DEAR SIR: I am a tillage farmer. I have been growing and selling maize (in round bales) in Balbriggan since 2002. You have had articles in the Irish Farmers Journal about the balers over the years.

I sold about 7,000t of maize this season: homegrown, GM-free, high-energy feed. It was sold to dairy, beef and goat farmers. Some also went to biogas in the north. I nearly had to turn off my phone last August/September due to demand.

Today, those panic lads are cancelling as they have loads of grass. To plan with that type of farmer is actually impossible. Meanwhile, I have lads who are with me for years.

They expect quality. I deliver quality.

They want dry matter and high starch and we discuss continually what factors are affecting that quality.

They pay and do what they promise. It’s very easy to plan a business on these lads. What I notice is that these dairy farmers are also not over-expanding but rather pushing yield per cow, ie feeding more dry matter per cow, not more cows.

So what’s my point? This model works once everyone buys into it. Planning is essential and commitment is required. Long-term, more dry matter production per acre is required.

I’m growing forage triticale after winter wheat to double crop with maize this season.

However, the real competition is GM-laden maize grain from the US. We are competing against a lower-standard product being imported.