Watch: 'Always a link between profit and pasture utilisation' - Patton
There is "always a link between profit and pasture utilisation" according to Dr. Joe Patton, head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer with Teagasc.
Speaking to Agriland at the Teagasc Dairy Open Day in Moorepark in Fermoy today (Wednesday, July 2) Dr. Patton said that costs for dairy farmers have ramped up significantly over the last few years.
He has pointed to the example of how costs jumped by 34% in one year to record high levels and that this cost structure remained through 2023 and into 2024.
The head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer with Teagasc said one of the discussions that was high on the agenda today was "what are making the high profit farms, high profit and what are making the low profit farms, low profit."
"Cost is a big part of that - costs have crept up, quite significantly in the last couple of years.
"We have to get doubled down on costs," Dr Patton added.
Dr. Patton also said that there needs to be a strong focus on how much pasture is being used on farm.
He said the event today highlighted to farmers how they could make a difference on their own farms and also outlined how farms can become more resilient.
The theme of the 2025 Teagasc Dairy Open Day in Moorepark was Irish Dairying - Innovating for the Future and according to Dr. Patton it is clear that dairy farms have gone through significant changes since the abolition of quotas.
He said in particular there has been "great progress on breeding" over the last couple of years particularly with the increased use of sexed dairy semen and the use of beef semen and with the Economic Breeding Index (EBI).
But according to Dr. Patton one of the key challenges facing the industry at this time is around "generational renewal".
"We're 20 years really since the whole process of expanding the industry began - we need new blood into the industry and we need good models for how that would happen.
"One of the big things is then really a positive story around renewal and progression and succession in the industry.
"The industry, as a whole because of the capacity that was built up, has expanded over the last 10 years and a period of consolidation has happened but at individual farm level there may be opportunities to look at growth, " he added.
Dr. Patton said one of the aims of the Teagasc Dairy Open Day in Moorepark was to encourage people to look at their own circumstances and if there are opportunities for growth in the industry - even if the industry as a whole has consolidated -to consider how they could best exploit those opportunities for themselves.
But he also stressed that any future plans by farmers must be underpinned by a commitment to the environment, water quality and animal welfare.
Additional reporting by Hugh Harney
