25 December 2024
A message from Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc
As 2024 draws to a close, the festive season offers us an opportunity to reflect on the challenges and achievements of the past year, while also allowing us to look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.
2024 began on somewhat of a sombre note: the income challenges experienced over 2023 continued to cast a shadow; many farmers in receipt of a Nitrates Derogation grappled with new stocking rate limits; and weather-related challenges intensified pressures on tillage and grassland farms, resulting in difficultly establishing spring crops, the need for altered cropping plans, delayed turnout and the exhaustion of fodder reserves on some farms.
After rowing against the tide for much of the first third of the year, the late spring and early summer months did offer farmers hope. Spring cropping, after testing the perseverance of tillage farmers, had been all but completed and livestock returned outdoors to commence the much delayed grazing year.
No sooner had this occurred, farmers began to realise the enormity of the challenge ahead in filling the fodder reserve for the all too fast approaching winter. Adding complexity to this was lower grass growth rates, with supply sitting just above demand and thus significantly reducing the opportunity to save surplus.
However, with the support of our advisory staff and knowledge transfer teams and their dedicated lines of support, as well as the actions of the members of the National Fodder and Feed Security Committee, farmers were equipped with the tools to overcome these challenges. In many ways, there are learnings to take from 2024: one being having a buffer of excellent quality silage at hand to support dairy, suckler or sheep production systems at times when grazing proves too challenging is now a must; the other, no matter how difficult the challenge, its impact is lessened when the correct advice is sought and actioned on farm.
As the year transitioned into the autumn, fears that 2024’s unforgiving nature would bring further tillage and grassland challenges were quickly abated. Favourable weather ensured the harvest was saved with relative ease when compared to the previous year, winter crops were established and the grazing season was extended well into late November on many farms.
Farm incomes
Although 2024 presented us with a range of challenges that tested the patience and adaptability of every farmer, output and input price developments helped to boost incomes this year. Our team at the Teagasc Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department have provided estimates for 2024 and have looked outwards to 2025 farm incomes, and its review and outlook for all sectors is largely positive. A better harvest than expected, coupled with favourable straw yields and prices, and good prices for milk, cattle and sheep as the year progressed brought a recovery in farm incomes, and our economists estimated that overall farm incomes in 2024 are up 47%, a welcomed recovery after a dismal year in 2023.
2024 events
From a knowledge transfer perspective, 2024 proved to be a busy year for our organisation, hosting nearly 500 events between major national conferences, national open days and many more localised events.
Some of the standouts include: our biennial beef open day in Teagasc, Grange, Beef2024; the Counting Carbon: Science and Practice Conference, which saw leading experts travel to Teagasc, Ashtown to explore innovative approaches to carbon farming; and the Sustainability in Agriculture: The Science and the Evidence Conference, which featured Badi Besbes, Chief of the Sustainable Animal Production, Feed and Genetics Branch of the FAO Animal Production and Health Division, as the keynote speaker.
Other initiatives included: the inaugural Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards 2024, which recognised the efforts farmers have made and the actions they are taking to farm in a more sustainable manner; and the launch of the Better Farming for Water – 8 Actions for Change Campaign.
Water quality is one of the big challenges facing Irish agriculture, and our Better Farming for Water Campaign will build on the expertise garnered through our research and specialised programmes, such as the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) and the Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP), to ensure farmers have the necessary advice and knowledge to effect change. Already, key water quality messages have been shared at over 70 of our events and at 600 discussion group meetings. This messaging will be further expanded upon in 2025 and it very much feeds into improving water quality to help Ireland’s case for the renewal of the Nitrates Derogation.
Climate
Climate change hasn’t gone away and ensuring Irish farmers are equipped with the necessary technologies to lower greenhouse gas emissions will continue to remain an essential body of work for our Teagasc Climate Centre, Signpost Programme and Signpost Advisory Programme.
Farmers are making progress though and that deserves commending. Over 14,000 farmers have signed up to our Signpost Advisory Programme, through which customised plans are being developed, and greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have reduced. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points to a 4.6% reduction in agricultural emissions in 2023, and a further 2.4% reduction in emissions in the first quarter of 2024. Progress has been made but the uptake of key technologies must continue to ensure agriculture’s transition to a more sustainable future is achieved.
The year ahead
Just like the year outgoing, 2025 will undoubtedly bring its own unique set of challenges and Teagasc, through our dedicated team of advisors, specialists and researchers, will be there to offer support and advice as they arise.
On behalf of Teagasc, I very much wish to thank you for your continued support throughout 2024 and I am looking forward to meeting you at our national open days in Moorepark, Athenry or Oak Park, and at other events over the course of 2025.
Wishing you and your families a healthy, safe and successful 2025.