Work organisation in dairy farms: work durations, changes of practices and precision livestock farming.

The dairy industry is the most strategically important indigenous sector ofthe Irish economy. Driven by increased production and higher dairy marketreturns, Irish dairy exports increased to €4.02 billion in 2017 about onethird of total Agri export value and over half of the national beef output isfrom the dairy industry. However, the industry faces a big human capitalchallenge as increased scale has been the major driver of increased outputwith nearly half of all dairy cows are now milked in herds of >100 cowswhich has been a signifcant structural change for the industry. Teagaschas identifed farm labour as one of the major limitations to the furthergrowth of the dairy industry. However, many dairy industries globally havefaced this challenge previously and for that reason, we have organised thisconference with international experts, to identify solutions and strategiesto overcome the challenges faced by the Irish dairy industry as it continuesto grow and deliver real value for the Irish rural economy.ICOS is delighted to sponsor this important conference, which will helpfamily farm businesses become better and more effcient places to work. Atfarm level, we have seen great advances in terms of productivity, effciencyand milk quality in recent years. Globally, the environmental metrics ofIrish agriculture and the economic value of the dairy industry to Ireland areunrivalled. That said there are a number of challenges we need to addressincluding encouraging new entrants into dairy farming and becomingactive members of their co-operative businesses. For a farm to be trulysustainable, the farming enterprise must have a viable future that includesprotecting the human capital on which it relies.Focus needs to be placed on providing a good work environment for allpersonnel and a good work:life balance, while at the same time optimisingproftability and sustainability of dairy farm systems. All of these topics willbe discussed at the International Agricultural Workforce Conference.Teagasc and ICOS welcome you to this conference.