The lifting of milk quotas in 2013 has opened up dairy farming like never before – and with more beef and tillage farmers moving in that direction, Teagasc have launched a new accredited training course.
Portlaoise is set to be one of the ten locations where the course will be held, it was announced at the launch last week.
“We have designed a practical and interesting course, which combines both the principles for successful dairying with the practical skills required for the start-up process,” said Teagasc director Prof. Gerry Boyle, as reported on Agriland.ie.
The course will help farmers with many of the important decisions required in starting up a new dairy business, while also establishing the likely costs and returns from dairy farming.
“We have identified 10 locations across the country where we plan to hold the courses, but the final decision to run a course will depend on the level of interest,” added Tom O’Dwyer from Teagasc Dairy’s Knowledge Transfer scheme.
“Farmers can indicate their interest in attending through our website or by talking to their local Teagasc advisor.
“While each course will be locally based, participants will also visit the Teagasc Moorepark Research Centre and the Greenfield dairy farm in Kilkenny or Bandon.”
“The course will be offered in two parts,” explained Teagasc advisor Kay O’Connell
“The first part is a series of five training days – comprising of four days in autumn 2018, followed by a final day in late 2019.
“Between the initial four days and the final day, participants will have a unique opportunity to participate in an academy – where the group will meet monthly from February to November (10 meetings) for one year.”
There will be a need for a minimum number of participants but the proposed locations are:
- Enniscorthy
- Portlaoise
- Tullamore
- Thurles
- Fermoy
- Pallaskenry
- Tuam
- Mullinavat
- Ballymote
- Ballina
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