Rare Breed: A Farming Year

Meeting the new farming families of 2019.

In Tyrone, Jack's under pressure to win the `Star of the Future' award, while vet Diane deals with an emergency.

Valentine rescues bees from starvation in Down, while in Tyrone, there are early morning arrivals for the McGoverns.

Spring arrives and the contractors are busy near the Dark Hedges in Antrim.

As the contractors are busy with silage season in Antrim, Jack and his family go for glory at Balmoral Show.

The Neill family welcome a new arrival, while Mark McConnell and his daughters look after their llamas.

The McGoverns are making the most of the summer sun in Tyrone, while Valentine and Chris Hodges are working with their new queen bees.

Wallace Gregg's cows are trying out their brand new parlour, while it's the start of the honey harvest for the Hodges.

The next generation takes centre stage as the Gregg youngsters show off their farming skills, while the Hodges children prepare their bees for winter.

Farmers flock to Ballymena to listen to New Zealander Doug Avery, the so-called `Resilient Farmer', who is doing a speaking tour about the challenges he has faced over the years. Orlagh and Caoimhe McGovern take a break from their studies to help at the farm.

Jack Smyth is under pressure as his heifer competes at the Beef and Lamb Championship at Balmoral. Can he set a record in the sales ring?

As the year draws to a close, there are plenty of endings and beginnings - one farmer welcomes a new bull while another sells his herd of cows ahead of a new venture in 2020.