John also later studied agricultural courses on a part time basis at a local technical college. "My skills have been obtained and added to over many years; however, I believe there is a need to be more specialised nowadays, no matter what sector you are employed in. As skills are always changing there will always be room for training and improvement. The introduction of modern technology and machinery has also ensured a need for skilling. I believe the best skills are obtained through life long learning."
John was a conventional farmer until 2005 when he diversified into organic farming, a niche market in Northern Ireland. John farms both sheep and suckler cows, all finished on the farm; with home grown organic feed for the animals.
Through his involvement over the years with the Young Farmers' Club, John became interested in the politics of farming and is now Chairman of the National Beef Association (NBA), a role he has held since 2004. Interconnected with this, John sits on several advisory bodies/stakeholder groups in both Northern Ireland and on the mainland. He is also a member of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) at Balmoral, and a member of the Ulster Grassland Society.
Over the years John has seen many changes to the sector. "With the move away from subsidy, the price now has to come from the product. Also, single farm payment is in place for countryside management. Farms are getting bigger, but they need to change further. The average herd is 20 cows but this is no longer viable. The farmer of the future will need to be better skilled; they will need to be more focused in order to make their business profitable. There will always be a future for agriculture; the farmer produces something everyone needs."
For John, seeing the fruits of his labour is among the most satisfying aspects of his work. "From planting to harvesting there is a sense of achievement. Being a farmer in Northern Ireland is very fulfilling; I see myself as a land-keeper, not a landlord and have a pride in what I am doing as a custodian of the countryside. Watching my farm grow over the years has ensured that I can look to the future with confidence."
As a Skills Ambassador for Lantra, John believes its time to put something back into the sector which he has got so much out of. "Anybody that can offer assistance to a sector that has gone through difficult times over the last few years is welcome. By engaging with Lantra I believe that employers will benefit through having employees that are more skilled and fit for the job, especially in agriculture where the workforce has an average age of 58 years. Young employees and re-skilling of older people employed is very important with so many changes taking place within the sector."
It's not all work for John though; as a member of Downpatrick Golf Club John's future aspirations include improving his handicap. "With my son Jonathan working alongside me, I now have more time to play golf and will hopefully improve my game!"
Offering advice to anyone considering a career in the sector John states: "Farming is an occupation that you need to enjoy, you must have a love of the land. The rewards from farming are derived from what you are doing - satisfaction, contentment and financial reward are all part and parcel of this."
