Positive Farmers, Cork, Ireland Open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm Telephone 087 6457987 email: mok.positivefarmers@gmail.com

www.positivefarmers.ie

2018 POSITIVE FARMERS DAIRY CONFERENCE

Radisson Blu Hotel, Cork. Jan 10th & 11th 2018

2018 Conference Speakers

As usual we bring you top world-renowned speakers, they will cover the key technical, financial, people management and research needs for successful dairy farming and profitable expansion.

Heather Wildman (Scotland)

A Cumbrian Girl born and bred – Brought up on family sheep and beef hill farm in the lake district and now living and working in Scotland for over 15 years. Heather has used her entrepreneurial skills to build her businesses and to create a lasting impression. With over 20 year's experience of working with both farmers and industry in Scotland and the UK. she also has an International network having worked around the world, through her developing career and Nuffield Farming Scholarship travels in 2012 where she studied “Communication – influencing and motivating change. “I offer a fun and unique glass half full approach combined with an ability to keep up with industry changes and challenges. I provide a comprehensive network of industry contacts, from political to grass roots level. I have a reputation for getting things done, for being able to help individuals and businesses collaborate with others to achieve stronger, more lasting impressions and results. I am highly motivated, passionate and a straight talker, I am not afraid of tackling difficult and sensitive issues and situations but I always ensure that trust, respect, values and confidentiality are respected”

Jim Woulfe, CEO of Dairygold

Web Design & Development by MOK Web Design

Jim Woulfe is CEO of Dairygold, Ireland’s largest farmer owned Agri & Dairy Business, employing 1,200 people and with a turnover of €760 million. Dairygold has c. 7,000 shareholders and is the country’s second largest dairy processor assembling 1.25 billion litres of milk annually from its 3,000 milk producers. Jim has worked in the agri-food sector throughout his career. A UCC Dairy Science graduate he joined the milk processing division Ballyclough Co-operative Creamery in 1979. He has held many leadership roles throughout his career including Head of HR at Dairygold and Head of Dairygold’s Agri Business before his appointment as CEO in 2009. Following the removal of Milk Quotas Jim is leading Dairygold’s response to the change with a programme of growth and investment, the largest in the Society’s history. In addition, the immediate challenge of Brexit and its serious implications for the agri & food sector is currently to the forefront of the business agenda. Dairygold recently won the coveted Cork Company of the Year Award at the Cork Chamber Annual Dinner awards ceremony.

Dr Berry, a principal research officer at Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, is widely respected for his role in devising a way to identify genetically elite cattle. As a part-time farmer, he is highly-motivated that his research activities are relevant to the industry and bring about real technical developments on farm. An internationally renowned dairy geneticist, Dr Berry’s work helped Ireland become the second country in the world to publish genomically- enhanced genetic evaluations for dairy cattle. Through this work, Dr Berry has helped develop a system through which every young dairy bull undergoing progeny testing is assessed for genotype, helping farmers select only elite bulls for use in their herds. “We know that science has contributed 50% of the gains we have achieved in increased food production over the past few decades, and animal science such as genetics has played a large part of that. “For example, through genetics by 2020 the fertility of Holstein’s will be the highest we have achieved since 1989, but we will have seen a 60% increase in milk production. “Our next job is to use genetic tools to expand our breeding goals to improve the quality of the products our farmers produce.

Dr Donagh Berry, Principal Geneticist Teagasc

Sian Bushell, (Wales)

Dr Nollaig Heffernan,

Nollaig Heffernan is an independent Management Consultant based in Ireland who specialises in Leadership and Organisational Psychology. She works across sectors with businesses from sole traders to multi-nationals to improve their performance by increasing the efficiency of their most valuable asset; their people. Nollaig regularly delivers workshops to Dairy Discussion Groups across the UK and Ireland and has spoken at seminars and conferences on topics relating to labour efficiency, self-management and change management in the Dairy Sector. Nollaig graduated with an honours degree in Applied Psychology followed by a Higher Diploma in Business and Financial Information Systems from University College, Cork, Ireland. A Masters in Work and Organisational Psychology from the University of Hull, UK, combined both disciplines of psychology and business and inspired further research in the form of a PhD, specialising in the area of leadership and its measurement under the supervision of Dr. Peter Clough. This dual-discipline background in business and psychology has been invaluable in helping companies and organisations to improve their performance through both their processes and their people.

Descended from a long line of West Wales farmers, Siân Bushell was trained as a succession facilitator in Australia in 2006 by Lyn Sykes, a Family Farm Business Facilitator. Armed with these skills she set up Siân Bushell Associates to provide succession planning for farming families and other family businesses. This followed a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Glamorgan University gained in 2005. Before that, she was partner and then director of a successful dairy farm for 25 years and has been a director and chairperson of two dairy farm related businesses. Good communication skills and an understanding of how to manage people were evident in her farm business where she gained an Investors In People Award. Sian also completed a Primary Certificate Course in Performance Coaching in 2012. Farm business study tours have taken Siân across New Zealand, Ireland and across the UK, where her services as an inspirational speaker have been much in demand.

