Picure: Finbarr O’Rourke

Bryan Hynes grew up on a beef farm in Clarinbridge, Co Galway. Following his Arts degree in 2010, Bryan started working as a news journalist with the Irish Farmers Journal. In spring 2013 he traded beef animals for dairy cows and commenced dairy farming.

In 2017 Bryan received a Nuffield Scholarship and studied ‘the management models of multiple units’. The aim of his report was to form a template of setting up and managing multiple units for Irish farmers. Also in 2017 he leased a farm in north Clare and commenced milking there in 2018.

Previously he was chairman of Macra na Feirme’s agricultural affairs committee in 2015/16 and was chairman of his local discussion group, the Galway Grazers in 2014 and 2015. He currently sits on council of the Irish Grassland association.

Models for managing multiple dairy units in Ireland - Profitable dairy expansion

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Owen’s study topic is titled “The role Co-ops play in encouraging viable dairy farming, in marginal areas.” His report examines the importance of the co-op to the farmer and that by working together with clear purpose they can achieve great things.

The role Co-ops play in encouraging viable dairy farming, in marginal areas

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He completed his Green Cert in Kildalton College and spent some time working in America with horses before he returned home to farm with his father in 2003.

He married Lois in 2011, and in 2012 he applied for and received the New Entrant milk Quota. He began milking 64 cows in 2013 and currently milks 103 with the plans to increase to 175 over the next five years.

He is chairman of his local IFA (Irish Farmers Association) branch.

Microbial Management and it’s Importance in the Dairy and Beef Industry

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Ed is currently a member of the West Awake discussion group, Aidan and Paul are also members of the local discussion group and West Once a Day group. Ed was awarded the Teagasc and FBD student of the year 2014 and is also a keen cyclist and runner.

Aware of the positive impact within a business that a good team of people can have, he chose to study “Farmers responsibility to become more competitive and sustainable employers” Ed realises the rising demand for labour in the Irish agricultural sector, but also the lack of available knowledge, tools and information to employers and the skills needed to source, recruit and maintain the current employee for their farm.

As the average dairy herd size grows in the coming years the idea of employment and human resources will be one that many Irish farmers, whether they are becoming an employer for the first time, a farm growing a large team of employees or just needing to understanding the best approach to seasonal staff, will all have to become more educated in this area.

Over the course of his scholarship Ed traveled in search of farms and businesses across many industries that have already been successful in delivering this resource and how best those practices could be applied in Ireland. Ed looks forward to future learning in this area over the coming years as well as sharing his own findings with others in the agriculture industry in Ireland.

Farmers’ responsibility to become more competitive and sustainable employers

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The expansion of the dairy sector in Ireland has the potential to bring about significant economic benefits for the Irish economy. However, with those benefits comes the risk to the environment and in particular, our water quality.

In order to fully realise the opportunities of the dairy industry, we should view water quality as an asset and as a risk factor, which needs to be better managed. International customers for our dairy produce insist that it is produced in an environmentally friendly manner from farm to processor.

As dairy farmers, we need to protect and enhance our image as the most environmentally friendly and sustainable producer of dairy produce in the world. Our water quality is a key indicator of our environmental impact and we need to ensure we continue to maintain and improve this key metric.

Improving Nutrient Management and Protecting Water Quality

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Picure: Finbarr O’Rourke

Lorcan Allen is from Moate, Co Westmeath, where he grew up on a small suckler farm enterprise. While still spending his weekends at home farming, Lorcan is primarily employed with the Irish Farmers Journal as an agribusiness, commodities and markets reporter.

Lorcan’s study topic is titled “A licence to farm – how Irish agriculture can maintain its social licence to operate.” His report will examine the higher standards being set by modern consumers and how it impacts the farmers licence to operate.

A licence to farm – how Irish agriculture can maintain its social licence to operate

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