Structure of Industry

There are 26,622 farmers involved in the production of milk in Ireland (Dept. of Agriculture – April ’02) including around 2000 liquid milk suppliers. Dairying is also a big employer off farm with approx., 9000 employed in related activities.

Table 1 summarises the structure of dairy farming in Ireland in 2002

Table 1 - Number of Producers by Quota Size (Dept. of Agr.)

Quota Size (litres)	Number of Producers	% of Total Producers
Less than 180,000	14,742	55%
180,000 - 275,000	7,408	28%
275,000 - 455,000	3,401	13%
455,000+	1,071	4%
Total	26,662	100%

Profitability of Dairying

Over many years dairying has continued to be the most profitable land based enterprise on Irish farms. Average family farm income on dairy farms in 2002 was just under €30,000. This figure derives from an average quota of 188,633 litres corresponding to an average herd size of approximately 43 cows.

Table 2 – Costs of Milk Production ‘99 – ’02

	99	00	01	02	03
Total Variable Cost (c/l)	9.08	8.82	9.11	9.65	9.51*
Total Fixed Cost (c/l)	8.22	8.67	8.77	8.55	8.94*
Common Cost (c/l)	13.81	15.3	15.3*

Technology Transfer

Discussion groups, monitor farm, farm visits and monthly newsletters will continue to be the key methods of technology transfer. During ’04, numbers in discussion groups will be increased and groups will be used in conjunction with a nation-wide programme of public events to disseminate the latest in technology from Moorepark research. Numbers of monitor farms will be maintained at current numbers and will be used as a means of demonstrating and evaluating research results at local level. These will compliment our discussion groups and facilitate contact with a greater number of clients.

Evaluate Client Development Options – Planning Post Fischler Programme

The specific objective is to evaluate development options for our dairy client base in the period to 31^st March '05. This will be done through our 'Planning Post Fischler Programme' which will consist of 2-3 group sessions followed by an individual client visit and the completion of a 'Way Forward Action Plan'. The target for '04 will be to put 30% of our clients through this programme.

Improve Dairy Herd Profitability- “Profit Monitor Programme”

The specific objective is to reduce common costs of production by 1.3 c/litre, going from 15.3c/litre in '00 to 14c/litre in '06 and thereby increase dairy farm income by €46million per annum for 15,000 clients. Target common cost for best producers in creamery milk is 11c/litre and 12.5 c/litre for liquid milk. Target annual incremental cost reductions are €7.5 million. Cost reduction will be crucial to viability post Fischler reform.

To achieve this objective in ’04, Teagasc will endeavour to implement detailed financial analysis and planning. Financial management courses will be organised for clients at local office level to improve financial management competence. The Teagasc Cost Control Planner will be covered in financial courses with the objective of getting a quarter of clients to use this programme in the period to ’06.

Improve Milk Protein Content - “Protein 350 Programme”

The specific objective is to increase milk protein percentage from 3.27 in '00 to 3.47 in '06 through annual incremental increases. These annual incremental protein increases are valued at approximately €6 million. This would increase income by €38 million per annum for 15,000 clients by '06.

To improve protein content Teagasc will focus on improvement in grassland management and dairy breeding.

Through discussion groups, seminars, farm walks etc. the optimum grassland management system will be promoted. In the most favourable situations the target will be to have grass in the diet of the cow for 285 days. Establishment of clover on dairy farms with Reps. stocking rates will be promoted. Teagasc will aim to lengthen the grazing season by 40 days for 15000 clients. Grass cover monitoring will be promoted through discussion groups as a method of optimising grass utilisation.

In ’04, Teagasc will implement an information campaign on bull selection and milk recording to help reverse declines in A.I. and milk recording usage.

Structure of Industry

Irish beef production represents approximately 7% of EU beef production. Beef self sufficiency in Ireland was 820% in 2002 with a consequent need to export over 85% of production. The export value of beef and live cattle amounted to €1,224 million in 2002, which amounted to 18% of the total export value of agri-food, drinks and tobacco. Export refunds on beef sales in 2002 amounted to a further €187 million. The destination of Irish beef exports over the period 1998 to 2003 is shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Destination of Irish beef exports - % share of total

Destination	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003 (F)*
Intervention / SPS	3%	2%	0	31%	2%	-
Third Countries	55%	54%	51%	11%	20%	16%
U.K	17%	17%	22%	43%	52%	53%
Other E.U	25%	27%	27%	15%	25%	30%

* Figures for 2003 are forecasts as of late 2003

National gross output from cattle in 2002 was valued at €1,168 million accounted for 25.5% of gross agricultural output. In addition a further €826 million was earned by the cattle sector in direct payments excluding payments under animal health schemes, REPS and new based Compensatory Allowance Scheme.

Approximately 95% of Irish farms have a cattle enterprise and cattle constitute the principal enterprise on over 50% of Irish farms. Average farm size is small, income per hectare is low, cattle farming has a very heavy dependence on direct payments and on up to 55% of cattle farms the farmer or spouse has an off farm job.

The national cattle herd amounts to over 7 million head and includes approximately 1.25 million dairy cows and 1.15 million sucker cows. Approximately 64,500 herd owners held the national sucker quota in 2002 and the average application per applicant was just over 17 cows.

• Almost 46% of sucker quota holders had 10 cows or less in 2002 and this group held 15% of the national sucker quota.
• 17,950 quota holders held quotas over 20 cows in 2002 and at an average herd size of 38 cows held 62% of the national sucker quota.
• Almost 5500 quota holders held quotas over 40 cows in 2002 and at an average herd size of 61 cows, held 30% of the national sucker quota.

Table 2: Cattle farming in Ireland in 2002

	All Cattle Farms		Cattle Farms with over 0.75 Standard Labour Units
Cattle System	Cattle Rearing	Cattle Other	Cattle Rearing	Cattle Other
% of Farm Population Average Farm Size (adjusted/ha) Total Premia Receipts €/ha (incl.REPS & DACAS) F.F.I. €/ha % Premia Retained as Income % With Off Farm Job	27% 24.5 ha €443 €316 71% 55%	23% 29 ha €484 €329 68% 49%	3.2% 49 ha €478 €366 77% 47%	4.7% 63 ha €494 €414 84% 35%

Source: Teagasc National Farm Survey 2001

Applications for slaughter premium in 2001 indicate the small scale of Irish beef finishing systems with 101,673 applicants at an average of 19 per applicant for the year.

SLAUGHTER PREMIUM 2001:

75% of applicants with 1-20 animals and 25% of cattle

17% of applicants with 21-50 animals and 29% of cattle

9% of applicants (8726) with over 50 animals and 46% of cattle

Applicants for special beef premium in 2001 show an average application for 1^st stage premium (including bull pr.) and second stage premium of 24 head.

In 2001 88% of applicants for SBP applied for 1-50 head (incl 1^st and 2^nd

Stage) and accounted for approximately 52% of animals applied on. Almost 9,500 applicants applied for over 50 head with almost 3,000 applicants with over 100 head applied on between 1^st and 2^nd stage SBPr.

Carcass quality of Irish steers is best described by the carcass classification results. The ideal carcass grades for best-priced markets in U.K. and mainland Europe are conformation grades E, U and R with fat scores of 3 and 4L.

