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an aerial view of a rural area with houses

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>Irish agriculture remains one of the country’s biggest economic success stories. Food, drink, and horticulture exports reached approximately €19 billion in 2025, with Irish dairy and meat products sold across global markets.</p><p>But behind those headline export figures, another story is unfolding, one that receives far less attention. Ireland is steadily losing smaller farms and smaller growers, while food retail and food production become increasingly concentrated among fewer and larger players.</p><p>And nowhere is that more visible than in the relationship between Irish supermarkets and Irish produce.</p><figure id="figure-qmqt530om5moyh04dp" class=""><img id="qmqt530om5moyh04dp" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1698324719627-4ce8f348c691?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNHx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODMzODg1N3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a herd of cows standing on top of a lush green field" title="a herd of cows standing on top of a lush green field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1698324719627-4ce8f348c691?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNHx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODMzODg1N3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Five Retailers Now Control Most of Ireland’s Grocery Market</h3><p>Ireland’s grocery sector is now dominated by just five supermarket groups:</p><ul><li>Dunnes Stores.</li><li>Tesco.</li><li>SuperValu.</li><li>Lidl.</li><li>Aldi.</li></ul><p><br>According to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), these retailers together account for approximately 93% of the Irish grocery market. That level of concentration gives supermarkets enormous influence over:</p><ul><li>Pricing.</li><li>Supplier contracts.</li><li>Production standards.</li><li>And ultimately which farms can remain commercially viable.</li></ul><p><br>For growers, access to supermarket shelves increasingly means meeting the demands of a small number of very powerful buyers.</p><figure id="figure-2ju6412tfmoyh4c1r" class=""><img id="2ju6412tfmoyh4c1r" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1612819052456-2feb4c6f81ed?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhbGRpJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODMzOTAxMXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="white and blue building near green tree during daytime" title="white and blue building near green tree during daytime" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1612819052456-2feb4c6f81ed?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhbGRpJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODMzOTAxMXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Ireland Imports Large Volumes of Fruit and Vegetables<br></h3><p>Despite Ireland’s strong agricultural output overall, the country remains heavily reliant on imported horticultural produce.</p><p>Teagasc estimates Ireland is only around 60% self-sufficient in vegetables. CSO trade data for 2024 shows Ireland imported:</p><ul><li>Over 104,500 tonnes of potatoes.</li><li>Nearly 45,000 tonnes of onions.</li><li>Around 28,800 tonnes of carrots and turnips.</li><li>Approximately 28,000 tonnes of tomatoes.</li><li>More than 21,000 tonnes of cabbage.</li><li>And almost 16,000 tonnes of lettuce.</li></ul><p><br>Ireland also imported more than:</p><ul><li>133,500 tonnes of prepared potato products, worth approximately €245 million.</li></ul><p><br>At the same time, many Irish growers continue to face:</p><ul><li>Rising energy costs.</li><li>Labour shortages.</li><li>Retailer pricing pressure.</li><li>And increasing production costs.</li></ul><figure id="figure-alifuiq6almoyh6qyv" class=""><img id="alifuiq6almoyh6qyv" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1585428311604-98738fc5687a?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8Y3JvcCUyMGZhcm0lMjB8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MzM5MTE0fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="white and black truck on green grass field during daytime" title="white and black truck on green grass field during daytime" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1585428311604-98738fc5687a?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8Y3JvcCUyMGZhcm0lMjB8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MzM5MTE0fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Even Apples Are Mostly Imported<br></h3><p>One of the clearest examples of Ireland’s reliance on imports is apples. According to Teagasc, more than 90% of apples sold on the Irish market are imported. CSO figures show Ireland imported approximately 56,000 tonnes of apples in 2024 from countries including:</p><ul><li>France.</li><li>Germany.</li><li>Italy.</li><li>Poland.</li><li>New Zealand.</li><li>Chile.</li><li>And South Africa.</li></ul><p><br>This is despite Ireland having a climate capable of supporting commercial apple production.</p><figure id="figure-kfbp8nnv4bmoyh8ukl" class=""><img id="kfbp8nnv4bmoyh8ukl" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1600917016506-556622b74303?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHBsZSUyMGZhcm18ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MzM5MjEwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="orange fruit on green grass during daytime" title="orange fruit on green grass during daytime" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1600917016506-556622b74303?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHBsZSUyMGZhcm18ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MzM5MjEwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>A Small Number of Growers Now Supply Much of the Market<br></h3><p>The number of commercial growers in Ireland has narrowed significantly over time. Teagasc has previously estimated there are around 200 commercial field vegetable growers nationally, while more recent evidence presented to the Oireachtas has suggested the number may now be closer to 60 large-scale commercial growers.</p><p>Teagasc also found that:</p><ul><li>The largest 50 growers account for approximately 75% of Ireland’s field.</li><li>Vegetable production area.</li></ul><p>In practical terms, a relatively small number of producers now supply a substantial proportion of vegetables entering Irish supermarkets. That concentration improves efficiency and consistency of supply, but it also increases dependence on fewer producers.</p><figure id="figure-luo18iuvesmoyhefsg" class=""><img id="luo18iuvesmoyhefsg" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1718128306715-0815fccc4d19?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxJUklTSCUyMFZFR0VUQUJMRVN8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MzM5NDY3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a tray filled with different types of vegetables" title="a tray filled with different types of vegetables" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1718128306715-0815fccc4d19?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxJUklTSCUyMFZFR0VUQUJMRVN8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MzM5NDY3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Entire Sectors Have Become Highly Concentrated</h3><p>The mushroom industry is one example. Ireland exported approximately 57,500 tonnes of mushrooms in 2024 which were worth around €174 million.The sector remains internationally competitive and export-focused, particularly into the UK market. </p><p>But over time, production has become concentrated into fewer, larger, highly specialised operations. A similar trend is visible across multiple agricultural sectors:</p><ul><li>Fewer producers,</li><li>Larger farms.</li><li>Higher capital requirements.</li><li>And increased dependence on scale.</li></ul><figure id="figure-6v31nqi74moyhgb6s" class=""><img id="6v31nqi74moyhgb6s" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611782303839-dd7d9dde9435?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8SXJpc2glMjBmYXJteWFyZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgzMzk1OTd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="brown hen on brown wooden fence" title="brown hen on brown wooden fence" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611782303839-dd7d9dde9435?