Watch: ‘Retaining land in dairy is really critical’ - Dairygold CEO
Succession represents “one of the most significant challenges facing Irish agriculture”.
Dairygold has highlighted the significance of the ageing farming population in Ireland and that many family farms are operating without a formal succession plan.
In 2024, Dairygold conducted a milk supplier census for the period 2025-2030.
Dairygold chief executive officer Michael Harte told Agriland that “when we did our census, we were told that 300 milk suppliers" were planning to retire by 2030.
“Every year, over the last couple of years, we're losing about 60 to 70 milk suppliers,” Harte said.
“Our milk supplier base is down to 2,400.”
However, Dairygold is seeing its milk volumes being retained.
“Retaining the land in dairy is really, really critical,” Harte added.
“It's really important for us that we continue to get milk, because that's the lifeblood of our organisation, and retaining the land in dairy is really what's critical to doing that.”
Harte spoke to Agriland about a number of matters this week as Dairygold published its 2025 annual results.
Nitrates derogation
The continuing of the nitrates derogation is “absolutely essential”, Harte said.
“It's great that we have retained the derogation, but it's still now only two and a half years away from the next decision in relation to the derogation,” he said.
“The EU [was] very positive about the level of engagement they saw when they were out on farms, when they met the Department of Agriculture, met processors, met all stakeholders.
“They saw how committed the whole industry was to improving water quality.
“But when they come back the next time, we need to be able to demonstrate results that show that we have improved water quality, or that we have practices in place that will definitely improve water quality."
Engagement with suppliers
Harte told Agriland that Dairygold is a “very open and transparent organisation”.
“We have significant engagement with our members. Members can raise their issues with any local committee member, any local board member, and those issues are then addressed around the board table,” he said.
“During 2025, the level of member engagement increased significantly.”
Harte said challenges such as milk price and the level of debt within the business were matters raised by members last year.
On April 30, 2026, Dairygold will hold its annual general meeting, but also a special general meeting, to look at the rules of the society.
“One of the requests was to look at the trading requirements for members to join the representative structure, the regional committees, and we have reduced the limits in relation to that, and that will hopefully be voted and voted favourably on that day,” Harte said.
Dairygold said that the board periodically reviews the society’s rules to “ensure they remain fit for purpose”.
