Farmers Journal Scotland | July 8th

FARMERS JOURNAL Scotland

11 Livestock

Scottish flock with NZ genetics Brogan Farm has embraced New Zealand genetics and rotational grazing as they move towards an outdoor ODPELQJ p RFN

8 July 2017 Vol 1 No 6 | £3.10

Quality farms flood the market 20% rise in farms for sale from Caithness to Kelso ODILE EVANS NEWS CORRESPONDENT RHYDQV#IDUPHUVMRXUQDO FR XN

Approximately 20% more good-quality farms have become available this year and are commanding prices of up to £15,000/acre. Issues such as succession and farm incomes are driving the sale of farms in excess of 600 acres.

“It’s the lag of 2014/2015 farm accounts that has brought these farms to the markets,” said Ian Hope, agricultural property specialist from Galbraith Group. “I’m not convinced Brexit is a factor, as there is not enough information available yet for it to influence sale of land.”

Hope is convinced this is part of a cycle. Until recently, 200ac to 400ac parcels were sold when they became unsustainable, and now this is hitting larger farms.

Typically they are being sold in lots and bought by neighbouring farms. Such is the demand for land that prices are staying buoyant, hitting £15,000/ac in Angus, £13,500/ac in Perthshire and £11,000/ac in Fife.

Ä Continued on page 2

Cattle enjoying the warm weather just outside Elie in Fife with the Bass Rock and Firth of Forth to the rear. \ Craig Stephen

Farmers Journal

Seed potato exports to Brazil could triple

Future trade talks between the EU and UK will likely see a focus on PGI recognition

Lamb prices starting to dip in Scotland

News >> 5

News >> 4

Market view >> 72

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FARMERS JOURNAL R1 Saturday 8 July 2017

2 NEWS

Comment John Sleigh Scott ish editor jsleigh@farmersjournal.co.uk

Payment ďŹ asco must not happen again

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here has been a monumental effort by department officials to get huge swathes of payments out in the last fortnight.

However, this does not take away from the fact that the payment system has been an utter fiasco and cannot be allowed to continue. Farm enterprises need reliable, timely payments to build their businesses.

There is much uncertainty for food producers, with Brexit, future farm

support and volatile markets, so if there are direct payments from Government, farmers must know when they are coming – and the sooner the better for cashow.

Contractors, machinery dealers, marts and feed merchants all need to be paid, with oďŹƒcial (and unofďŹ cial) credit lines already at breaking point. This is damaging the sector, as cashflow backs up and investment is halted.

To be Brexit-ready, farmers will

need to ensure that their businesses are fighting fit, and the payment shambles is weighing the sector down.

Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing has successfully managed to get enough payments out the door to prevent EU ďŹ nes, which needs to be commended. Although, I doubt there will be a phone call to Westminister thanking them for the UK headroom, which allowed Scotland to slip under the threshold.

While 10% of Scottish farmers might still be waiting for payment, when the EU looks at the percentage in the UK context it rises to well over 95%.

Blame for the situation was attributed to the EU for creating complicated rules that are diďŹƒcult to deliver. While the draconian legislation is cumbersome – and at times nonsensical – Scotland shares the rules, with no news of other member states putting in a request for a payment extension.

The complicated regional model was cited as a cause of the chaos with blame attributed to the farming unions for wanting everything.

This is unfair, as a simple single-

Blame for the situation was attributed to the EU for creating complicated rules that are diďŹƒcult to deliver. While the draconian legislation is cumbersome – and at times nonsensical – Scotland shares the rules, with no news of other member states putting in a request for a payment extension region model would have been a catastrophe for farm businesses, where region-one payment would have been halved.

Furthermore, farming organisations tell the Government the views of farmers. They do not have a deep understanding of the capacity of civil servants to deliver policy, which appears in this case was grossly overestimated.

It is understood that the previous farming minister was warned of the

ability of the civil service to deliver the devised scheme, but the nearconstant run of referendums and elections in the last few years has dampened the ability of ministers to take tough decisions.

Apportioning blame on how we got here will not drive the industry forward. Farmers do not bear grudges, and their resilience shows that when facing a challenge they look forward, not back.

Farmers do not have time to sulk if they ďŹ nd a dead calf in the court or run over a big stone with the topper. They draw a line under it and focus on preventing it from happening again.