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8SXJpc2glMjBmYXJteWFyZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgzMzk1OTd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Retailers Continue To Expand Their Influence<br></h3><p>Supermarkets remain central to Irish food supply chains. Lidl stated that it spent approximately €1.3 billion with 400 Irish suppliers in 2024.<br>while Tesco Ireland says it purchases around €1.6 billion worth of Irish food and drink annually.<br></p><p>Irish retailers continue to heavily promote Irish sourcing, particularly for:</p><ul><li>Beef.</li><li>Dairy.</li><li>Prepared foods.</li><li>And mushrooms.</li></ul><p><br>However, fresh fruit and vegetables remain significantly dependent on imports, particularly outside domestic growing seasons.</p><figure id="figure-x1zfuk9srrmoyhj0o1" class=""><img id="x1zfuk9srrmoyhj0o1" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1758976392368-240cda038c2e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8bGlkbHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgzMzk2ODB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="Brown paper shopping bag with lidl logo on train" title="Brown paper shopping bag with lidl logo on train" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1758976392368-240cda038c2e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8bGlkbHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgzMzk2ODB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure><h3>Growers Continue To Warn About Economic Pressure<br></h3><p>Irish growers have repeatedly raised concerns about pricing pressure within the retail sector. At Oireachtas agriculture committee hearings, grower representatives argued that fruit and vegetables are frequently used by retailers as highly competitive price-driven products to attract customers.</p><p>Growers say that rising costs across:</p><ul><li>Labour.</li><li>Packaging.</li><li>Fertiliser.</li><li>Transport.</li><li>And energy have become increasingly difficult to absorb, particularly for smaller operations.</li></ul><p>Recent years have also exposed how vulnerable supply chains can become. During supply disruptions across Europe in 2023, supermarkets across Ireland experienced shortages of:</p><ul><li>Tomatoes.</li><li>Peppers.</li><li>Cucumbers.</li><li>And salad crops following extreme weather events and energy-related production issues affecting European suppliers.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><img id="1g1ouxm089moyhlfit" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1569263978139-b5456be68329?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8ZmFybWVycyUyMGluJTIwaXJlbGFuZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgzMzk4MjB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="aerial view of rice field during daytime" title="aerial view of rice field during daytime" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1569263978139-b5456be68329?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8ZmFybWVycyUyMGluJTIwaXJlbGFuZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgzMzk4MjB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></p><h3>The Number of Farms Continues To Fall<br></h3><p>At the same time, the overall number of Irish farms continues to decline. CSO data shows there were 133,174 farms in Ireland in 2023<br>compared with over 139,000 farms in 2013. </p><p>Meanwhile, average farm size has continued to increase while the average age of Irish farmers is now approximately 59.4 years old. That combination points toward ongoing consolidation across the agricultural sector.</p><figure id="figure-ru370sbfpsmoyhnom9" class=""><img id="ru370sbfpsmoyhnom9" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1742828830966-5c64a4d480ae?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzOHx8SVJJU0glMjBGQVJNfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODMzOTg5OHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="Sheep graze peacefully in a green pasture." title="Sheep graze peacefully in a green pasture." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1742828830966-5c64a4d480ae?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzOHx8SVJJU0glMjBGQVJNfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODMzOTg5OHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>What Ireland Risks Losing<br><br></h3><p>The disappearance of smaller farms is not simply an economic issue. Smaller farms and growers often contribute to:</p><ul><li>Local food supply.</li><li>Biodiversity.</li><li>Shorter supply chains.</li><li>Rural employment.</li><li>And regional food production diversity.</li></ul><p><br>As production becomes more concentrated, Ireland risks becoming increasingly dependent on:</p><ul><li>Imported produce.</li><li>Fewer suppliers.</li><li>And longer international supply chains.</li></ul><p><br>That does not mean Irish agriculture is weakening overall. In many sectors, it remains highly successful internationally. But it does mean the structure of Irish food production is changing rapidly.</p><figure id="figure-8gpqvj7bgcmoyhphxz" class=""><img id="8gpqvj7bgcmoyhphxz" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1593759467052-045a20f2aa61?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxJUklTSCUyMENPVU5UUllTSURFfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODMzOTk4NXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="green grass field near body of water under blue sky during daytime" title="green grass field near body of water under blue sky during daytime" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1593759467052-045a20f2aa61?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxJUklTSCUyMENPVU5UUllTSURFfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODMzOTk4NXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Irish agriculture is becoming larger, more specialised, and more export-oriented.</p><p>At the same time:</p><ul><li>The number of farms is falling.</li><li>Horticultural production is becoming more concentrated.</li><li>And supermarkets are exerting growing influence over how food is produced and sold.</li></ul><p><br>The challenge for Ireland is not whether agriculture should modernise. It already is.</p><p>The bigger question is whether modernisation can happen without losing too much diversity, resilience, and domestic production capacity along the way.</p><p>Because once smaller growers and smaller farms disappear, rebuilding those systems later may prove far more difficult than expected.</p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

The Decline of Small Farms in Ireland: A Growing Concern

a city street with a puddle of water on the ground

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>Flooding in Ireland used to feel like a rare evenT, something that made the news every few years. That’s no longer the case, it’s becoming part of the backdrop to how we live, work, and manage land.</p><p>Recently, over €6.5 million was allocated to local authorities for interim flood protection, things like temporary barriers and drainage upgrades. It’s a welcome move, no question. But it also says something important: we’re still dealing with flooding as it happens, rather than getting properly ahead of it.</p><figure id="figure-79zojq5edqmosyg7sl" class=""><img id="79zojq5edqmosyg7sl" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1602627272028-09f37f4f091f?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMnx8Zmxvb2RpbmclMjBpbiUyMGlyZWxhbmQlMjB8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MDA1MTg4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="white and blue boat on sea under cloudy sky during daytime" title="white and blue boat on sea under cloudy sky during daytime" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1602627272028-09f37f4f091f?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMnx8Zmxvb2RpbmclMjBpbiUyMGlyZWxhbmQlMjB8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MDA1MTg4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Numbers Behind the Problem</h3><p>Strip away the headlines, and the scale of flood risk in Ireland is pretty stark.</p><p>Right now, around 50,000 households are already in areas with a high likelihood of flooding. Looking ahead, that could rise to 78,000 by 2100 under a mid-range climate scenario. Broaden that out, and up to 107,000 households could face moderate to high flood risk.