The Food Fortress scheme developed with the Queen’s University Institute for Global Food Security gives NIGTA a world leading position in the field of feed assurance.
Based on an extensive risk analysis of all potential contaminants the scheme involves an industry wide strategic sampling and testing program covering imported materials and finished feeds.
FOOD FORTRESS MEMBERS
A Hyde Farm Feeds 10 Crookedstone Road, CRUMLIN, Co Antrim, BT29 4EH
A.N. Irwin & Sons 11 Carrowoleman Road, Eglish, DUNGANNON, Co Tyrone, BT70 1LF
A One Feeds North Hill, Dimsforth, Thirsk, N. Yorkshire
Alexander Scott & Son Ltd 2 – 4 Main Street, Maghera, Co Londonderry, BT46 5AD
Ardaragh Livestock Feeds 17 Ardarragh Road, NEWRY, Co Down, BT34 1NY
Aurivo Animal Feeds Dublin Road, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon
A W Ennis Maghera, Virginia, Co Cavan
Ballinaskeagh Grains 14 Glaskerbeg Road, BANBRIDGE, Co Down, BT32 5BX
Boyd Feeds 44 Station Road CLOGHER Co Tyrone, BT76 0AQ
Capper Trading 124 Tamnamore Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT71 6HW
Carland Mill 6 Lisnagowan Road, DUNGANNON, Co Tyrone, BT70 3LH
Carton Group Manor Farm, Shinan SHERCOCK, Co Cavan
Chestnut Animal Feeds 55 Main Street, Stranocum, BALLYMONEY, Co Antrim, BT53 8PH
Clonleigh Co-op Society Castlefin, Lifford, Co Donegal
Connolly’s Red Mills Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny
Connon General Merchants 29 Liminary Road, BALLYMENA, Co Antrim, BT42 3HL
Corby Rock Mill Ballybay Road MONAGHAN, Co Monaghan
Cyril Watters 23a Tullybleety Road, Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, BT69 6HG
Devenish Nutrition Ltd 19 Clarendon Road, BELFAST, Co Antrim, BT1 3BG
Dooley Agricultural Ltd Enniskeen,Dundalk, Co Louth
Drummonds Ltd Alexander Reid, Navan, Co Meath
East Down Farmers 20 Tullynaskeagh Road, DOWNPATRICK, Co Down, BT30 7EU
Ergana Corn Mill 143 Edanbane Road, Kilrea, Co Londonderry, BT51 5XF
Fane Valley Feeds Bankmore Way, OMAGH, Co Tyrone, BT79 0NW
Farmgate Nutrition Loughgall, Co Armagh
ForFarmers UK (Organic) Penrith Industrial Estate, Penrith, CUMBRIA, CA11 9EH
Frazers Animal Feeds 30 Cavehill Road, Banbridge, Co Down BT32 5DS
F S Heron 4 Backaderry Road, BALLYWARD, Co Down, BT31 9SL
Glanbia Feeds Portlaoise, Co Laois
Gortavoy Feeds and Farm Supplies Ltd 73 Shanmaghery Road, Pomeroy, DUNGANNON, Co Tyrone, BT70 2TT
Greenvale Animal Feeds Ballysimon Road, LIMERICK
Harbro Limited Markethill, Turriff, ABERDEENSHIRE, AB53 4PA
Hi Peak Feeds Sheffield Road, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Inisleigh Co-op Rooskey, Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal
James Glover & Sons Ltd 74 Drumaghlis Road, CROSSGAR, Co Down, BT30 9JS
J Grennan & Sons Rath, Birr, Co Offally
JMW Farms Killylea, Co Armagh
John Bell 62 Carryhugh Road, Keady, Co Armagh, BT60 3LG
John Thompson & Sons Ltd 35-39 York Road, BELFAST, Co Antrim, BT15 3GW
Joseph Walls Ltd 26 Sandbank Road, HILLTOWN, Newry , Co Down, BT35 5XU
Kerry Agribusiness Farranfore, Co Kerry
Kiernan Milling Granard, Co Longford
Lakeland Dairies Tullynahinera, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan
Liffey Mills Bunnow, ROSCREA, Co Tipperary
L W Surphlis & Son 31 Drumlegagh Post Office, NEWTOWNSTEWART, Co Tyrone, BT78 4HF
M Beattie & Son Ltd 70 Plumbridge Road, Newtownstewart, OMAGH, Co Tyrone, BT78 4DP
Mackin Animal Feeds 108 Dublin Road, NEWRY, Co Down, BT35 8QP
Manola Farm Supplies Ltd 30 Dirraw Road BALLYMONEY, Co Antrim, BT53 7LB
