The farm: “I’ve been working with Brendan Barry on his 400ac dairy farm since April of 2020. It’s a spring calving herd, so we are coming into a busy period, with 350 cows to calve in total.”
Farm chemistry: “David Burchill and I work full-time along with Brendan and his family. The facilities are excellent, but more importantly we have a great team working here. There’s great chemistry between us and I look forward to work every day.”
Great start: “I first got into milking during secondary school. The opportunity came up to help Frankie O’Brien on his farm in Windgap and I took it. Frankie taught me all the tricks of the trade and gave me a great start on my journey.”
Future studies: “Agricultural science was my favourite subject in school and I put most of my effort into it. I had no interest in any of the other subjects. Down the line, I’d like to go back to the books and maybe get my green cert.”
Family: “I grew up in the village and neither my mother Yvonne nor father James come from a farming background. They love to see me working hard at something I’m passionate about. My sister Leah (9) and brother Alex (6) show the same interest and might follow in my footsteps.”
Dairy ambition: “I will be turning 21 next Wednesday and hope for a big future in dairy farming. I’d like to be a farm manager in the near future, and potentially lease a farm and have my own dairy herd one day.”
No CAP: “I know the Minister for Agriculture has alluded to applying the brakes on dairy expansion, but I think we should still be looking to milk as many cows as we can. There are more ways to mitigate against pollution than capping the herd.”
Jack of all trades: “The best thing about working on a farm is the variety of the work. A tractor could be broken and in that moment you’re a mechanic, a calf could be sick and you’re a vet, and a cow could be calving and now you’re a midwife.”
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My Farming Week: Kieran Flatley, Glann, Kilkelly, Co Mayo
My Farming Week: Ciara Byers, Ballyjamesduff, Cavan
My Farming Week: Shirley and Derek O’Halleran, Loughill, Kenagh, Co Longford
The farm: “I’ve been working with Brendan Barry on his 400ac dairy farm since April of 2020. It’s a spring calving herd, so we are coming into a busy period, with 350 cows to calve in total.”
Farm chemistry: “David Burchill and I work full-time along with Brendan and his family. The facilities are excellent, but more importantly we have a great team working here. There’s great chemistry between us and I look forward to work every day.”
Great start: “I first got into milking during secondary school. The opportunity came up to help Frankie O’Brien on his farm in Windgap and I took it. Frankie taught me all the tricks of the trade and gave me a great start on my journey.”
Future studies: “Agricultural science was my favourite subject in school and I put most of my effort into it. I had no interest in any of the other subjects. Down the line, I’d like to go back to the books and maybe get my green cert.”
Family: “I grew up in the village and neither my mother Yvonne nor father James come from a farming background. They love to see me working hard at something I’m passionate about. My sister Leah (9) and brother Alex (6) show the same interest and might follow in my footsteps.”
Dairy ambition: “I will be turning 21 next Wednesday and hope for a big future in dairy farming. I’d like to be a farm manager in the near future, and potentially lease a farm and have my own dairy herd one day.”
No CAP: “I know the Minister for Agriculture has alluded to applying the brakes on dairy expansion, but I think we should still be looking to milk as many cows as we can. There are more ways to mitigate against pollution than capping the herd.”
Jack of all trades: “The best thing about working on a farm is the variety of the work. A tractor could be broken and in that moment you’re a mechanic, a calf could be sick and you’re a vet, and a cow could be calving and now you’re a midwife.”
Read more
My Farming Week: Kieran Flatley, Glann, Kilkelly, Co Mayo
My Farming Week: Ciara Byers, Ballyjamesduff, Cavan
My Farming Week: Shirley and Derek O’Halleran, Loughill, Kenagh, Co Longford
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