</p><p>In some counties, Louth and Clare are often highlighted, more than 12% of homes could be exposed to high flood risk in the future.</p><p>Then there’s the coast. About 40% of Ireland’s population lives within 5km of it, which makes sense when you think about how our towns and cities developed. But it also means a large share of the population is exposed as sea levels rise. One estimate suggests that over 70,000 addresses could be at increased risk of coastal flooding by 2050.</p><p>Put simply, this isn’t a niche issue. It’s widespread and growing.</p><figure id="figure-yyqi7stkaomosyhnxt" class=""><img id="yyqi7stkaomosyhnxt" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1515963931004-51a07139e710?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxyYWluJTIwaW4lMjBpcmVsYW5kJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODAwNTM4MXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="person holding floral umbrella between buildings" title="person holding floral umbrella between buildings" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1515963931004-51a07139e710?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxyYWluJTIwaW4lMjBpcmVsYW5kJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODAwNTM4MXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>A Changing Climate Is Driving It</h3><p>The increase in flooding isn’t random. The climate is shifting, and Ireland is feeling it.</p><p>We’re already about 7% wetter than we were in the late 20th century. That might not sound dramatic, but it matter because it’s not just more rain, it’s heavier bursts of it.</p><p>Recent research has shown that climate change has made certain storm rainfall events around 20% more intense. What used to be considered a once-in-50-year type of event is now expected closer to once every five years.</p><p>And if that feels abstract, consider this: Autumn 2025 was the fourth wettest autumn on record in Ireland, going back to the 1940s.</p><p>The direction of travel is pretty clear.</p><figure id="figure-axqggg4ubimosyjl2a" class=""><img id="axqggg4ubimosyjl2a" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1567200145526-73469eb59e88?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxyYWluJTIwaW4lMjBpcmVsYW5kJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODAwNTM4MXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="mountain photography" title="mountain photography" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1567200145526-73469eb59e88?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxyYWluJTIwaW4lMjBpcmVsYW5kJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODAwNTM4MXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Cost of Waiting</h3><p>Flooding isn’t just about water, it’s about disruption, cost, and long-term impact.</p><p>Take Storm Éowyn as an example, insurance claims alone ran to over €300 million, making it one of the most expensive weather events in Ireland in recent years.</p><p>And that’s just the insured cost. It doesn’t capture everything else; lost productivity, damaged infrastructure, or the knock-on effects for businesses and communities.</p><p>At the same time, large flood defence projects take years to move from planning to delivery. In the gap between those timelines and the pace of climate change, communities are left relying on temporary fixes.</p><figure id="figure-yaaqfa03ymosyllsg" class=""><img id="yaaqfa03ymosyllsg" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1511634829096-045a111727eb?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzMXx8cmFpbiUyMGluJTIwaXJlbGFuZCUyMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgwMDUzODF8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a wet window with a traffic light on it" title="a wet window with a traffic light on it" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1511634829096-045a111727eb?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzMXx8cmFpbiUyMGluJTIwaXJlbGFuZCUyMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgwMDUzODF8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>What This Means on the Ground—Especially for Agriculture</h3><p>For farmers and rural businesses, flooding isn’t theoretical. It shows up in very practical ways.</p><p>Land goes under water. Grazing windows shrink. Crops are lost. Soil takes a hit, not just in the moment, but over time. Nutrients get washed away, and what’s left behind often isn’t as productive.</p><p>One bad flood year can be absorbed. A run of them starts to change the economics of a farm but there’s another side to this, land management can also be part of the solution.</p><figure id="figure-vr1tgork6omosymyf9" class=""><img id="vr1tgork6omosymyf9" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1692804239613-f894611cc61d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxzYWx0aGlsbCUyMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgwMDU2MzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="the sun is setting over a beach with houses in the background" title="the sun is setting over a beach with houses in the background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1692804239613-f894611cc61d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxzYWx0aGlsbCUyMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzgwMDU2MzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Rethinking How We Handle Water</h3><p>Traditionally, the approach has been to move water off land as quickly as possible. Increasingly, that thinking is shifting.</p><p>Now, there’s more focus on slowing water down, holding it where possible, and working with natural systems rather than against them.</p><p>That can mean:</p><ul><li>Improving soil structure so it absorbs more water.</li><li>Restoring wetlands that act like natural sponges.</li><li>Maintaining hedgerows and buffer zones that slow runoff.</li><li>Allowing floodplains to function as they’re supposed to.</li></ul><p><br>None of this replaces engineered flood defences, but it complements them. And in many cases, it can be implemented faster and at lower cost.</p><figure id="figure-jwcj08ub7omosypi4o" class=""><img id="jwcj08ub7omosypi4o" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1757209152149-8c4a6aa73e72?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4fHxGbG9vZCUyMGRlZmVuY2V8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MDA1NzQ0fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="Rough water flows past concrete structures." title="Rough water flows past concrete structures." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1757209152149-8c4a6aa73e72?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4fHxGbG9vZCUyMGRlZmVuY2V8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc4MDA1NzQ0fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>A Different Way Forward</h3><p>At the moment, the pattern is familiar:</p><p>Flood → Respond → Repair → Repeat</p><p>What’s needed is a shift toward something more forward-looking:</p><p>Anticipate → Reduce risk → Adapt</p><p>That means better use of data, quicker delivery of infrastructure, and a broader mix of solutions, including nature-based ones. Because the reality is simple enough: we’re not going to eliminate flood risk entirely. But we can manage it far better than we currently do.</p><figure id="figure-a054ld7mosmosyqt9f" class=""><img id="a054ld7mosmosyqt9f" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1605962925397-465c61a726be?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzN3x8Zmxvb2QlMjBkZWZlbmNlfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODAwNTgwMnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="water waves hitting the concrete wall" title="water waves hitting the concrete wall" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1605962925397-465c61a726be?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzN3x8Zmxvb2QlMjBkZWZlbmNlfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3ODAwNTgwMnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Interim flood measures are a bit like putting a bucket under a leak. They’re necessary, and they buy time, but they’re not the solution. Ireland has the knowledge, the data, and the tools to do this better. The challenge now is putting it all together, and doing it quickly enough to matter.</p><p>Because the next flood event isn’t some distant possibility.</p><p><br></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

Flooding in Ireland: Are We Still Playing Catch-Up?

