Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has called for “mature discussion” on the continued expansion of Ireland’s dairy herd.

Speaking at the IFA AGM on Thursday, he said that the Government’s AgClimatise document, which is a roadmap for how the agriculture sector can become climate neutral by 2050, is based on having a stable national herd.

“It will be difficult to achieve stable methane if dairy cow numbers continue to increase over the years ahead,” he warned.

The IFA has reacted angrily, with its dairy chair Tom Phelan pointing out that a cap on the dairy herd would be putting a cap on the one sector of Irish agriculture that provides a farm income for families.

IFA president Tim Cullinan described the prospect of a cap on the dairy herd as “very, very concerning”, saying that in excess of €2bn had been pumped into the dairy sector by farmers and more by co-ops.

Suckler sacrifice

Livestock chair Brendan Golden insisted that suckler farming should not be sacrificed for the sake of dairy expansion.

The prospect and potential effect of a limit on dairy expansion and a cap on the national herd will be examined in next week’s Irish Farmers Journal and we want to know where you stand on the issue.

Should further dairy expansion be limited?

Will suckler cow numbers fall if dairy cow numbers continue to grow?

Can agriculture meets its environmental targets if dairy cow numbers continue to grow?

Do farmers have the right tools and technology to allow continued growth in dairy cow numbers?

Where do you stand on a potential limit on either dairy cows or the wider national herd?

How would it affect your farm?

Do you intend to change your stock numbers this year in light of the Minister’s comments?