Results for steers for 1998 with fat scores 3 and 4L are:

- U3 and 4L 2.4% of steers

- R3 and 4L 14.2% of steers

As animals grading U and R with 3 or 4L fat are predominantly from the sucker herd this indicates that only about one third of sucker herd progeny are ideally suited to the best markets within the E.U.

Future Outlook

Given that an essential market requirement is to produce beef from cattle under 30 months this will result in a lower land requirement in future for a younger and smaller national cattle herd - in 2000 approximately 40% of prime cattle kill was over 30 months. Teagasc FAPRI-Ireland has completed a medium term analysis taking account of the Mid-Term Review and assuming full decoupling and project a reduction of up to 24% in Ireland's suckler herd.

Changes in the premia system may impact on future cattle production systems in Ireland. Decoupling of premia and moving to an area-based system could provide opportunities to efficient producers to increase returns and incomes while the least efficient producers may reduce stock levels.

Following Ireland's decision to fully decouple direct payments from production, farmers will need to re-examine their current production systems with a view to repositioning their farm business post decoupling. Teagasc are putting a Planning Post Fischler Programme into action to assist farm families to make the key decisions that will determine their futures. The programme will use a combination of group discussion followed up with one to one contact to help farmers plan the future direction of their farm business.

Much greater integration between production, processing and marketing will be essential to ensure production to satisfy consumer needs and rewarding all links in the chain with a premium that enhances profitability.

Industry Competitors

Market disruption due to BSE impacts and poor margins combined with the widespread availability of well paid off farm employment has encouraged increasing numbers of cattle farmers into part-time farming. Given the scale of farming outlined above and the modest income potential it is inevitable that part-time farming will continue and will most likely increase. Farm forestry is also competing for land that is carrying inefficient cattle enterprises. Teagasc is the only provider of independent technical advice to cattle farms through a network of drystock advisers at county level supported by regional specialist and research staff. Virtually all public advisory activity on cattle is organised by Teagasc.

Nutrition services to cattle farmers are provided for by private enterprise through industries involved in selling feed and /or feeding equipment to cattle farms.

Planning post Fischler

Following the decision of the Irish Government to fully decouple direct payments from production, farmers will need to closely analyse their current situation with a view to repositioning their farm business post decoupling. Teagasc will assist farm families to make the key decisions which will determine their futures and that of their families.

As entitlements arising from the CAP Reform will be activated by farmers in 2005 it is planned to offer the programme to all our farmer clients during 2004 and 2005. The proposed target is that each adviser will put 30 farm families through the programme each year for the coming two years.

Participants will:

• Calculate their own entitlements
• Discuss case studies for monitor farms/sample farms
• Estimate their current income/living expenses
• Consider their priorities for the future particularly in the context of future family requirements
• Calculate the impact of various on-farm and off-farm options on future income.

Reducing the common costs of beef production

Improving the breeding in the suckler herd

Programme Target

Financial Impact

Overall the programme target is for a €50m increase in profitability from beef production within Teagasc’s 12,000 clients, broken down as follows:

• Reduction in common costs to less than €1.30 per kg liveweight by 12,000 clients - €24m
• Improved breeding in the suckler herd and consequent higher price as a result of achieving a better market return and participating in partnership arrangements, 12,000 clients @ €63 per cow, average of 35 suckler cows - €26m.

Description of Service

The Advisory Service to support the cattle programme will be delivered through the Technology and Business service for the larger more commercial clients and the Rural Viability Service for the smaller and part-time drystock farmers.

Marketing and Promotion

Discussion Groups

Discussion groups have been shown to be the most effective advisory method in terms of increasing new practice adoption at farm level. Currently there are 70 cattle groups with a membership of over 1,000. Groups of 10-20 cattle farmers meet at least four times per year to discuss practices to improve farm profitability.

Monitor Farms

Teagasc currently uses a network of 40 cattle monitor farms to demonstrate and foster adoption of best practice on farms. Intensive advice and monitoring is carried out on each farm and results are made available to local farmers through open days on these farms and through the media.

Farm Walks/Seminars

Farm walks, seminars and demonstration in marts concentrate on time critical information and quality issues. These are held for major office catchment area and at regional locations.

Farm Visits

As part of an advisory contract advisers visit clients to discuss problems on a one-to-one basis. Expansion in this area of work is not envisaged but client demand is likely to sustain a steady demand for this aspect of service.

Profit Monitors

Profit monitor is a computerised programme to analyse financial performance on farms. Drystock profit monitor provides detailed analysis of output, premia and costs both per hectare and per kg beef liveweight.

Joint Programmes

Teagasc currently has 5 joint development programmes in the cattle area. These programmes involved personnel from both sides co-operating in advisory efforts to achieve mutually agreed objectives.

Any laboratory or IT work necessary to service contracts is charged for separately. New methods of servicing clients via on-line discussion groups and interactive IT services will be developed.

The targets for activities planned are set out in 3.1

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Programme

Programme monitoring against the targets set will be carried out using the CMS and other records of activities. These are based on the completed adviser’s diaries.

Programme evaluation is an ongoing process. At the end of each year, the Directors of Operations will report to the Teagasc Authority on the outcome of the programme. This report is based on information provided by each county, measurements of performance of the Monitor Farms, output trends and on the detailed results of the National Farm Survey. A mid-term review of the impact of the programme will be carried out using both the NFS and a more detailed sample survey of clients.

Structure of Industry

Approximately 35,000 farmers farm about 3.9m breeding ewes. The hill areas have a population of about 1.2m breeding ewes with the remainder on the lowland. Sheep account for about 8% of gross agricultural product and make up more than 50% of farm income on 17,000 farms.

The average flock size is 111 ewes. About 67% of sheep meat produced is exported, mainly in carcass form and 82% of total exports go to France.

Future Outlook

In the new era post decoupling, further rationalisation will take place in the industry. The projection for 2012 from Teagasc FAPRI-Ireland Group is for breeding ewes numbers to decline to 2.8m.

Industry Competitors

The scarcity of skilled labour and the decline in the real income of sheep farmers in recent years has resulted in several thousand farmers leaving the sector.

Teagasc is the main provider of technical advice to sheep farmers. The County advisory service is supported by specialist and research staff and virtually all public advisory activities relating to sheep in recent years have been organised by Teagasc.

Specific Objectives

Performance Indicators

The main performance indicators on the implementation of the sheep programme are:

• the number of sheep farmers that are Teagasc clients and the proportion of the national sheep flock on these farms
• the number of sheep Monitor Farms
• the number of and participation in public events – farm walks, demonstrations and seminars
• the number of sheep discussion groups.

Effectiveness Indicators

The extent to which the sheep advisory programme is contributing to improving lamb performance and market suitability will be assessed using information on lamb sales patterns from the National Farm Survey. Information from individual client farms will also be available as well the information from the Monitor Farms.

Lamb quality information will be derived from data produced by meat plants and Teagasc/Department of Agriculture surveys and returns.

A baseline study on labour use on sheep farms now exists and will be repeated in 2005 in order to measure change over the period.

Programme Targets

Description of Sheep Advisory Services

Some 20 advisers play a lead role in the delivery of the sheep programme. They may also be involved in other programmes for dry stock clients e.g. Planning Post Fischler programme and the Environment Programme.

