Gerry O’Leary

Killarney, suckler-to-weanling

Gerry O’Leary, Killarney, Co Kerry.

“2019 started off good in terms of weanling prices but prices deteriorated as the year went on. It’s been a pretty good year weather wise and we have plenty of fodder made. General morale is low with suckler farmers at the moment. The suckler cow is the only animal that will live on some of the land down here – you needn’t talk about anything else. The Government will have to make a decision to support the suckler cow or we’ll all be on the dole down here. Support us to farm or support us to do nothing. Which is it?”

Ger Meehan

Tralee, suckler-to-store

Get Meehan, Tralee, Co Kerry.

“We find the spring is the best time to sell our stores. The steam is in farmers and the grass is growing – but the beef job will still need to settle before next spring. I suppose you wouldn’t be sold on schemes at the start but when you settle into them you realise after they are not there just for the sake of it.

Listen to "Suckler farmer Ger Meehan at the Irish Farmers Journal Mart Demo in Gortatlea Mart" on Spreaker.

"It suits some people because it’s an easy option, but I don’t think the BEAM scheme is encouraging when you’re a young farmer – you always push to have more stock going forward. But I do think schemes like BDGP or BEEP are exciting schemes – you’re learning from them and they are there to improve things.”

Michael Reynolds

Gortatlea, suckler-to-yearling

Michael Reynolds, Gortatlea, Co Kerry.

“I’m producing most of my calves for export so I’d be hoping there’s a go on that next spring. Whether it’s as good as last spring, I don’t know. If we only get one bad year out of every three or four I wouldn’t mind that, but if it’s going to stay bad for a few springs, I think we will have to look at what we are doing. I applied for the BEAM scheme. Cutting back three or four cows isn’t the end of the world but I’d rather if numbers could stay the same. Dairy calf to beef would absolutely not interest me, I like to look at my good suckler cows every day, not Friesian calves.”