‘There are a lot of young farmers with the drive to make things happen’

SHANE FITZGERALD is a young farmer on a mission and is half way through expanding the HolsteinFriesian herd on the 250 acre home farm to 200 cows by 2019. The herd count is currently 165 cows.

With 40pc of the herd’s milk going to Glanbia at a fixed price of 31c/l and the remainder at the market price, the 2016 Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year believes the expansion of the family farm near Portlaw in Waterford will pay for itself.

He is philosophical about milk prices, accepting market fluctuations as part of parcel of the dairy world though in an ideal world he would like a floor price of 30c/l from which the co-ops could not depart.

Shane’s educational background — a Level 8 business qualification from Waterford IT and a Level 7 in dairy management from Kildalton — gives him a rounded view on such matters.

In addition to the academic qualifications he also has work experience on a 2,000 cow dairy farm in New Zealand a few years ago.