The first Teagasc/Irish Farmers Journal BETTER Farm beef challenge walk of 2019 attracted a crowd of approximately 100 people to the farm of Maurice Hearne in Dunmore East, Co Waterford.

After the walk, the Irish Farmers Journal caught up with the host farmer, as well as Teagasc BETTER Farm advisers Tommy Cox and John Greaney, to discuss spring 2019, calving, silage and the under pressure beef markets.

Maurice Hearne

Here, Maurice talks about the difficulties experienced as a result of the weather conditions in 2018, an update on his under 16-month bull system and the plan for purchasing extra stock for grass this spring.

Tommy Cox

Eastern BETTER farm adviser Tommy Cox talks about spring 2019, growing silage crops, bull beef under 16 months and farmers' options for purchasing grass cattle this spring.

John Greaney

Western BETTER farm adviser John Greaney talks about spring 2019, silage stocks, dairy-calf-to beef and whether there is a slight deviation away from the under 16-month bull beef system.