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DEAR SIR: I entered dairying in 2015, milking 47 heifers in my father’s 6 unit parlour which I got up and running with little cost. I joined a discussion group which I can honestly say was the best thing I have done. I finally got courage in 2017 to buy a secondhand 10 unit parlour which, with my father and neighbour, we dismantled and brought it to my farm. I sourced 4 more units from the man who serviced my existing parlour. The end of the year we started construction of a new shed and we installed the 14 units. With the help of a TAMS grant I purchased a new 6,150 litre milk tank. All in all I worked my way to where I am today with the least expense I could and I’m milking 87 cows today.
In my fifth season looking back it’s been a lot of up and down from weather to prices. I often wonder if I made the right decision. Without the support of my father, I honestly don’t know where would I be today. It now seems to me that the new norm is borrow thousands if not millions, design the perfect farm paddocks, state of the art parlour and away we go milking our 100 to 200 cows and you’ll never have a poor day!
Yesterday, I asked my local co-op how much I owe and the answer I got was a tidy €20,000 - just like that €3,000 more than my April milk cheque. No one seems to bat an eyelid anymore at these figures being thrown around while we are made previlaged to receive our 30c/ltr and told to keep your expenses down. I worked as a mason for 12 years and if I had this €20,000 I’d live life well for the year not to mind now spending it just to keep cattle fed and the farm running. I’m not for a minute saying I’m not making a living and the farm is looking well today which I’m proud to say. I love seeing the cows out on grass after milking. I just wonder will I be still be getting my 30 odd cents in 10 years time milking more cows and still working 7 days a week to earn it. Or will I be one of many farmers that will be pushed out by rising prices or told go big or go home. Milking hundreds of cows is not for me. If I can get my 87 more productive I know full well I can make a living but by the figures being thrown around today I can’t but feel some days am I wasting my time or do just not buy into this new way of thinking!
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