As hundreds of Irish milk suppliers prepare to retire, Dairygold says keeping farmland in dairy is critical to protecting future milk volumes.
Dairygold has warned that retaining farmland in dairy production will be essential to the future of Ireland’s milk supply. According to the co-op, around 300 of its 2,500 milk suppliers are expected to retire by 2030, creating a major challenge for one of the country’s largest dairy processors.
Chief executive Michael Harte said the land itself is more important than maintaining the same number of producers. While some farmers are leaving the sector, Dairygold believes milk volumes can still be sustained if those acres remain dedicated to dairy production and are taken over by neighboring farms or new entrants.
To address the issue, Dairygold plans to appoint a succession manager who will work directly with retiring farmers. The goal is to help families transfer land and milk supply contracts to the next generation or to other dairy operators, preventing productive acreage from shifting into less intensive uses.
The concern comes as Dairygold expects milk collections to recover to more than 1.45 billion litres in 2025, despite having 4% fewer cows than in 2022. Harte said the co-op is increasingly relying on genetic gains, higher efficiency and better herd performance rather than herd expansion to maintain output.
Dairygold also warned that broader pressures could intensify the challenge. Uncertainty around Ireland’s nitrates derogation, slower new entrant numbers and continued farm exits could all reduce future milk supply. For the international dairy industry, the debate highlights a growing issue across mature milk-producing regions: succession planning is becoming just as important as milk price and productivity.
Source: Agriland original article
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