Dairy Day: study options for dairy farming

Options are available from level 6 to level 8 to study for a qualification in dairying in Teagasc centres or at university level.

The Irish Farmers Journal education panel at Dairy Day on 19 November in Punchestown will explore the different options (see table below) for student. The aim is to help you make the best decision for you.

Launching the UCC agricultural science programme recently the director of Teagasc Gerry Boyle said: “Agriculture needs leaders, everybody can accept that we need highly trained people in our processing sector. I would argue that we need equally highly trained people working in primary production.”

The UCD dairy business programme started in 2009, with the first group graduating in 2013. There have been approximately 20 students each year in dairy business so since 2013, some 140 students graduated.

There are six months work placement straight after second year and students are encouraged to work on farms in New Zealand for this. When the students come back, semester two of third year is spent at Teagasc, Moorepark, learning grassland management, dairy systems, applied breeding and fertility and herd health.

Student focus

David Fennelly is from a dairy farm in Laois and is currently in his final year of dairy business at UCD.

“At the Moorepark open day, about eight years ago, I read about the dairy business course in a prospectus. It’s hard to think fourth year is now in full swing. Surrounded by like-minded individuals, my interest in agriculture and in particular dairying has only thrived over the past few years.

“As well as combining the required science base necessary to work in this area, we have engaged in many business, accounting and management modules during our time at Belfield (UCD campus).

“First semester of third year is spent off campus, almost 20 of us spent six months carrying out our professional work experience around mid-Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand. The dairy business programme over the last decade has created strong links in New Zealand. Many students regard this as a highlight of the course.

“The second semester of third year is spent at Moorepark Animal and Grassland Research Centre in Fermoy, Co Cork. This is an enjoyable and intense time spent at the heart of dairy research in Ireland. Students learn a vast amount, especially in terms of grassland management, fertility and breeding and dairy systems.”

The Teagasc professional diploma in dairy farm management is a level 7 programme run by Teagasc and UCD. The programme consists of two years paid work placement on dairy farms in Ireland with an opportunity to travel abroad for six months. The students have 20 course days in Moorepark or another Teagasc centre to build on their technical knowledge, people skills and financial management.

Fees are €1,980 in total for the two-year programme and students are paid at least minimum wage on farm. Applicants must have passed the level 6 advanced certificate in agriculture.

“Students on this course are the next generation of dairy farmers and are not necessarily from a farm and their thinking is, ‘I can be a farm manager or a farm owner in the future’,” said course co-ordinator Emma Louise Coffey in Teagasc.

“It’s very much for people who want to run farms at a high level, be it a home farm, managing a farm or working in a partnership or lease arrangement.”

The course is assessed on project work, with exams carrying a 25% weighting. There has been an intake of 20 students in September 2019. There are 22 students in year two of the programme.

Student focus

Máire Keohane is currently studying for the Teagasc professional diploma in dairy farm management. She qualified with a veterinary nursing degree from UCD and worked in the equine industry before deciding to study dairy.

“I went back to do the advanced certificate in Clonakilty last year. I was placed with a farmer close to Clonakilty, Tadhg O’Mahony, who was a great guy to learn from.

“Then I started the level 7 diploma. It’s primarily work experience based on-farm and it is two years. I’m close to home, 15 minutes away, working with Laurence Sexton who is milking 380 cows.

“You’re a student first and foremost on the farm, aiming to become a farm manager by the end of the two years. The in-depth learning is done at the college. A lot of the time you are learning on the job about the day-to-day running of the farm.

“The advanced dairy gives you a very good base. But for me, I enjoy learning. If you are going to have to manage your own business in the future it’s about giving you the tools to be highly efficient.”

While it does not say it on the tin, the UCC agricultural science degree places a particular focus on dairy. It had its first intake of students in September this year. Up to 30% of the programme will be delivered by Teagasc on-site at Moorepark, Fermoy.

Student focus

Hannah Dinnan from Clarecastle, Co Clare, is in first year UCC agricultural science. She received one of two Dairygold bursaries at the launch of the UCC course in Moorepark on Friday 1 November.

“I would have spent a lot of time on my grandparents farm growing up. I did biomedical science last year and had thought about ag science in Dublin but it’s so expensive.

“When I heard about the UCC course I decided to switch over. After doing a year it’s a hard decision to make. I’m so happy I swapped, I like the practical side of it.

“We come to Moorepark most Thursdays, have a lecture and look at one of the research projects they do. We’ve looked at the clover trials and methane measuring. You remember things better when you see what’s going on. First year is fairly broad; chemistry, physics, maths and biology. We have economics as well. Next semester there is more specific agriculture courses. Work experience is in third year for six months and I get to do my placement in Dairygold as well because I got the bursary.

“The course lends itself to the dairy processing industry. We will be out on the Teagasc farm in Clonakilty and most placements will be on farms.”

Dairy Day education panel at 2pm on 19 November in Punchestown.

Speakers include UCD student David Fennelly; Teagasc student Máire Keohane; Clonakilty Agricultural College principal Keith Kennedy and Tipperary dairy farmer Jim White.