WITH SEVERAL OF our well-known exports appearing in the news recently thanks to their performances on-screen, now is a great time to reflect on the role another famous export has to play in this country.
For 6,000 years, dairy farming has been happening in Ireland, thanks in part to our permanently wet climate and green landscape. Our environment has created the ideal conditions for the production of milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter and cream, and has led to a strong reputation for quality that extends far beyond this nation’s shores. But how much do you know about Irish dairy and how important it is to us individually and to our nation as a whole?
According to research, four out of 10 Irish people know a dairy farmer personally – but then research also tells us that they believe that the best name for a cow is Daisy. In fact, the industry accounts for more than 60,000 jobs, meaning one person in forty are working in the dairy industry.
Like all of us, the dairy industry is affected by climate change and farmers recognise that there’s a big challenge to be faced. Farmers have been tasked with reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 – and while there’s no doubt it will be difficult, there’s a will to achieve and a real sense of responsibility.
Farmers are taking on a whole range of changes to get dairy on track. These include getting clover into fields to reduce emissions, breeding the right cows for more milk from the same size herd, and developing Irish agri-technology that provides farmers with the information they need to manage their farms more efficiently.
Irish dairy farmers and indeed the industry itself is putting its green capabilities to the test, so now let’s see how much you know about dairy.
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