What is the current mood of your customers?

A lot of farmers are talking about Brexit but the worry is that there is not a lot a small business or an individual farmer can do. In general, it was a cheaper winter than normal for most farmers and the spring has been kind.

How is the tillage sector?

Farmers are being more careful around which fields they sow, with marginal land not being sown. We are expecting to see a drop in spring sown acres of 5-10%.

What is the grain price outlook?

There is little prospect of improved prices for 2017 harvest driven by an abundance of grain stocks around the world. It will take a significant weather event in a large producing country to boost prices. Currently prices indicate €130 but local competition may push this €10 higher.

Are you seeing many farmers in your area convert to dairy?

I believe we will continue to see an exit out of beef towards dairy but we are also seeing an increasing amount of tillage ground move to grass.

What is the credit situation like on farm?

We are not seeing farmers with hardcore debt come and clear bills because of the Government’s low-cost loan scheme. But we are seeing farmers with older debt built up over the past 18 months making some progress at clearing this now, due to the increased milk prices and the reduced input costs such as fertiliser and feed.

Are ingredients changing in your rations?

We are buying an increasing amount of beans for our rations. With low input costs, yields of 2-4t/acre, and a premium of €40/t over barley, it is profitable for the tillage farmer. It also receives a protein payment support.

How does your business add value to farmers?

Trading a commodity is the poor end of the wedge so we try to add value to the grain we buy. But we must do it in a way that also adds value to our feed customers. Therefore, we invest in high-quality people to drive technical efficiency and maximise profit at farm level. For example, about half of our feed goes to dairy farmers and 70% of our rations are individually tailored. We analyse the silage and produce a ration that best suits that farm.

The future

We plan to invest in a new agri-retail shop in Ferns to better serve our customers. This business is 135 years old and it has constantly adapted and moved with the times. I am the sixth generation to run this business and I believe planning for succession is very important in a family business.

Title: MD, John Bolger & Co Ltd

Breakdown: 70% feed, 30% tillage.

Feed volumes: 20,000t.

Irish grain purchases: 15,000t.

Branches: Ferns and Ballycogley, Co Wexford.