With the Christmas period now well and truly underway, Agriland has decided to do a ‘Dairy Throwback’ series, which revisits some of the most popular ‘Dairy Focus’ articles.
In 2024, it was a busy year for Agriland, as we travelled the length and breadth of the country to visit dairy farmers and learn about their systems and what drives production and profitability.
The Dairy Throwback series will run from December 24 – December 29, with farmers from counties Antrim, Offaly, Kildare and Kilkenny featuring, as well as a Cork man managing a farm in England.
The start of 2024 was a challenge for dairy farmers with poor weather conditions in spring, followed by poor milk price, struggling grass growth and uncertainty around Nitrates derogation.
The latter end of the year, however, saw milk price increase, grass growth improve and conditions allowed for a longer grazing season which relieved any fodder supplies deficits and allowed for a better milk price to be achieved.
The talk and concerns of the year were around water quality and the need to retain the nitrates derogation in 2026 followed by the need to have generational renewal and successors on the farm.
Although milk price has improved, input costs still remain very high and environmental regulations are still tightening in on dairy farmers which has restricted margins on farms.
Dairy Throwback
Dairy Focus articles will continue in 2025, and Agriland will be obtaining insight into how farmers are dealing with challenges that may arise.
The Dairy Throwback series will contain six revisits – including a visit to a dairy farmer milking 1,500 cows in England, a pure Friesian herd in Kilkenny, an Antrim father and son utilising automation and a pedigree Holstein Friesian herd doing the trick in Kildare.
This is just a taste of what is coming, and should give you a look back at a range of different systems being operated on Irish farms.
The next few throwbacks include a man milking cows and selling milk and coffee from the yard in Co. Kildare and a Montbeliarde herd working wonders for a father and son partnership in Co. Offaly.
Unfortunately, we could not include all of our 2024 Dairy Focus articles in the series.
Some other notable visits not included are:
- Dairy Focus: Milking 500 cows on two milking platforms;
- Dairy Focus: French farmer and Montbeliardes dictate milk price;
- Watch: Young Louth farmer diversifies family dairy farm;
- Dairy Focus: Calving underway on 1,000-cow New Zealand farm.
There are many more, all of which can be seen on the Agriland Dairy Focus page, or by clicking here.
Dairy farmers across Ireland who enjoy the Agriland Dairy Focus series and would like to feature in it can contact: [email protected].
Finally, myself, Hugh Harney and all the team at Agriland would like to wish all of our readers a Happy Christmas and a healthy and great New Year.