Teagasc at the Ploughing

Teagasc Exhibition to Focus on Options for Farm Families

The Teagasc exhibition at the 2005 National Ploughing Championships at Mogeely, Co Cork, from Tuesday, September 27th to Thursday, September 29th inclusive, will be based on the “OPTIONS FOR FARM FAMILIES PROGRAMME”. Under this programme each enterprise and the options, both on- and off-farm, will be examined in the light of what farm families should consider in order to remain viable in the years ahead.

The Ploughing Championships provide the first major event for Teagasc to reach an all-Ireland audience since the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme.

This scheme will undoubtly create opportunities and cause farm families to look at all the options in the management and financial planning of their farm.

The complete decoupling of EU payments from production from this year and the introduction of the Single Payment will force farmers to examine their production systems fundamentally

Many far-reaching issues will have to be addressed by all farm families in the coming years - issues such as the best systems of farming for them, whether to expand, whether to maintain or reduce output, farm succession, off-farm employment opportunities and on-farm alternative land use enterprises.

Teagasc‘s Options for Farm Families Programme is designed to help farmers and their families confront these changes and examine the many opportunities that are available to them as a result of the changes in EU policy.

So, more than ever before, farm families should work with their Teagasc adviser to ensure that they increase the overall viability of their farming enterprise, develop sustainable systems of production and exploit any on-farm alternative enterprises and off-farm job opportunities to maximise the farm and household income of the farm family.

The Teagasc exhibition at the Ploughing Championships will reflect the need for farm families to examine their situation and plan for the future. The exhibition will outline options in all the main enterprises and supplementary enterprises such as forestry, as well as providing information stands on training, farm safety and the environment.

The increased interest in biofuel crops will also be reflected with a stand devoted entirely to biofuel crop alternatives.

Complementary to the main exhibit, Teagasc will run a series of mini conferences during the three days. These seminars will be addressed by Teagasc experts and will outline the main options that dairy, drystock and tillage farmers should examine in their enterprises to maintain viability. These seminars will be comprised of a short presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. Conferences will commence at 11 a.m. each day and run for approximately 50 minutes. The conference centre will be located adjacent to the main Teagasc exhibition stand.

Teagasc invites farmers and family members to visit its exhibition and attend the seminars, which will showcase opportunities for the future for farmers and their families.

Issued on behalf of Teagasc by

Larry O’Loughlin, A/Head, Public Relations Department, Teagasc

Tel: 059 9183408; 087 2562434; Email: loloughlin@hq.teagasc.ie