John and Kathryn Carrothers, who farm in partnership outside Brookeborough in Co Fermanagh, are both members of a CAFRE Business Development Group (BDG) attending meetings on sucklers (John) and beef finishing (Kathryn).
Ahead of the closure of the latest application window for the BDG scheme, John is clear that being part of a group has benefited him in his business and helped give him the confidence to make changes going forward.
“Being in the group gives me the opportunity to go and see what other people are doing. I can then evaluate whether that is right for me. The important part is being open to trying something different,” said John.
On his own farm, there have been some fundamental changes made in recent years, with a gradual move away from sucklers to dairy-bred beef, and a new system of rotational grazing introduced.
Land type across the 100-acre farm is heavy, with much of the land over 130m above sea level, and north-facing. When John took on the farm in 1998, it was run down and covered in rushes.
He started into a process of draining the land.
“I initially put in conventional drains using plastic pipes and stones – it was a matter of doing whatever I could afford each year,” said John.
While the drains are still working, John maintains that this land is really only suitable for two cuts of silage – it would be too easily damaged by grazing cattle if the weather is wet.
However, about five years ago he noticed that a neighbour had achieved some good results with gravel tunnelling, so he decided to give it a try. Since then, 40 acres have been gravel-tunnelled, meaning that out of 100 acres, only 15 acres remains unimproved.
“It turns out the soil here is well suited to gravel tunnels. I put in catch drains and then pulled the gravel tunnels into these drains. In total, I used about 70t/acre of stone. Adding in ploughing and reseeding, it is a cost of around £2,000/ac” confirmed John.
On the farm last week, it was very noticeable just how well this land has dried out.
But the investment has created other issues. Firstly, John is understandably reluctant to damage this improved land with heavy cattle, so that has prompted a shift away from suckler cows.
In the past he had run about 25 continental cows on the unimproved land, but was actually keeping calves inside all year round and only letting the cows out during the summer – “I was able to feed the calves better that way” said John.
He now has only five cows left, and has instead managed to source dairy bred beef calves from two local farms. The calves to him weaned off milk at 140kg to 150kg. Going out in the spring with these cattle is obviously a lot easier on land than suckler cows and calves.
The stones used in the gravel tunnelling work done on the Carrothers farm.
Rotational
Last year he ran 80 dairy-beef steers at grass, including a group of 36 stronger steers (320 to 350kg at turnout) that were rotationally grazed across 13 acres. “I split it into 18 different blocks, so the cattle were moved every day. It grew a lot of grass, and I also managed to take 80 bales off in surplus” said John.
As well as the suckler cows, John was also buying in suckler weanlings and finishing them as bulls out of the house. He makes his own silage, and with ample silage supplies of good quality fodder in store (D-value 70; ME 11.3MJ), he was effectively producing bulls year round. “The bulls I am finishing are heavy, but with factories preferring lighter carcases, I will probably go all dairy beef in the future” said John.
His plan is to finish the plainer types himself, and sell the better conformed steers in the mart at around 600kg.
Soil fertility
The other issue he has to address is soil fertility. With a lot of silage taken off improved land, and other land ploughed up in recent years, he has no fields at Index 2 or above for phosphorus (P) or potassium (K). Together with his local CAFRE adviser Nigel Gould, he has put a plan in place for 2020 (using the CAFRE online farm nutrient management calculator) and has already some 0:20:30 fertiliser in store. Given the extent of investment in drainage and reseeding, it is important to meet nutrient requirements so that a productive sward is retained.
Developing in the dairy business
Lawrence Bowden and his family farm near Greyabbey in the Ards Peninsula. Historically a suckler and beef farm, he decided to convert to dairy production and began milking cows in the autumn of 2015.
Initially Lawrence purchased dairy bred heifer calves, and following that, a batch of maiden heifers a year later. Once these animals had been confirmed in-calf, a start date was set in stone. Slurry storage, a cubicle house conversion and the purchase and installation of a parlour were the focus for 2015.
Lawrence had some contact with his CAFRE dairying adviser before the Business Development Group (BDG) Scheme, but since joining in 2016 he has taken advantage of the products and support offered by CAFRE.
