Dairy expansion plans ‘not realistic’
He told a meeting of Limerick ICMSA that farmers do not have the land to keep the extra stock, nor facilities to handle the increased herd or capital for the extra investment.
“There is also the labour element of increasing the size of the operation.”
“All of this is required to maintain their income, in other words to stand still”, he said.
He challenged the target of at least 80 cows recommended for viability.
“What the dairy bosses in the country would ideally like to see is not a realistic objective for the majority of dairy farmers, and is not an acceptable way forward for survival in dairy farming”.
He said, “They are asking the dairy farmers to engage in slave labour in order to stand still.”
Mr Allen said that the dairy processing sector must look at more added-value products to improve their operations, rather than turning to farmers for greater output.
He urged farmers to support more investment in research and development.
“As farmers, we have not been as positive about investing in research as we should be. You can’t judge the value of research in advance.”
“Sometimes it will be successful and sometimes it won’t, but if you don’t invest, you cannot move forward.”