Marksville Farms Ardee, Co Louth
Masons Animal Feeds Ltd 122 Marlocoo Road, PORTADOWN, Co Armagh, BT62 3TB
McAuley Feeds Navan, Co Meath
McGuckian Milling Company 29 Drumbare, Cloughmills, BALLYMENA, Co Antrim, BT44 9LA
Moores Animal Feeds 116 Carnalbanagh Road, BROUGHSHANE, Co Antrim, BT42 4NT
Moy Park Feed Mill 126 Moneynick Road, RANDALSTOWN, Co Antrim, BT41 3HU
Moy Park Ashbourne Blenheim Road, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Moy Park (J E Porter) Navenby, Lincolnshire
North Antrim Country Stores 152 Moycraig Road Mosside, BALLYMONEY, Co Antrim, BT53 8QZ
North Armagh Feeds 8 Sturgeons Hill, PORTADOWN, Co Armagh, BT62 4HQ
Paul & Vincent (David Patton Feeds) Longford Road, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford
P & M McKenna Agri Supplies 5 Legamaghery Road, Fintona, OMAGH, Co Tyrone, BT78 2HA
P Mc Sorley & Son 17 Shanaghney Road, Castlederg, Co Tyrone BT81 7HB
R. A. McClung 5 Station Road, Brookeborough, Co Fermanagh, BT94 4GN
R & J Lyness Ltd 25 Tullyard Road, MOIRA, Co Down, BT67 0PU
R J Rutledge 97 Drumquin Road, CASTLEDERG, Co Tyrone, BT81 7RB
Richhill Feeds 51 Ballygroobany Road, Richhill, Co Armagh, BT61 9NA
Robert Clarke (Keady) Ltd Darkley Mills, 105 Darkley Road, KEADY, Co Armagh, BT60 3AY
Robin Rainey and Sons Barney's Brae, 147 Portglenone Road, RANDALSTOWN, Co Antrim, BT41 3EN
Reid Feeds 1 Laurel Road, Ballynahinch, Co Down, BT24 8TP
S McConnell and Sons 184 Carrigenagh Road, KILKEEL, Co Down, BT34 4QA
S.H. Coleman (Glarryford) Ltd 160 Dunminning Road, Glarryford, BALLYMENA, Co Antrim, BT449ET
Smyths Daleside Feeds Ballinadrait, Lifford, Co Donegal
Strabane Mills 3 Art Road, ARTIGARVAN, Co Tyrone, BT82 0HA
T.J. Booth Collumbrone Mills, Lisdoart, BALLYGAWLEY, Co Tyrone, BT70 2LZ
Taggart Jack 1 Carnkenny Road, Ardstraw, OMAGH, Co Tyrone
Taylors (Fyfin) Ltd 27 Killen Road, Fyfin, STRABANE, Co Tyrone
Thomas Hutchinson & Sons Ltd 4 Ballykillen Road, COOKSTOWN, Co Tyrone, BT80 0AL
Tullyherron Farm Feeds Ltd 38 Tullyherron Road, MOUNTNORRIS, Co Armagh, BT60 2UF
United Feeds Ltd 8 Northern Road, BELFAST, Co Antrim, BT3 9AL
W & H Miller 121 Desertmartin Road, Moneymore, Co Londonderry BT45 7RL
Wm Irwin & Son 167 Drumsurn Rd, Limavady, Co Londonderry, BT49OPE
Please Click Food Fortress Results link below for a summary of results is available for all participants to view on this website.
- Category: Food Fortress
Further developments to Northern Ireland’s unique quality control system for the animal feed industry were unveiled at a meeting in Armagh this week.
The Food Fortress network is made up of feed producers and importers contributing to a program of sampling and testing to protect the food chain from contamination and currently covers close to 5 million tonnes of compound feed production.

Welcoming the members, Food Fortress director, Robin Irvine reported that membership now exceeded 80 companies – located from North Antrim to Tipperary and Kilkenny and covering all compound feed produced in Northern Ireland plus around 50% of production in the South and a substantial tonnage in mainland UK.
Members heard of the newly formed company structure and the appointment of a management steering group to direct the company’s development and direction. The role of InvestNI in giving financial help with the set up and administration of the network was outlined and Linda Jameson from InvestNI was welcomed to the meeting.

