Matt Ryan Part 1: On the challenges that dairy farmers have encountered & overcome in the last five decades

Renowned agri-consultant Matt Ryan joins Emma-Louise Coffey for the first in a two-part interview on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to reflect on the challenges that dairy farms have encountered and overcome in the last five decades and he considers how farmers are positioned to face the current challenges. In the past, Matt explains, challenges to dairy farmers included low milk price and consequently low farm incomes, animal disease, weather, personal health, inflation and high interest rates. At present, climate change is to the forefront of farmer concerns but other challenges such as milk price volatility, increasing input prices and mental health and rural decline remain. However, Matt is optimistic for the future of dairy farming and explains that dairy farmers are better positioned now than ever to overcome any challenges that they face. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com