Teagasc National Dairy Conference 2023
29, Nov 0023 09:30am–04:30pm
The conference will feature a range of practical workshops where attendees can meet and interact with researchers, advisors and leading dairy farmers on a range of issues such as grazing and nitrogen strategies, future farm stocking rate decisions, nutrient management technologies, and the potential benefits of flexible milking schedules. The theme of this year’s conference is 'Adapting to a changing dairy farming environment'.
Click here to book your ticket!
Cost
The cost of the conference is listed below.
- Industry and Non Clients - €120
- Teagasc Client/ConnectEd Member - €60
- Students - €30
View the conference programme below
9:15am Registration
9:45am Opening Address
Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
10.30 Session One – Key drivers of milk production costs in dairy systems
- Mr David Beca, Red Sky Agri, Australia
- Dr Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc
Chair Emma Louise Coffey, Teagasc
The rate of increase in the average unit cost of producing milk in Ireland has accelerated markedly in the last 2-3 years. While much of this is attributed to unit cost inflation on inputs such as feed, fertilizer and energy, analysis of farm financial data shows significant variation in the relative impact on farms of similar type Clearly then, there are numerous farm-level factors to be considered when assessing options for controlling costs and protecting margins.
To explore this issue, the session will feature a presentation from David Beca, Red Sky Agri Consulting, Australia. David started his career in the beef and sheep industry, moving from farm work to farm ownership and into the dairy industry, where he became a director of a dairy cooperative. Over time, he developed Red Sky, an agricultural business analysis and benchmarking software application that has wide use across Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. David has specialised in identifying and reporting on the primary drivers of productivity and profitability in grazing systems.
Teagasc are delighted to welcome David to the National Dairy Conference. To complement David’s international perspective, Joe Patton Teagasc will present some key trends in cost structure on Irish dairy farms, and highlight the value of dairy cost benchmarking as a business development practice.
11:15am Tea/ Coffee
11:30am Session Two - Getting to grips with labour challenges on dairy farms
- Dr Marion Beecher, Teagasc Research Officer - People in Dairy Project
- Brendan Joyce, dairy farmer, Kilkenny
- John Whelan, dairy farmer, Wexford
Chair Richard O’Brien, Regional Manager Teagasc Kilkenny Waterford
Seasonal workload combined with increased dairy herd sizes and a highly competitive labour market, have created social sustainability challenges for Irish dairy farms. Effective work organisation can improve productivity, which in turn can have a positive impact on members of the farm work-teams and farming families.
The objective of this conference session is to discuss farm task organisation and the structures of work schedules on Irish dairy farms, with a view to identifying areas for progress. Marion Beecher Moorepark will present the results of a recent labour study involving 55 dairy farms, which will address key questions around scheduling, rosters, use of non-core labour, and labour costs.
We look forward also to the real-world insights of John Whelan, dairy farmer from Co. Wexford, and Brendan Joyce, who is dairy farming in Co. Kilkenny. John will outline how he makes use of contractors for key tasks at peak times, manages weekend work for staff and lessons learned in a growing dairy business. Brendan will share his top tips for efficient work routines in spring, the labour benefits of a simple system, and the importance of capitalizing on-off peak time.
12:50pm Lunch
2pm
Interactive Workshops (attendees can choose 3)
- Back to basics on grazing tactics for spring 2024
Joseph Dunphy, Teagasc Grass10; Brendan Horan, Teagasc Moorepark, and Joe Murphy, Dairy Farmer, Kilkenny - Achieving 100 SCC in the first 100 days
Pablo Silva Bolona and Don Crowley, Teagasc - Nitrogen (N) for 2024
John Maher, Teagasc Grass10; Michael Egan, Teagasc Moorepark; and David Wall, Teagasc Johnstown Castle - Stocking rate decisions for future systems
Michael O’Donovan, Donal Patton and Patrick Moylan, Teagasc - Milking 10 times a week –can it work for you?
