Irish Dairy Farmers: Enthusiastic about Global Opportunities

Catherine LascurettesExecutive SecretaryIFA National Dairy and Liquid Milk Committees

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What is IFA?• Ireland’s main farmers’ union with 90,000 members (120,000 farmers

in Ireland)

• Representing all agricultural sectors, and all regions/counties through

strong democratic structures at branch, county and national level

• Representing and defending Irish farmers’ interests

• With Government and EU authorities on policy issues

• With produce purchasers on prices/conditions

• With our counterparts at EU and international levels

• With the media and the public

 

90,000 MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES

  945 BRANCHES

29COUNTY EXECUTIVES

29 COUNTY CHAIRMEN/VICE CHAIRMEN

13 NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMENPROJECT

TEAMS

NATIONALCOMMITTEES

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL*53 Permanent Members 

* (incl. additional 1 livestock, 1 sugar beet, President Macra na Feirme & ex-officio General Secretary)

EXECUTIVE BOARD 8 Members

National Treasurer/Returning Officer

4 REGIONALCHAIRMEN

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

President (Eddie Downey)

IFA Organisation Chart

Members elect President, Dep President, 4 VP.

Exec Council elects Nat Treasurer/Ret Officer

29 Co Ex electRepresentatives toNational Committees Each Branch elects

4 delegates to Co. Ex,Incl male and femalemembers

Dairy Farming in Ireland: the Vital Statistics

• 18,000 dairy farmers – all family farms

• 1.1m cows, producing 5.4b tonnes milk

• Average herd 60 cows, producing 300,000l p.a.

• Grass based production (over 90% of feed)

• Our members’ milk goes to make: butter, powders, cheese (cheddar), casein, whey-based products, infant formulae, ingredients…

• 85% of production is exported

• 7/1 peak-to-trough seasonality

A highly seasonal milk production

Based on: CSO

Irish Dairy Expansion Ambitions: Context

• End of EU quota regime after 30 years of restrictions• Global market opportunities linked to demographic

developments• Real expansion potential and farmer enthusiasm• Ability to fulfil sustainability criteria increasingly important on

the market place• Political/Government support: Food Harvest 2020 report

(2010) => expansion target of 50% for dairy

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Ireland’s Place in Global Milk Production

5.53

144.67

189.1

89

10.752.5

277.2

Global milk production (2011) in M tonnes

IrelandRest of EU 28NZ OzUSMexicoIndiaRest of World

Our Expansion Ambitions: Our Farm Challenges

• Financial resource requirements - €1.5b investment needed to deliver 50% extra milk

• Access to credit• Access to and cost of land• Variations in farm efficiency • Regional variations in expansion potential• Environmental/climate change-related legislation

• Volatility– Milk prices– Input costs– Impact on income and ability to invest

Expansion Ambitions: Our Farm Assets

• Internationally competitive production costs• Ideal climatic conditions for grass growth• Demonstrable quality and sustainability credentials• Cohort of young, well trained farmers coming into dairy• Demonstrated intent and enthusiasm (detailed surveys)• Democratically run farmer-owned industry (co-operatives)

supportive of farmers’ growth plans• Clear industry investment/development plans • Good research/data collection readily available to help farmers’

management decisions (Teagasc, ICBF, etc.)• Fast-improving genetic merit of herd• Supportive government at national and EU level (CAP)

Irish Farmers are Enthusiastic about Global Opportunities

• Real production potential, real determination at processing level, despite challenges

• 50% increase (and more after 2020!) is achievable, depending on profitability

• Industry/IFA working on ways to help farmers manage volatility

• Irish dairy farmers are committed to offering food businesses and consumers the world over (including Mexico!) high quality, sustainably produced milk and dairy products.

• But they will not produce more at a loss!  

Thank you for your attention!