You are all very welcome to this major National Dairy Open Day for 2015.

Here in the Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre in Moorepark, we have brought together our advisers, specialists and researchers along with the main stakeholders involved in the dairy sector to address the issues facing dairy farmers and the industry in these both exciting and challenging times.

Exciting, because of milk quota abolition and challenging because businesses will have to adapt and change to the new circumstances that this policy brings.

The dairy sector is a critical pillar of not only the Irish agricultural sector, but the entire economy. It accounts for approximately 30% of gross agricultural output, valued at €3.1bn in 2014.

Dairy consumption

We know that dairy consumption is projected to increase considerably over the next 10-years, driven by increasing demand in developing countries in Asia, the Middle and Far East, and Africa.

Growing dairy output will mean that the Irish dairy sector can benefit from the significant opportunity presented by the growing global demand.

Notwithstanding the benefits, it faces a number of significant challenges, especially in relation to milk price volatility and the requirement for additional investment in farm infrastructure to facilitate expansion.

Adoption of key technologies in relation to pasture-based systems of milk production will play an ever-increasing role in this new environment. These technologies need to be robust and allow dairy farmers deal with uncertainty, thereby enhancing the resilience of the milk sector.

Moorepark 2015

Teagasc Moorepark 2015 is an ideal opportunity to see at first-hand the results of the comprehensive research programme and to meet Teagasc research and advisory staff.

There will be a network of themed villages for farmers to visit on the day, which include information on breeding, grassland, milk quality, new entrants, and environmental sustainability.

With a growing number of farmers seeking to enter dairy farming, the village for new entrants to dairying will be of particular interest. Information and advice will be available on financial planning and the best farm infrastructure to put in place.

A special feature of the open day will be a forum on “Developing a Successful Career in Dairying”. The forum will include a panel with a range of experience: a student participating in the Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management, young share farmers, a new entrant to dairying, and farm managers/owners with a range of experience in farm management.

I would like to thank all my Teagasc colleagues who have worked hard to ensure that this dairy open day is a success. I would also like to thank all the other organisations who partnered with us to participate in this event. I would also like to acknowledge the support of FBD Trust for Teagasc Moorepark 2015.

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A visit to Moorepark is a must for all dairy farmers