Emer Kennedy and Martina Gormley, Teagasc - Slurry storage and handling - how best to invest
Pat Tuohy, Teagasc and William Burchill, UCC
Back to basics on grazing tactics for spring 2024
GRAZED PASTURE gives Irish dairy farmers a potential cash cost advantage, however this potential will only be realized if the right tactics are employed in spring and across the grazing season.
This workshop will feature Joseph Dunphy, Teagasc Grass10; Brendan Horan, Teagasc Moorepark and Joe Murphy, Dairy Farmer, Kilkenny
Topics will include:
- Spring grazing tips and tactics for dry and heavy soil types
- The do’s and don’ts of spring grass budgeting
- Managing the “grass hungry” transition from the first to the second rotation
- Driving performance - getting grass allowances right in early summer
Achieving 100 SCC in the first 100 days
Somatic cell count (SCC) is creeping upwards nationally. The first 100 days of lactation are important to ensure good levels of control of mastitis and SCC throughout lactation.
This workshop will feature Pablo Silva Bolana, Teagasc Mastitis Researcher and Don Crowley, Teagasc Milk Quality Specialist.
Topics will include:
- How to manage risk of mastitis in dry cows
- What are the main risks around calving?
- Why is heifer mastitis a problem for some herds?
- How to identify problem cows early
- How do I deal with problem cows once identified
- The value of records, culture and sensitivity
Nitrogen (N) for 2024
NITROGEN (N) FERTILIZER limits for grassland are under constant review within Ireland and The EU. In this context, Nitrogen planning on the farm will become far more critical to pasture production and utilisation in 2024 and beyond.
This workshop will feature John Maher, Teagasc Grass10; Michael Egan, Teagasc Moorepark; and David Wall, Teagasc Johnstown Castle.
Topics will include:
- Getting the timing of fertiliser N right for optimal grass growth responses
- Making better use of organic Nitrogen
- Does fertilizer N type make a difference to annual grass yields?
- Clover - a real opportunity to generate Nitrogen within the farm gate.
Stocking rate decisions for future systems
Stocking Rate is a key decision for dairy farms due to implications for grazing management, feed budgets, performance per cow and farm labour/infrastructure requirements. While stocking rate is linked to farm profit, it is through grass utilised that the effects occur. As a result, optimal stocking rate varies by farm.
This workshop will feature researchers Michael O’Donovan and Donal Patton, Teagasc Researchers; and Patrick Moylan Teagasc Kilkenny Dairy Advisor.
Topics will include:
- The costs and profit implications for changing farm stocking rate
- How to recognize the stocking rate ‘sweet-spot’ for my farm
- How should outside land blocks influence stocking rate decisions?
- My farm is optimally stocked - now what?
Milking 10 times a week – can it work for you?
MILKING TIME is one of the most labour demanding tasks on a dairy farm. Adopting a more flexible approach to the number of milkings per week may help reduce labour input and also improve work life balance.
This workshop features Aidan Ahearn, Waterford dairy farmer; Emer Kennedy, Teagasc Moorepark Researcher; and Martina Gormley, Teagasc Dairy Specialist.
Topics will include:
- A farmer’s experience with 10-in-7 milking
- Update on research into flexible milking- solids yield, health and SCC effects
- How flexible approaches to milking time can help with labour challenges
- How do I know if flexible milking is an option for my farm?
Slurry storage and handling - how best to invest
SLURRY VALUE depends on its nutrient content, timing and method of application, and the relative cost of fertilizer. As new derogation regulations limit fertilizer rates, the nutrient content of our slurry becomes more valuable in its ability to grow grass.
This workshop will feature Pat Touhy, Teagasc Moorepark and William Burchill, University College Cork.
Topics will include:
- Return on investing in additional slurry capacity to grow additional grass
- New research into slurry volume on Irish dairy farms and comparisons against international studies
- Alternative slurry handling options and technologies
- Slurry additives – have they a role for Irish dairy farms?