13 April 2025

Dairygold-Teagasc partnership helps over 1,000 farmers improve sustainability

Over 1,000 farmers have already participated in one-to-one consultations as part of a Dairygold and Teagasc partnership, helping them to reduce their environmental impact while enhancing farm sustainability.

A key initiative of the Dairygold Grassroots Sustainability Programme, farmers receive tailored advice on improving their environmental footprint.

Using the AgNav programme, Teagasc Climate Advisors provide farmers with detailed insights into their nutrient balance and greenhouse gas emissions. They also assess river water quality in the surrounding areas and use EPA maps to identify any parts of the farm at risk for nitrogen and phosphorus loss.

Additionally, the advisors create an action plan for participants setting out the steps that the farmer should take to reduce the risk of nutrient loss, reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and improve biodiversity on their farm.

The consultations which began in late December are delivered by eight of Teagasc’s Climate Advisors. All of the farmers participating are dairy farmer suppliers to Dairygold co-op. The processors milk quality advisors set up the appointments between participating suppliers and the Teagasc climate advisors.

Tom O’Connor of Teagasc Newcastle West is one of the climate advisors leading the delivery of the consultations.

“When you bring the conversation back to farmers’ local area, you can see the pride that they have in maintaining or improving the water quality in their own river.

“The conversation focuses on the practical actions that they can take on their own farm – things like when and how to spread slurry and maintaining margins along rivers,” Tom O’Connor said.

Speaking about the progress made to date, Billy Cronin, Dairygold Head Engagement and Services, said: “The one-to-one meetings which have been focused around Nutrient Balance have been a very important initiative for Dairygold.

“We have received positive feedback from our milk suppliers that this type of engagement is creating increased awareness of nutrient efficiency on farms which will help to deliver improvements in water quality but also increased profitability on farm. 

“We have made a great start, and our aim is that the remaining participants in the Grassroots Programme will have the training completed by the end of June”. 

Find out more about the Teagasc Signpost Advisory Programme here.