July date for Moorepark Dairy Open Day
According to the organisers, the dairy industry has been through transformational change in the past decade since the removal of milk quotas.
The pent-up capacity for growth was released, and milk solids output has almost doubled. The growth of the dairy industry, which began in 2011, coincided with financial challenges in the Irish economy.
Over the past 15 years, the Irish dairy industry has withstood a global pandemic, war on the continent of Europe and more recently global financial trade barriers and Teagasc has said that since 2022, the dairy industry has entered a new phase of consolidation.
Teagasc director, Prof. Frank O'Mara said: 'It is important that we take time to reflect and plan for the next phase of development for the Irish dairy industry.
'The industry must continue to align with EU and national policy objectives, with a particular focus on lowering carbon emissions, enhancing animal welfare, improving water and air quality and enhancing biodiversity.
'At the same time, dairy farms must generate financially rewarding career opportunities with a favourable work-life balance.'
Future for dairy
Providing business models that encourage and reward young, enthusiastic, and well-trained people to enter and prosper in the industry is essential for its future sustainability, according to Teagasc.
A clear pathway for these prospective dairy farmers to achieve their goals is needed to ensure that they are attracted into the industry.
Chairman FBD Trust, Michael Berkery said: 'At FBD, we're proud to partner with Teagasc in supporting the 2025 Moorepark Open Day.
'We recognise the vital role events like the open day play in fostering knowledge, innovation, and collaboration within the farming community.
'Knowledge sharing and education around best practise and new technologies are critical to empower dairy farmers to build innovative, sustainable businesses for the future.
'The Moorepark Open Day provides an invaluable opportunity for farmers and industry leaders to connect, exchange ideas, and explore the latest advancements in dairy production, all while shaping the future of Irish agriculture.'
Speaking at the launch of the open day, head of the Animal and Grassland, Research and Innovation Programme, Prof. Laurence Shalloo said: 'Dairy farms and dairy farming are consistently one of the most profitable agricultural enterprises reported by the Teagasc National Farm Survey.
'A strong recovery in family farm income occurred in 2024 following a very challenging year in 2023.
'A strong performance is expected in 2025 with to-date a favourable spring, strong milk prices as well as strong cull cow and calf prices.
'The dairy industry has a consistent track record of innovation in areas for example around the uptake of the EBI [economic breeding index], the uptake of white and red clover at farm level, the use of sexed semen, and the use of high DBI [dairy beef index] bulls to increase the beef merit of non-replacement dairy calves from the dairy herd.'
The Teagasc professor explained that this level of innovation and technology adoption will be key to addressing the challenges of cost control, generational renewal, improved water quality and lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as the industry moves forward.
'The dairy industry has consistently responded in a positive manner to challenges in the past, and I am sure it will face the current challenges with the same focus,' Shalloo added.
'Moorepark '25 will provide the pathway and support to farm families to address these challenges while embracing the opportunities.'
Demonstrations
Demonstrations and workshops will take place throughout the day on:
Grazing management;
Reseeding;
Low emission slurry spreading (LESS);
Fertiliser type;
White clover swards;
Calibration of fertiliser spreaders;
Farm infrastructure;
Manure storage options;
Body condition scoring;
Milk quality;
Calf rearing;
Genetics;
Health and safety.
There will be a particular focus on bovine tuberculosis (TB) and TB control at farm level demonstrated on the day.
Discussion forums at the open day will take place around cost control and growth opportunities for dairy farm businesses, from a national and international perspective.
A number of topics will be discussed at the Ornua forum area including market updates, milk quality as well as an industry forum to discuss future challenges and opportunities for the industry as a whole.
Teagasc Moorepark '25 aims to be an informative event for those with an interest in the Irish dairy industry.
A comprehensive booklet will be provided and admission and parking is free, no booking necessary. Gates open from 8:30a.m and the event closes at 5:00p.m on Wednesday, July 2.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
43 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Negotiation on EU-US trade deal continues, with tariffs pushed back for another week
This gives European Commission negotiators more time to clarify details of the new trade deal, as they try to extend the range of goods to which the 15pc rate will not apply. On Thursday, the commission said it had not been able to achieve a zero-for-zero carve-out for the drinks sector. France is already pressing for parts of the deal to be renegotiated. 'It's a stage and we won't stop here,' French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told broadcaster France Info. 'We want new concessions, guarantees on wine and spirits, a readjustment, [and] a rebalancing on the service sector – in particular digital services.' Speaking after a meeting of the trade forum in Government Buildings, Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said it was Ireland's understanding that the EU's 15pc rate was fully inclusive – incorporating existing tariffs – unlike the UK's 10pc. Confirming that pharmaceuticals will remain at a zero per cent tariff until the White House completes a Section 232 investigation – which determines how specific imports will affect US national security – Mr Harris said he had been informed by Brussels that this was likely to conclude in about two weeks. 'Without a deal between the US and the EU, today would have seen 30pc tariffs introduced by President Trump on the EU, and significant counter-measures by the EU to the tune of around €90-odd billion,' he said. 'There's absolutely no doubt that would have been a moment of catastrophe in terms of our economic well-being as a country. We'd be in a very different and a much worse position, I think, if we were standing here today with no deal. 'You don't have to take my word for that if you just see the executive order last night and all of the tariffs levelled in other countries, including countries that didn't have deals.' On Thursday night, Mr Trump signed an executive order to introduce tariffs on more than 60 countries. Most of these will take effect on August 7, but a 35pc levy on some exports from Canada came into effect immediately. The highest rates were slapped on Syria, Laos and Myanmar, which now face tariffs of about 40pc. A rate of 35pc was applied in Switzerland. The country has a big trade deficit with the US, reaching $38bn (€33bn) last year, but the White House implied that Switzerland was also being penalised for its pharma industry. ADVERTISEMENT US trade representative Jamieson Greer told BloombergTelevision: 'They ship enormous amounts of pharmaceuticals to our country. We want to be making pharmaceuticals in our country.' As usual, the extended deadline gives these countries more time to negotiate a deal with the US before the tariffs are applied. If introduced, however, it will mean the US is applying an average rate six times higher than when former president Joe Biden was in office. Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said: 'The average US tariff jumps from 13.3pc to 15.2pc, a seismic shift from the 2.3pc average before Trump retook office.' In a briefing to its members after the trade forum, Ibec pointed out that clarity was still needed on precisely what goods would drop to a zero tariff after August 7. 'Goods that may benefit from zero tariffs or zero-for-zero tariffs ... (including aircraft and component parts, certain chemicals, certain generic medicines, semiconductor equipment, selected agricultural products, natural resources, and critical raw materials) will require the final EU-US joint statement to confirm which specific HS codes will be exempt,' Ibec's Danny McCoy said. 'Negotiations on additional zero-for-zero arrangements not covered by the joint statement may continue in the weeks ahead.'
Irish Independent
43 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Irish influencer ‘unaware of Central Bank probe' into promotion of unregulated offshore trading platform T4Trade
Irish influencer Jonathan Finlay has said he is 'not aware of any ongoing investigation by the Central Bank into his affairs' or his promotion of an unregulated trading platform.
Irish Independent
43 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Labels on ready meals don't tell the full story – so where does our food really come from?
Irish consumers are increasingly buying ready-made meals that can range from premium produce to high-fat, high-sugar, nutritionally poor offerings.
