The theme of this year’s Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day is ‘Innovating for the Future’, with a focus on how technology can assist Irish dairying.

The event takes place on Wednesday, July 2, from 8:30a.m to 5:00p.m at the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork (Eircode: P61 C996).

The Irish dairy industry has undergone a remarkable transformation since the removal of EU milk quotas in 2015.

What do the next 10 years hold and what technologies will dairy farmers need to avail of to meet the challenges that will present over the next decade?

The latest research and technical information available from Teagasc and its partners will be on display on Wednesday, July 2 in Moorepark.  It is a day not to missed by all dairy farmers.

Future Irish dairy farms must become more resilient by minimising reliance on external inputs, with grazed pasture as the system’s foundation, due to its low cost and impact on profitability and overall sustainability.  

Embracing both the Economic Breeding Index (EBI), with a cow suited to grazing systems, and technology will reduce labour demand and increase work-life balance.

A well-optimised system where feed supply and demand are balanced improves profitability, lowers emissions, and enhances nutrient balance and biodiversity, while providing an increasingly rewarding and satisfying work environment.

Moorepark’25 will showcase current and emerging technologies and practices designed to empower farmers to increase their economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

It will provide attendees with the opportunity to examine the results of the comprehensive, innovative research programme undertaken by Teagasc, and to engage with research, advisory and education staff.

Demonstrations will take place throughout the day on a wide range of subjects, including: grazing management; reseeding; low emission slurry spreading; fertiliser type; white clover swards; calibration of fertiliser spreaders; farm infrastructure; manure storage options; body condition scoring; milk quality; calf rearing; genetics; and health and safety.

A range of Irish dairy products will be on display. Workshops will take place around cost control and growth opportunities for dairy farm businesses from a national and international perspective as well on milk quality.

Ireland’s agricultural sector faces increasing environmental pressures, particularly around greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia emissions, water quality, and biodiversity.

Technology adoption and farm-level changes are key to emissions reductions at present.

The effort to improve water quality need to be sustained and will be underpinned by Teagasc’s Better Farming for Water campaign.

All enterprises must adopt measures to protect water quality and ensure positive progress continues.

A forum at the end of the open day route will reflect on the phenomenal changes that have occurred in the Irish dairy sector during the 10 years since milk quotas were removed, lessons learned, and explore the challenges and opportunities the sector now faces.

The forum will begin at 3:00p.m, and will cover the current global trading scenario, policy implications for the future direction of the industry, the key role of innovation in developing solutions for the challenges that lie ahead.

Moorepark'25 is proudly sponsored by FBD Insurance, with additional support from Ornua and Allied Irish Bank.