- This 12 part series follows a dozen Irish farming families across an entire year. Working and living in harmony with nature we witness the highs and lows as they battle ever-changing weather and fluctuating commodity prices. Made for ITV.
- Rare Breed is a unique 12-part series that follows 16 Northern Irish farming families across an entire year. Shot entirely in High Definition, the series reflects the working lives on a range of local farms - all contribute to our most important industry. Working hand in hand with nature and the weather we see how young and old share in this seasonal rhythm that brings food from the soil to the kitchen table.
Strident's cameras have been out in all weathers and on every type of farm to bring the very best of Ulster's farms and farming families. We get to meet the rare breed of men and women who look after our farmland - preserving it for future generations and helping feed this current one.
Right across Northern Ireland we'll meet the breeders of pigs, poultry, sheep, and cattle; the growers of the grain and grass and the producers of eggs, potatoes, parsnips and carrots. We'll discover that our local produce not only ends up on our tables it is an international commodity worth millions to the economy and provides work for tens of thousands of people. This is a one-off insight into one of Northern Ireland's largest and oldest industries.
EPISODE BILLINGS:
Episode One - JANUARY: While many of us are still celebrating the New Year, on farms across NI the working day is just beginning. In Antrim there is no let up for Wallace Gregg with the twice daily milking. Across in Fermanagh David Wilson is getting his prize Hereford bulls ready for the annual sales. In County Down, the biggest deer herd in the UK and Ireland are being checked and fed. The cold weather means that our arable farmers can't get into the fields - but this is the vital time to prepare machinery and perfect business plans. All our farmers will make decisions that could spell success or failure.
Episode Two - FENRUARY: It is early spring and that means lambing season in Fermanagh. David Wilson has a tricky task getting a ewe to adopt a lamb. There is TB testing going on in Ballymena. Near Ardglass Allan Chambers has one eye firmly on the weather - he's trying a new venture this year, malt barley. Across our other farms it is a time for hedge cutting and maintenance. The slurry teams are hard at work but they take a break for a major event in the farming year - the Mullahead Ploughing Match.
Episode Three - MARCH: The weather warms and it is full steam ahead on our arable farms. Near Ardglass Allan Chambers can at last get on with ploughing and sowing. Up near the Giant's Causeway pedigree cattle are calving. Meanwhile in Comber this year's early potatoes are being planted; at an organic farm in Strangford the pregnant cattle are being scanned while in Crossgar John Killen is turning his herd out to grass after spending all winter indoors. Near Ballymena Wallace Gregg is introducing new bloodlines to his herd.
Episode Four - APRIL: The weather is unseasonably warm so down in Fermanagh David Wilson is shearing his sheep early. Tyrone pig farmer Mark Adams has his hands full with new arrivals. Miceal McCoy in County Armagh is keeping close watch as he has cattle that are due to give birth any day now. In Strangford, Dale Orr is worried about foxes taking some of his newborn lambs. Near Crossgar the Killens are beginning the painstaking preparations for next month's Balmoral Show.
Episode Five - MAY: It's the Balmoral Show - the biggest event in the farming calendar. It's not just a few great days out for our farming families - there is serious business to be done. After many weeks of preparation there is plenty of tension - the Wilsons from Fermanagh are showing their Herefords; from North Antrim the Chestnutt family have Texel sheep and British Blue cattle on display and the Killens from County Down have brought their prize commercial cattle. Good results can boost a farm's reputation and raise the value of bloodlines.
Episode Six - JUNE: The good weather continues and it is time to bring in the Comber potatoes. Elsewhere in County Down the good weather is bringing out the pests so Allan Chambers is out spraying his barley. Across in Castlederg contractor Alwyn Young is itching to begin cutting the silage - timing is everything. Meanwhile, Cloughmills dairy farmer Wallace Gregg is investing in a new cattle shed and near Downpatrick the deer are calving. The butcher pays a visit to the Killen's near Crossgar - it is time to see if the hard work will pay off and his cattle will make the grade.