The partnership with The Institute of Global Food Security at Queens University is a vital element of the program and Dr Simon Haughey from QUB outlined the research and extensive risk analysis which had gone into identifying the principle contaminants and setting up an effective strategy to safeguard Northern Irelands vitally important agri-food industry.
Dr Haughey reported on his review of the 2015/16 program which achieved an improvement in terms of samples submitted on time to 97%. He stressed the importance of prompt submission of samples to ensure a rapid return of results and early identification of any threats to the food chain.

He reported on the set up of a pilot program for imported raw materials and this has now been established as a key element of the Food Fortress. Importing businesses submit their testing results to the scheme and these are collated and reported to member company’s through the members website. Locally grown cereals are also covered by the Native Grain scheme which was trialled very successfully on the 2016 harvest.
“The key the success of this project is collaboration” says Robin Irvine. “By working together, following a strategic sampling plan, and sharing the results our members are getting massively more value for the money they spend on contaminant testing. Our results are also shared with DAERA and the Food Standards Agency and a new “Earned Recognition” agreement is being developed whereby regulators build the industry supplied data into their risk assessments and this is reflected in their approach to policing the feed sector. We are developing much more effective relationships and it is no exaggeration to say that we have the safest supply chain in the world because of this cooperation” says Robin.
- Category: Food Fortress
The animal feed trade has united behind a scheme which is delivering major improvements to the security of Northern Ireland's most important industry. The food chain is a safer place as a result of the Food Fortress program now in operation with all the main feed manufacturers in the province.
According to Robin Irvine who manages the program on behalf of the feed trade “There are now 47 feed producing companies participating in the scheme and we have the most comprehensive program of animal feed monitoring anywhere in the world”

Introducing the new logo and brand imagery Robin said “The Food Fortress is now established as the badge of safer feed and our challenge to the businesses further along the food chain is to recognize and promote the fact that livestock produced through our quality schemes here in Northern Ireland has added value in terms of its provenance. This is a scheme which differentiates our product and gives us an advantage over our competitors.

The program was established as a partnership between Queens University, Belfast and the Northern Ireland Gain Trade Association and has been supported by Invest NI through its Collaborative Network program.
“Queens, through the Institute of Global Food Security brought the most up to date technology to our program and helped us develop a practical solution to the challenge of managing the risks in feed production. – But it is the support from local feed businesses which is the key to success. They were quick to appreciate that a cooperative approach to testing and sharing results would give a vastly greater level of assurance than could be achieved by any individual company. The fact that 99.9% of commercial feed production is covered by our strategic program of sampling and analysing for the main contaminants means that we have an accurate monthly picture across the province and across the range of feeds produced.”
The success of the program has been recognised by DARD who are responsible for enforcing the EU feed regulations in the province and by both the Farm Quality Assurance Scheme for Beef & Lamb and the broiler chicken sector who have adopted the scheme as a requirement of their feed supply .
Food Fortress Members
A Hyde Farm Feeds |
Crumlin |
A. N. Irwin & Sons |
Eglish |
Ardaragh Livestock Feeds |
Newry |
Ballinaskeagh Grains Ltd |
Banbridge |
Boyd Feeds |
Clogher |
Capper T rading |
Dungannon |
Carland Mill |
Dungannon |
Carton Group |
Co Cavan |
Chestnutt Animal Feeds |
Ballymoney |
Connon General Merchants |
Ballymena |
Corby Rock Mill |
Co Monaghan |
CR Supplies |
Larne |
Cyril Watters |
Aughnacloy |
Devenish Nutrition Ltd |
Belfast |
Ergana Corn Mill |
Kilrea |
Fane Valley |
Omagh/Newry |
FS Herron Ltd |
Castlewellan |
G. E. McLarnon & Sons |
Randalstown |
Gortavoy Feeds & Farm Supplies Ltd |
Pomeroy |
James Glover & Sons Ltd |
Crossgar |
John Bell |
Keady |
John Thompson & Sons Ltd |
Belfast |
Joseph Walls Ltd |
Hilltown |
Kilcross Feeds |
Crumlin |
L. W. Surphlis & Son Ltd |
Newtownstewart |
M Beattie & Son Ltd |
Newtownstewart |
Mackin Animal Feeds |
Newry |
Manola Farm Supplies Ltd |
Ballymoney |
Masons Animal Feed Ltd |
Portadown |
McGuckian Milling Company |
Cloughmills |
Moores Animal Feeds |
Broughshane |
North Antrim Country Stores |
Ballymoney |
North Armagh Feeds |
Portadown |
R & J Lyness Ltd |
Moira |
Robert Clarke (Keady) Ltd |
Keady |
Robin Rainey & Sons Ltd |
Randalstown |
S McConnell & Sons |
Kilkeel |
S.H. Coleman Ltd |
Glarryford |
South Down Feeds) Ltd |
Rathfriland |
Strabane Mills Ltd |
Artigarvan |
T. J. Booth |
Ballygawley |
Taggart Jack |
Ardstraw |
Taylors (Fyfin) Ltd |
Strabane |
Thomas Hutchinson & Sons Ltd |
Coagh |
Tullyherron Farm Feeds Ltd |
Mountnorris |
United Feeds Ltd |
Belfast/Dungannon |
R J Rutledge General Merchants |
Castlederg |
- Category: Food Fortress
The outcome for the pilot scheme has exceeded our best hopes – it has proven that the science underpinning the scheme is robust in practice and it has given a clean bill of health to our industry, with all results well within the safety margins which had been set.
