Major Dairy Development Programme for Midlands and North East
Issued 20th February 2002
Teagasc and dairy co-operatives have joined forces to implement a major new farm development programme aimed at improving competitiveness and securing the future of the maximum number of dairy farmers in the midlands and north eastern counties.
The programme is aimed at 5,800 milk suppliers in 10 counties who supply a total of 270 million gallons per annum. It involves a pooling of the resources of Teagasc and six co-operatives and dairy processors; Drogheda, Bailieboro, Glanbia, Lakeland, Town of Monaghan and Virginia.
The programme, which is one of 14 which Teagasc is now operating nationwide with dairy processors, was officially launched by Noel Davern, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development today (Tuesday, 19 February).
Donal Carey, Director of Operations with Teagasc, said the objectives of the new programme are to lift the competitiveness of dairy farming in the region through maximum use of grass, improved cow fertility, effective financial control and optimum labour management.
''An intensive advisory programme is being put in place with the aim of bringing the latest production and financial technology to farmers. The clear focus will be on putting more money in dairy farmers' pockets thereby ensuring the long-term viability of the maximum number of dairy farmers in the midlands and north eastern counties'', he said.
Mr Carey said one of the targets in the programme is to cut costs from an average of over 65c/gallon to 52c/gallon, a figure now being achieved by an increasing number of dairy farmers.
''Cutting costs to 52c/gallon would lift net income by €130 per cow on the majority of farms in the region'', said Donal Carey.
A key feature of the new programme involves the establishment of 24 monitor farms which will be used to demonstrate the best dairy production technology. These farms will be monitored by Teagasc and will become the benchmark for good farming practice in their locality. An intensive advisory effort will be put into each monitor farm and production and financial progress will be examined in detail on a regular basis.
Another key component is the establishment of discussion groups where critical production and financial issues can be examined and discussed in a farmer environment and problems and solutions shared by members. Discussion groups have become an effective advisory mechanism and there are now over 400 such groups being serviced by Teagasc in dairying, beef, sheep and tillage.
''There is now clear evidence that members of discussion groups have brought about significant improvements in farming practices over a relatively short period. An analysis of farmers involved in Teagasc-led dairy discussion groups shows an income increase of over €2,500 per year on farms with 40,000 gallons of milk quota'', said Donal Carey.
The programme will draw on the latest research information from Teagasc research centres such as Moorepark on milk production and Johnstown Castle on environmental research. This will ensure that the best technologies developed by research scientists are adapted to the particular local needs of dairy farmers in the midlands and north east.