The advisory service is supported directly by 3 regional specialists.

Programme delivery will be through a mix of activities e.g. individual farm visits, Discussion Groups, farm walks/seminars, Monitor Farms, newsletters and research open days, targets for which are shown in Table 5.

Structure of Industry

Tillage crops occupy 9% of the total area farmed in Ireland and account for €400 millions (7%) of Gross Agricultural Product. The importance of the tillage sector is underlined by the fact that 40% of the 47,500 jobs in the food-processing sector are derived from tillage crops.

Bread and flour confectionery accounts for 5,500 jobs, grain milling and animal feeds account for 2,800 jobs, the sugar sector accounts for 4,300 jobs with a further 6,100 people working in the drinks sector.

The area under crops and the number of farmers growing crops has been in long-term decline but nonetheless grain output has remained static at 2m tonnes.

The number of growers has fallen from 100,000 in 1975 to around 16,000 at the present time while the area under crops has fallen from over 0.5 m ha to 360,000 ha.

Spring barley is the most important crop in Ireland, comprising of 160,000 ha, followed by winter wheat, 60,000 ha, sugar beet, potatoes and oats.

Exports of crop related products are not significant and, in fact, Ireland is a net importer of approximately 3m tonnes of feed grains and substitutes.

Future Outlook

Looking towards the future, the tillage sector in Ireland will continue to be rationalised and become more specialised. By 2010, it is reckoned that there will be 1,000 specialised full-time tillage farmers with close to 250 ha each. There will be a further 5,000 to 6,000 smaller part-time operators combining tillage with off-farm work or as a secondary enterprise. The future of the sector looks secure based on the likely future demand for crop products and the fact that Irish yields are the highest in the world.

Internationally FAPRI analysis indicates that €/$US exchange rate and demand for cereals in developing countries will be the determinants of trends in demand and price of cereals in the future. Projected EU and Irish cereal prices are flat to slightly down.

Industry Competitors

Competition for Teagasc tillage advisers exists in the form of some 250 advisers/salespersons who work for retail merchants and agro-chemical companies. Because of the wide diversity of roles which Teagasc advisers fulfil, industry personnel are in a position to visit more crops during the crucial early growing season. Teagasc advisers, however, have the advantage of impartial independent advice backed by research and specialist staff. Discussion Groups also have given Teagasc a foothold with leading tillage farmers.

Programme Objectives and Targets

The three key objectives of the tillage crops advisory programme are to give farmers guidance on options for the future following the Fischler agreement, to achieve satisfactory margins from grain and to achieve best husbandry practice on all tillage farms.

Performance Indicators

Participation in the programme and a high level of activities is a good indication of the value placed on the programme by clients. The main performance indicators for the tillage programme will be:

• number of tillage clients and percentage of tillage crops grown on their farms.
• number of tillage Discussion Groups
• number of tillage Monitor Farms
• number and participation in Farm Walks and Seminars
• number of Profit Monitors completed each year
• other activities such as Business Plans completed and short courses provided.

Programme targets

Financial Impact

Achieving of the programme targets will contribute to increasing income by over €10 m on Teagasc tillage client farms by 2006.

Description of Service

The tillage advisory programme will be delivered mainly by the Technology and Business Service.

Marketing and Promotion

Advisory Methods and Levels of Activity Planned

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Programme

Programme monitoring against the activity targets set will be carried out using the CMS and other records of activities.

Programme evaluation is an ongoing process. At the end of the year, the Directors of Operations will report to the Teagasc Authority on the outcome of the programme. This report is based on information provided by each county, measurement of performance on the Monitor Farms, output trends and on the detailed results of the National Farm Survey. A mid-term review of the impact of the programme will be carried out using both the NFS and a more detailed sample survey of clients.

Tillage Crops In-Service Training Programme 2004

Date	Target Audience	Topic	LOCATION
15 January	Core Tillage Advisers	Planning Post Fischler	Oak Park
28 January	Core Tillage Advises and Teachers	National Tillage Conference	Carlow
29 January	Core Tillage Advisers and Teachers	Technical Up-date	Oak Park
26 February	Core Tillage Advisers	Planning Post Fischler + Current Crop & Financial Management Updating+Discussion	Oak Park
6 April	Core Tillage Advisers and Teachers (2 groups)	CURRENT CROP & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Updating+Discussion	Drogheda
7 April			Kildalton
5 May	Core Tillage Advisers and Teachers (2 groups)	CURRENT CROP & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Updating+Discussion	Kilkenny
6 May			Naas
9 June 10 June	Core Tillage Advisers and Teachers (2 groups)	CURRENT CROP & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Updating+Discussion	Middleton Athy
29 June	Core Tillage Advisers and Teachers	Research Programme Open Day	Oak Park
7 September	Core Tillage Advisers and Teachers	Technical Up-date	Oak Park
8 September	Core Tillage Advisers	Planning Post Fischler	Oak Park
5 October	Core Tillage Advisers	Financial updating	Tullamore
6 October	Core Tillage Advisers	Nutrient Management updating	Tullamore

Programme Objectives

• Process 4,000 new REPS 2 plans for clients
• Provide improved post planning support for 16,300 existing REPS clients

Programme Priorities

The major priority for the Teagasc REPS planning service is to increase the client base (currently 16,300) in the face of a substantial fall off between REPS 1 and REPS 2. The removal of the end of year certification (Form 1C) in REPS 3 provides a challenge to concentrate on growing the business.

The important components of the REPS programme include:

• Improve efficiency of REPS plan preparation by 20% through role out of new mapping system and streamlining of service efficiency at county level
• Deliver end of year target of 4,000 new REPS plans.
• Hold 175 approved 20 hour REPS courses
• Offer new integrated advisory package to 16,300 existing REPS clients
• Ensure efficient transition to REPS 3 to involve review/overhaul of planning software and procedures.
• Implement quality control system

Water Quality/NMP Programme

Programme Priorities:

Programme priorities to minimise nutrient losses from agriculture with specific reference to practices contained in Nitrate Action Programme to be implemented in 2004:

Programme Objectives

Protect Natural Heritage (especially the Protected Areas) through the promotion of sustainable farming in sensitive landscapes in line with the objective of the National Biodiversity Plan.

Programme Benefits

The main benefits of the environmental advisory programme are as follows:

• 4,000 new REPS 2 plans will be prepared and an integrated advisory package offered to 16,300 REPS clients.
• 175 REPS 2 courses (20 hr) will be delivered, with combined attendance of c. 4,000 farmers.
• 500 (est.) nutrients management plans will be prepared to meet regulatory requirements on farms of clients and for demonstration purposes on Teagasc Monitor Farms
• 850 Farm Waste Management and Dairy Hygiene schemes will be processed for clients
• About 500 commonage framework plans and REPS SM A conservation plans will be prepared
• Additional €60 million family farm income (FFI) supported for 16,300 Teagasc REPS clients. This is the projected net benefit after the deduction of costs.

Programme Evaluation

Programme Goals

As entitlements arising from the CAP Reform will be activated by farmers in 2005 it is planned to offer the programme to all our farmer clients during 2004 and 2005. As a programme target, it is proposed that each adviser will put 30 farm families through the programme each year for the coming two years. Clients with less than 150 income units who participate in the programme can have free access because of funding through the National Development Programme and this will help Teagasc to meet the targets set out for the Opportunities for Farm Families Programme between now and the end of the National Development Plan.