a double strand of blue and white spirals

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>Genetics has fundamentally changed how output is delivered in Irish farming, not simply by increasing production, but by improving efficiency per animal. In dairy systems, breeding decisions are now guided by the Economic Breeding Index (EBI), which ranks animals based on profitability traits such as:</p><ul><li>Milk solids yield.</li><li>Fertility.</li><li>Survival.</li><li>Calving performance.</li></ul><p><br>This reflects a shift away from selecting animals based on appearance or single traits, towards selecting them based on predicted economic performance.</p><p>At a national level, Ireland now produces over 8 billion litres of milk annually, with improvements in output driven not just by herd expansion, but by ongoing genetic gain and management improvements. The key point is that production is no longer measured purely in volume, It is measured in:</p><ul><li>Output per animal.</li><li>Output per unit of feed.</li><li>And overall system efficiency.</li></ul><p><br>Genetics is central to that shift.</p><figure id="figure-50qqh2x1tmobqm6xv" class=""><img id="50qqh2x1tmobqm6xv" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1753563715084-50230b9f41e2?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxnZW5ldGljcyUyMGluJTIwZmFybWluZyUyMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY5NjQyMjV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="Calves graze together on a green pasture." title="Calves graze together on a green pasture." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1753563715084-50230b9f41e2?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxnZW5ldGljcyUyMGluJTIwZmFybWluZyUyMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY5NjQyMjV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Data turns performance into something measurable — and manageable</h3><p>Modern farming operates on continuous measurement. In dairy systems, farmers track:</p><ul><li>Milk yield per cow.</li><li>Fat and protein levels (milk solids).</li><li>Somatic cell count (linked to animal health).</li><li>Calving interval.</li></ul><p><br>Each of these directly affects performance and, in many cases, payment. For example:</p><ul><li>Milk price is influenced by fat and protein content.</li><li>Somatic cell count thresholds affect milk quality and processing suitability.</li><li>Calving interval influences how often a cow produces over its lifetime.</li></ul><p><br>Teagasc data consistently shows significant variation in performance between farms, particularly in areas such as milk solids per cow and per hectare. This variation is not random, it reflects how effectively farms use data to:</p><ul><li>Adjust feeding.</li><li>Manage fertility.</li><li>Monitor herd health.</li></ul><p><br>Performance is no longer assumed, it is measured, analysed, and adjusted.</p><figure id="figure-n5n99zahsmmobqq8zq" class=""><img id="n5n99zahsmmobqq8zq" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1719532520242-a809140b313d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0OHx8ZGFpcnklMjBmYXJtJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3Njk2NDUyOXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="A large neon sign hanging from the side of a building" title="A large neon sign hanging from the side of a building" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1719532520242-a809140b313d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0OHx8ZGFpcnklMjBmYXJtJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3Njk2NDUyOXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The system is built around reducing variability</h3><p>Farming will always involve uncertainty, but modern systems are designed to reduce it as much as possible. Take soil fertility, Teagasc data shows that only 17% of Irish soils are at optimum levels for pH, phosphorus and potassium combined. That means the majority of land is operating below its potential.</p><p>Improving soil fertility:</p><ul><li>Increases grass growth.</li><li>Improves nutrient efficiency.</li><li>Reduces variability in output.</li></ul><p>Similarly, in grass production well-managed systems can produce 14–16 tonnes of dry matter per hectare annually. Where soils are suboptimal or management is less precise, output is lower, and more variable.</p><p>This matters because variability has direct consequences:</p><ul><li>Reduced grass growth increases reliance on purchased feed.</li><li>Inconsistent performance increases costs per unit of output.</li></ul><p>The objective is not just higher production, it is more predictable production.</p><figure id="figure-sa5gqesi0gmobqw3kb" class=""><img id="sa5gqesi0gmobqw3kb" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1658937035122-3cb7c6c421f1?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxM3x8aXJpc2glMjBmaWVsZCUyMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY5NjQ2ODZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a field of flowers with a stone building in the background" title="a field of flowers with a stone building in the background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1658937035122-3cb7c6c421f1?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxM3x8aXJpc2glMjBmaWVsZCUyMHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY5NjQ2ODZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Environmental management is now based on measurable limits</h3><p>Environmental performance in farming is no longer general or optional, it is defined by measurable thresholds. In Ireland:</p><ul><li>Agriculture accounts for approximately 38% of national greenhouse gas emissions.</li><li>It is responsible for over 99% of ammonia emissions.</li></ul><p><br>As a result, farming operates within clearly defined frameworks. These include:</p><ul><li>Nitrogen limits per hectare under nitrates regulations.</li><li>Nutrient management plans based on soil test results.</li><li>Restrictions on slurry spreading timing and methods.</li></ul><p><br>These are based on scientific understanding of:</p><ul><li>Nutrient losses.</li><li>Water quality impacts.</li><li>Emission pathways.</li></ul><p><br>For example:</p><ul><li>Applying nutrients to soils already at high levels does not improve yield but increases environmental risk.</li><li>Timing of slurry application affects nitrogen efficiency and emissions.</li></ul><p><br>Environmental management is therefore not separate from production, it is part of the same system, managed using data, thresholds, and regulation.</p><figure id="figure-yxn8cq4vvfmobr1uto" class=""><img id="yxn8cq4vvfmobr1uto" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561978879-84fa00184ef2?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8Z3JlZW5ob3VzZSUyMGdhc2VzfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3Njk2NTAwMHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="white wind mills" title="white wind mills" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561978879-84fa00184ef2?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8Z3JlZW5ob3VzZSUyMGdhc2VzfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3Njk2NTAwMHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure><h3>What this shows in practice</h3><p>Across all of these areas, the pattern is the same:</p><ul><li>Genetics is used to predict and improve performance.</li><li>Data is used to measure and adjust outcomes.</li><li>Management focuses on reducing variability and risk.</li><li>Environmental limits are defined and enforced through measurable criteria.</li></ul><p><br>None of this is based on assumption, it is based on measurement.</p><figure id="figure-zm2tbxba9mobr44u6" class=""><img id="zm2tbxba9mobr44u6" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1655545182759-cd2ac7991baa?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1NHx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtaW5nfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3Njk2NTA2NHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a tractor in a field" title="a tractor in a field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1655545182759-cd2ac7991baa?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1NHx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtaW5nfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3Njk2NTA2NHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Modern farming still looks natural, and in many ways, it is, but underneath that is a system that is:</p><ul><li>Measured.</li><li>Analysed.</li><li>Continuously optimised.</li></ul><p><br>Farmers are managing:</p><ul><li>Biological systems.</li><li>Chemical processes.</li><li>Performance data.</li></ul><p>And all of this occurs at the same time, and that’s the reality most people don’t see: Food production today isn’t just practical, it’s technical, and increasingly, it’s scientific.</p><p><br></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

