Since December 2024, 1,100 Dairygold milk suppliers have participated in one-to-one nutrient balance consultations with Teagasc as part of Dairygold’s Grassroots Sustainability Programme.
These individual consultations provide farmers with their current nitrogen and phosphorus balance figures and offer a tailored plan to enhance both economic and environmental sustainability on each individual farm.
The figures are delivered via AgNav, a platform developed by Teagasc, Bord Bia and ICBF which identifies the nutrient sources contributing to an individual farm’s nutrient balance.
During these consultations the water quality status in nearby rivers or streams is also discussed using data from EPA maps to highlight areas of the farm that are susceptible to nitrogen leaching or phosphorus run-off.
The consultation provides an action plan for the participating farmer, outlining steps to mitigate nutrient loss, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance biodiversity on their farm.
The consultations, which began in late December, are organised by Dairygold and delivered by Teagasc’s sustainability advisors.
According to Dr. George Ramsbottom, Teagasc Advisory Programme Development Manager, the consultations give farmers ‘tailored information’.
“Farmers are finding these consultations beneficial because our AgNav app can calculate nutrient balance and greenhouse gas emissions, while the EPA maps pinpoint areas on individual farms that are a potential risk to water quality. Farmers take huge pride in their local area and these consultations give them tailored information to identify the practical steps that they can take to improve the environment on their own farms and in the surrounding areas.”
Speaking about this milestone, Billy Cronin, Dairygold Head of Member Services and Engagement, said: “We’re getting positive feedback from our milk suppliers that these one-to-one meetings are a huge benefit in improving awareness and understanding of nutrient efficiency on farms. This will help to deliver improvements in water quality and also increase profitability on farm. We have made significant progress, and our goal is for the remaining participants in the Grassroots Programme to complete their training by the end of June.”
