Teagasc Dairy Conferences - ‘Together for Tomorrow’

Dairy farmers, like the rest of the economy, face significant difficulties in 2009 - adjusting to the recession, low milk prices and bad weather. Despite the current financial challenges, the outlook for dairy products in the medium-term is positive due to improving world demand.

It is against this background of volatile milk prices and low dairy farm incomes that the Teagasc National Dairy Conferences will take place on Wednesday, 18 November in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar, County Westmeath, and on Thursday, 19 November in the Malton Hotel, Killarney, County Kerry.

Speakers at the conferences include Stan McCarthy, managing director of the Kerry Group (Killarney conference); Barbara Kuriger , former board member at the New Zealand dairy processor, Fonterra; Louis Kuriger, New Zealand dairy farmer; Liam O Neill, business editor, Irish Farmers’ Journal (Mullingar conference); farmer members of dairy discussion groups, and Teagasc researchers and advisers.

Speaking in advance of the conferences Matt Ryan, dairy specialist with Teagasc said: ”With over 80 per cent of Irish dairy products exported annually, remaining competitive is the major challenge for dairy farmers as they cope with significant swings in milk prices from peak to trough. Farmer members of discussion groups will address the two conferences and outline the strategies that are working on the farms in their groups, to cope during this difficult year.”

He said: ”Dairy farmers must develop systems of milk production capable of delivering sustainable returns within a milk price range of 20-40 cent per litre. In Ireland, this will be best achieved through the adoption of low cost grass-based systems of milk production.”

Conference Fee: (includes tea/coffee and lunch)

Clients: €50
Non Clients: €100

Mullingar Conference

Please return booking form with cheque (payable to Teagasc) to:
Celine Delaney
Teagasc
St. Brendan’s House
Oxmanstown Mall
Birr, Co. Offaly
Tel: 057/9120284
Email: celine.delaney@teagasc.ie

Killarney Conference:

Please return booking form with cheque (payable to Teagasc) to:
Betty McElligott
Teagasc
The Pavilion, Austin Stack Park,
Tralee,
Co. Kerry
Tel: 066-7125077
Email: betty.mcelligott@teagasc.ie