Targets

Specific Targets for 2004

• To assist 30 farm families per adviser take a clear and realistic look at their present position and to guide them to achieve additional farm and household income and to improve their quality of life.
• To further cement partnership agreements in each County with FÁS, VEC, ADM, LEADER and commercial companies so that a better quality programme can be provided through joint delivery.
• To develop partnership programmes in a number of Counties with CERT, FÁS and the Institutes of Technology so that farm families can be offered training that satisfies their needs.
• To provide relevant integrated in-service training for all Teagasc advisory staff and to provide guideline training for staff in other agencies who are delivering the Programme in partnership.
• To ensure that an Advisory / Co-ordinating Committee is operating effectively in each County and that the agencies and organisation representatives have a clear understanding of the aims and objectives of the Programme.
• To ensure that the farm families who have participated in the Opportunities Programme get every guidance and assistance to implement the measures set out in their Way Forward Plan.

Description of Service

Targets

Monitoring and Evaluation

Programme Evaluation

The impact of the Programme is measured through:

• Sample surveys
• Case studies

Baseline data will be collected on a selected sample of participant farms using the up-dated CIU (Calculation of Income Units) form. These farm families will be surveyed after participating in the Programme for a period of time to measure the economic impact of the Programme.

Case studies will be conducted with farm families who have not participated in the Programme and also with families who have participated. The purpose of those case studies will be to establish changes that effect the quality of life of programme participants and to portray these changes by reference to pre-identified behaviours, attitudes and opinions before and after participating in the Programme. Surveys will be completed with a large number of participants to identify quality of life issues.

Nursery Stock

Because of globalisation of world markets, and the removal of many barriers to trade, competition has increased in the domestic market. Investment in the industry has continued to increase with up to €3.0 m. of investment aid planned under the second round of the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of Commercial Horticulture. Overall growth has remained static but there has been significant diversification on nurseries to cater for the changes taking place in the retail market. Independent garden centres have been the main players in the market but there is now increased involvement by supermarkets, DIY market, hardware stores, florists etc. Nurseries have increased the range of stock and are also adding value to products by supplying ready-filled containers etc. to cater for these markets.

On the export market it is estimated that exports for 2002 in the amenity sector were valued at €14 m. with hardy nursery stock accounting for €6 m. Specialisation in the industry has resulted in the growth of export sales in young plants for growing on and also for impulse sales plants for the garden centre market. With the British ornamental plant market valued at one billion sterling, at retail level in 2002, there are increasing opportunities for Irish nurseries to target these markets.

The net value of hardy nursery stock produced in Ireland from 230 nurseries is €32.55 m. The industry has been expanding by 5% per annum and with the anticipated growth in the amenity market, all the indicators are that this growth will continue.

Growers are encouraged to concentrate on a smaller range of higher value plants and to aim at the developing export market.

Mushroom Production

Mushroom production is in a period of reducing profits. This is due to severe market difficulties and a price cost squeeze.

2003 Grower Profile (estimates)

CATEGORY	1	2	3
No. growers	140	105	35
Age	50+	30-60	30-50
Fill in tons	14-16	25-40	35-45
B. repay/year	0	16,000	40,000-50,000
Cost of production	3,000 - 8,000	12,000-25,000	20,000-30,000
Mushroom price	80c	83c	83c
System	1 layer bags	2-3 layers blocks	3-4 layers shelves
Phase	2	2 and 3	2 and 3

Industry Analysis

	No. Growers	Ph. 2 Compost tonnes	Ph. 3 Compost tonnes	Value Farm Gate €m
2002	365	207,091	82,145	€137.64m.
End 2003 est.	280	189,236	100,000	€122.8m. est
End 2004 est.	220	184,236	105,000

The mushroom industry has grown to €114.28m in value terms. Teagasc has advisory contact with 70% of the sector through corporate and grower contracts. The major issue affecting production is the cost of labour, which has been increasing due to the success of the general economy.

The major development focus has been towards increasing output per labour unit. This has tended to favour the larger units. Three underlying factors affect throughput and unit costs.

They are:

• increased compost fill
• the shelf system replacing the bag system
• the output per tonne of compost

Programme Objectives and Targets

Programme Targets

Delivery of Services

The Horticultural advisory area is specialised into development teams with some advisers involved in more than one area:

Monitoring and Evaluation

Records of all courses held and their attendance will be maintained.

Programme Objectives/Targets

The overall objective of the Teagasc pig advisory programme is to improve herd profitability through improved growth rates, litter size and slaughter weights.

• The first target is to increase average daily gain from weaning to sale from 586g (2001) to 615g (2006). The 2002 outcome was 597g/day
• The second target is to increase litter size from 10.78 born alive (2001) to 11.3 (2006). The 2002 outcome was 10.95 born alive per litter.
  The third target is to increase average carcass weight from 72.9kg (2001) to 74kg (2006). The 2002 outcome was 72.3kg.

The value of these targeted improvements extended to the entire industry would be approx. €16 million per year by 2006.

The first two targets will be measured by the Teagasc Pigsys recording scheme.

The third target will be measured by the Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development from slaughterhouse returns.

Description of Pig Advisory Service

The service to pig producers and the pig industry is currently provided by two specialists/advisers and three advisers.

The programme delivery will be largely based on individual farm visits. These will be augumented by one-day workshops, newsletters, conferences, seminars and discussion groups. This includes a comprehensive programme of Welfare workshops for all units, sponsored by the Department of Agriculture. Approximately 230 clients are being serviced directly. Workshops, newsletters and conferences are offered to all pig producers.

Pig Advisory Programme Activity Indicators

	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Farm Visits Workshops Newsletters Conferences Discussion Groups	600 - 6 3 2	550 23 6 3 2	550 25 6 3 2	500 30 6 3 2	500 30 6 3 2

The overall cost of the pig advisory programme is estimated at £0.34 million annually.

Teagasc pig service is promoted through most media channels. Specialists/Researchers contribute regularly through farming publications, national conferences and local radio.

Programme Objectives

The key objectives for the Teagasc Food Assurance programme are:

• Increase producer awareness of key requirements.
• Develop and provide food assurance training modules and courses
• Support national and industry programmes, projects and partnerships

Food Assurance Advisory Programme Activities for 2004

Programme Activities	Targets
Information +Awareness Food Assurance Online: rollout of information/learning website Publications: Leaflets to developed in 2004 Food Assurance column Todays Farm Press articles on food assurance topics Discussion Groups: develop and pilot food assurance facilitation package for dairy discussion groups.	Spring 2004 2 All issues ongoing Ongoing 2004
Food Assurance Training Projections Projections for the number of students /adult farmers likely to complete specified food assurance modules are as follows: Teagasc vocational course students Teagasc third level students (combined years) Adult 100 hr management course participants Other adult/industry (Pesticide, Farm Inspection, BASIS, local adult courses etc.) Course Development Continue content development /input into food assurance element of National Diploma courses Scope and assess future course requirement in light of emerging EU food safety and animal welfare policy	500 280 400 200 Ongoing Ongoing
Support for National/ Industry Programmes + Projects Johnes Disease: Complement DAF/industry Johnes strategy Support Bord Bia, Bord Glas, FSAI, DAF programmes/projects and industry partnership programmes. Teagasc/industry programmes that support broad QA objectives Teagasc clients participating in industry joint programmes	1st quarter ongoing 16 5,000

Training Objective

• Students completing assurance modules in vocational and third level courses.
• Adult farmers and industry personnel receiving food assurance training.
• Number of Teagasc staff receiving food assurance training.

