It is one of the busiest times of the year for dairy farmers with calving season in full flow.

Days are long, the weather has been less than helpful and the sheer tiredness of it all can see some people slip into survival mode.

Add to the mix a downward trending milk price and stubborn production costs and some dairy farmers may simply be too busy to think about what may lie ahead for the rest of 2026.

In this episode of AgriFocus Francess McDonnell is joined by Patrick Gowing Dairy Specialist at Teagasc who says it is vitally important for dairy farmers to consider where they might be by September.

According to Gowing what they need to do now is understand their true cost structure and tighten budgets to maximise grass as their most valuable feed.

He also shares practical, no-nonsense ways for dairy farmers to protect profit and build a more resilient business. 

Go beyond the headlines with our podcast series – AgriFocus – where we take a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.