Teagasc invites all dairy farmers and industry stakeholders to Moorepark tomorrow, Wednesday 2 July. The Moorepark’25 Open Day will take place at the Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork.
Proudly sponsored by FBD Insurance, with additional support from Ornua and Allied Irish Bank, the theme of this year’s Moorepark Open Day is ‘Innovating for the future’.
The dairy industry has been through transformational change in the past 10 years since the removal of milk quotas. The pent-up capacity for growth was released, and milk solids output has almost doubled. However, since 2022, the dairy industry has entered a consolidation phase.
Speaking ahead of the Moorepark Open Day, Director of Teagasc, Professor Frank O’Mara said: “It is important that we take time to reflect and plan for the next phase of development for the Irish dairy industry.
“The industry must continue to align with EU and national policy objectives, with a particular focus on lowering carbon emissions, enhancing animal welfare, improving water and air quality, and enhancing biodiversity. At the same time, dairy farms must generate financially rewarding career opportunities with a favourable work-life balance.”
To address this, Moorepark’25 will showcase current and emerging technologies and practices designed to empower farmers to increase their economic, environmental, and social sustainability. It will also provide attendees with the opportunity to examine the results of the comprehensive, innovative research programme undertaken by Teagasc, and to engage with research, advisory and education staff.
Also commenting ahead of the Moorepark Open Day, Professor Laurence Shalloo, Head of the Animal and Grassland, Research and Innovation Programme, said: “The dairy industry has a consistent track record of innovation in areas for example around the uptake of the EBI, the uptake of white and red clover at farm level, the use of sexed semen, and the use of high DBI bulls to increase the beef merit of non-replacement dairy calves from the dairy herd.
“This level of innovation and technology adoption will be key to addressing the challenges of cost control, generational renewal, improved water quality and lowering greenhouse gas emissions as the industry moves forward.”
“The dairy industry has consistently responded in a positive manner to challenges in the past, and I am sure it will face the current challenges with the same focus. Moorepark’25 will provide the pathway and support to farm families to address these challenges while embracing the opportunities.”
Key attractions from Moorepark
Another key attraction is the forum, which will reflect on the phenomenal changes that have occurred in the Irish dairy sector during the 10 years since milk quotas were removed, lessons learned and explore the challenges and opportunities that it now faces.
Moorepark’25 will also feature live displays, discussions, demonstrations and workshops. Demonstrations on grazing management, reseeding, low emission slurry spreading, fertiliser type, white clover swards, calibration of fertiliser spreaders, farm infrastructure, manure storage options, body condition scoring, milk quality, calf rearing, genetics, and health and safety will take place throughout the day. A range of Irish dairy products will also be on display.
Workshops will take place around cost control and growth opportunities for dairy farm businesses from a national and international perspective as well as on milk quality.
Financial support for our research programme from the Irish government, European grants, and Dairy Levy Research Funds is gratefully acknowledged. We look forward to meeting you at Teagasc Moorepark on Wednesday, July 2.
For more information and to plan your route to the Moorepark Open Day, visit here.