Dairy Newsletter – June 2025

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In this month’s edition:

• Top five tips for June
  1. Maintaining pasture digestibility is the most important factor in achieving optimal milk solids output and ensuring milk protein concentration does not drop over the coming weeks.
  2. While the headline milk price/meal cost ratio looks favourable at present, it is the actual milk response to supplements that determines financial returns.
  3. Assess the breeding season as you approach the six-week mark to ensure all eligible cows are submitted for breeding.
  4. Complete a winter feed budget if silage stocks are marginal to low and source additional area for second-cut silage if required.
  5. With a lot of the heavy lifting in the spring calving calendar now complete, ensure you prioritise time off farm and/or avail of local help to complete a few milkings each week.
• Current grassland management priorities
  Grass growth was slower than target in late May for many areas due to dry conditions, and at the time of writing some farms were beginning to see sward quality issues. However, regardless of soil type and level of rainfall, the key objective over the coming weeks will be to maintain an adequate supply of high-quality grass ahead of the herd.
• Mid-year financial review
  Take the opportunity to review and refocus on your farm’s financial situation. While 2024 showed an improvement in profitability, which has continued into 2025, we should not forget the lessons of 2023 where a drop in milk price created strain on most farms. It is more important to maintain disciplined cost control in a good year.
• 60% nutrient storage grant aid
  Adequate slurry storage is essential to ensure efficient use of nutrients and to achieve compliance with environmental regulations. The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme 3 (TAMS 3) offers grant aid to support farmers in developing or upgrading nutrient storage facilities. Under TAMS 3, all farmers can now avail of a new 60% grant aid for specific nutrient storage investments.
• Health & Safety – Expanded wear and tear scheme
  The expanded Acceleration of Wear and Tear Allowances for Farm Safety Equipment Scheme was launched recently. Farmers can avail of capital allowances of 50% per annum to be claimed over an accelerated two-year period for listed investments.