John Kehoe has been farming in Carlow for the last 40 years, operating a 145-acre mixed farm. John has always been a progressive farmer, aiming to maximise return from his holding. In recent years he has focused on beef and tillage.
In the last few months, John has decided to step back from farming and with the help of the Land Mobility Service he has been looking at his options.
John has two adult children with successful off-farm careers. They help with the farm, but will not go farming themselves. The farm is all in one block of good quality with reasonable facilities, and has delivered an income for a number of generations of the Kehoe family.
The scenario faced by John is quite common. Thankfully, there are options available, and there are many excellent young and not so young farmers prepared to avail of such opportunities.
The two most important things for John are income security and ensuring that the farm is properly looked after. John and his family looked at the implications of a range of options including leasing, share-farming and contract-rearing. For them, a long lease is the preferred option, providing certainty and tax relief. However, as John explains, the most important thing was “finding the right person”.
Following some investigation and fact-finding, John entered into discussions, facilitated by the Land Mobility Service, with a progressive farmer. This farmer was known to John and has a good reputation.
John continues to farm himself while the terms of the lease are being worked out, but both parties have started to work together and have agreed a memorandum of understanding. There is a good working relationship and both have a similar vision for the farm. The important thing for both is that “the agreement works for all parties”.
A 15-year lease will commence from January 2016.
Land Mobility Opportunities
A key element of the Land Mobility Service is matching people to opportunities. This is a brokerage service to find the ideal farmer match for you. Phone 01-4199555 to speak with one of our specialist team and provide your details and preferred option. Confidentiality is assured. Qualified leads will be passed to you for further consideration.
Potential Share
Milker Farms
Mid Tipperary, working dairy farm extending to 240 acres of which 180 currently represents grazing platform, 13 unit milking parlour, 8000lt bulk tank, cubicles and housing for 150 cows plus separate calf shed. Land owner is currently milking 100 cows and carrying some beef cattle. Land owner wants to step back but would like to see the farm develop to its dairy potential now that quotas are gone. Looking for an enthusiastic skilled young person with dairy experience. The ideal collaborator would bring 50 cows getting the farm up to 150 cows on a shared basis and develop from there. | Reference SM105Dairy Farm, NW Cork, Land owner wants to retire, no farming successors, 130 acre farm of which 100 acres represents milking block, 60 cubicles plus loose sheds and 8 unit parlour, presently milking 60 cows. Land owner looking for someone to come in on a share or lease basis. | Reference SM104 Farms for Lease
Wexford dairy farmer is looking to expand his dairy enterprise. Interested in leasing land on a long term basis in one holding in Enniscorthy or surrounding areas. Milking facilities on farm preferred but not necessary. All options considered. | Reference No FL04North Kilkenny Dairy Farm, 130 acres of which 90 acres is part of the grazing platform. Facilities for up to 120 cows, adequate slurry storage, cubicles, calving facilities and a 12 unit milking parlour. Farm currently milking 60 cows.
| Reference TN04South East Mayo dry stock farm available to lease on long term from January 2016 onwards. 65 acres of excellent quality land in one block. Fields divided into paddocks with electric fencing and mains water supplied. Farmyard facilities also available with slatted accommodation for up to 120 cattle, handling & calving facilities, slurry storage and silage pit. Owner looking to step back from land due to full time employment and family commitments. | REFERENCE MT0155 Acres Approx. of Grassland, East Co. Wicklow, closed since early March & freshly topped, suitable for grazing until end 2015. Part of 85 acre block available for long term lease for suitable tenant from 2016 onwards. Good south facing, free draining land suitable for out-wintering of livestock. Would suit livestock farmer looking to expand.
| REFERENCE VT01MIDLANDS AREA, 120 acres beef farm in 1 block with excellent quality sheds to house 120 cattle, and all land recently reseeded. The owners, part time beef farmers, are looking to lease this land on a long term basis to potential dairy farmers to set up a green field site. Infrastructure work would be required. Some machinery is available to successful applicants.
| Reference IA01 Partnerships
Do you want help to run your dairy farm, and increase your land base and wintering facilities? I am interested in joining up with a dairy farmer who is finding it hard to develop, either through manual help or lack of resources. I am a married man with a young family and a professional wife. I have 80 acres to bring with, and I am positive hardworking experienced milker. Kilkenny or surrounding counties considered. | Reference TN09Contract Heifer Rearing service available in Carlow/Laois border area. Willing to rear 40-45 dairy heifer calves on 22 hectares of good quality grassland. Must be a minimum of 3 months old and fully weaned. Very good handling and winter facilities available. Housed on straw during winter months. Would keep heifers ideally to about 1 year of age or a little over and return to owner ready to be served. Excellent experience with livestock and open to different types of contract rearing arrangements. Will take calves from any location.