In the six months of the pilot, covering an estimated production of 1.2m tonnes of feed, the 18 participant mills provided -
200 samples for Heavy Metals
32 samples for Dioxins and Dioxin like PCBs
128 samples for Mycotoxin, including 32 samples for Alfatoxin
2 mills per month screened for 13 key pesticides
All mills were tested at least quarterly - some monthly depending on production
This represents a massive increase in the number of samples tested - delivering between 5 and 10 times the level of surveillance previously carried out by the industry.
All of the samples tested in the trial were well below both the internal investigatory limits, and the much higher legal limits. Indeed, in many cases the contaminants were undetected, but as is the practice in such instances, we assume a result equal to the lowest limit of detection. The actual results in are set out in the attached appendices.
The report has been reviewed by Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University.
“The results are extremely encouraging and it is without doubt to the credit of the industry that it is now operational and delivering a greatly enhanced level of quality assurance across the supply chain. The scheme is an exemplar of what can be achieved by an industry working together and can only be viewed as a positive in terms of differentiating NI food produce from the rest of the world. The full scale implementation of the Food Fortress scheme for feed materials is highly recommended and will be fully supported by the Institute” - Professor Chris Elliott.
- Category: Food Fortress
The hoped for improvements in the global dairy markets seem to be far in the future and dairy farmers are coming to terms with the prospect of low prices for many months to come.
The scale of the collapse in dairy markets and the duration of the problem is putting many farm businesses under severe pressure and causing difficult questions to be asked about their future in milk production.
There is no quick fix in prospect and with winter bonuses discontinued, prices are continuing to fall. Current milk prices are well below the cost of production on most farms and the focus must be on reducing that unit cost of production to ensure the survival of the business until a better demand – supply balance is established and dairy product prices improve.

The vast majority of the provinces dairy farms are efficient and well managed but even on the best units a close analysis of performance and benchmarking of results can highlight opportunities to further improve the efficiencies and drive down costs.
The productivity from grassland has been highlighted as an area which has been neglected on many farms in recent years. It has been calculated that the average yield of grass from the provinces livestock farms is less than 6 tonnes of dry matter per hectare but the best practitioners can produce 12 tonnes per hectare. For most farmers a 20% increase in grass production would be an achievable target and could bring significant savings on feed and conacre costs
This could be achieved through a focus on soil fertility and precise use of farm manures and chemical fertilisers. Soil testing is the first step – an analysis of a cross section of the soils on the farm should be carried out immediately and before any slurry is applied. This will allow the needs of the soil to be identified and a fertiliser program can be produced to supply precisely the nutrients which are required. The correct Ph is the first priority and a dressing of lime may be needed to ensure the efficient utilisation of the fertilisers applied. Fertiliser is one of the best investments a farmer can make and most soils will benefit from the use of more Nitrogen, Potash and Sulphur as the key nutrients required to ensure good grass growth. By directing farm manures to the areas where they can produce the best response, and by using chemical fertilisers to drive grass growth, better yields can be produced from grazed grass and silage.
The utilisation of this grass and silage and the rationing of forage in the cow’s diet needs to be precisely balanced to ensure that the cows health and productivity is maintained. Quality forage is the lowest cost feed that can be used and as part of a properly formulated feed program can help produce a more sustainable farm business.
- Category: Food Fortress