Episode 22
Country Life with MJ Clery
Friday, 2 June 2023 - 45 minutes
On the show this week MJ chats to Pat McCormack President of the ICMSA on the news story this week that up to 200,000 dairy cows will have to be culled to meet Ireland's emission reduction targets. Pat also speaks about World Milk Day which takes places on 1 June and how Ireland as a nation has one of the finest grass based dairy systems in the world. Jason Stanley organic farmer from Co. Laois speaks about his tillage and sheep enterprise and how crop rotation is key to his farming system. He speaks about how the sheep sector is struggling and the fact that his organic lamb is often sold conventionally as the price differential is so minimal at times. Professor Michael Griffin from University of Limerick speaks about the annual Longford Westmeath Oliver Goldsmith festival. The theme of this years festival is that of emigration and migration from the late 1700's to today. Ross Brady from Tirlán speaks about their Beef 2020 club and how it is gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2019. With beef factories currently playing havoc with beef prices, this scheme sees up to 60c per kg being paid to farmers and this additional margin and certainty of an outlet for finished animals is what is attracting beef finishers into the scheme.
