Glanbia, Teagasc launch dairy plan to capitalise on abolition of quotas

GLANBIA and Teagasc have launched a three-year joint dairy programme to position Glanbia milk suppliers to take advantage of growth opportunities that will arise after abolition of EU milk quotas in 2015.

A team of 28 Teagasc dairy advisers will deliver this joint programme through a network of discussion groups, and through knowledge transfer events like farm walks, seminars, and workshops. Currently, more than 1,700 Glanbia suppliers participate in 114 discussion groups, across 12 counties. Ten new monitor farmers are being established, who will demonstrate best practice and improve technology adoption on farms. These will include both spring-calving and winter-calving liquid milk herds.

The main objectives of the new P415: Preparing for 2015 programme are to increase grass utilisation. increase milk solids production per cow and per hectare, improve herd fertility and calving pattern, and improve cost control.

Speaking at the launch of the new programme, Jim Bergin, chief executive of Glanbia’s Dairy Ingredients Ireland division said: “The countdown to the removal of EU milk quotas is well advanced and an increase in milk production on Irish farms is anticipated. Coping with expansion will be challenging, and our suppliers will require the knowledge and support, which this joint programme with Teagasc can deliver, to make the necessary decisions regarding their futures.”

Teagasc director said Prof Gerry Boyle: “Productivity improve-ments can be achieved on farms and, in this joint programme, there are new and innovative ways of encouraging the uptake of the available technologies on farms to achieve higher levels of production. New elements include work-shops for non-discussion group members, courses and workshops on expansion and industry training. This programme is geared towards improving profit on farms, through increasing grass utilisation, breeding the right cow to produce more milk solids, calve on time and last longer in the herd, and through tighter cost control.”