Teagasc will establish the group and former Department of Agriculture secretary general Tom Moran will chair its meetings. The new committee will be responsible for implementing recommendations on the current dairy farm labour shortage.Teagasc estimates that
6,000 additional dairy workers will be needed in the next 10 years.
Teagasc will establish the group and former Department of Agriculture secretary general Tom Moran will chair its meetings. The new committee will be responsible for implementing recommendations on the current dairy farm labour shortage.
Teagasc estimates that 6,000 additional dairy workers will be needed in the next 10 years.
“The recent focus on labour shortages on dairy farms is one of the challenges of a tremendously successful expansion,” said Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.
“A lot of work has already been undertaken by my department, Teagasc and industry in relation to this matter and the establishment of this group under a very experienced chairman will bring a new focus to these efforts.”
The members of the group have yet to be named.
Finance
Access to credit was also discussed at the forum, which heard that a full review of this year’s low-cost loans scheme is expected by December.
“The minister questioned the banks quite rigorously about access to finance and rates,” IFA dairy chair Sean O’Leary told the Irish Farmers Journal. He added that the banks’ replies were similar to those given at previous meetings, arguing that current offers were in line with their competitiveness requirements.
Markets
Ornua gave an upbeat market outlook until the first quarter next year. “The short-term view is positive, but there are dangers around the high price of butter and the overhang of skim,” said O’Leary.
Bord Bia presented its plans to prioritise new export markets and prospects for a grass-fed label.
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Full coverage: labour shortage
Fonterra forecasts strong milk price for 2018
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