Farm owners in Cork, Kilkenny and Roscommon have contacted Austin Finn because they want to explore the potential of collaborative farming.

These three areas are the pilot regions where Austin wants to set up his first arrangements. Initially he was worried people wouldn’t engage with the service but thankfully this hasn’t been the case.

He has a wide range of farms which a variety of future farming options will suit. Hence Austin also needs a variety of people looking to collaborate with these farm owners.

“I have been in contact with people at all stages of their farming careers – old and young, farm owners and not, people looking to expand and people looking to step back. It takes all sorts to make the different arrangements work,” he said.

At this stage over 100 people have contacted Austin wishing to discuss the opportunities collaborative farming could have for them. Here are some examples of some of the opportunities Austin is currently trying to find people for.

Collaborators wanted

1 Owners: Married couple in their 60s, two adult children, neither interested in farming.

Current activity: Dairy farming.

Farm size: 64ha around parlour (52ha owned), other land leased.

Facilities: 80 cows, 40 bulling heifers, 100 cubicles, 12-unit parlour.

Preferred future option: Expand to 200 cows with a share milker.

2 Owners: Business man and part-time farmer, age 58, family involved in the off-farm business.

Current activity: Mix of tillage and dry stock.

Farm size: 70ha in one block

Facilities: One six-bay double slatted shed and machinery shed.

Preferred future option: Not interested in hiring labour. Wants to enter a partnership with someone who will improve farm profit – not just considering dairying.

3 Owners: Married couple mid 60s looking to step back.

Current activity: Dairy farm.

Farm size: 30ha around the parlour.

Facilities: 50 cows, eight-unit parlour, 60 cubicles, other farm buildings which could be converted to winter housing.

Preferred future option: Would like to maintain the dairy enterprise but can’t generate a second income on the farm as is. Considering long-term leasing.

Farm owners wanted

1 Age: 34

Current occupation: Farm manager of a large-scale dairy herd.

Farming background/ experience: Not from a farm but is a trained farm manager and has worked on a number of farms in Ireland and New Zealand.

Preferred future option: Has seen share milking work in New Zealand and wants to find Irish farmer open this business structure.

2 Age: 26

Current occupation: Working with his brother and father at home.

Farming background/ experience: Farming full time for four years and has completed three years in Ag college.

Preferred future option: Home farm not big enough to support three incomes. Wants to farm in his own right. Could be supported by home farm to begin new farming operation somewhere.

3 Age: Early 40s

Current occupation: Dairy farmer.

Farming background/ experience: Inherited the home farm and has developed an efficient dairy operation.

Preferred future option: Interested in expanding current operation or developing a second unit.

BRING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HOME

A shortage of young people in Ireland with the skill, ambition and experience to collaborate with existing farm owners looks to be a challenge for Austin Finn. He said: “Maybe some young people are nervous of taking a step out on their own or maybe they just haven’t got in contact with me yet. I definitely want to hear from more skilled and responsible young people. I have had a number of enquiries from experienced Irish people working on farms abroad and I think via the service we can create farming opportunities which would give them a reason to come home. For every farm owner who contacts Austin looking to take a step back, he needs someone contacting him who wants to take on more land or start farming in their own right. Pairing the two people together in the right business structure can then deliver for both parties.

Austin said: “Every individual situation is different so it’s crucial to meet the people and understand the different issues they have and based on that, what arrangement will suit them best.”

Next steps for the service

Austin is working with the three major milk processors in the pilot areas (Aurivo, Dairygold and Glanbia) to meet and match people interested in collaborative farming. Teagasc is at an advanced stage of developing a template for share milking in an Irish context which will help Austin set up these new arrangements.

Of the 100 or more people who have got in contact with Austin, how many are really willing to farm and work with someone else? “I have had people get in contact to just test the water but most of those 100 have a real genuine interest in making a change. Some will end up leasing the farm but by the end of the year I would hope to have at least 20 partnerships and share milking opportunities set up. Developing an arrangement is slow and SFP certainty is needed.

Austin will help set up the contract for a new arrangement and will work with the farmers’ advisers to do so if necessary.

He then plans to visit the farm three to four times during each year to review progress. Austin is hopeful a support programme will also put in place for farmers engaging in collaborative arrangements – this could be put in place by Teagasc and/or the milk processors in the area to offer extra technical advice to these new arrangements.

The Land Mobility Service is and initiative of Macra Na Feirme with the financial support of FBD Trust and other stakeholders. It is a confidential service available to help farmers and farm families thinking of expansion, changing enterprise, or stepping back. For more contact Austin at 086 2541425 or www.landmobility.ie