Industry Support Objective

• Teagasc involvement in industry programmes with QA objectives.
• Producer success rate in meeting industry programme quality targets.
• Teagasc support for/participation in other agency projects/programmes.
• Feedback from producers/industry/ in relation to programme relevance.

Fatality Rate

Farming has a very high fatality rate. Data over the last ten years show that, on average, 20 people (including 5 children) are fatally injured on farms each year. Farming has the highest fatality and accident rate relative to any other economic sector (Table 1).

Table 1: Fatal Accidents in Employment 1994 – 2003

Year	Farming	All Employment Sectors
1994	21	50
1995	28	78
1996	12	59
1997	15	48
1998	26	70
1999	23	69
2000	16	69
2001	24	51
2002	13	61
2003	18	63
Average	19.6	61.8

Agriculture accounts for nine per cent (CSO Statistics) of total gainful employment yet thirty three per cent of the fatalities occur in agriculture

Overtime there has been a variation in yearly fatalities, ranging from a high of twenty-eight in 1995 to twelve in 1996. There is no apparent reason for this yearly variation.

Accident Rate

The Teagasc Surveys on farm safety showed that there were 5,000 accidents in 1991, 2,000 accidents in 1996, 3,500 accidents in 1999 AND 3,001 IN 2001.

There are many reasons why farming has a high accident rate. Included amongst these are:

• the farm is a home as well as workplace
• increased mechanisation and the use of more powerful tractors
• pressure on farm incomes means that safety investment may be postponed
• many tasks are performed alone, often in wet conditions
• farmers perform many different work activities in any one day.

Programme Objectives

• that farmers, in maintaining a sustainable viable system of agricultural production, will adopt a safety culture that incorporates:
• the use of best practice/safe systems of farming, and
• the provision of safe plant, equipment and buildings
• that Teagasc farms, (Colleges and Research) will provide the model of farming that demonstrates best practice in terms of safety
• that key Health and Safety issues identified in the National Farm Safety Plan
• are incorporated into Teagasc programmes
• that farmers will have access to the information, training and advice necessary to farm in a safe manner

Specific Objectives

Programme Targets

The Farm Safety Programme differs from many of the other programmes in that many of the activities required for its implementation will not be stand alone activities but an integral part of other events, courses etc. The overall aim will be to have a safety input included in all appropriate public events and courses while at the same time ensuring that centres, colleges, Monitor Farms, Host Farms and Discussion Group Farms adapt Best Practice in farm safety. The following table summarises the target number adopting Best Practice, participants in courses with a safety input or module and other activities.

Table 2: Farm Safety Advisory Activity Targets

Programme Activities & Targets		2003	2004	2005	2006
Host Farmers adopting Best Practice in Farm Safety.		100	100	100	100
Discussion Group Farmers adopting Best Practice in Farm Safety		2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000
Monitor Farmers adopting Best Practice in Farm Safety		120	120	120	120
All Colleges adopting Best Practice in Farm Safety		8	8	8	8
Trainee Farmers completing Teagasc Training Modules in Farm Safety		500	500	500	500
Farmers completing specific Teagasc Adult Courses with a safety module		200	200	200	200
Farmers completing REPS Training on farm safety		6,000	6,000	6,000	6,000
Farmers completing Farm Safety Self Assessment Audits		2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000
Teagasc Staff receiving in-depth training on Farm Safety		50	50	50	50
Teagasc participating in specific inter-agency Farm Safety Projects		3	3	3	3
Other activity targets	Newsletters Media Articles Internet Database Information Leaflets	4 8 Yes 4	4 8 Yes 4	4 8 Yes 4	4 8 Yes 4

Description of Service

Marketing and Promotion

The Teagasc Health and Safety service is promoted primarily through the media, in Teagasc publications and at major farming events. The strategy aims to create awareness of health and safety issues, a safety culture and to encourage farmers to take action to eliminate/reduce hazards on their farms.

Advisory Methods

The main advisory method used will be working with farm groups. Other methods used will include the farming media, Teagasc publications, leaflets and Open Days. Advisers will advise farmer clients on a one-to-one basis on all aspects of farm safety.

Monitoring and Programme Evaluation

The delivery of the H&S programme will be primarily monitored through the normal reporting mechanisms similar to other programmes.

The National Farm Survey (NFS) will be used to measure various indicators of safety on the farm and activity undertaken by farmers to reduce/eliminate hazards on these farms.

Specific studies will be undertaken through the Walsh Fellowship programme to measure the impact of the programme. National statistics and special studies will continue to be used to monitor the accident and death rate on farms.

REPORTS SUBMITTED BY PROGRAMME DIRECTORS WILL INDICATE THE LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR STAFF HEALTH AND SAFETY.

Structure of Industry

Agricultural contractors play a central role in Irish farming. It is estimated that around 90% of the heavily mechanised work, such as silage making is done by contractors while the value of services provided according to industry figures is about €500 million a year.

The Teagasc National Farm Survey shows that the average farm expenditure on machinery was €6,965 in 2002, representing 23% of all farm costs (direct and overhead). This amounts to approximately €811 million for all farms in the country.

On dairy farms, the average annual expenditure on machinery was €11,881, representing 20.2% of all costs. This equates to €298/ha annually.

On suckler farms, the average annual expenditure on machinery was €3,667, representing 26.9% of all costs. This equates to €137/ha annually.

On tillage farms, the average annual expenditure on machinery was €16,722, representing 27.6% of all costs. This equates to €268/ha annually.

On sheep farms, the average annual expenditure on machinery was €4,061, representing 22.4% of all costs. This equates to €106/ha annually.

(Machinery costs include: Hire of machinery, depreciation and operating costs).

Future Outlook

Changes taking place in the structure of Irish farming will impact on machinery use and costs in the following ways:

Large intensive farmers and increasingly part-time farmers will continue to use contractors for silage making, slurry spreading and possibly fertiliser spreading. However, most will have their own modern tractors and equipment for winter-feeding. Financial institutions are reporting buoyancy in borrowing by dairy farmers for tractors and feeding equipment.

Extending grazing in dairying should reduce machinery use and costs.

Economies-of-scale in machinery use on tillage farms will require a continuing demand for contractor services and other options such as partnerships.

Efficiencies in mechanisation will only be achieved by recording the costs and analysing their implications

Industry Competitors

There is a strong core of machinery manufacturers in Ireland. There are approximately 76 Irish manufacturers. The main machines being manufactured are for winter-feeding, slurry handling, baling, bale handling/wrapping and trailers.

Competition is also strong in the milking equipment manufacture and supply sector.

The machinery trade sector is stable. There are approximately 100 machinery distributors.

There are over 2000 contractors in Ireland. The trend in contracting shows a decrease in numbers but an increase in scale and diversification.

