Over 350 dairy farmers representing farmers from each country in Europe are in attendance. The congress is organised around a series of workshops and farm visits. There are 12 farmers from Ireland at the congress.

The range of milk prices across Europe is stark. The current Irish prices at around 20c/l are one of the lowest, with similar milk prices in Northern Germany. At the other extreme, milk price in Switzerland is 48c/l. While the milk prices in Denmark and the Netherlands is around 26c/l.

Each farmer member of the EDF supplies his or her costs of production, and these will be discussed at a workshop tomorrow. However, from speaking to farmers at the congress, the vast majority are receiving milk prices below the costs of production.

An overview of dairy farming in France

Today's session gave an overview of dairy farming in France and a number of French dairy farmers gave an outline of their farming system. Diversity seems to be the buzz word when it comes to French dairy farming. There are many different systems of milk production in operation, with large regional variation depending on rainfall and farm type.

An expert from the French dairy agency said he expects milk production in France to increase by 2% per year

In Brittany, where the congress is being held, there is more use of grazed pasture than anywhere else in France.

France accounts for over 16% of EU milk production. An expert from the French dairy agency said he expects milk production in France to increase by 2% per year, but there was no increase in production in 2015. There are nine different breeds of dairy cows in France with a diverse product mix.

With a large internal population, the domestic demand is high so most of the milk is consumed as liquid or made into cheese.

The French farmers who spoke at the congress all mentioned quality of life as being a key driver. This is reflected in the way the farms co-operate together with many farmers working together in GAECS in which machinery and labour is shared between a number of different farmers.