2026 has been one of the toughest years for dairy farmers in quite some time, with cashflow now quickly drying up.

We have seen poor milk prices, high costs, a wet spring, and - to top it all off - a two-month-long drought that has kickstarted a fodder crisis.

So where does that leave us when it comes to farm investment?

Agriland caught up with Dairymaster sales manager, Pat Ryan, at the National Ploughing Championships to see what trends he is seeing on the ground.

Ryan noted despite the challenging year, once grass growth picked up again, there was a clear shift in farmer positivity.

He noted how that positivity has followed through to them, with a re-energised interest in parlours over the last number of weeks.

Upgrading parlours

The sales manager said: "At the end of the day, anyone that's into milking cows, the parlour is a key piece of equipment.

"They're always looking at either making it bigger, expanding, adding on, making life easier really without trying to reduce labour."

Ryan noted how a lot of farmers are not necessarily looking for all-out new builds, but rather upgrading the existing unit.

Upgrading the existing unit is especially evident in the older generations.

The upgrades allow these farms to stay attractive for the next generation while simultaneously improving labour efficiency.

These types of investment are also common for new entrants with minimal capital.

What are farmers looking for?

Ryan noted that when farms are investing in parlours, they do not need to go for "all the bells and whistles" from the get-go.

He said it is very popular for farms to start with an entry level plant, before adding units and additional features down the road.

He said those who are investing in new plants are focusing on the basics, such as design, room for expansion, and necessary equipment to make things as efficient and as profitable as possible.

What Dairymaster is seeing as desirable add-ons are features such as automatic cluster removers (ACRs), which improve efficiency as well as cow health by preventing over-milking.

The focus on cow health has continued to show in parlour investments, with Ryan noting that farmers are regularly looking to install systems such as milk recorders and cluster flush systems in both new and existing parlours.

Ryan says there is also a continued focus on installing proper feeder systems in parlours, which allow for accurate meal feeding.

At the end of the day, the biggest factor Ryan is seeing is farms investing in automated technology to help reduce labour, especially in systems where there is a sole operator in the pit.