Securing a Sustainable Future is the theme for this year’s Moorepark'23 – Teagasc National Dairy Open Day, which takes place on Tuesday, July 4, in Fermoy, Co. Cork. All are welcome to attend.

Since milk quota removal was first discussed, the dairy industry has gone through a transformation. This has occurred against the backdrop of an economic crisis, a global pandemic and a war in Europe.

It is now important to take stock of the next phase of development for the dairy industry as a whole.

Future developments will require close alignment with EU and national policy objectives. A particular focus is needed on:

Reducing carbon emissions;
Improving animal welfare;
Better water and air quality;
Greater biodiversity.

At the same time it is necessary to generate financially rewarding career opportunities with a favourable work-life balance.

Moorepark’23 will highlight the various technologies and practices available to farmers to underpin the economic, environmental and social sustainability credentials of their farms.

The first four boards of the day will focus on sustainability challenges; profitable systems; breeding and reproduction and grassland, where you will get the opportunity to hear the latest results of the comprehensive, broad spectrum research programmes undertaken by Teagasc. 

This will be followed by technology villages where there is an opportunity to meet research, advisory, education staff and industry partners. The villages will be themed around:

Grass10 – Grazing Demo:
Grassland Village:
Signpost Village:
One Health, One Welfare Village:
Breeding and Reproduction Village:
Working Effectively Village:
Infrastructure Village:
Skills Village:

Live interactive demonstrations will feature prominently at the dairy open day on July 4.

Watch and listen to demonstrations on topics such as grazing management; reseeding; low emission slurry spreading; fertiliser type; white clover/mixed species swards; calibration of fertiliser spreaders; farm infrastructure; locomotion scoring; body condition scoring; milk quality; calf rearing; high-DBI genetics; and health and safety. 

In addition, there will be workshops from Ornua and the National Dairy Council (NDC) with Milk Quality Award winners discussing their farming experience.

The open day will end with a forum which will focus on the key industry challenge of ‘People in the Dairy Industry’. The forum will begin at 3:00p.m and will be addressed by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue. 

The forum will look at the wide range of opportunities, as well as various career pathways, in the dairy industry and will feature a number of students, farm managers, young farmers and established farmers who will discuss their journey within the dairy industry.

Teagasc provides a combination of research, advisory and education functions. Staff from all sections of the organisation will be present at the open day to discuss the range of farmer advisory services, and supports and schemes available, as well as the range of education opportunities available through Teagasc.

Attendees can discuss career opportunities on a one-to-one basis with teachers and representatives from the agricultural colleges.

Key industry experts from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine; ICBF; Animal Health Ireland; Ornua; Bord Bia; the NDC; and the Health and Safety Authority will be present on the day.

Researchers and farmers from the Netherlands, France, Germany and New Zealand will discuss their experiences of farming under current agricultural policies, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing dairy farmers in their respective countries.

Find out more information about the open day by clicking here.