Teagasc Competitors

There is a level of competition in some advisory recommendations, especially with regard to winter feeding equipment and milking parlour equipment. Otherwise, there is no external competition to Teagasc in advisory and training services in mechanisation.

Teagasc in association with PAC Ireland, (the agricultural contractors association) provide a dedicated training service to contractors.

Programme Activities

The main methods for achieving the programme objectives will be:

Training courses, workshops, demonstrations and conferences, etc;

• Deliver short courses in machinery, e.g. sprayers, fertiliser spreaders and hedge cutters
• Provide courses for contractors using the Contractor Cost control Planner
• Contractors conference/event/courses
• Launch updated milking machine recommendations booklet with Irish Milk Quality Cooperative Society (IMQCS) and make a presentation at annual IMQCS refresher seminar
• Conduct an IMQCS training course
• In-service training for teachers and advisers
• Press articles, technical notes and drawings;continue to develop the machinery/buildings section on Teagasc websites
• Liase with:DAF, PAC Ireland, IMQCS, IrishFarm Buildings Association (IFBA), WIT, UCD.

Programme impact and evaluation

Number of conferences/seminars and short courses for machinery contractors and other industry groups

Attendance at conferences/seminars and short courses for contractors

Number of contractors using the Contractor Cost Control Planner

Number and variety of drawings and fact sheets published

Create an awareness of machinery costs on dairy farms among advisers, teachers and farmers

In-service Training

• Disseminate information from Teagasc research on Labour Use to advisers nationally at inservice training events
• Publish findings of study of the relationship between profitability and labour hours worked from data available from the Moorepark and Grange Labour Studies.
• Profile labour organisation issues in the national media and at Teagasc events.
• Produce an Adult Training Module book on Labour Use.
• Provide in-service training to education officers /teachers on training methods for labour use.
• Produce a video/DvD training material on Labour Use.
• Provide training on labour organisation to all trainees completing the CIF Management Module
• and those completing 100-hour Adult training courses.

Impact Measurement

• Monitor trends in farm labour use from CSO and NFS data.
• Record activities and events conducted as part of the Teagasc Labour Organisation programme

Objectives

The primary objective of the Teagasc Animal Nutrition Programme for 2004 is to improve the efficiency of livestock enterprises through improved knowledge, skills and practices in the nutrition and feeding of livestock. This may be achieved through:

• Farmer awareness
• Nutrition specialisation amongst advisers at county level
• Decision support at farm level

Animal nutrition activities for 2004

Programme activitives	Targets 2003
Information & awareness The Teagasc nutrition advisory service will be strongly promoted at national level through all the farming media and general media including Radio Newspapers Todays Farm Client site: Development of client site Monitoring the use of on-line Ration Reckner Publications: Newsletters / technical digests Press articles Development of service brochure Seminars: Regional & local seminars Discussion group meetings Conferences Farm walks	1-2 5-10 2-3 2-3 2-3 1 5-10 5-10 3-4 4-6
Training courses In-service training: Teagasc advisers Adviser specialist training in nutrition	2 / years 2 per county

Information / Awareness objective

• Animal nutrition newsletters, seminars, national media (radio, newspapers), Today’s Farm, client site hits, technical digests, press articles, publication of service brochure, regional & local seminars, discussion group and conferences
• The percentage of clients using the Teagasc Nutrition Services and the online Ration Reckner.
• The preparation of a booklet on ad lib feeding systems for finishing beef units.

Training Objective

• Number of Teagasc advisers completing specialised nutrition courses
• Number of Teagasc advisers completing general nutrition in-service training

Decision Support Objective

• The role of mechanised feeding systems on Irish farms in the future will be investigated. A booklet will be prepared on this subject. This will form the basis for helping farmers make a decision on the role of mechanised feeding systems on their farm

Programme Objectives and Targets

There are two main objectives in the programme:

• Ensuring that the “Planning Post Fischler Programme” is supported and implemented throughout the Advisory Service.
• Ensuring that farm financial management is integrated into the dairying, drystock, tillage and horticulture advisers work programmes and the education curriculum.
• These will be achieved by working with Specialists and Advisers to provide notes, worksheets and computer programmes to enable staff to carry out quick effective farm financial analysis and forward budgets

Programme Activities

• Support the use by Specialists and Advisers of the FINPACK and other computer analysis packages to examine options on commercial farms in the Post Fischler era. Simplified Options Analysis Worksheets will be promoted to examine options on the smaller and part-time farms. In-service training and ongoing support will be provided for advisory staff.
• Provide day-to-day backup to financial related questions and issues from Advisers. Helping Advisers in drawing up farm financial plans for clients.
• The provision of and maintenance of notes, worksheets and computer programmes to support farm financial analysis work is a key part of the ‘Planning Post Fischler Programme’. These include the Farm Accounts Worksheets, Dairy Herd Monitor, e-Profit Monitor, Cost Control Planner, Farm Investment Appraisal Programme and Farm Planning Programme. There will be a major emphasis on increased usage of the new e-Profit Monitor programme on Dairy, Drystock and Tillage farms.
• This material is delivered through in-service training backed up by the Teagasc T-net and Client Web sites. Targets for the use of the various financial analysis tools through individual consultations and short financial courses are set out in each of the commodity work programmes.
• The major direct payments, grants and schemes are worth over €1.7 billion annually to the agricultural sector and require regular in-service training to update specialist advisers, county advisers, county education officers and college teachers.

Staff are also updated regularly on all aspects of farm taxation and its impact on the various farm enterprises and new investment plans.

A key method of delivery is through the widely used Teagasc Management Data for Farm Planning Book which is revised and updated each year.

• Specialist training and support is also provided for Succession and Retirement planning on farms, the depopulated herds programme and new advisers.
• Other areas of work include liaison with other relevant sectors and bodies, for example Teagasc Rural Economy Division, Teagasc National Farm Survey, F.A.P.R.I., Central Statistics Office, Department of Agriculture and Food, Farm Management Software Companies and the Financial Institutions. Short summary notes are produced and circulated when required.
• Information is also disseminated through publication such as Teagasc Today’s Farm, local newspapers, Irish Farmers Journal and the Farming Independent and the production of papers for conferences and display boards for shows and demonstrations.
• Contributions are also made to numerous adult education courses and agricultural college courses.

Monitoring and Evaluation

This programme will be monitored in the delivery of the main commodity programmes.

Structure of Industry

The programme is a joint programme with Forest Service staff. Forest Service staff will provide some technical forestry and administrative input to the programme. Annual new planting by the private sector since 1995 has varied between 10,000 and 17,000 hectares per year, with the level for 2003 at 12,000 hectares. Farmers now carry out over 80% of all afforestation. Currently over 13,000 farmers have a farm forest enterprise and about 10% of the total area of the country is under forests.

It is vital that this appreciating resource is managed sustainably to best forest management practices to ensure quality timber production and an optimum return to the farmer, the government and the EU. This return can be further enhanced as forestry plays an increasing role in enabling Ireland to meet its Kyoto Protocol targets.

Timber is a world traded commodity. There are no quotas or restrictions on production levels or volumes traded. World timber prices are cyclical and the situation with regard to the price of Irish timber is no different. Currently approximately 95% of all timber sales are from Coillte forests. This is set to change dramatically over the next 10 years as timber from private forests comes on stream. By the year 2015, approximately 25% of all timber production will be from private forests.

