This football season in England has concluded and we have seen Leicester City lift the Premier League trophy. It proves that the small clubs can fight the bigger, more established clubs by becoming the most efficient team in the Premier League. Efficiency is the key.

This analogy of Leicester City can be transferred into any facet of society, none more so than farming. The big clubs got fat and lazy on the big money generated from television and sponsorship. They lost touch with efficiency – scouting talented players from the periphery of football’s landscape.

Farming is about efficiency. If farming is to operate sustainably in a world without entitlements, then efficiency must improve. The bubble in which farming currently exists is what it is – a bubble. European money is propping up inefficiency in certain aspects of Irish farming.

This instability demonstrates that farmers cannot grow complacent and dependent on Europe and its finances.

Farmers need to be prepared for a reduction in EU aid at some point in the future. Instability can be seen all across Europe – in the east with Russia and Ukraine, across the south with the migration crisis, the continental mainland fighting extreme terrorism and our closest neighbour growing restless and contemplating a Brexit. This instability demonstrates that farmers cannot grow complacent and dependent on Europe and its finances.

Retailers and processors must also watch this space carefully. Should EU support dwindle in the future, then the current prices and especially the erratic nature of price fluctuation will not stand up to sustaining a raw material supply base.

Breeding season

Inside the farm gate, the dairy breeding season is in full swing. I am three weeks into the breeding season, and will AI for a further three weeks before allowing the Simmental bull to clean up the remainder of the herd.

I find heat detection very important at this time of the year. It is equivalent to another pair of eyes on the cows at all times.

I use two companies for AI, Progressive Genetics and Eurogene, and am using bulls such as Maestro and Gloss from Eurogene and Modeligo Whisper from Progressive.

I find heat detection very important at this time of the year. It is equivalent to another pair of eyes on the cows at all times. Tail paint is my preferred method of heat detection. It is important to tail paint the cows correctly and very often the ‘less is more’ approach is important when applying the tail paint – 6 to 8 inches from the tail head along the spine and keep it narrow.

I used to love when I was bought new toys as a young lad, but I think I love buying new machinery even more – not that it happens frequently, mind. The machinery I’m referring to is a Lely Splendino mower. Let’s hope for a good bit of use for it this summer!

Read more from James Mimnagh here.