| REFERENCE VA01350 Acre Milking-Platform, Co. Meath newly converted from beef to dairy (400 cows). Good potential to grow herd numbers considerably over time. Rotary milking parlour installed and good house available for right person. Average herd EBI over 200, farm capable of growing 15 tonnes DM/ha. Seeking ambitious skilled person for equity partnership. Good terms & conditions on offer. This is a great opportunity offering a very high ROC.
| REFERENCE WN01Accommodation required for approx. 50 cattle for contract feeding for winter. Cattle only supplied. Cork or surrounding counties. | Reference No. TX10North-Tipp Dairy Farmer Seeks to establish contract rearing arrangement with another farmer to rear 40-45 weanling Friesian heifer calves from May 2016 through to mid March 2017. | REFERENCE OK01 East Cork Area 170 Dairy Herd with excellent facilities would consider a Partnership. No stock or capital investment, with the exception of Investment in mobile equipment. Profit Share and Term negotiable. | Reference TX02 Skilled Young
Farmers looking
for an opportunity
Young trained farmer with green cert returning from New Zealand would like to enter into a share farming or lease arrangement with a retiring land owner with a view to developing a profitable dairy business for all parties. | Reference YTF03Motivated & Adaptable young dairy farmer with large herd management experience in Ireland, England and New Zealand including full management of a 400 cow herd. Looking to further career and build equity. Have skills and determination to see any opportunity through. Also in preparation I have 150 in calf dairy heifers, calving spring 2016, for right opportunity to develop enlarged block or share milking arrangement. Open to all arrangements and prepared to travel. | Reference TX01Young, trained & ambitious farmer from the northwest with 5 years experience including management of a 500 cow dairy herd. Looking to enter a share milking arrangement. Preferably with a retired farmer or someone stepping back. All areas considered but northern half of the country is preference.
| Reference DN 101
John Kehoe has been farming in Carlow for the last 40 years, operating a 145-acre mixed farm. John has always been a progressive farmer, aiming to maximise return from his holding. In recent years he has focused on beef and tillage.
In the last few months, John has decided to step back from farming and with the help of the Land Mobility Service he has been looking at his options.
John has two adult children with successful off-farm careers. They help with the farm, but will not go farming themselves. The farm is all in one block of good quality with reasonable facilities, and has delivered an income for a number of generations of the Kehoe family.
The scenario faced by John is quite common. Thankfully, there are options available, and there are many excellent young and not so young farmers prepared to avail of such opportunities.
The two most important things for John are income security and ensuring that the farm is properly looked after. John and his family looked at the implications of a range of options including leasing, share-farming and contract-rearing. For them, a long lease is the preferred option, providing certainty and tax relief. However, as John explains, the most important thing was “finding the right person”.
Following some investigation and fact-finding, John entered into discussions, facilitated by the Land Mobility Service, with a progressive farmer. This farmer was known to John and has a good reputation.
John continues to farm himself while the terms of the lease are being worked out, but both parties have started to work together and have agreed a memorandum of understanding. There is a good working relationship and both have a similar vision for the farm. The important thing for both is that “the agreement works for all parties”.
A 15-year lease will commence from January 2016.
Land Mobility Opportunities
A key element of the Land Mobility Service is matching people to opportunities. This is a brokerage service to find the ideal farmer match for you. Phone 01-4199555 to speak with one of our specialist team and provide your details and preferred option. Confidentiality is assured. Qualified leads will be passed to you for further consideration.