Industry Challanges

A significant group of the above private planters, 5000 landowners with 50,000 hectares, have forests at or near the first thinning stage. The issue of planning and marketing the first thinnings coming from those forests is now beginning to be addressed. Promoting a timber culture among farmers will also facilitate this.

Timber quality and issues related to sustainable forest management will determine future competitiveness. There is a growing requirement that timber is certified as coming from a sustainably managed forest and this will help to improve the marketing of timber. Timber growers must demonstrate that they have managed their plantations in accordance with sustainable forest management practices from establishment to felling. Private growers need a system to record practices from the outset of planting so that when a timber certification system is in place suitable records will be available.

Programme Resources

The Teagasc Forestry Programme 2000-2006 is delivered by 9 full-time Forestry Advisers and 1 part-time Land Use Adviser per County, (5 full time work year equivalents). These are the staff necessary to deliver the Teagasc statutory forestry advisory and training role, which is an integral part of the Teagasc Rural Viability Service. The Programme is supported by 1 administrative staff person in Athenry. (One contract forestry staff member resigned during December ’03 and a replacement is being requested).

Programme Objectives

• The inclusion of the forestry option in the process of optimising all direct payments to individual farmers, where appropriate. This is of particular importance in the lead-up to 2005 and will be an integral part of the planning post-Fischler programme.
• The promotion of profitable quality timber production using sustainable forest management practices.

The key issues are promoting:

• Forest establishment to highest possible standards with due regard for protection of the environment.
• The development and maintenance of a system of record keeping that will meet future requirements for timber certification.
• Good forest management in the vital early years in order to meet Forest Service standards at year 4.
• Continued good management practice as plantations approach the first thinning or tending stage.
• Strategic and co-operative approaches to thinning and associated operations.
• The promotion of the importance of trees and hedgerows on the farm, especially in the context of the new REPS III Scheme.

The implementation of the objectives will be based on:

• the provision of an independent forestry advisory and training service,
• the continuation of the mainstreaming of the forestry programme thorough the whole of Teagasc’s advisory services;
• the setting up of monitor farm forests commencing with forests at, or near, the first thinning stage for conifers and at or near tending stage for broadleaves;
• the facilitation of the certification of timber, especially early thinnings from private forests, to improve marketing;
• making landowners considering forestry aware of the work involved in establishing a farm forest enterprise and therefore capable of making an informed decision on the various options presented to them;
• ensuring that landowners know what a properly established site looks like and what maintenance will be required in the early years thereby contributing to promoting best forest management practices leading to quality timber production;
• providing training suitable for farmers on all aspects of farm forestry, including sustainable forest management and the requirement for international certification;
• providing individual on-site tuition and technical advice and written prescriptions to farmers who already have land planted;
• improving the quality of farm forest management in order to increase the proportion of farmers who receive second phase forestry grants when they are due for payment;
• the provision of an early warning system in detecting problems in forests and identifying corrective actions promptly.

Programme Activities

Monitoring & Evaluation of the Programme

Programme Targets

Training Activities

• Forestry courses on the management of existing
• forests including skills courses 5
• Introduction to forestry courses 3
• The delivery of the forestry module in REPS courses 12
• The delivery of the forestry module in planning post-
• Fischler and other Teagasc courses 6

General Forestry Activities

• Ongoing backup to Teagasc advisory staff on forestry issues
• Co-operating with other Agencies on forestry developmental issues
• Maintenance of forestry section of Teagasc Public Internet site
• Maintenance of forestry section on internal Teagasc Intranet site
• Maintenance of forestry section on Teagasc Client Net Site
• Preparation of fact-sheets on forestry issues
• Providing forestry input into major cattle, sheep and dairy events
• Responding to requests for advice and information from Teagasc staff generally, e.g., via the REPS and planning post-Fischler programmes
• In-service training for Forestry Advisers
• Providing a forestry input to County Development Strategy implementation
• Presentations at national and local conferences
• Preparing input into Teagasc County Business Plans

Land Use Advisers and Other Teagasc Staff

• TF1 Form completion.
• Advice on land use change to forestry and the interaction between forestry and other EU schemes at farm level especially in the context of planning post-Fischler.
• Organising forestry events, including assisting with Monitor Farm Forest project.
• Organising publicity and attendance related to forestry courses.
• Providing input to forestry courses on income optimisation as a result of a land use change to forestry, especially in the context of Fischler entitlements, REPS, Farm Retirement and Area-based Compensatory Allowance Schemes.
• Office consultations re forestry.
• Forestry-related press articles.
• Helping to mainstream forestry within Teagasc.

Industry Analysis

Programme Objectives

The deer farming advisory programme will be an element of Teagasc’s Rural Viability and Diversification programme and will be available to participants in the Planning Post Fischler Programme.

The object of the programme is to sustain and improve the profitability and viability of existing deer farmers and to promote expansion to both existing and potential new entrants in response to market demand. This will be achieved by concentrating on:

• Increasing output value by having better finished stock and by finishing stock at the time of the year in which they will command the best returns to the farmer and the marketing sector.
• Promoting Quality Assured Venison production
• Reducing production costs by improving grassland and other feed management.
• Improving productivity
• Breed improvement
• Maximising schemes
• Encouraging specialisation

Programme Activities

The main advisory methods for achieving the programme objectives will be:

• Discussion Groups
• The deer discussion groups need to be continuously revitalised, as the discussion group format is the main extension method used.
• Monitor farms
• New monitor farms will be put in place, as the existing ones have to be replaced due to changed circumstances.
• Development plans and Deer Cost Control Planner1-3 will be continued on 10 farms.
• Press articles, newsletters, Todays Farm, and the Teagasc web site
• Information seminars
• Advise and assist applicants for the Alternative Enterprise scheme
• Liase with Government Departments and organisations that have an involvement with deer farming

The deer production specialist will service the programme with assistance of rural viability advisors.

The Alternative Enterprise and REP schemes will be administered at county level with back up specialist support.

Programme Impact and Evaluation

Output improvement will be monitored at processing level in consultation with the Venison Industry Board. Costs and productivity changes will be monitored at discussion group level and at monitor farm level. The level of involvement in schemes and courses will be documented.

Measuring the impact of the programme will be integrated with the evaluation of the Rural Viability and Diversification Programme.

Structure of the Industry

There are 747 farmers with full organic symbol status. This includes some 23 milk producers. Expansion of milk production at farm level is constrained as there is only one processor. As a result of this organic milk production is likely to remain a niche market. Beef and lamb are the main meat production areas with a potential for market growth. There are a number of processing outlets.

Future Outlook and Potential for Development

If the shortfall in milk processing can be overcome, there is a potential market for about 6.3m gallons of organically produced liquid milk. This could be met by 160 farmers each producing an average of 40,000 gallons.

The likely market for beef and lamb would require about 1,000 cattle and 2,000 lambs slaughtered per week. It is reasonable to propose that this could be met by about 2,500 farmers.

To meet the growing market for organic cereal, fruit and vegetable production an increase of 500 hectares in organic production, by 2005, is a realistic target. This level of increase will, however, only meet less than 25% of what the market requires.