Genetics isn’t just about output — it’s about efficiency per unit

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>From a distance, food looks simple. You walk into a shop, pick up milk, meat, vegetables, it’s all there, every day, consistent and available. But from a farming perspective, getting that food to the shelf is anything but simple.</p><p>It’s a process that starts months, and often years. before the point of purchase, and it involves far more steps, cost, and coordination than most people realise.</p><figure id="figure-07q8e0k449mo7mav39" class=""><img id="07q8e0k449mo7mav39" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1651525669944-00de65d3b8a5?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxmb29kJTIwcHJvZHVjdGlvbnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY3MTUxMTd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a box of apples" title="a box of apples" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1651525669944-00de65d3b8a5?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxmb29kJTIwcHJvZHVjdGlvbnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY3MTUxMTd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Food production starts long before it reaches the shelf<br></h3><p>Take beef production in Ireland. From birth to finished animal, it typically takes 18 to 24 months, depending on the system. That includes:</p><p>Rearings:</p><ul><li>Grazing across multiple seasons.</li><li>Winter feeding.</li><li>Finishing before slaughter.</li></ul><p>Pig production is faster, but still time-dependent:</p><ul><li>A gestation period of around 115 days.</li><li>Followed by 5 to 6 months of rearing before processing.</li></ul><p>Milk production operates on a different cycle, but it is still tightly structured around:</p><ul><li>Spring calving.</li><li>Grass growth.</li><li>Seasonal conditions.</li></ul><p><br>What appears on a shelf today reflects decisions made months or years earlier.</p><figure id="figure-t67ijwgzfemo7merhq" class=""><img id="t67ijwgzfemo7merhq" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1652211955967-99c892925469?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzfHxmb29kJTIwcHJvZHVjdGlvbnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY3MTUxMTd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a group of men in a factory" title="a group of men in a factory" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1652211955967-99c892925469?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzfHxmb29kJTIwcHJvZHVjdGlvbnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY3MTUxMTd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Timing is critical — and often outside control&nbsp;</h3><p>Farming is built around timing, and much of that timing depends on conditions that can’t be controlled. Grass growth depends on:</p><ul><li>Soil temperature.</li><li>Rainfall.</li><li>Daylight.</li></ul><p><br>If spring is delayed or ground conditions are poor, grazing is pushed back.<br>If land is too wet, machinery cannot travel.<br>If a weather window is missed, output can be reduced.</p><p>These are not minor disruptions, they directly affect production levels and costs.</p><figure id="figure-un4hu0wudamo7mp82f" class=""><img id="un4hu0wudamo7mp82f" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1683592042069-cb631de451c2?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxmYXJtJTIweWFyZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY3MTU0Njh8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a herd of cattle standing on top of a dirt field" title="a herd of cattle standing on top of a dirt field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1683592042069-cb631de451c2?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxmYXJtJTIweWFyZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY3MTU0Njh8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The product doesn’t go straight from farm to shelf</h3><p>Once food leaves the farm, it moves through a series of stages before it reaches the consumer. Take milk as an example:</p><ul><li>It is usually collected every 48 hours, though this can extend at certain times of year.</li><li>Transported to a processing facility.</li><li>Pasteurised, packaged, and distributed.</li></ul><p><br>For meat, the process is longer:</p><ul><li>Animals are transported to processing plants.</li><li>Slaughtered and processed into cuts.</li><li>Packaged, chilled, and distributed.</li></ul><p><br>Each stage requires:</p><ul><li>Labour.</li><li>Energy.</li><li>Transport.</li><li>Infrastructure.</li></ul><p><br>And each stage adds cost.</p><figure id="figure-taikdr9gitmo7mu024" class=""><img id="taikdr9gitmo7mu024" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1685663186894-d5cceae87a4c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8RkFSTSUyMFlBUkR8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2NzE2MDA0fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a herd of cattle standing on a dirt road" title="a herd of cattle standing on a dirt road" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1685663186894-d5cceae87a4c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8RkFSTSUyMFlBUkR8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2NzE2MDA0fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Transport is a critical link in the system</h3><p>Every part of the food chain depends on movement. Transport is required for:</p><ul><li>Delivering feed and inputs to farms.</li><li>Moving animals to factories.</li><li>Distributing finished products to retailers.</li></ul><p><br>This system operates continuously. If transport is disrupted, whether due to fuel issues, labour shortages or supply chain problems, it quickly affects availability.</p><figure id="figure-ksla4el1lcmo7mvwif" class=""><img id="ksla4el1lcmo7mvwif" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1698324719627-4ce8f348c691?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8SVJJU0glMjBGQVJNJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjcxNTQ0MHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a herd of cows standing on top of a lush green field" title="a herd of cows standing on top of a lush green field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1698324719627-4ce8f348c691?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8SVJJU0glMjBGQVJNJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjcxNTQ0MHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Fresh food operates on tight timelines<br></h3><p>Another key point is that there is limited buffer in the system. Fresh products such as milk, meat and produce:</p><ul><li>Have short shelf lives.</li><li>Require refrigeration.</li><li>Move quickly through processing and retail.</li></ul><p><br>Supermarkets rely on frequent deliveries rather than long-term storage.</p><p>That means disruptions can become visible within days.</p><figure id="figure-j92a2kj16mmo7mzy1c" class=""><img id="j92a2kj16mmo7mzy1c" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1592085198739-ffcad7f36b54?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxOHx8Zm9vZCUyMHByb2R1Y3Rpb24lMjB8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2NzE2Mjg3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="blue and brown metal bridge" title="blue and brown metal bridge" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1592085198739-ffcad7f36b54?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxOHx8Zm9vZCUyMHByb2R1Y3Rpb24lMjB8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2NzE2Mjg3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Costs build at every stage</h3><p>From the farm to the shelf, costs accumulate at each step:</p><ul><li>Production (feed, fertiliser, labour, veterinary care).</li><li>Transport (fuel and logistics).</li><li>Processing (energy, staffing, facilities).</li><li>Packaging and compliance.</li><li>Distribution and retail operations.</li></ul><p>By the time food reaches the consumer, it reflects the combined cost of this entire system. While the final price is set at retail level, it is influenced by multiple stages along the chain.</p><figure id="figure-69xlckfdt6mo7n5o6e" class=""><img id="69xlckfdt6mo7n5o6e" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1775830443507-2a047e6eb49a?