There has been no fall-off in on-farm building work, despite the collapse in milk prices over the last six months, building planners and contractors claimed.

However, spending could tighten significantly in the second half of the year if milk returns remain depressed, they predicted.

“We’re as busy as we’ve always been at this time of the year,” said Aidan Kelly of Agri Design and Planning Services in south Tipperary.

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“Farmers have come to the realisation that everything takes time so they are getting things lined up,” Kelly said.

“The phone always slows down this time of the year because lads are busy, but we’ve as much work in the pipeline as we’ve ever had,” he maintained.

“And every building contractor you talk to has the same story, they’re flat out,” Kelly added.

Bertie Troy of agri-services provider Grasstec Group said: “2025 saw strong demand for design and planning services. A lot of this was off the back of strong milk prices. We have not yet seen a drop in demand even though milk prices have dropped,” Troy said.

“The extension of the nitrates derogation and the appetite of farmers to avail of TAMS grants are contributing factors underpinning current demand,” he explained.

“We are continuing to see farmers who have long-term intentions to stay in milk, putting in place plans to invest in additional slurry storage in order to stay compliant,” Troy said.

Both Kelly and Troy predicted that low milk prices could impact investment if the downturn lingers into the early summer.

“We’re on real edgy ground at the moment. Farmers could start to tighten the belts if milk prices haven’t lifted by May or June,” Kelly maintained.

Cork-based builder, and dairy farmer, John Mulcahy, said he has seen no slow-down in farm building investment so far this year.

“Every year the work changes, last year the beef man was busy, this year more poultry houses are being built,” Mulcahy explained.

He said dairy farmers are also investing away, with a lot of cubicle houses and silage pits being built, extended or upgraded.

The fact that farmgate milk prices have steadied, and markets improved – albeit off a low base – has put some positivity back in both the dairy and buildings games, Mulcahy maintained.