What’s in a title?

The news that FBD Insurance is to be the title sponsor of the National Dairy Show at Millstreet next month is not a surprise. The insurance company has been the main sponsor for several years of the National Livestock Show, held as the centrepiece of the annual Tullamore Show each August. The title sponsorship has additional commercial advantages over and above the positive PR to be gleaned from associating with these key agricultural events. It allows FBD to ensure that other insurers do not encroach on its turf. In addition, it allows FBD to meet and greet existing and potential customers in a relaxed atmosphere and, while solid business may not always be completed, the contacts and leads gained are hugely important.

Meanwhile, FBD Trust, the philanthropic wing, if you like, of the FBD family, continues to dispense financial support to a range of worthy causes. The latest initiative by the charitable trust is to support an awards programme for the Irish pig sector. An often-underappreciated enterprise in the overall Irish livestock sector, pig production and processing delivers upwards of €475m in exports, coming in behind milk and bovine meat in terms of export value. The total economic impact is estimated at €1.5bn, when account is taken of jobs, feed supply and other service sectors dependent on Irish pig production. The FBD Pig Farming Awards will culminate in a special event to be held in late November, while the closing date for applications is October 15. The individual awards include categories across herd productivity, animal health and welfare, and pig unit environmental sustainability. The ultimate accolade of pig farmer of the year recognises overall excellence across performance, management, innovation and leadership. In addition to the awards, FBD Trust is also supporting the establishment of a special innovation bursary worth €10,000. The bursary will support individuals who can deliver meaningful and practical benefits to the Irish pig industry. It’s designed to encourage innovation and new thinking, applied research and development and knowledge transfer and industry advancement. The bursary is open to individuals working in or contributing to the Irish pig industry, including farmers and managers, veterinarians, researchers and academics, and industry professionals involved in nutrition, genetics and animal health. Selected candidates are invited to submit a proposal outlining how they would use the funding to deliver measurable impact within the sector. The successful bursary recipient will be required to report on the outcomes of their project within nine months. Entries for the FBD Pig Farming Awards and applications for the bursary are open currently.