Tirlán has welcomed nearly 2,000 of its dairy suppliers to follow their milk from the “farm gate to world markets” during its Ballyragget open days in Co. Kilkenny this week.
The chair of the co-op, John Murphy told Agriland today (Wednesday, September 25) that he was thrilled to welcome all the suppliers through the door.
“It is a great opportunity to let the farmers in and it’s been so warmly received
“We have been a 100% co-op now for two and a half years – we formed Tirlán and top of the agenda when we formed was to open up the doors to the farmers and owners see their own business”, Murphy said.
According to Tirlán its Ballyragget plant is the largest, multi-purpose integrated dairy plant in Europe.
The open days gave milk suppliers an opportunity to see behind the scenes at the Ballyragget site, with a walking guided tour of the butter and cheese plants and the Innovation Centre.
Murphy said that” the feedback has been great, I’ve been blown away, we have almost 2,000 registered to come in over the past two days”.
Suppliers were given the chance to see at firsthand how the milk they supply is transformed into award-winning brands, nutritional and functional dairy ingredients.
The open day also included informative panel discussions which focused on sustainability, water quality, the range of Tirlán products, international markets and opportunities and young farmer programmes.
Suppliers also had the opportunity to walk around the different stands which included Twenty20 Beef, the FarmGen programme, the new milk solids tracker and nitrates derogation.
Tirlán
Murphy said that while suppliers can regularly meet the milk lorry man and and arrange with their sales rep for their fertiliser and feed, the open days given them the opportunity to see the whole capability of Tirlán and the role they play not just in Ireland but across the world.
Murphy said he was impressed with the mood among farmers, which he described as positive.
He said it had been a very tough year and a half for dairy suppliers with “milk price collapse last year, costs were very high and it was a very long winter with farmers physically and mentally tired.”
But over the summer, Murphy said milk price had improved and he made it clear that he is “very optimistic for the future”.
“Dairy for a long time has been the best game in town and traditionally it has been very rewarding but like all businesses, it has its up and downs” he said.
Murphy said that the reality is that the population is heading towards 10 million people, and food production around the world has been a challenge with climate change.
“We are the lowest producers of carbon per litres of milk produced in Europe and just second in the world behind New Zealand, so it makes sense for us to produce dairy in Ireland.” Murphy added.
But he warned that Ireland is being capped while the likes of China and South America are ramping up their dairy production.
“It’s disappointing that we are being heavily targeted here in Ireland and it has caused us issues and that’s why it is so important that we retain the derogation and not just for our 5,000 milk suppliers but for our 2,300 staff at Tirlán as well.
“If we don’t retain the derogation, it is going to be devastating for rural Ireland.”
Derogation
Murphy also told Agriland that Tirlán representatives last week met with Humberto Delgado Rosa (director for Natural Capital, DG Environment, European Commission) and his team during their visit to Ireland.
“We had them at a Tirlán farm outside Gorey and it was a really positive event.”
“The farmer was a great ambassador, and we had Teagasc there, the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) there, all showing examples of the work that is being carried out on different farms in an effort to improve water and nitrates.
“I would be far more optimistic now, then I was even six to seven months ago,”Murphy added.
He believes that farmers are really engaging, are very adaptable and open to change and new ways of doing things.
However according to Murphy the year 2026 is going to be the decision year based on actions that are taken in 2025 and warned that it is going to take four to five years to reduce the nitrates and improve water quality.
Murphy said it would therefore be “disheartening for all the work that farmers are doing now, if before they even get out of the blocks to tell them, the derogation is gone.”
“That was our key message for the delegation – to wait a few years to see that work come through.
“The Poole farm we were on last week is proof of that,” he added.
Murphy said they were “farming commercially, in harmony with nature, and they were passionate about their waterways.”
That is the aim of the Tirlán Slaney project, he added , to prove that farmers can do both by farming at current commercial levels in Ireland and still improve our waterways.
In relation to the upcoming budget, Murphy said he would like to see “an appreciation for agriculture and dairy in particular as they are our most indigenous businesses in Ireland and they are not getting enough attention and support.”
The Tirlán chair also wants to encourage younger people to get more involved in farming and he believes an “incentive or support to encourage the transfer of farms to the younger generation and a retirement scheme for older farmers” would be welcome.
“They are the future, they are the next generation, so I think it is important we get something in place to encourage the transfer of farms to the next generation and to me that is the top of the list,” Murphy said.