“My local CAFRE adviser provided business and technical advice during the conversion of the farm into dairying. However, since joining my local BDG I have taken advantage of CAFRE’s financial benchmarking, monthly online recording through the Dairy Margin Over Concentrate programme (DMOC) and the training events that are delivered as part of the scheme,” said Lawrence.
He also has a CAFRE development plan, reviewed on an annual basis with his adviser, which ensures he is focused on the correct areas to further develop the business.
The overall plan is to milk 100 cows using minimal external labour input, keep yields in the 7,000l to 7,500l bracket, feed approximately 1.8t of concentrate per cow and produce a beef calf with a high market value.
Spring 2019 born dairy bred beef calves on the Carrothers farm.
Cow type and fertility are essential to make this system work and within Lawrence’s group there are like-minded farmers striving towards similar objectives.
New environment-focused groups
CAFRE is launching a new type of Business Development Group (BDG) offering an opportunity for farmers to focus on an increasingly important side of their farm business – environmental farming.
Groups will look at the environmental solutions that farming can provide for biodiversity, water quality, carbon and air quality. A wide range of topics will include habitat creation and enhancement, uplands grazing management, field boundary renovation and maintenance, soil health and maximising carbon sequestration. Agri-environment schemes and their compliance will also be covered.
Activities in an Environmental Farming BDG will include on-farm meetings, projects and demonstrations, and will provide an opportunity for you to meet with like-minded farmers in your locality.
Only 15 acres out of a total of 100 acres, are left to be improved on the Carrothers farm.
Adviser
A dedicated CAFRE agri-environment adviser will be available to assist participants and help guide the group discussion. These groups will also be of great help to participants to understand and help their compliance across the wide range of environmental requirements, including their Environmental Farming Scheme agreements.
CAFRE senior dairy adviser Mark Scott, with Lawrence Bowden, who recently converted his Greyabbey farm to dairy production.
The Business Development Groups scheme is open for applications
until Friday 24 January 2020 at 4pm.
To apply online, visit the CAFRE website www.cafre.ac.uk/business-development-groups/ go to your DAERA Direct office where you can apply on-line with assistance.
For additional information e-mail kt.admin@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone 028 9442 6790.
John and Kathryn Carrothers, who farm in partnership outside Brookeborough in Co Fermanagh, are both members of a CAFRE Business Development Group (BDG) attending meetings on sucklers (John) and beef finishing (Kathryn).
Ahead of the closure of the latest application window for the BDG scheme, John is clear that being part of a group has benefited him in his business and helped give him the confidence to make changes going forward.
“Being in the group gives me the opportunity to go and see what other people are doing. I can then evaluate whether that is right for me. The important part is being open to trying something different,” said John.
On his own farm, there have been some fundamental changes made in recent years, with a gradual move away from sucklers to dairy-bred beef, and a new system of rotational grazing introduced.
Land type across the 100-acre farm is heavy, with much of the land over 130m above sea level, and north-facing. When John took on the farm in 1998, it was run down and covered in rushes.
He started into a process of draining the land.
“I initially put in conventional drains using plastic pipes and stones – it was a matter of doing whatever I could afford each year,” said John.
While the drains are still working, John maintains that this land is really only suitable for two cuts of silage – it would be too easily damaged by grazing cattle if the weather is wet.
However, about five years ago he noticed that a neighbour had achieved some good results with gravel tunnelling, so he decided to give it a try. Since then, 40 acres have been gravel-tunnelled, meaning that out of 100 acres, only 15 acres remains unimproved.
“It turns out the soil here is well suited to gravel tunnels. I put in catch drains and then pulled the gravel tunnels into these drains. In total, I used about 70t/acre of stone. Adding in ploughing and reseeding, it is a cost of around £2,000/ac” confirmed John.
On the farm last week, it was very noticeable just how well this land has dried out.
But the investment has created other issues. Firstly, John is understandably reluctant to damage this improved land with heavy cattle, so that has prompted a shift away from suckler cows.
In the past he had run about 25 continental cows on the unimproved land, but was actually keeping calves inside all year round and only letting the cows out during the summer – “I was able to feed the calves better that way” said John.
He now has only five cows left, and has instead managed to source dairy bred beef calves from two local farms. The calves to him weaned off milk at 140kg to 150kg. Going out in the spring with these cattle is obviously a lot easier on land than suckler cows and calves.
