Paula Hynes: Pausing IP on elite Irish genetics would be like driving with the handbrake on

If we are willing to accept the need for IP protection, like most other farmers around the world, then we have a chance to drive forward and make real progress

Our February milk production was high and thankfully our processor maintained base price for February supplies, and rightly so as butter and WMP are still rising in price weekly on the European dairy market.

The recent spell of fine weather has allowed us stay well ahead on the workload and all our lower land has also now been spread with fertiliser and some of it has also been spread with slurry, so the whole farm is primed for growth. 

The first paddocks grazed in the springtime have grass covers of 1,200kgs/dm. We are in no rush to start the second rotation but what we will most likely do is alternate grazings daily between first and second rotation to allow the cows to transition onto the lush grass.