New Joint programme between Teagasc and North Cork Creameries

A new Joint Dairy Programme has been agreed between Teagasc, North Cork Creameries (NCC) and Milk Suppliers. The Joint Programme will focus on improving farm profitability through better grassland management, improved nutrient management planning, breeding and nutrition.

The target is to have 40 milk supplier participants in the Farm Profitability Programme from the North Cork Creamery catchment area in Counties Cork and Kerry. There will be 4 different farmer groups across; one each in the Kanturk area, Cullen area, Fealebridge area and Newtownsandes area. These will be used to transfer the information and learnings to all milk suppliers.

John Horgan, Teagasc Regional Advisory Manager in Cork East, said: “We are delighted to be working with North Cork Creameries and their dairy farmer suppliers for the coming years. “Peer to peer learning by farmers interacting with each other often results in Joint programmes being very successful. We are undertaking this journey so that all milk suppliers will benefit from the joint programme and target to increase their milk solids output going forward. “

The milk suppliers will be part of a programme to increase milk solids by a target of 10% after 3 years participating in the programme.”

The joint programme will be coordinated by Pat Sheahan CEO of North Cork Creameries, Jamie Curtin, Agri Manager NCC and Darren Deasy, Agri Advisor NCC along with John Horgan and Majella Moloney Teagasc.

The Teagasc Dairy Advisors involved in delivering the programme are Maurice Shine, and Neily o Sullivan from Teagasc Cork East region and John Paul Lenihan and Niall Kerins from the Teagasc Kerry/Limerick region.