Yesterday Dr. Zoe McKay presented at the
@NuffieldIreland #FarmingTheFuture conference.
Zoe is a returning 2025 Nuffield Ireland Scholar and discussed the topic:
“competitive advantage lies in growing grass, but how do we protect that in a changing climate?”
Zoe highlighted how changing rainfall patterns are affecting grass growth and farm productivity, while drought and the pressures of farming can also take a toll on farmers’ mental health.
She stressed the importance of adapting to climate change, not just reducing emissions, pointing to more diverse pastures, better feed planning and water management as ways to build resilience.
But farmers can’t be expected to find all the solutions themselves.
Zoe called for better climate risk tools, dedicated research funding and policies that support adaptation, including grass-fed standards that allow farming systems to evolve.