Carbery Group and Teagasc Cork West have renewed their ongoing long-term joint programme for dairy farmers for the next five years. The objective of the Monitor Farm programme, running since 1998, is to lead and demonstrate the development of carbon efficient and sustainable dairy farming in West Cork.
Pictured at the launch of the Carbery Teagasc Joint Programme 2021-2025 on the farm of monitor farmers John & Veronica Cullinane, Ballineen are Aoife Feeney, Carbery ASSAP advisor, Jason Hawkins CEO Carbery, Stan Lalor, Head of KT Teagasc, Enda Buckley, Carbery Sustainability Manager, John & Veronica Cullinane and family, Tom Curran Teagasc Regional Manager Cork West region, TJ O’Sullivan, Carbery Chairman and John McNamara, Joint Programme Coordinator
The new joint programme will focus strongly on promoting and demonstrating the practical farming practices that improve sustainability and reduce carbon footprint. The Teagasc MACC curve (Marginal Abatement Cost Curve) and the Leaf diagram as well as learnings from the Carbery Greener Dairy programme will be central in the new joint programme.
The programme will also engage and support the new Teagasc Signpost Programme –Farmers for Climate Action, throughout the region while also engaging with the Farm Zero C project in Shinagh Farm, Bandon.
Objectives:
The objective of the new programme is to connect with all dairy farmers in the West Cork region and demonstrate high standards of the following:
- Carbon Efficiency
- Water Quality
- Biodiversity
- Financial Performance
- Grassland Management
- Animal Welfare
- Herd Breeding
- Milk Quality
- Nutrient Use and Soil Fertility
- Farm Safety
- Lifestyle/Health
The programme will be co-ordinated by John McNamara of Teagasc, supported by the Teagasc dairy and drystock advisory teams in West Cork. The team will collaborate and work closely with Carbery and the advisors and staff in each of the four West Cork co-operatives, Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh and Lisavaird.
Milk Quality
A new addition to the joint programme is the availability of Don Crowley (Teagasc Milk Quality Advisor) to all Carbery suppliers through their co-op milk quality advisor. Don is one of Ireland’s leading experts in producing quality milk and is renowned for his broad knowledge and practical farming advice on achieving high standards of milk quality.
Monitor Farmers
John McNamara, Teagasc Cork West says “The programme only works with the co-operation of our monitor farmers. We have a great team in place for this latest Joint Programme. In every one of these family farms, the farmer is also supported by a family team, which will feature over the course of the programme.”
Best of luck to Bandon Suppliers John Cullinane and John O'Donoghue who will be participating in the programme