The stones used in the gravel tunnelling work done on the Carrothers farm.
Rotational
Last year he ran 80 dairy-beef steers at grass, including a group of 36 stronger steers (320 to 350kg at turnout) that were rotationally grazed across 13 acres. “I split it into 18 different blocks, so the cattle were moved every day. It grew a lot of grass, and I also managed to take 80 bales off in surplus” said John.
As well as the suckler cows, John was also buying in suckler weanlings and finishing them as bulls out of the house. He makes his own silage, and with ample silage supplies of good quality fodder in store (D-value 70; ME 11.3MJ), he was effectively producing bulls year round. “The bulls I am finishing are heavy, but with factories preferring lighter carcases, I will probably go all dairy beef in the future” said John.
His plan is to finish the plainer types himself, and sell the better conformed steers in the mart at around 600kg.
Soil fertility
The other issue he has to address is soil fertility. With a lot of silage taken off improved land, and other land ploughed up in recent years, he has no fields at Index 2 or above for phosphorus (P) or potassium (K). Together with his local CAFRE adviser Nigel Gould, he has put a plan in place for 2020 (using the CAFRE online farm nutrient management calculator) and has already some 0:20:30 fertiliser in store. Given the extent of investment in drainage and reseeding, it is important to meet nutrient requirements so that a productive sward is retained.
Developing in the dairy business
Lawrence Bowden and his family farm near Greyabbey in the Ards Peninsula. Historically a suckler and beef farm, he decided to convert to dairy production and began milking cows in the autumn of 2015.
Initially Lawrence purchased dairy bred heifer calves, and following that, a batch of maiden heifers a year later. Once these animals had been confirmed in-calf, a start date was set in stone. Slurry storage, a cubicle house conversion and the purchase and installation of a parlour were the focus for 2015.
Lawrence had some contact with his CAFRE dairying adviser before the Business Development Group (BDG) Scheme, but since joining in 2016 he has taken advantage of the products and support offered by CAFRE.
“My local CAFRE adviser provided business and technical advice during the conversion of the farm into dairying. However, since joining my local BDG I have taken advantage of CAFRE’s financial benchmarking, monthly online recording through the Dairy Margin Over Concentrate programme (DMOC) and the training events that are delivered as part of the scheme,” said Lawrence.
He also has a CAFRE development plan, reviewed on an annual basis with his adviser, which ensures he is focused on the correct areas to further develop the business.
The overall plan is to milk 100 cows using minimal external labour input, keep yields in the 7,000l to 7,500l bracket, feed approximately 1.8t of concentrate per cow and produce a beef calf with a high market value.
Spring 2019 born dairy bred beef calves on the Carrothers farm.
Cow type and fertility are essential to make this system work and within Lawrence’s group there are like-minded farmers striving towards similar objectives.
New environment-focused groups
CAFRE is launching a new type of Business Development Group (BDG) offering an opportunity for farmers to focus on an increasingly important side of their farm business – environmental farming.
Groups will look at the environmental solutions that farming can provide for biodiversity, water quality, carbon and air quality. A wide range of topics will include habitat creation and enhancement, uplands grazing management, field boundary renovation and maintenance, soil health and maximising carbon sequestration. Agri-environment schemes and their compliance will also be covered.
Activities in an Environmental Farming BDG will include on-farm meetings, projects and demonstrations, and will provide an opportunity for you to meet with like-minded farmers in your locality.
Only 15 acres out of a total of 100 acres, are left to be improved on the Carrothers farm.
Adviser
A dedicated CAFRE agri-environment adviser will be available to assist participants and help guide the group discussion. These groups will also be of great help to participants to understand and help their compliance across the wide range of environmental requirements, including their Environmental Farming Scheme agreements.
CAFRE senior dairy adviser Mark Scott, with Lawrence Bowden, who recently converted his Greyabbey farm to dairy production.
The Business Development Groups scheme is open for applications
until Friday 24 January 2020 at 4pm.
To apply online, visit the CAFRE website www.cafre.ac.uk/business-development-groups/ go to your DAERA Direct office where you can apply on-line with assistance.
For additional information e-mail kt.admin@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone 028 9442 6790.
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