Teagasc launch strategic plan for mayo

Teagasc’s new strategic plan for Mayo, setting out the key priorities and strategic actions for the region’s publicly funded advisory service over the next five years, was launched last evening. 

Key targets include a 30% plus increase in milk output, and working with Aurivo and collaborating with local engineering services to support dairy expansion.

It is also planned to increase the numbers participating in discussion groups in all enterprises, to promote expansion in sheep as a profitable enterprise, and to provide targeted actions to stabilise suckler cow numbers.

Teagasc will provide a one to one service for new entrants and expanding dairy clients and will also work jointly will Animal Health Ireland to improve milk quality and the disease status of livestock in the region.

Each of the 12 advisory regions of Teagasc has produced a Strategic Plan 2015-2020. The first to be launched was the Mayo plan, which was launched by John Comer, president of the ICMSA, who highlighted the critical role the Teagasc advisory service in Mayo has in supporting farmers over the coming years.

Speaking at the launch, Teagasc board member Padraig Gibbons said the detailed planning exercise had highlighted the enormous opportunities for growth in the farming sector in the Mayo region. Teagasc advisory services have a vital role to play in leading and guiding growth and expansion.

Because of increasing demand for Teagasc advisory services and reduced staff numbers, advisors are carrying unsustainable workloads and this is putting the achievement of Food Harvest 2020 at risk, he said. This strategic plan clearly sets out the minimum number of advisers required to support the sector between now and 2020 and it is essential that impending retirements are replaced immediately.

Hard copies of the plan are available at each of the Teagasc offices in Mayo.