The two farmers, their three daughters and experts from a range of agricultural services and input providers will be on hand to discuss the performance of the 150-cow enterprise since it started seven years ago.

Paula told the Irish Farmers Journal that the event would centre on the message that you don’t need to be from a farm to be a successful farmer.

“There seems to be a big thing at the moment that if you’re not from a farming background, you can’t farm,” she said.

Based on her experience of becoming a farmer only four years ago, and her husband’s in 2010 after following the dairy training course in Clonakilty, she said people should instead “go forward and do it”.

Herd trebled in seven years

The herd of pedigree Holstein Friesians has trebled in size in the past seven years and grown milk solids from 240kg to 420kg per cow.

The Hynes also say they have reduced the breeding seasons from 31 weeks to 12. They now plan to expand again to 200 cows next year.

The open day will include visits of the new 20-unit Dairymaster Swiftflo parlour and the 105ha holding where they have invested in land reclamation and conduct grass tests for seed companies.

The Hynes said that they embarked on a “big capital spending programme that is ongoing” on the farm.

Visitors will be invited to donate to Breast Cancer Ireland and Aware. “My mom died of cancer,” said Paula. “And we went for mental health because farming is a lonely occupation and we want to get the message out that you can talk to someone if you need to.”

The open day starts this Tuesday 22 August at 11am on the farm at Aherla, 20km west of Cork city.