West Cork dairy farmers to benefit from 5 year initiative
Carbery Group and Teagasc Cork West have re-launched a joint programme aimed at securing the future of dairy farming in West Cork.
The renewed programme will place a "strong emphasis on protecting milk supply and driving sustainable growth in milk solids production".
Carbery Group and Teagasc Cork West have been running the dairy joint programme since 1998.
According to both organisations it has "played a key role in driving improvements in farm profitability, grassland management, milk quality and sustainability across the region".
The next phase of the programme will focus on a number of key objectives including:
- Improved pasture utilisation;
- Enhanced herd genetic merit;
- Better herd fertility performance;
- Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect water quality, and promote biodiversity.
Dairy farmers
One reoccuring issue which has again been highlighted by Carbery Group and Teagasc Cork West is in relation to the average age of dairy farmers.
They have also outlined the challenges on "labour availability".
"Encouraging the next generation into dairy farming is essential in West Cork.
"This will help secure the long-term sustainability of milk production, a sector that supports thousands of jobs across West Cork and contributes significantly to the regional economy," both organisations have outlined.As a result of this a new addition to the joint programme will be a collaboration with the Teagasc GROdairy Project – Generational Renewal Opportunities for Irish dairy farm businesses.
This project aims to address the generational renewal challenge where almost half of farm families do not have an identified farmer successor and young entrants face significant barriers to land access and progression.
Two of the farms involved will demonstrate collaborative farming models in real-world farm settings, highlighting financial, technical, and interpersonal dimensions
Gráinne Hurley, regional advisory manager of Teagasc in Cork West, has welcomed the renewal of the joint programme with Carbery and the four west Cork co-ops - Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh and Lisavaird.
“The joint programme plays a vital role in our advisory programme, guiding the advancement of dairy farming in the region.
“As an advisory team, we are excited to collaborate with all farmers and members of the broader agricultural community in west Cork throughout the next five years.”
Carbery
Carbery group chair Vincent O’Donovan also believes the progamme is "delivering real value" for dairy farmers.
He said that each farm taking part in the initiative is a family-run enterprise.
"As we look to the future, our focus is on helping farm families remain profitable, sustainable and resilient while supporting the next generation of dairy farmers.
“Working together with Teagasc and our co-operatives, we can continue to build a strong future for dairy farming and for rural communities across west Cork."
