b'A Farmers Perspective Carroll B11Ballinakill, Ballycanew, Gorey, Co. WexfordIn March 2015 milk quotas were withdrawn by the European Union which, in addition to allowing existing dairy farmers increase milk production, it also opened the door to new entrants to get into dairy farming. Brigid Carrolls change in farm enterprise is typical of many such new entrants, which have contributed to the increase in dairy cow numbers in Ireland from just over one million in 2010 to 1.5 million today.Brigid farms a 40 hectare grassland block in the townsland of Ballinakill, which is on the banks of the Ounavarra River. She had a suckler beef enterprise, with forty cows selling weanling and year-ling cattle. At that time Brigid also had off farm employment as an assistant in a local school. The total farm output in 2014 from the suckler enterprise was 56,000 with a gross margin of 590 per hectare. In October 2015 fifty dairy heifer calves were bought and the conversion to dairy had begun. Construction of a milking parlour began in November 2016 and the first milk collection was on the 4th of February 2017. Cow numbers have increased from 45 in 2017, to 70 in 2018 and 85 this year. The herd is spring calving and milk production is from grazed grass, with output matching grass growth. It is the intention to milk 100 cows and rear all replacement heifers on the farm. The most significant investments incurred due to the change in enterprise were livestock and farm buildings (slurry storage and milking facilities). These have been funded by borrowings, building grants and the sale of livestock from the beef enterprise. Other significant investments include farm roadways, water drinking facilities and grass reseeding. Over half the farm has been reseed-ed since the conversion to dairying started. By way of comparison to the beef enterprise, the total farm output in 2018 from the dairy enterprise was 165,000 with a gross margin of 1,400 per hectare. Grass covers are measured weekly and PastureBase is used to budget grass supply and demand. Nitrates derogation was applied for this year, which may not be required but the plan is to build the herd to 100 cows and remain at that stocking rate. Brigid is also participating in Dairy4 Future, an INTEREG funded project studying dairy farming in the Atlantic regions of Europe. 41'