A landmark face-to-face survey of 1,170 dairy farmers across Waterford, Cork, Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow has revealed that weather has overtaken milk price as the biggest concern on Irish dairy farms.

The study, carried out by Irish agri-research company Rerouted Results, involved driving into 5,000 farmyards and interviewing farmers in person. Founder Con O’Mahony, himself a Kerry dairy farmer, said that when the survey began, farmers cited milk price, TB, rules and regulations as their main worries.

But as this summer’s challenging conditions unfolded, weather-related issues, including drought, grass, fodder and feed, climbed to the top, with 44% naming them as their primary concern, particularly in the east.

The survey also sheds light on the pressure of paperwork and compliance. While many farmers rated the stress of Bord Bia audit paperwork as low, Mr. O’Mahony revealed that one in nine now pay for outside help to get through the forms.

On farm infrastructure and investment, the survey found one in three farmers short on cubicle space, an average herd size of 110 cows, and strong interest in solar panels, with 21% of dairy farmers surveyed already installed and more expected as new grants come on stream.

Work–life balance remains a major issue: over half of farmers take fewer than 20 milkings off per year, while one in 18 take no time off at all, something many still see as a badge of honour.