Farming as a knowledge-based enterprise

AGRICULTURE repositioning itself as a knowledge-based endeavour sounds like IDA Ireland speak rather than the considered view of one of Irish agriculture’s most respected voices.

Professor Liam Downey, the former head of Teagasc, put that point of view last week at a significant gathering of agriculture heads in Dublin.

It was the launch of a new report, Knowledge Agriculture Perspectives towards a New Model of Milk Production. It’s a mouthful, but translated it says farmers will make more money if they use the growing knowledge available on nutrition and genetics.