Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, has announced major changes in senior management. It said they were necessary to meet the changes in the reformed CAP, writes Seán Mac Connell, Agriculture Correspondent.
Mr Tom Collins has been appointed assistant director of advisory services to farmers and agribusiness. Mr Collins, currently chief agricultural officer in Offaly, will be based at the Teagasc head office in Oak Park, Carlow. Mr Matt Ryan has been appointed dairying programme manager. He will be based in Moorepark Research Centre, Fermoy, Co Cork.
Mr Seán Regan has been appointed environment programme manager, with responsibility for co-ordinating advisory services on environmentally sustainable farming, including the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS). He will be based in Athenry, Co Galway.
Also working out of Athenry will be Ms Nuala Ní Fhlatharta, who has been appointed head of the new forestry development unit in Teagasc, with responsibility for farm forestry.
Mr Michael Conlon, former head of Kildalton College, Piltown, Co Kilkenny, has taken over as head of a new horticultural development unit, while Mr Brendan Lynch of Moorepark Research Centre is the head of a pig development unit. The new head of Kildalton College will be Mr Tony Pettit, while Mr Gerry Scully has taken over as assistant director of advisory services.