Maximise efficiency or pay penalty

A BLEAK future has been predicted for dairy farmers who fail to expand the scale of their operations over the next few years and maximise efficiency.

A Teagasc dairy advisor has told a seminar on "Future Viability in Dairy Farming" in Co Limerick that the average middle income dairy farmer will lose 20% of their current income by 2008, unless measures are taken to secure another source of income, increase production, and maximise efficiency on the farm.

David Cussen told farmers at Adare that spending time planning the financial aspects of their business will be critical. "Figures will become more important than the spade and shovel", he said.