Episode Seven - JULY: The race is on to beat the summer rain. In Fermanagh David Wilson is tackling broken machinery to get his silage in. A different story in North Antrim where the fine weather continues so Victor Chestnutt can get the best cuts of his silage. From the Sperrins to the Mournes the arable farmers are battling the elements to get the harvesting going. Near Ballymena Seamus Kane is getting ready for the arrival of 30,000 chicks. And, it might be the middle of summer but Christmas has come early for Olive and Donald Elliot as they take delivery of hundreds of day old highly prized Bronze turkey chicks. Come Christmas they'll be ready for many homes and top restaurants across the province.
Episode Eight - AUGUST: A busy month of shows, sales and harvesting. Fermanagh's David Wilson is at the renowned Hereford Champion Show in England. He's the first local breeder to compete at this level - can he bring home the top prize. Back in Ballymena and Seamus Kane's chickens are ready for the supermarket shelves. Victor Chestnutt brings his pedigree sheep to the Annual Texel Sales - a good price is vital for his business plans. He also has the hair-raising task of bringing some sheep off the steep cliffs of the North Antrim Coast. And for our arable farmers, harvesting continues apace across the province.
Episode Nine - SEPTEMBER: The busiest month of the farming year brings it own set of problems. As always weather is playing havoc. Near Comber Ivan McKee is bringing in the parsnips - these difficult to grow crops must be on the supermarket shelves within 24 hours. Heavy rain means costly delays that could have major consequences for many farm businesses. All eyes are on the clouds and weather forecasts. At Cloughmills Wallace Gregg is worried as the maize harvest is a mere fraction of what he was expecting. Meanwhile, the mating season for deer is starting near Downpatrick. For the Killen's in Crossgar and the Chestnutt's of Ballymena it is time to buy in new stock.
Episode Ten - OCTOBER: The wet and cold weather continues to cause major problems on many farms. County Tyrone contractor Alwyn Young is battling through mud to harvest maize while in County Down Allan Chambers is a full month behind and is struggling to get the vital preparation done for next year's crops. The knock on effect is critical to both their business plans. Near Bushmills Victor Chestnutt is getting his animals ready to move indoors for the winter - the longer he can keep them outside the less valuable feed he'll have to use. Meanwhile in Fermanagh it is time to scan David Wilson's pedigree Herefords so potential buyers know what they are getting for their money.
Episode Eleven - NOVEMBER: The continuing bad weather proves very costly for Down arable farmer Allan Chambers - his entire crop of linseed is wiped out. It's also hit the maize harvest at Wallace Gregg's Ballymena dairy farm - he tries to save what he can by working late into the night. Across in Tyrone and despite the bad conditions Mark Adams must get his winter wheat sowed, he's already two months behind schedule. Meanwhile, beef farmer Miceal McCoy is visiting one farmer who has diversified into brewing beer in Mournes. At the Wilson's in Fermanagh it's time to scan the sheep to see how many lambs there'll be come January. Meanwhile the poultry farmers preparations for Christmas are in full swing and they are getting some extra help from Trevor The Turkey dog! And in Down, Finnebrogue farm is preparing the Christmas venison orders.
Episode Twelve - DECEMBER: The farming year and our landmark series draw to a close. In this final episode preparations for Christmas are in full swing but the hard work on our farms continues on regardless. It is also a time for reflection on the past year and a look to the future of farming. In Fermanagh the Wilsons begin weighing and grooming bulls for the January Sales. In County Antrim Wallace Gregg's got his share of problems - a new cow house is already three months behind schedule and he's worried that a proposed new road will cut his farm in half and seriously damage his business. Elsewhere, Seamus Kane and his sheepdog Mick are busy housing the ewes for the winter. Meanwhile the race is on to have produce ready for Christmas tables across the province. For vegetable farmer Ivan McKee it's his busiest month. Meanwhile customers queuing up to collect their turkeys from the Ellio
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Top Gap
By what name was Rare Breed: A Farming Year (2012) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer