I farm: “With my father Michael. We are milking 120 Holstein Friesian cows on a 48ha milking platform. We’ve 100 weanlings and cattle as well that we finish.”

This week: “We’re feeding silage and keeping the stock fed. We’re scanning the cows and heifers and will make culling decisions based on that. It’s hard to know what the results will be like, but I’m hopeful enough because during the real hot days we brought the cows into the shed or put them in a sheltered paddock. We had the bull out after seven weeks of AI.”

Drought: “The cows are doing OK but it’s just a big workload. We are seven weeks feeding silage now, it has been a tough summer. At the minute, we have grass and are feeding a bale to supplement it.”

Fodder: “We had 70% of our requirement last time we did a budget but we’re eating into that and aren’t getting any rain. We’re hoping to make up the balance with a second cut.”

Partnership: “I’m home farming with my father since April and we’re currently setting up a partnership. I’m working on another farm as well, while we build up the home place to support both myself and my parents. Working with family involves a lot of give and take. You have to be willing to listen and see it from the other person’s point of view.”

Travel: “I spent six months in New Zealand on a dairy farm for calving and breeding. It was so organised; calving 700 cows was a doddle. Travelling is the best thing I ever did, you’ll be home long enough.”

Quotable quote: “The one thing that doesn’t faze me anymore is numbers – scale. Once you have a good system in place you can scale it up.”

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My Farming Week: Gráinne Hogan, Camross, Co Laois