Potential Share
Milker Farms
Mid Tipperary, working dairy farm extending to 240 acres of which 180 currently represents grazing platform, 13 unit milking parlour, 8000lt bulk tank, cubicles and housing for 150 cows plus separate calf shed. Land owner is currently milking 100 cows and carrying some beef cattle. Land owner wants to step back but would like to see the farm develop to its dairy potential now that quotas are gone. Looking for an enthusiastic skilled young person with dairy experience. The ideal collaborator would bring 50 cows getting the farm up to 150 cows on a shared basis and develop from there. | Reference SM105Dairy Farm, NW Cork, Land owner wants to retire, no farming successors, 130 acre farm of which 100 acres represents milking block, 60 cubicles plus loose sheds and 8 unit parlour, presently milking 60 cows. Land owner looking for someone to come in on a share or lease basis. | Reference SM104 Farms for Lease
Wexford dairy farmer is looking to expand his dairy enterprise. Interested in leasing land on a long term basis in one holding in Enniscorthy or surrounding areas. Milking facilities on farm preferred but not necessary. All options considered. | Reference No FL04North Kilkenny Dairy Farm, 130 acres of which 90 acres is part of the grazing platform. Facilities for up to 120 cows, adequate slurry storage, cubicles, calving facilities and a 12 unit milking parlour. Farm currently milking 60 cows.
| Reference TN04South East Mayo dry stock farm available to lease on long term from January 2016 onwards. 65 acres of excellent quality land in one block. Fields divided into paddocks with electric fencing and mains water supplied. Farmyard facilities also available with slatted accommodation for up to 120 cattle, handling & calving facilities, slurry storage and silage pit. Owner looking to step back from land due to full time employment and family commitments. | REFERENCE MT0155 Acres Approx. of Grassland, East Co. Wicklow, closed since early March & freshly topped, suitable for grazing until end 2015. Part of 85 acre block available for long term lease for suitable tenant from 2016 onwards. Good south facing, free draining land suitable for out-wintering of livestock. Would suit livestock farmer looking to expand.
| REFERENCE VT01MIDLANDS AREA, 120 acres beef farm in 1 block with excellent quality sheds to house 120 cattle, and all land recently reseeded. The owners, part time beef farmers, are looking to lease this land on a long term basis to potential dairy farmers to set up a green field site. Infrastructure work would be required. Some machinery is available to successful applicants.
| Reference IA01 Partnerships
Do you want help to run your dairy farm, and increase your land base and wintering facilities? I am interested in joining up with a dairy farmer who is finding it hard to develop, either through manual help or lack of resources. I am a married man with a young family and a professional wife. I have 80 acres to bring with, and I am positive hardworking experienced milker. Kilkenny or surrounding counties considered. | Reference TN09Contract Heifer Rearing service available in Carlow/Laois border area. Willing to rear 40-45 dairy heifer calves on 22 hectares of good quality grassland. Must be a minimum of 3 months old and fully weaned. Very good handling and winter facilities available. Housed on straw during winter months. Would keep heifers ideally to about 1 year of age or a little over and return to owner ready to be served. Excellent experience with livestock and open to different types of contract rearing arrangements. Will take calves from any location.
| REFERENCE VA01350 Acre Milking-Platform, Co. Meath newly converted from beef to dairy (400 cows). Good potential to grow herd numbers considerably over time. Rotary milking parlour installed and good house available for right person. Average herd EBI over 200, farm capable of growing 15 tonnes DM/ha. Seeking ambitious skilled person for equity partnership. Good terms & conditions on offer. This is a great opportunity offering a very high ROC.
| REFERENCE WN01Accommodation required for approx. 50 cattle for contract feeding for winter. Cattle only supplied. Cork or surrounding counties. | Reference No. TX10North-Tipp Dairy Farmer Seeks to establish contract rearing arrangement with another farmer to rear 40-45 weanling Friesian heifer calves from May 2016 through to mid March 2017. | REFERENCE OK01 East Cork Area 170 Dairy Herd with excellent facilities would consider a Partnership. No stock or capital investment, with the exception of Investment in mobile equipment. Profit Share and Term negotiable. | Reference TX02 Skilled Young
Farmers looking
for an opportunity
Young trained farmer with green cert returning from New Zealand would like to enter into a share farming or lease arrangement with a retiring land owner with a view to developing a profitable dairy business for all parties. | Reference YTF03Motivated & Adaptable young dairy farmer with large herd management experience in Ireland, England and New Zealand including full management of a 400 cow herd. Looking to further career and build equity. Have skills and determination to see any opportunity through. Also in preparation I have 150 in calf dairy heifers, calving spring 2016, for right opportunity to develop enlarged block or share milking arrangement. Open to all arrangements and prepared to travel. | Reference TX01Young, trained & ambitious farmer from the northwest with 5 years experience including management of a 500 cow dairy herd. Looking to enter a share milking arrangement. Preferably with a retired farmer or someone stepping back. All areas considered but northern half of the country is preference.
| Reference DN 101 
SHARING OPTIONS