Farming Life editorial

Bank of Ireland UK enables investment and expansion at Hillcrest Farm in County Antrim

For more than 30 years, Mervyn and May Smyth have farmed poultry and a large dairy herd side by side at Hillcrest Farm in Cloughmills, County Antrim.   In recent years, their son Gareth joined his parents in partnership on the farm and is keen to invest, modernise and expand the business to ensure they stay ahead of the curve on animal welfare, take advantage of developments in the use of farm technology and increase capacity and production where possible.

In 2018, with support from Bank of Ireland UK with Richard Primrose, Agri Manager NI, and Relationship Manager, Tommy Doherty, the family invested in a new Free Range poultry unit. Gareth says: “A new unit is a huge investment and undertaking but after seeking competitive quotes, Bank of Ireland UK surpassed everyone else on the finance.

“I was also very impressed at Richard’s expertise and knowledge of the farming industry as a whole and of differing sectors within it – you can tell he has a farming background. That insight is coupled with real service behind it from both Richard and Tommy and I would recommend them to anyone – they are very supportive of all our plans and our ambition.” Richard Primrose commented “We are delighted to be able to assist Gareth with the build of his new free range unit. We are seeing continued growth within this sector which compliments existing farms very well like in Gareth’s case at Hillcrest Farm.”

The farm supplies eggs to Ballymena based Ballygarvey Eggs who have markets in retail and food service across Northern Ireland and into the rest of the UK. Free range egg units are the pinnacle standard with food retailers and the quality and specification of the new poultry house ensures optimum animal welfare resulting in excellent quality produce.

Gareth says: “Technology also plays a central role in the newly modernized farm unit. Feeding is done automatically and managed by touch  screen technology, nutrition and water intake of the birds is monitored and automated as is the collection and packing of 15,000 eggs per hour freeing us to concentrate on bird welfare, the performance of the poultry and increasing profitability.”

Gareth and his parents also milk a herd of 156 pedigree Holstein cows. With further funding support from the bank, last year the family bought a block of land to extend their grazing platform and enable expansion of the herd in the future.

Gareth says he is ambitious for the farm. For now, he and his parents are focused on the continued success and profitability of the dairy and poultry sectors and with continued support from Bank of Ireland UK are keen to develop and improve their farm business.