The pressure to perform more efficiently every year bears down on all farmers – not just in Ireland but across the world. The pressures may be more intense in the case of Irish farmers, with high domestic wage rates, stimulated by a strong, growing economy and large, rich multinational companies looking to employ at all levels, well-educated Irish workers.

Last week, I had the pleasure of being part of a panel looking at Teagasc’s developing research programme and it was impossible not to be impressed with its scope and depth. For example, we take it for granted that whey, which just a few years ago, after the cheese was made, was spread as a fertiliser or in cases, dumped at sea, is now the essential base of a huge sports nutrition business. The drying technology spills over into increasing Ireland’s capacity to supply around 15% of the entire world’s production of infant formula.

Also, on the dairy side, it was instructive to see the arguments as to why we should investigate the health claims of A2 v A1 milk, while the new findings that cheddar cheese may help in preventing heart disease may signal a new approach to dairy consumption.

The range of experiments across the beef and tillage sectors being proposed for future years should help to objectively underpin the competitiveness of Irish farming in future years. It won’t be all plain-sailing and there inevitably will be controversies and inconclusive results, but it’s easy to overlook the State agri-scientific structure that Ireland has maintained.

Noel Cawley

With the departure of Noel Cawley as chair of Teagasc, one of Ireland’s most distinguished agri figures bows out of the public spotlight. While probably best-known as the long-term and highly successful head of the Irish Dairy Board (now Ornua) which he built into a major, diversified global dairy business, he was also chair of the Irish Horse Board. He continues to be a highly successful sports horse breeder and exhibitor.

As well as that, he was on the board of Bord Bia and was rightly seen as an ideal government nominee to sit on the board of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation as it tidied up the appalling and expensive mess left by Anglo Irish Bank. I gather he is still one of the key figures the Government uses for high-level appointments across the public service. By any standards, he has done the State and Irish farmers some services. I don’t know if he will ever fully retire but his huge contribution to the sector and to Irish life should be acknowledged.