Teagasc Organic Farming Programme

The organic farming advisory programme for 2003 will be an integral part of the Rural Viability and Diversification programme and will include:

• Promotion and advisory activities.
• Development of a demonstration farm network.
• Training courses for adult farmers (in conversion or with full symbol status).

Programme Measurement and Evaluation

The following indicators will be used to measure the impact of the programme.

• Number of farmers attending organic events organised by Teagasc/DAAF
• Number of registered organic farmers
• Number of farmers attending organic farming training courses
• Number of Teagasc organic features published annually in farmer magazines

Measuring the impact of the programme will be integrated with the evaluation of the Rural Viability and Planning Post Fischler Programme.

Structure of the Breeding Sector

This comprises about 5,000 breeders, each with an average of 2.5 breeding mares and a total of 9 horses. Only about 75% of the sport horses are registered (i.e. have a passport) with a recognised breed society. All horses will have to be registered and have a passport by the end of 2004 due to new EU regulations. Of the registered mares at present only about one quarter are classified as quality mares.

Over the past five years the use of foreign bred stallions has increased from 8% covering the national herd to 24% in 2002, resulting in increased demand for information on foreign sires.

Surveys undertaken by Teagasc show that the percentage of breeders that have undertaken formal sport horse training courses has increased from 19% in 1995 to 40% in 2002.

Teagasc Sport Horse Programme

The Teagasc sport horse programme is an element of the Teagasc's Rural Viability and Diversification programme. In relation to sport horses the programme will be directed at improving the skills of the established breeders which will enable them to produce horses which are in highest market demand and to add value to young unbroken horses (i.e. those up to 3 years old). The skills training course will be available to sport horse producers who are referred from the Planning Post Fischler.

Promotion and Advisory Activities

The programme objective is to make breeders and producers aware of the best breeding and management skills/practices to produce horses with the conformation, movement, temperament and athletic ability to meet market demands

The programme activities designed to achieve this include:

• Dissemination of information and best management practices through:
  • newsletters
  • demonstrations
  • sport horse events
  • seminars
  • local press and local radio
  • updating the TNET to include basic technical information on horse production including information on schemes.
  • updating brochures on horse production.

• Provide one-to-one management advice to breeders and producers.

• Advise and assist applicants for the Alternative Enterprise Scheme.

The staff involved in programme delivery will include:

• 3 Sport Horse Specialist Advisers and

• Nominated county advisory staff.

Training Courses

The programme objectives are:

• To improve the skills of breeders and producers in
  • The management and husbandry of breeding mares and young horses to the 3-year old stage.
  • The presentation of horses for sale and for incentive schemes.
  • The registration of all horse

The programme activities to achieve this include:

• Arranging and providing twelve 20 hour courses on breeding and management in Galway, Mayo, Clare, Laois, South Tipperary, Kilkenny, Donegal, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Meath and Cavan.
• Arranging and providing four 10 hour courses on In Hand Showing, Loose Schooling and Lunging in Roscommon Clare Cork and Kilkenny.
• Continuation of judges training courses
• Seminars meetings and demonstrations will be held during the year to promote the programme objectives
• At least three National Exhibits promoting the programme will be held during 2004.
• In-service training for all equine advisers on 20^th and 23^rd January 2004.

The staff involved in delivering this programmewill include the Sport Horse Specialist Advisers, county advisory staff responsible for adult training or nominated county advisers.

Programme Measurement and Evaluation

The following indicators will be used to measure the delivery of the programme.

• The number of Teagasc sport horse features published annually in farmer magazines and presentations on local radio.
• The number of farmers attending sport horse events.
• The number of farmers receiving technical advice from the Sport Horse Specialist Advisers.
• The number of applicants for the Alternative Enterprise Scheme (Sport Horses).
• The number of farmers attending sport horse training courses.

Measuring the impact of the programme will be integrated with the evaluation of the Rural Viability and Opportunities Programmes.

Constraints

• The biggest constraint to the rapid expansion of the industry is the scarcity of suitable goats. Fresh milk is not available all the year round and as a result, we have to import goats’ milk for at least four months each year, which is dated, and not the most ideal for processing.
• The sourcing of healthy breeding stock of high genetic merit.
• The relatively low level of solids in the imported goats’ milk and its lack of freshness.
• The low level of grant aid available through the Scheme of Investment Aid in Alternative Enterprises for Goat Farming.
• The lack of Research and Development funding.
• The urgent necessity for In-Service Training for advisers.

Teagasc Goat Producers Programme

The Teagasc Goat Producers programme will integrate with the rural viability and diversification programme. The programme objective is to provide practical training courses for people who want to increase their income through goat milk production and to provide information on practical production to the more commercially minded goat producers:-

To service the existing two dairy goat discussion groups i.e. Midlands and West Cork.

To increase average milk yields to 800 litres.

To produce a uniform level of fresh milk all the year round.

To improve the health status and genetic potential of existing goat herds.

That more goat farmers will adopt an effective identification system (ear tags, neck collars, leg bands, ear tattooing or micro-chip).

Programme Activities for 2004

• Phone calls and individual consultations.
• Farm visits
• Farm walks
• Business plans
• 6 Newsletters
• Press Articles
• Servicing the two dairy goat discussion groups.
• 4 articles for Irish Goat News magazine.
• 25 Hour Dairy Goat Course if demand arises.

Programme Measurement and Evaluation

The following indicators will be issued:

• Number of telephone contacts with goat producers throughout the country.
• Number of farm visits and consultations.
• Number of farmers attending farm walks.
• Number of farmers attending training course.
• Reduction in quantity of imported goats’ milk.

Programme Objectives

The objectives of the poultry programme are to:

• Provide education & practical training skills for people who want to increase farm income through the establishment of a poultry enterprise
• Conduct training programme on best flock management practices
• Provide technical support and training on the production of quality assured poultry products
• Promote the income earning potential of poultry to clients participating in the Opportunities for farm Families Programme
• Provide back-up information to advisers from all disciplines, who wish to advise clients on poultry as a supplementary enterprise.
• Provide a poultry information service

Activities

The programme activities will include:

• Delivery of training courses of 25 hour duration, for enterprise establishment at various centres
• Provision of training for producers
• Provision of training for quality assured production
• Presentations to advisers on poultry opportunities
• Individual consultations
• Press articles and newsletters
• Provision of information through telephone, email & post.

Programme Measurement and Evaluation

The following indicators will be used to measure the impact of the programme:

• Quality of the training provided
• Number of training courses offered
• Progress of development of quality assurance programme
• Number of Information packs distributed
• Inputs to Opportunities for Farm Families Programme

Structure of Rural Tourism Sector

The rural tourism sector breaks down into accommodation and attraction suppliers. In all there are approximately 25,000 suppliers of which 10,000 are also involved in farming. As opposed to the hotel sector rural tourism is fragmented and lacks a common voice to address the numerous issues of concern to the sector, issues such as a policy at national level, marketing, innovative ideas for development, and training. Training is not a requirement for participation in the industry. Rural tourism training is supplied in local communities by a partnership between Teagasc/Failte Ireland/IT's. LEADER also provides funding for training. Marketing of the sector is done by a number of supplier associations such as Irish Farmhouse Association, Town & Country Homes and Irish Country Holidays supported by Regional Tourism Authorities (RTA) and Failte Ireland. The sector seriously needs support both from a training and marketing viewpoint.