Agriland is delighted to team up with Bord Bia for a series focusing on the central role a grass-fed diet plays in distinguishing Irish dairy produce on the world market.

This summer’s drought conditions, and the pressure it put on grass growth and fodder supplies, showed just how important grass is to Irish dairy.

Despite these recent challenges, grass remains at the heart of Irish dairy farming.

It is not only important for milk production, but also a key part of what sets Irish dairy apart in export markets.

In the Irish Dairy's Grass-fed Strength series, we talk to Irish dairy farmers about their grassland management and the challenges they faced this summer.

We also hear from David Kennedy, Bord Bia head of dairy on why grass-fed matters to dairy customers around the world, and how Bord Bia verifies the grass-fed credentials of Irish dairy.

Irish Dairy's Grass-fed Strength Series

In Week 1, we speak with dairy farmer David Hally, who farms just outside Clonmel in Co. Tipperary and supplies Dairygold. He describes how regular grass measurement is central to how he manages the farm.

In Week 2, we meet Martin Crowe, who farms with his wife, Jo, and five children in Doon, Co. Limerick, milking 200 cows. Martin also works as an agricultural adviser for beef and dairy farmers, and sees soil test results from farms across the country.

In Week 3, we speak with David Kennedy, Bord Bia head of dairy, who outlines how the Irish food board is seeing growing interest from global customers in Ireland’s Origin Green and the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme as a means to boost their own sustainability.

In Week 4, we speak with dairy farmer Fiona O’Donnell, who farms with her husband Eddie near Golden, Co. Tipperary. Following a career in banking, Fiona joined Eddie full-time on the family dairy farm around six years ago. Fiona is also president of Dairy Women Ireland (DWI) since November 2025. 

Follow the series over the next four weeks on the Agriland platform to hear more about the benefits of Ireland's grass-fed dairy system.