Aidan Brennan

From a family run dairy farm in Co. Tipperary. Graduated with a degree in Agriculture in 2007 and a diploma in Economics in 2010. Managed research farms in Teagasc Moorepark for over seven years, working with researchers on grazing and genetic experiments. Passionate about profitability pasture based dairy farming systems. Joined the Irish Farmers Journal as Dairy Specialist in 2015. He became a member of the Positive Farmers Team in Nov 2016

John Moloney

Chris Procter,

Mount Gambier, South Australia

Chairman DCC Plc , Coillte Teo (the Irish State Forestry Company) and a non-executive director of Greencore Group plc, Smurfit Kappa plc and a number of private companies. Mr. Moloney has extensive top management and board level experience internationally and domestically in the dairy, meat and nutritionals sectors, covering processing, marketing and distribution. He served as Group Managing Director of Glanbia plc from 2001 to 2013. Prior to that he held a number of roles with that organisation including CEO Agribusiness and CEO Food Ingredients. He also worked with the Department of Agriculture and Food and in the meat industry in Ireland. He is a former council member of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation.

John McNamara

Jonh McNamara Teagasc advisor, Clonakilty John is the Teagasc dairy advisor working in the joint dairy advisory programme with Carbery Milk Products in West Cork. He is also the advisor to Greenfield project at Shinagh, Bandon. At the 2017 PFC he received an award for Best Speaker and also Best Chairperson of 2016 Conference (voted by attending delegates)

Eddie O’Donnell

Holly Beckett

Project Director at focussedfarmers

Holly Beckett, 2015 Nuffield scholar and fourth generation of a Midland's farming family gained

sponsorship from The Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust to pilot the introduction of the latest

developments in psychology within the ag-sector.

“I am a farmer’s daughter, working within the family business has provided me with a strong link to

agriculture from my childhood. Through the hard work and innovation of my forefathers, I have had the

opportunity to work within the family business which has diversified via a farm shop, restaurant, cookery

school and conference facilities alongside the development of numerous business lets to a range of

business types.

I am passionate about people realising what opportunities they have in their reach and how they can best

support one another to make the most of what they have either in the agri-sector or beyond.”

Dr. Pat Dillon, Teagasc, Head of the Animal & Grassland Research

Dr Dillon graduated from University College Dublin with a BAgr. Sc. in 1986 followed by a MSc. in UCC and he

went on to complete his PhD in Grassland Science in the National University of Ireland.

He joined the research staff at Moorepark in 1990, became Head of the Moorepark centre in 2004 and has been

the Head of the Teagasc Animal and Grassland, Research and Innovation programme since 2009.

Pat Dillon provides leadership, strategic management and direction for the organisation’s research platforms to support Irish animal production systems. Pat has successfully led the Teagasc programme, integrating their ruminant based livestock research which takes place across multiple sites. The capacity and expertise developed in Teagasc in areas such as genomics and grass production and utilisation can be used to exploit our competitive advantage in grass production and utilisation.

Denis and Eddie O’Donnell are milking in two farms near Golden in Co. Tipperary. They are farming 165 hectares in total of which 112 hectares are in the milking block. In 2006, they were milking 85 cows on the home farm when the opportunity arose to milk on a second, leased unit. They milked 318 cows in 2017, which is a stocking rate on the milking platform of 2.84 cows/ha. This second unit is located approximately 10 km away from the home farm. There are two employees working on the farm along with Eddie and Denis. Average grass growth over the last three years was 17.4t/ha with each paddock getting grazed an average of 9.05 times per year. Further increases in stocking rate is planned over the coming years. Milk solids production per cow in 2016 was 485kg and is expected to be over 500kg in 2017 from about 550kg of meal fed per cow. Empty rate in 2017 was 7% after 12 weeks of breeding.

Chris has harnessed the practices of New Zealand’s low input, pasture-based dairy farming and put them to work in South Australia’s Lower South East. Chris had earmarked the region for its capacity to replicate New Zealand dairying practices, with added benefits of irrigation and lower land prices. The climate is similar, rainfall is comparatively high compared to other dairying regions and importantly, the region – particularly around Mount Gambier - can really grow grass. Growing 22 tonnes of grass /ha. (Irrigated) 2200kgs/ms/ha Keen interest in sports He has climbed the Matterhorn and Mount Blanc in last couple of years.

