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Farmer Writes: labour a challenge as calves hit the ground
Bill O'Keeffe
We have continued to get some grass into the milking cows most days since calving, and with the mild weather we are leaving the main herd out most nights as well.
11 January 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: 10% of the herd calved
There seems to be solid demand for early calves this year again, despite the costs of milk replacer and concentrates.
28 December 2022 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: challenge ahead to replace Jimmy who has been with us 30 years
While Bill O'Keeffe looks back on 2022 as a year of strong milk prices and looks into 2023 positively in terms of income, replacing a long-standing member of staff this spring will be a challenge.
Farmer Writes: milking through the cold snap
Keeping the herd milking through the cold snap wasn’t too much of an inconvenience apart from a few frozen parlour pipes one morning, writes farmer Bill O’Keeffe.
14 December 2022 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: looking at energy demand on farm
With new grants and tax incentives available for solar panels on sheds, we will also try to find time to study all of the options available.
30 November 2022 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: winter starting to close in
Grass is really bucking the trend, with mild temperatures driving exceptional late season growth right across the country.
16 November 2022 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: farm at saturation point
If necessary, we can use the cubicles for as long as is practical to get through the autumn and feed whatever silage is necessary to get through to the dry period.
2 November 2022 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: heavy rain and problems with Tirlán
We’ve had a big problem with our new co-op, Tirlán, this month, with many milk statements sent to the wrong suppliers, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
19 October 2022 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: soil moisture deficit swept away
Grass growth has been excellent through September, so we’ve made up for a lot of lost ground over the summer.
5 October 2022 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: cow prices holding up and ploughing returns
It was great to get out to meet everyone at the ploughing again this year, after a three-year break.
21 September 2022 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: game-changing rain and Tirlán
Tirlán as a brand is maybe a little underwhelming for the moment but hopefully it will grow on all of us.
7 September 2022 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: no passengers on farm if dry weather persists
We’ve had less overall rain this year in the southeast than 2018 so nature will probably make up for it at some stage.
24 August 2022 Farmer Writes