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8SVJJU0glMjBTVVBFUk1BUktFVHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY3MTY0MTB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="Fresh produce displayed in a grocery store" title="Fresh produce displayed in a grocery store" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1775830443507-2a047e6eb49a?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8SVJJU0glMjBTVVBFUk1BUktFVHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzY3MTY0MTB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The system is efficient — but tightly balanced</h3><p>Modern food production is highly efficient. Farms operate at scale, processors run at high capacity, and supply chains are designed to move quickly. But that efficiency comes with a trade-off, there is very little spare capacity.</p><p>There is:</p><ul><li>Limited storage.</li><li>Tight scheduling.</li><li>Constant movement.</li></ul><p><br>The system works well when everything is functioning. But when one part slows down, the effects can move quickly through the chain.</p><figure id="figure-y158ivdosmo7n7wea" class=""><img id="y158ivdosmo7n7wea" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1666015886464-7024656736e8?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxBZ3JpY3VsdHVyZSUyMENvbnN1bHRpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2NzE1MTA5fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a tractor in a field" title="a tractor in a field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1666015886464-7024656736e8?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxBZ3JpY3VsdHVyZSUyMENvbnN1bHRpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2NzE1MTA5fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>So, does the consumer understand it?</h3><p>Not fully, and that’s understandable.</p><p>Most of this happens out of sight:</p><ul><li>Long production timelines.</li><li>Narrow windows for key tasks.</li><li>Multiple stages between farm and shelf.</li><li>A cost structure that extends far beyond the farm.</li></ul><p>From the outside, food appears immediate. From the inside, it is a coordinated system that depends on timing, conditions, infrastructure, and constant movement.</p><figure id="figure-hz4ismk1p8mo7naf3k" class=""><img id="hz4ismk1p8mo7naf3k" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1628102491629-778571d893a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxHcm9jZXJ5JTIwc2hvcHBpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2NzE2NzkxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="woman in white coat holding green shopping cart" title="woman in white coat holding green shopping cart" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1628102491629-778571d893a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxHcm9jZXJ5JTIwc2hvcHBpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2NzE2NzkxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Food doesn’t begin in a shop. It begins months, and often years, earlier, in systems that are carefully managed but constantly exposed to change. By the time it reaches the shelf, it has passed through multiple stages, each adding cost and complexity.</p><p> Understanding that doesn’t change what consumers expect. But it does explain what it takes to meet those expectations, every single day.</p><p><br></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

Bridging the Gap: Understanding Food Production from Farm to Table

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>Pig farming in Ireland doesn’t always get the same attention as dairy or beef, but in terms of intensity and output, it is one of the most specialised sectors in Irish agriculture.</p><p>It is also one of the most exposed, shaped by global markets, high input costs, and a system that leaves very little room to slow down.</p><figure id="figure-ctons49rxmo0gdww6" class=""><img id="ctons49rxmo0gdww6" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1687114835978-3d38a3b1808e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxwaWdzJTIwaW4lMjBpcmVsYW5kJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI4MTkxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a pig that is standing in the grass" title="a pig that is standing in the grass" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1687114835978-3d38a3b1808e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxwaWdzJTIwaW4lMjBpcmVsYW5kJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI4MTkxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>A concentrated sector producing at scale</h3><p>Pig farming in Ireland is relatively small in terms of farm numbers, but large in terms of output.</p><p>In 2023:</p><ul><li>There were 1,748,377 pigs recorded nationally.</li><li>Spread across 1,468 farms with pigs.</li></ul><p><br>That reflects a sector that is highly concentrated, with production focused in a smaller number of specialised units alongside a wider group of smaller holdings.</p><p>Production is continuous, with pigs moving through a structured system year-round. This is not seasonal farming, it operates at a steady pace regardless of external conditions.</p><figure id="figure-0midb6tx2tmo0gg758" class=""><img id="0midb6tx2tmo0gg758" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1682525269849-f0816cab7716?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxQaWdzJTIwaW4lMjBpcmVsYW5kJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI4MjAzMXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a couple of pigs that are standing in the grass" title="a couple of pigs that are standing in the grass" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1682525269849-f0816cab7716?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxQaWdzJTIwaW4lMjBpcmVsYW5kJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI4MjAzMXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Strong export focus</h3><p>Irish pig farming is heavily reliant on export markets.</p><p>In 2024:</p><ul><li>Pigmeat exports were worth approximately €490 million.</li><li>Export volumes reached around 200,000 tonnes.</li></ul><p>This means the sector is directly tied to global demand, pricing, and market conditions. When international markets shift, Irish pig farmers feel it quickly.</p><figure id="figure-7twa7vowftmo0ghzjc" class=""><img id="7twa7vowftmo0ghzjc" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1604135972804-24fc2d794185?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzfHxQSUclMjBGQVJNJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI4MjEwM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="white pig on brown soil" title="white pig on brown soil" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1604135972804-24fc2d794185?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzfHxQSUclMjBGQVJNJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI4MjEwM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Performance and efficiency are central</h3><p>Efficiency is what underpins the sector. Recent performance data shows:</p><ul><li>27.9 pigs produced per sow per year.</li><li>2.26 litters per sow per year.</li><li>14.94 pigs born alive per litter.</li></ul><p><br>These figures reflect significant improvements over time and place Irish pig production among the more efficient systems internationally. But that efficiency comes with a trade-off, there is very little margin for error.</p><p>Small changes in performance or cost can have a large impact on overall output and profitability.</p><figure id="figure-496sf5hd6kmo0gk6ov" class=""><img id="496sf5hd6kmo0gk6ov" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1655307550020-3eb7efdef723?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxwaWclMjBmYXJtfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI4MjIwNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a group of pigs in a pen" title="a group of pigs in a pen" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1655307550020-3eb7efdef723?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxwaWclMjBmYXJtfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI4MjIwNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>A system shaped by scale<br></h3><p>Pig farming in Ireland operates at scale.</p><p>Performance data from monitored herds shows an average of over 800 sows per farm, with some operations running well beyond that level.</p><p>Across the country, production is also geographically concentrated, with counties such as Cavan, Cork and Tipperary accounting for a significant share of the national herd. This reflects the capital-intensive nature of the sector and the level of investment required to remain competitive.