The final silo was filled last weekend, this time it was the turn of the wheat crop. I don’t grow it myself; I have a contract with a local tillage farmer to supply my needs.

The only crop I grow now is grass with everything else bought in. I use a diet feeder which gives me options to use different types of winter feeds.

I have seen some farmyards with a multitude of different ingredients but I prefer to keep it simple. This year I’m buying in wheat, straw and beet from local farmers. This is balanced with soybean meal through my Co-op.

In theory if I grew the crops myself I could do it cheaper. Theory doesn’t always work out in farming. There are too many variables. The obvious variable is the farmer.

It’s just not possible for to be good at everything. I find it makes more sense for me to concentrate on the grass and cows, rather than trying to organise everything myself. Reality is that I would have to either employ a contractor to do the tillage or else some of the work I already do.

Buying grain direct from the combine is the best value available as it cuts out so many middlemen, all of which need to make a profit. I know I must pay transport, the crimper roller and storage costs, but they would have to be paid anyway in the concentrate price along with more than one margin.

It isn’t that long ago we had a fodder crisis in Ireland. That time there was a big push to fill the gap using native cereals. It surprised me that so many tillage farmers were unwilling to sell to livestock farmers.

What I saw was a pride in turning out tons of a ripe crop with low moisture and high bushel. To do that meant a combine. A silage harvester cutting wholecrop told the neighbours that the crop wasn’t fit for a combine.

To be seen drawing grain to a farmer meant it wasn’t going to grade in the mill. If it was for crimping then there must have been too many green grains.

The reality is that there is less waste through less handling, less transporting, less links in the chain. It makes sense for all types of livestock farmers to buy direct if they have the facilities. However I think there is a bit more encouragement needed to also get tillage farmers to sell their best crops to farmers. Do the deal by the ton instead of thinking in acres, and base the price on local green prices.

That way there is a benefit for both sides to grow a good crop.

I won’t insult growers by talking about value; this year grain is cheap. It’s not a year to be paying extra fees, it’s the year to hoard it!