Dairy farmers ‘must embrace new technology to succeed post-quota’
He made these comments while announcing plans for a conference on the future of the dairy sector in Moran’s Red Cow Hotel, scheduled for November 19. The event will be co-hosted by the Department of Agriculture.
“Innovation on dairy farms and in milk processing companies can drive efficiency, as Irish dairy farmers embrace the era of smart farming,” said Prof Boyle. “The clear message for dairy farmers considering expanding milk production is to ensure they are as efficient as possible — first through the use of the best technologies available.”
Prof Boyle stressed the importance for each individual producer to benchmark their own technical and financial performance against the best dairy farmers on similar soil types.
The dairy conference will cover three main themes: market opportunities for the Irish dairy sector to 2025; management of risk in a post-quota environment; and the on-farm efficiencies required to drive profitability at farm level.
The event will feature high-level international and domestic speakers to address these themes in separate sessions followed by a panel discussion with relevant stakeholders in each instance.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said: “We are well and truly on the countdown to the end of quotas next April and we should take stock now of where the Irish dairy sector stands in its readiness for this new era. It’s essential that we are fully aware of the current issues which might influence opportunities as well as challenges that will be faced by all stakeholders in the sector.
“The aim of the conference will be to set the scene in this context and will also include a focus on practical issues of concern to farmers in their efforts to drive profitability during this exciting phase of expansion and opportunity.”
The dairy sector accounts for more than 30% in value of agri-food exports in 2013. The agri-food sector’s ‘Food Harvest 2020’ report predicts growth in jobs and exports for the dairy sector in the coming years.
Mr Coveney added: “It remains critically important that individual milk producers continue to manage their enterprises, having regard to the quota situation, until the expiry of the milk quota regime next March.
