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What garnered the most attention of all in the BETTER farm village at Beef 2018 was the farmer forum where participants Joe Healy, Padraig O’Connor and James Flaherty sat among the crowd and gave an honest assessment of their experience of the BETTER Farm programme to date. The three farmers were not hesitant to share their experiences of the programme, their wider opinions of the beef sector and to answer any questions thrown at them.
Joe Healy – Meath
Why did you join the programme?
“I was very aware of the programme for a good two or three years before I joined. I started following the previous bunch of lads in the paper every week and it really started to hit home about the improvements they were making to their farms – the way I could see what they started with and what they finished with. From then, I started implementing what those lads were doing. When my adviser asked would I join, I had absolutely no hesitation – I was quite excited as a matter of fact. I started the programme on a gross margin of over €1,000/ha and a lot of that is down to what I learned from the group before us.”
Has your farming system changed?
“Without doubt, one of the major changes in my mind-set has been the management of heavy grass covers. Honestly, the first couple of times I had to almost be hand-held into mowing covers of over 2,000kg DM/ha instead of grazing them. But it’s really been one of the best things I’ve changed. I might be only getting three or four bales to the acre, but my weanlings are doing a serious thrive on this silage and the paddock is back in the rotation straight away.”
Is there a future in suckler farming?
“I’d be hopeful there is – I certainly feel that I can get my future out of it. I think a lot of it comes down to controlling what’s inside our own gate. We can’t really control what happens outside that. For me, because I’m part-time, I’ve put a lot of focus into labour-saving and trying to do things efficiently. For me, I’m just constantly trying to get the basics right on the farm and put a solid system in place. Then, in the future, I believe it could then facilitate me to go full-time.”
Padraig O’Connor – Roscommon
What have been the biggest changes?
“Without doubt the biggest change has been getting cattle finished earlier. In the past, cattle would have been killed at older ages and I also would have sold some weanlings. From now on, my plan is to sell my best calves as under-16-month bull beef, the rest as steers and my heifers at around 20 months. This change is helping me a lot with cashflow and, as well as that, the factory I supply prefers lighter carcases, so the younger cattle suits them better. I have also adopted a strict breeding policy. This year, I calved 51 cows in seven weeks because I culled when I needed to.”
Has the programme made a lasting impact?
“In all honesty, I’ll be sad when the programme finishes up. I’d actually love it to keep going. Without doubt, it has put me in the right direction and I am fairly confident that, come the end of it, I will meet the targets set out for me – I just need to increase my stocking rate a slight bit more. Some people have the opinion that you can’t make a living full-time farming or you need a partner out making good money. Look, I am a full-time farmer and while I recognise I’m not going to live in royalty, I am very content knowing I can provide for my family as they grow up. There’s no point being a busy fool at the end of the day.”
James Flaherty - Kerry
How can you manage working off-farm?
"For me, it all comes down to efficiency. I'm working away off-farm at the moment, but I'm constantly working towards setting up the place that allows me to manage it in the easiest way possible, but, look, Rome wasn't built in a day. It's worked so far for AI - I am now all AI through the use of Moocall heat detectors and having the correct facilities and system for bringing in cows."
How has the programme influenced your farm?
"The biggest thing is we have increased numbers dramatically. To be honest, we might be a small bit over-stocked, but the way I see it, if I have to sell stock I am cashing in. Across the country, many people might feel over-stocked, but I think a lot of this can be solved by better management and getting your setup 100%."
Alan Dillon - Teagasc BETTER farm adviser
“Our farmer forum in the BETTER farm village with three current programme farmers held the attention of the audience for over an hour. Joe Healy, James Flaherty and Padraig O'Connor sent out a clear message of where they want to be with their farms over the next five years. A debate with the crowd began when two of the farmers commented how they intended to move away from off-farm employment and move to full-time farming. It gave encouragement to the crowd to have a group of young farmers with a positive attitude to beef farming and confidence in the sector to pursue a career in the business full-time.”
Watch Nigel O'Kane, Cathal Breen and Robert Abbott talk about their experience of the programme to date in the video above.
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