The first graduates of the Professional Diploma in Dairy Herd Management course were presented with their diplomas by the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, at an awards ceremony at Teagasc Moorepark on Monday.

The course was created by Teagasc in conjuction with UCD and other stakeholders, in response to a recommendation in Food Harvest 2020 that additional educational opportunities be provided for prospective young dairy farm managers.

The core element of the diploma is two years experience-based learning on a host dairy farm, with a mentor who is willing to invest time and effort to impart their experience. The participants also complete modules in Teagasc centres, where they are lectured on the most up-to-date best practice on farm management across three specific modules: dairy farm management, dairy technology and dairy farm expansion and development.

The programme also incorporated monthly discussion groups for the participants and students had the option to spend five months in New Zealand.

Congratulating the 18 graduates, Simon Coveney said: “The future competitiveness of the Irish dairy industry will be dependent on an adequate supply of highly skilled young people entering the industry annually.”