsibility in the way he manages and executes his business.

“Our judges were particularly impressed with Sam’s attention to detail and commitment to continual improvement, his focus on grassland utilization and involvement in the industry to support fellow farmers.”

Open to M&S local and international producers, the Farming for the Future Awards celebrate the important role suppliers play in working towards M&S’ Plan A commitments.  Plan A is Marks & Spencer’s ambitious, customers focused sustainability plan that will support 1,000 communities, help 10 million people live happier, healthier lives and convert M&S into a zero-waste business by 2025.  Find out more – https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/plana