Press Release - Christopher Thomas-Everard ends two year term as NBA Board Chairman

Christopher Thomas-Everard ends two year term as National Beef Association Board Chairman.                                                 

The NBA's national Chairman, Christopher Thomas-Everard, ended a successful, two year term at the head of the organisation yesterday. 

He is replaced by Oisin Murnion who over the past two years has been the Association's Chairman in Northern Ireland.

Oisin has welcomed his appointment by the NBA~s Board of Management saying he appreciates this unique opportunity to take the beef industry, and the Association, forward in all parts of the UK. He is the first member from Northern Ireland to take on the role of NBA national Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Management.

Christopher took over as NBA Board Chairman, initially for a one year period, in July 2008, but his analytical abilities, especially on TB and climate change issues were considered so useful it was agreed he should continue in his role for a second annual term.

The NBA has worked since its inception 12 years ago to consolidate its financial position and raise the level of its political influence, and the board feels it is now very close to being able to map out the route that will take the Association to a new and much higher level,” explained NBA Board Director, Mike Powley.

“Oisin Murnion will chair the NBA through the period in which these plans are finalised and then we will take these to the membership for approval.”

“The Association is grateful to Christopher for his steady leadership which contributed hugely to its recent, most welcome, lift in membership and the development of closer relationships with important industry and government bodies.”

“His efforts on TB eradication and climate change will be remembered most. Christopher refused to accept that TB could be reduced, never mind eradicated, through cattle movement controls alone – and so he steps down knowing that the Coalition Government’s recent consultation on an English badger cull brings a more effective approach to overall TB reduction much closer.”

“On top of this he quickly identified that the contribution cattle make to climate change through methane is almost completely neutralised by the ability of the pasture they graze to soak up huge tonnages of carbon that would otherwise add to the pressures climate change is creating.”

“The NBA wishes Christopher well, and hopes he enjoys his well earned rest. He can be assured that the Association will be just as determined to build on his efforts under his own chairmanship – and that its defence of beef production from attacks led by misinformed sections of the anti-climate change lobby will be just as robust,” Mr Powley added.

For more information contact:

Mike Powley, NBA Board Director.  Tel. 07949 071079 or
Kim Haywood, NBA director. Tel. 0131 336 1754

Editors Notes:

Oisin Murnion is a beef farmer from Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland.  
Over the past decade he has built up a Galloway cattle herd producing better returns than hill sheep from grazing the wet, exposed western Mourne Mountains.

He has also established a successful conservation grazing business used by other landowners, including the National Trust, government departments and owners of the islands in Strangford Lough.  His successful conversation grazing business has grown from 22 to 1800 acres in just 10 years.
 
Oisin became Chairman of the NBA Northern Island Council in February 2009 and is a member of the Rural European Platform who advises on sustainable agriculture. 

Oisin and his wife Anne Marie were typical hill farmers running sheep on the Mourne Mountain commonage before starting their current business in which they are paid to conserve pasture in ASSIs (Areas of Special Scientific Interest), with cattle, instead of sheep. 

They select Galloway cattle with Canadian genetics to produce a finished animal killing out at 370kg.  Today Oisin and Anne Maria run the largest Galloway cattle herd on the island of Ireland. It ranges over land on three islands in Strangford Lough to over 2000ft up in the Mountains of Mourne.

Oisin sells or retains his best heifers for breeding. The remainder, and all the bullocks, is sold as stores in marts such as Hilltown, Markethill, Rathfriland, Saintfield and Downpatrick.  Galloways allow Oisin to run a profitable suckler herd backed by income from conservation grazing as well as livestock sales.

Oisin said, “As a farmer I long ago realised that moaning in the mart about poor prices achieved nothing. By joining the NBA one becomes part of a professional pressure group that speaks out on behalf of farmers in all parts of the UK and pushes decision makers in London and Brussels to improve the operating climate for all home grown beef businesses no matter which part of the UK they are in.”

Oisin Murnion, NBA Board Chairman, Tel; (028) 4176 5082, Mob; 0773 9632 048.
Email: [email protected]