Dairy farmers must ensure their expansion ambitions are sustainable from an economic, environmental and a family farm perspective, says Teagasc director Prof Gerry Boyle.

Since 2005, total expenditure on farming inputs has increased more than 50%, from €3.7bn to €5.7bn, now soaking up more than over 70% of the farm-gate value of output, said IFA President Eddie Downey last week.