Dairy Ireland autumn dairy conference

Dairy Discussion Groups of Ireland is hosting a winter dairy conference in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, next Thursday 16 October.

The theme of the conference is the Irish dairy industry in 2025 – what does it need to look like to be a global competitor?

Chair of Dairy Ireland David Murphy said: “2025 is only 10 years away and we want to develop the thinking on two sides of the business. Firstly, what needs to happen in the processing and marketing side of the dairy business and, secondly, what dairy farms will look like in 2025.”

The conference is partly sponsored by Elanco and there will be six speakers who are all deeply involved in the dairy industry and upcoming changes.

In the morning session, chair of the Irish Dairy Board and Aurivo chief executive Aaron Forde, director of strategy at GIIL Sean Molloy, and former board member of Barryroe/Carbery John O’Brien will all outline their thoughts on dairy Ireland 2025 and what changes they expect in the coming months and years.

In the second session, Macra land mobility officer Austin Finn, Dairygold supplier and IFA deputy president Tim O’Leary, and Irish Farmers Journal dairy editor Jack Kennedy will give their thoughts on changes they expect and would like to see within the farm gate and also in the processing sector. There will be a panel discussion after each session.

The conference is organised by farmers for dairy farmers and registration will start at 10.30am with the first speaker addressing farmers at 11am.

The venue is the Clonmel Park Hotel, Co Tipperary. The cost of attending is €15 per head to partly cover costs and there is no need for registration prior to the day. The day starts at 11am and finishes at between 2pm and 2.30pm.

 

IFA dairy conference

The IFA this week launched its dairy conference, which is to be held on Tuesday 21 October at Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare, from 9.30am.

IFA Dairy Committee chair Sean O’Leary said: “The purpose of the conference is to give existing, expanding and potential new dairy farmers a room to think about their business, the finance required and a chance to plan the resources they need in coming years.”

There are three sessions on the day at this conference. The first session starts at 10am and involves Moorepark’s Laurence Shalloo, IFAC’s Declan McEvoy, Ulster Bank’s Ann Marie Butler and IFA chief economist Rowena Dwyer.

Rowena Dwyer will discuss the most recent agri tax review and Budget 2015. All will discuss recent finance, taxation and resource allocation for dairy farms into the future.

The second session centres on farm safety and quality assurance. The Health and Safety Authority’s Pat Griffin will discuss safety-proofing your expansion plans and Bord Bia’s Michael Maloney will discuss progress to date on the Bord Bia dairy farm Quality Assurance Scheme.

The afternoon session in Naas will hear from IFA dairy executive Catherine Lascurettes, where she will discuss price risk management instruments.

Director of strategy at GIIL Sean Molloy will speak about the Glanbia experience and its investment plans.

Finally, global director of consumer foods at the Irish Dairy Board Fergal McGarry will give his view on future markets and the development of new products and markets.

You can register online at www.ifa.ie/dairy, email anndunne@ifa.ie or phone 01-4260362.