AROUND 100 farmers gathered at a Teasgasc event on the farm of David and Mairead French in Raheenvarren, New Ross, last week.

The French’s are ‘monitor farmers’ in the Teasgasc/Glanbia joint programme aimed at preparing farmers for the ending of the milk quota regime in 2015.

The ‘Diary Farm Walk’ provided information to the visiting farmers about the regime and what to expect when it ends.

At present the Frenchs milk 90 cows but according to a Teagasc spokesperson the plan is to milk 100 cows as ‘a one man unit’ in 2015.

“With this in mind more than forty replacement heifers are reared each year and to boost heifer numbers David is this year participating in a Teagasc Moorepark trial using sexed semen,” said the spokesperson.

The farm has been set up to grow grass – in conjunction with Teagasc Advisor, Catherine Colfer, and Teagasc/Glanbia Joint Programme Co-ordinator, Richard O’Brien.

While the cows have been out since February, in common with all other farmers, grass growth rates and recovery post grazing are back on normal.

The Teagasc spokesperson highlighted to the Echo that plans to commence the second round of grazing had to be postponed from until April 18.

(For full story see the current print edition of The Echo)