Sometimes, when we look back, we see that certain things have changed the course of our life or business. Perhaps it might have been a piece of land that we bought or didn’t buy. Or it might only have been the purchase of a bull or a piece of machinery. Life is full of decisions and crossroads. Sometimes you take the right road and sometimes not. It can take many years before you know if you have made the right choice.

Just over six years ago, three gentlemen whom I had never met before arrived in my yard to interview me in relation to joining the NI Suckler Beef Programme (NISBP). At the time, I wasn’t sure if I was right for the programme, but I was open and honest about the way I was farming.

I didn’t hold out a lot of hope of being picked, but they must have seen something in me that I couldn’t see myself. I was asked to join and I jumped at the opportunity.

To say this was a life-changing moment would really be understating it.

My journey over the last six years has been well documented and people who have visited the farm will have heard about the ups and downs there have been.

Cruising

For a large part of my farming life I was cruising along, not making a lot of changes and not investing a lot of money. The farm was ticking over and keeping the bills paid (just about).

About 10 years ago, a farm beside me came up for sale. Of course, with three sons, I had to buy it. The problem was that I had to give too much money, and now the farm suddenly had to make enough profit to try and service the loan.

That meant I had to try and step up a gear and make the thing pay or there would be no farm at all for my three sons. To say I was struggling when the chance to join the NISBP came along would be an understatement.

My three sons were from 14 to 18 years of age at the time, and they could see that margins were slim. It certainly looked likely that none of them would have any future in farming.

Anyone who knows me will know that I will never be the first person to voice my opinion in company. I am quite happy to let others do the talking. By my nature, I’m a listener and this has stood me in great stead in the NISBP.

There was now a mass of useful information and advice coming my way and I certainly wasn’t going to sit on this. I embraced everything that was pushed in my direction. Some things worked well and other things needed to be tweaked to suit my particular circumstances.

When things started to work, it gave me a new enthusiasm. I gained a thirst for more knowledge and to try out bolder options. My sons embraced this new vibrant farming and helped push me on. They are now fully committed to progressive farming and all want the chance to make it as farmers. For this I owe the NISBP a debt of gratitude.

I have also changed my whole attitude to farming. I am now a lot more confident in the things I’m doing and more than willing to share my knowledge with others.

New farmers

The NISBP has finished for me and a new programme with new farmers is starting. I wish them all well in this new venture and I will give them a few words of advice:

Go in with an open mind and don’t be afraid to make changes and try new things.

Listen to all the advice and act on it. It may take a while to get it right for your farm but the advice is good so make the most of it.

And lastly, but most importantly, be completely open and honest. If you try to hide things that have gone wrong you’re only fooling yourself.

Enjoy the journey. You’ll make lots of good friends along the way.