</p><figure id="figure-i05nsdienfmo0glo86" class=""><img id="i05nsdienfmo0glo86" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1666023640184-6da0cafa484c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cGlnJTIwZmFybXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzYyODIyMDZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a group of sheep grazing in a field with Guayabo National Monument in the background" title="a group of sheep grazing in a field with Guayabo National Monument in the background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1666023640184-6da0cafa484c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cGlnJTIwZmFybXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzYyODIyMDZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Environmental pressure is increasing</h3><p>Pig farming is also under growing environmental scrutiny.</p><p>Agriculture accounts for over 99% of ammonia emissions in Ireland, with pig production contributing a portion of that total. Managing slurry and nutrients is a key challenge, particularly where farms must rely on spreading agreements with other landowners.</p><p>At the same time, research estimates the water footprint of Irish pig production at 2,537 litres per kilogram of pork, highlighting both the scale and efficiency of the system.</p><figure id="figure-jd6xndnd8imo0gn5fy" class=""><img id="jd6xndnd8imo0gn5fy" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1733080331194-e103372bce60?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzMnx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI3MzgzMHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="A grassy hill with a body of water in the background" title="A grassy hill with a body of water in the background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1733080331194-e103372bce60?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzMnx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtJTIwfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI3MzgzMHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>A sector that cannot slow down</h3><p>One of the defining features of pig farming is that it is continuous.</p><p>Unlike grass-based systems:</p><ul><li>Animals are housed,</li><li>Production runs year-round.</li><li>Output cannot easily be reduced or paused.</li></ul><p><br>This means farmers cannot simply cut back when costs rise, The system keeps moving and so do the costs.</p><figure id="figure-ula34q9lymo0gpfvl" class=""><img id="ula34q9lymo0gpfvl" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1697027948105-902321ea8e29?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMnx8cGlnJTIwZmFybXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzYyODIyMDZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a couple of pigs standing next to each other" title="a couple of pigs standing next to each other" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1697027948105-902321ea8e29?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMnx8cGlnJTIwZmFybXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzYyODIyMDZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Exposure to volatility remains the biggest challenge<br></h3><p>Pig farming is closely tied to external factors, particularly:</p><ul><li>Feed markets.</li><li>Energy costs.</li><li>Global demand.</li></ul><p>When these shift, the impact is immediate. Recent years have shown how quickly conditions can change, and how exposed the sector is to sudden increases in input costs.</p><p>Even when prices recover, the underlying volatility remains.</p><figure id="figure-an6sd5em9rmo0gqu1l" class=""><img id="an6sd5em9rmo0gqu1l" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1716140238774-42cc9572c2a4?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxOXx8cGlnJTIwZmFybXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzYyODIyMDZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a small pig standing next to a fence" title="a small pig standing next to a fence" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1716140238774-42cc9572c2a4?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxOXx8cGlnJTIwZmFybXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzYyODIyMDZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Pig farming in Ireland is a highly efficient and productive system. But it is also tightly balanced. It depends on consistency, in performance, in costs, and in markets. And when that consistency is disrupted, the effects are felt quickly. Because in pig farming, there is very little distance between efficiency and exposure.</p><p><br></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.&nbsp;</p>

Pig Farming in Ireland: High Output, High Costs, and a Sector Under Pressure

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>When tractors and trucks began slowing traffic across the country,&nbsp; a lot of the focus was on disruption. But what sat behind it wasn’t just frustration about fuel. It was pressure, and not just financial pressure either.</p><p>Because in Irish farming, the numbers point to something much deeper.</p><figure id="figure-rwnhfb1rkqmo0b55gu" class=""><img id="rwnhfb1rkqmo0b55gu" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1632079438357-af0aaf60495c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzfHxsb25lbHklMjBmYXJtZXJ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczMTAwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="lonely farmer" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1632079438357-af0aaf60495c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzfHxsb25lbHklMjBmYXJtZXJ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczMTAwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Farming is already a high-pressure occupation</h3><p>Farming has long been one of the most demanding jobs in Ireland, but the pressure is not just physical.</p><p>Recent research found that 23.4% of farmers surveyed were considered at risk of suicide. The same work found that over half were experiencing moderate to extremely severe depression, while almost 40% were experiencing moderate to extremely severe anxiety and stress.</p><p>Those are not small numbers, they suggest a sector already carrying a significant mental load before any new shock arrives.</p><p>So when something like a sharp rise in fuel costs hits, it is not landing on a stable system, it is landing on one already under strain.</p><figure id="figure-uykej3mazmmo0b9jnb" class=""><img id="uykej3mazmmo0b9jnb" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1696506382990-77deed6e9f2f?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4fHxpcmlzaCUyMGZhcm1lcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzYyNzMyMDB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a tractor and some sheep on a grassy hill" title="a tractor and some sheep on a grassy hill" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1696506382990-77deed6e9f2f?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4fHxpcmlzaCUyMGZhcm1lcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzYyNzMyMDB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Burnout and fatigue are already part of the picture</h3><p>There is also the issue of exhaustion. Irish research shows that around 1 in 4 farmers experience burnout, while 50% report sleep problems. That matters because fatigue affects everything else. It reduces concentration, makes decision-making harder, and lowers the ability to deal with setbacks. When financial or operational pressure rises, there is less capacity to absorb it.</p><figure id="figure-seahgfz7kqmo0baipb" class=""><img id="seahgfz7kqmo0baipb" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1584615994639-2b6ffc07ac5b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzNXx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtZXJ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczMjAxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="boy in white and blue plaid dress shirt and brown pants standing on green grass field" title="boy in white and blue plaid dress shirt and brown pants standing on green grass field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1584615994639-2b6ffc07ac5b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzNXx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtZXJ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczMjAxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The structure of farming makes stress harder to manage<br></h3><p>Farming is different from many other jobs because it is often isolated, continuous, and tied directly to home life.