Spring-calvers: For spring-calving herds, research on treating the proportion of late-calving cows with a CIDR or PRID earlier rather than later in the breeding season has shown to result in more cows in calf at the end of the breeding season. While the cost is over €30 per cow treated, and conception rates might be lower than normal to first insemination, you will have more cows in calf in your breeding window, according to the latest American research (see pages 30 and 31).

Some farmers will have the organisation and recording skills necessary to do the above treatment job properly but other farmers at larger scale or tight on labour will prefer just to switch this proportion of late-calving cows onto once-a-day milking.

The message from the researchers is that there is very limited research evidence on this but any farmer I talk to who has carried out once-a-day milking on late-calving or thin cows is very happy with the results. They say that you will have slightly less milk but condition score will be much improved. Farmers will just put tape on the cow’s tail to identify the once-a-day cow and leave them in with the main herd. The message is that you must switch to once-a-day for the weeks in advance of the breeding season rather than doing it from the start of the breeding season.

Buildings – where and when: Think hard and long on any capital investment you are planning at the moment. The industry is at a real crossroads and some farmers will drive on and expand but other farmers will want to maybe switch enterprise to contract heifer rearing or long-term lease land now that CAP is beginning to get sorted out.

Investing €100,000 to €200,000 in slurry storage or a milking parlour is a big investment for any business but investing it in the wrong place is a very big mistake. You really need to tease out your options on potential changes that may happen to your business and those around you. Stand back from the detail of what type of shed or parlour for a moment and look at where your business will be in five or ten years’ time. I know it’s not possible to nail the future down perfectly but you will be able to throw some shape on what the future holds.

Planning is not easy and we all struggle with it but it is important and we have to be realistic about where the business is weak or strong. We need to think about where investment is required and what return you will get on that investment. Investing for a lifestyle choice is no longer an option for most. Future-proof your investment because farming is big business now and we are lucky to be part of it, but at the same time farmers must give it the respect it deserves.

Reseeding: There has been a great opportunity in recent days to get paddocks prepared for reseeding. It’s a perfect time if you can make it happen. At a reseeding cost of €250 to €300 per acre, the return will be huge given some of the high prices I hear for rented land. Only spray off existing sward if wind is low, always get some lime on, feed the new plant with phosphorus and potassium, and get your contractor to take his time doing the sowing.