Padraig, Ena & Mark Collins

Shared Vision Discussion Group

• 16 members • 30 ½ average age • 8 from dairy farming backgrounds • 8 from non dairy farming backgrounds

• 2 sharemilkers • 4 farm managers • 3 farm partnerships • 3 family partnerships • 1 farm owner operator • 3 leased farms

To be updated shortly

Positive Farmers, Cork, Ireland Office Open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm Telephone 087 6457987 email: mok.positivefarmers@gmail.com

www.positivefarmers.ie

2018 POSITIVE FARMERS DAIRY CONFERENCE

2018 Conference Speakers

As usual we bring you top worldwide speakers, they will cover the key technical, financial, people management and research needs for successful dairy farming and profitable expansion.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Cork. Jan 10th & 11th 2018

Web Design & Development by MOK Web Design

Heather Wildman (Scotland)

Jim Woulfe, CEO of Dairygold

Dr Donagh Berry, Principal Geneticist Teagasc

Sian Bushell, (Wales)

Dr Nollaig Heffernan,

Aidan Brennan

John Moloney

John McNamara

Eddie O’Donnell

Holly Beckett

Project Director at focussedfarmers

Holly Beckett, 2015 Nuffield scholar and

fourth generation of a Midland's farming

family gained sponsorship from The Frank

Parkinson Agricultural Trust to pilot the

introduction of the latest developments in

psychology within the ag-sector.

“I am a farmer’s daughter, working within the

family business has provided me with a strong

link to agriculture from my childhood.

Through the hard work and innovation of my

forefathers, I have had the opportunity to

work within the family business which has

diversified via a farm shop, restaurant,

cookery school and conference facilities

alongside the development of numerous

business lets to a range of business types.

Dr. Pat Dillon, Teagasc, Head of the Animal &

Dr Dillon graduated from University College

Dublin with a BAgr. Sc. in 1986 followed by a

MSc. in UCC and he went on to complete his

PhD in Grassland Science in the National

University of Ireland.

He joined the research staff at Moorepark in

1990, became Head of the Moorepark centre in

2004 and has been the Head of the Teagasc

Animal and Grassland, Research and Innovation

programme since 2009.

Pat Dillon provides leadership, strategic management and direction for the organisation’s research platforms to support Irish animal production systems.

Padraig, Ena & Mark Collins

Shared Vision Discussion Group

• 16 members • 30 ½ average age • 8 from dairy farming backgrounds • 8 from non dairy farming backgrounds

• 2 sharemilkers • 4 farm managers • 3 farm partnerships • 3 family partnerships • 1 farm owner operator • 3 leased farms

Following the removal of Milk Quotas Jim is leading Dairygold’s response to the change with a programme of growth and investment, the largest in the Society’s history. In addition, the immediate challenge of Brexit and its serious implications for the agri & food sector is currently to the forefront of the business agenda. Dairygold recently won the coveted Cork Company of the Year Award at the Cork Chamber Annual Dinner awards ceremony.

Grassland Research

Pat has successfully led the Teagasc programme, integrating their ruminant based livestock research which takes place across multiple sites. The capacity and expertise developed in Teagasc in areas such as genomics and grass production and utilisation can be used to exploit our competitive advantage in grass production and utilisation.

Chris Procter,

Mount Gambier, South Australia

“We know that science has contributed 50% of the gains we have achieved in increased food production over the past few decades, and animal science such as genetics has played a large part of that. “For example, through genetics by 2020 the fertility of Holstein’s will be the highest we have achieved since 1989, but we will have seen a 60% increase in milk production. “Our next job is to use genetic tools to expand our breeding goals to improve the quality of the products our farmers produce.

I provide a comprehensive network of industry contacts, from political to grass roots level. I have a reputation for getting things done, for being able to help individuals and businesses collaborate with others to achieve stronger, more lasting impressions and results. I am highly motivated, passionate and a straight talker, I am not afraid of tackling difficult and sensitive issues and situations but I always ensure that trust, respect, values and confidentiality are respected”

Systems from University College, Cork, Ireland. A Masters in Work and Organisational Psychology from the University of Hull, UK, combined both disciplines of psychology and business and inspired further research in the form of a PhD, specialising in the area of leadership and its measurement under the supervision of Dr. Peter Clough. This dual-discipline background in business and psychology has been invaluable in helping companies and organisations to improve their performance through both their processes and their people.

Sian also completed a Primary Certificate Course in Performance Coaching in 2012 Farm business study tours have taken Siân across New Zealand, Ireland and across the UK, where her services as an inspirational speaker have been much in demand.

grazed an average of 9.05 times per year. Further increases in stocking rate is planned over the coming years. Milk solids production per cow in 2016 was 485kg and is expected to be over 500kg in 2017 from about 550kg of meal fed per cow. Empty rate in 2017 was 7% after 12 weeks of breeding.

I am passionate about people realising what opportunities they have in their

reach and how they can best support one another to make the most of what they

have either in the agri-sector or beyond.”

To be updated shortly