Teagasc course aims to boost skills dairy farm managers for the future

TEAGASC has developed a new training programme to boost professionalism among future dairy farm managers.

Available next year at Teagasc Kildalton College, Piltown, Co Kilkenny, the training programme is intended for those who manage their own, or others’ dairy farms.

It will include a two-year internship programme on the most progressive Irish dairy farms and oversees farms, with a view to developing managerial expertise and capacity of trainee managers.

Those who complete the programme will receive a FETAC Level 6 Supplemental Award in Commercial Farm Management Skills.

This initiative arises from a recommendation from the Food Harvest 2020 dairy activation group that a further programme should follow the existing Teagasc Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Dairy Herd Management programme.

Dairy farm mangers of the future will require broad managerial skills such as the ability to manage a commercial business and technical knowledge.

Information meetings will take place in Kildalton Agricultural College at 3.30pm on Thursday; Clonakilty Agricultural College at 11.30am on Friday; and at Ballyhaise Agricultural College on Monday, November 28, at 3.30pm.