</p><p>There is rarely a clear separation between work and personal time. Problems on the farm do not stay at the yard gate,&nbsp; they come into the house as well.</p><p>Many farmers say they would seek help if they were struggling, but a large share also report not knowing how to access local mental health services. That means pressure can build for too long before support is reached.</p><figure id="figure-4iay507unimo0bby7w" class=""><img id="4iay507unimo0bby7w" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1621887348744-6b0444f8a058?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMnx8bWVudGFsJTIwaGVhbHRofGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI3MzQyNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a tablet with the words mental health matters on it" title="a tablet with the words mental health matters on it" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1621887348744-6b0444f8a058?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMnx8bWVudGFsJTIwaGVhbHRofGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NjI3MzQyNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The fuel protests did not create the pressure — they exposed it</h3><p>The recent protests did not cause the underlying problem. What they did was make it visible. Fuel is one of the few inputs that affects every part of farming at once:</p><ul><li>Machinery.</li><li>Transport.</li><li>Feed delivery.</li><li>Fertiliser spreading.</li></ul><p><br>When diesel rises sharply, it creates immediate financial pressure. And financial pressure, uncertainty and lack of control are all closely tied to poor mental wellbeing in farming.</p><p>That is why the protests struck such a chord, They were not just about diesel. They were about the cumulative strain many people were already carrying.</p><figure id="figure-tjic49cttrmo0bh3uo" class=""><img id="tjic49cttrmo0bh3uo" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1727875639913-4100b2642075?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4fHxpcmlzaCUyMGZpZWxkfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NTU4OTk2OHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="A fenced in area next to a body of water" title="A fenced in area next to a body of water" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1727875639913-4100b2642075?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4fHxpcmlzaCUyMGZpZWxkfGVufDB8fHx8MTc3NTU4OTk2OHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Why ongoing conflict could make things worse<br></h3><p>What makes the situation more concerning is that it may not settle quickly.</p><p>As conflict in the Middle East continues, there is a real risk that fuel and fertiliser markets remain volatile. For farming, that matters because both are core inputs and both are heavily exposed to global supply routes and energy markets.</p><p>If disruption continues, farmers may be facing:</p><ul><li>Prolonged fuel volatility.</li><li>Tighter fertiliser availability.</li><li>Continued pressure on margins.</li><li>ore uncertainty around seasonal planning</li></ul><p>And uncertainty is often harder to manage than one-off cost increases. A high cost is one problem, not knowing what the cost will be next month is another.</p><p>That kind of ongoing unpredictability can deepen stress, especially in a sector already dealing with long hours, isolation and financial exposure.</p><figure id="figure-fati9eqx1lmo0biplh" class=""><img id="fati9eqx1lmo0biplh" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1689006819444-e5c916501cb1?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxpcmlzaCUyMGZhcm18ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczNzM5fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="an empty road in the middle of a grassy field" title="an empty road in the middle of a grassy field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1689006819444-e5c916501cb1?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxpcmlzaCUyMGZhcm18ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczNzM5fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>There is also a safety issue here</h3><p>This is not only about wellbeing.</p><p>Over the period from 2015 to 2024, farming accounted for 40% of all fatal workplace incidents in Ireland, despite making up a much smaller share of the workforce.</p><p>That matters because stress, fatigue and long working hours do not just affect mood. They affect concentration, judgement and safety.</p><p>So when pressure builds in farming, the consequences are not only emotional or financial, they can also be physical.</p><figure id="figure-wa6iorbpwmo0bjnlx" class=""><img id="wa6iorbpwmo0bjnlx" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1757660658664-0d0bc95cdfe8?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtZXJ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczMjAwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="Black and white cow standing on stone wall near ocean." title="Black and white cow standing on stone wall near ocean." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1757660658664-0d0bc95cdfe8?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8aXJpc2glMjBmYXJtZXJ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczMjAwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The statistic that says the most<br></h3><p>One figure stands out more than most:</p><ul><li>Over 82% of farmers surveyed said they personally knew someone who had died by suicide.</li></ul><p>That says a great deal about how close this issue is to the sector. It is not distant, it is not abstract. For many people, it is personal.</p><figure id="figure-xup1supahemo0bkoss" class=""><img id="xup1supahemo0bkoss" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1553706348-62ddb2e659d3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxpcmlzaCUyMGZhcm0lMjB8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczODMwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="green grass field hill" title="green grass field hill" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1553706348-62ddb2e659d3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxpcmlzaCUyMGZhcm0lMjB8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczODMwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>What support is available</h3><p>The pressure is real, but support is there.</p><p>Farmers can access:</p><ul><li>Teagasc, which provides wellbeing information, guidance and signposting through its advisory network.</li><li>HSE mental health supports, including urgent-help pathways and local services.</li><li>Samaritans, available 24 hours a day on 116 123.</li><li>Pieta, which offers a 24/7 crisis helpline, text support and access to therapy.</li><li>Embrace FARM, which supports farm families affected by sudden death or serious injury.</li><li>IFA’s confidential debt support helpline, which is especially relevant where financial stress is a major part of the strain.</li></ul><p>The challenge is often not whether support exists, but whether people feel able to use it early enough.</p><figure id="figure-bjewyltbjlmo0blu9d" class=""><img id="bjewyltbjlmo0blu9d" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1604881991720-f91add269bed?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtZW50YWwlMjBoZWFsdGh8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczNDI1fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="person in black long sleeve shirt holding babys feet" title="person in black long sleeve shirt holding babys feet" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1604881991720-f91add269bed?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtZW50YWwlMjBoZWFsdGh8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc2MjczNDI1fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The fuel protests were not just about traffic and diesel. They were a visible sign of something that is often carried quietly in farming: pressure, uncertainty and strain. The sector was already under stress, the figures make that clear.</p><p>And if global instability keeps pushing volatility in fuel and fertiliser, that pressure may deepen further. That is why this cannot be treated as just an input-cost story. It is also a mental health story,&nbsp; and increasingly, a rural resilience story too.</p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

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