Irish dairy farmers are embracing sustainability, with support from cutting-edge science – and are putting novel solutions into practice every day
Dairy farming is fundamental to the Irish economy; approximately 90 per cent of dairy products are exported to more than 130 countries, contributing more than €6 billion to the Irish economy each year.
A ‘typical Irish family farm’ Nicole Keohane farms alongside her grandparents John and Anne in Inishannon, Co Cork. “We’re currently milking 90 cows, a typical Irish family farm by all means,” she said. The 25-year-old currently combines part-time farming with her studies for a PhD. “Between Monday and Friday you might catch me in the laboratory, trying my hand at a bit of molecular biology, on one of my trial farms collecting milk samples, or in the library.
“I immerse myself in the cutting-edge research being published daily by those who want to better our industry, and I am in a position to contribute to a more sustainable future for farming.” “Agriculture has been tasked with reducing our carbon emissions by 25 per cent by 2030,” she says. “It’s a huge task, but we’re on board for these changes. Farmers are actively seeking solutions and implementing them where we can.
Insights from science Dr Bridget Lynch is a senior Research Officer at the Department of Environment Soils and Land Use at Teagasc Johnstown Castle. Her areas of interest include grazing management for grass-based dairy production. Bridget says: “Dairy farming is an excellent converter of a non human-edible protein, in grazed grass or grass silage, into a human-edible highly nutritious protein source in the form of milk.
“These factors are important because studies have shown that cows consuming very high-quality grass with high digestibility, compared to low-quality grass that has matured, will reduce methane emissions. Miriam refers to new regulations, entitled the European Union Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations 2022 Statutory Instruments S.I No. 113 of 2022. The purpose of these regulations is to give effect to Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.
“I suppose agriculture is doing its best and of course the industry must play a serious role in improving water quality,” he says. “I am a representative with Tirlán, the new name for Glanbia Ireland, and I am aware of 420 water improvement projects within Tirlán, where there are advisers in place in different water catchment areas.”
“It’s proven, it’s constantly tested and it’s a fantastic way of purifying water that might have been contaminated along the way in the yard area. It also has the added benefit of creating a fantastic ecosystem for biodiversity, plants and wildlife on the farm itself.” Eamon has been using protected urea for five years due to its comparatively low loss of nitrogen to the atmosphere.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Comment: Is the US still a welcoming environment for Irish companies?In the years ahead, business will not be “as usual” for Irish companies in the US market, writes law firm Clark Hill member Kevin Kent
Read more »
Debuts, farewells, tours, and drama - Irish provinces set for URC run-inThere are two more regular-season rounds to go with everything on the line for several teams:
Read more »