Dara Killeen

Young dairy farmer Eyrecourt,

County Galway, Ireland

Dara’s farm

Dara Killeen is a dairy farmer from Eyrecourt, County Galway, who farms

with his wife Beatrix on a 121-hectare dairy farm, milking 150 cows on

a grass-based system. After transitioning from a sheep and beef farm

following the end of milk quotas in 2015, Dara has built a prof itable and

sustainable dairy business. About one-third of the farm lies within a Special

Area of Conservation and is managed under environmental schemes. His

achievements have been recognised in various awards, including the 2020

FBD Young Farmer of the Year, Animal Health Ireland’s CellCheck award, and

the 17th Annual Milk Quality Awards hosted by Aurivo.

DELIVERING PUBLIC GOODS FROM DAIRY FARMS IN EUROPE

Importance of Advocacy

Joining the National Dairy Council’s Farmer Ambassador

programme this year, Dara believes in the

importance of storytelling

to bridge the gap between

farmers and the general

public. Farmers in Ireland

have a fantastic story to tell,

and he encourages fellow

farmers to show consumers

the positive impact of dairy

farming.

Beyond milk: delivering public goods

Dara is the fourth generation to farm on his land, but the

f irst generation to milk cows. Dara highlights that dairy

farms provide more than just milk; they nurture wildlife and

biodiversity, support local and rural communities, produce

nutritious food to feed households around the world, and

much more.

About one-third of the farm lies along the River Shannon,

Ireland’s longest river. This land is a Special Area of

Conservation, which means there are strict rules on how

it can be farmed. Dara and Beatrix have embraced these

restrictions, working closely with the National Parks and

Wildlife Service. Together, they have designed a farming

system that provides a better habitat for ground-nesting

birds that are at risk of extinction in Ireland.

Dara shared some of the practical steps the farm has taken

to be more sustainable, such as investing in slurry storage

and solar-powered water pumps to protect water quality.

He believes in the benef its from maintaining hedgerows

pasture management. All of these measures have

measurable environmental impacts.

#Maintaining

biodiversity

#Carbon storage

under grasslands

Watch Dara’s interview

“Be brave. In Ireland, we have a

fantastic product; we’re all really

proud of what we do. Be brave

enough to stand up and tell people

‘we’re doing a good job.’’

Sommaire Introduction 10 farmers case studies Expert’s interviews FAQ Conclusion