While understanding how ÂŁ178,000,000 of public funds can be spent on a failing computer system is an important Government concern, for the industry we need to know it will not happen in the future.

The payment problem needs to be dealt with swiftly so that the focus can turn to post-Brexit farm support and trade. This is a massive opportunity to focus support on the farmer producing the food and caring for the environment.

FROM PAGE 1

Quality farms ood market Farmers on 300 to 400 acres are looking to increase for economies of scale

“I am seeing a number of farmers coming up from the south and east of England looking to buy in Scotland,â€? Dugald Hamilton, manager at the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, said. “These buyers are looking to escape the blight of black grass, with farms in Angus an attractive option. Selling land at ÂŁ15,000 south of the border and buying for ÂŁ10,000 in Scotland looks sensible,â€? explained Hamilton. “Having said that, most farms are still being bought

by Scots who are looking to expand. Farmers on 300 to 400 acres are looking to increase for economies of scale.

In some cases, money generated from renewables is keeping prices up. Most interest is in the arable, fruit and vegetable sectors.

Despite the upturn in cattle and sheep prices, livestock farms are not expanding at the same rate, and if stronger milk prices continue dairy farms could start to grow also.

Inside this week 08.07.2017 Contents

32 Arable

Brazilian seed potato agreement signed

News A farmer writes Overseas

6 7

AGRIBUSINESS Feature 20 minutes with Industry insight

48 50 51

Brexit casts a shadow over Cereals 2017

15 20 21 26 30 31 33 41 47 62

An agreement that could triple potato seed exports to Brazil has been signed by government RIo FLDOV DFFRUGLQJ WR AHDB

Dealing with excess grass

Technical Dairylink Beef Pedigree Dairy Sheep Arable Machinery Focus Farmer safety Business of farming

5 News

33 Machinery

Cultivating new ideas Top machines from Crops & Cultivation

Andrew Gammie from Drumforber considers what to do with surplus grass after all the sunny weather

Ă„ Page 12

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

FOCUS

WATER & SEPTIC TANKS

FOCUS 41

INTRODUCTION Existing systems under pressure as demand for water increases

S

ince 2010, dairy cow numbers have been on the rise. This means demand for water is on the increase too. With the increased demand, existing water systems and water wells are coming under pressure and may require upgrading. Upgrading can be a considerable investment but when you consider the fact water is crucial for milk and beef production, the cost is put into perspective.

In this Focus, we look at the installation of a water well. The installation process of these wells has come a long way.

Fifty years ago, it could take three weeks to hit water.

Today, with the help of modern machinery a new well can be drilled, lined and ďŹ tted with a pump in just three days. The Peter EPA has useful Varley guidelines on protecting wells from surface water pollution. These guidelines should be seriously considered and implemented if the water well is used for human consumption. Remember to always site a well away from septic tanks, silage pits and animal accommodation. The top of the well should be capped to protect it from wildlife.

Mineral injection systems are an ideal way for dairy farmers to improve the accuracy when feeding minerals to cows.

In this Focus, we ďŹ nd out why a Co Louth farmer ďŹ nds this system useful on his dairy farm.

Septic tanks It’s four years since the crackdown on defective septic tanks and sewage treatment systems, and there has been very little movement in terms of upgrades. As Paul Mooney reports on page 48, to make best use of resources county councils are targeting inspections where watercourses near septic tanks are most at risk of pollution.

Approximately 1,000 domestic septic tanks have been inspected every year since the new regime was put in place.

Each year, about half these systems fail inspections. It is only when a system fails that a rural dweller may be eligible for grant aid to upgrade their system. Therefore, rural dwellers with old or defective septic tanks usually have to go to their own expense to upgrade systems. On page 49, Sean Mullooly features a Co Westmeath company that claim to have an alternative for upgrading poorly functioning existing systems.

41 Focus Water and septic tanks Existing systems are under pressure as the demand for water increases

Farmers Journal Scottish Edition, Rural Centre, West Mains, Ingliston, Newbridge, Edinburgh, EH28 8LT Editorial Tel: 0131 472 4107 edit@farmersjournal.co.uk Advertising Tel: 00 353 14199555 ads@farmersjournal.co.uk Subscriptions Tel: 00 353 14199500 subs@farmersjournal.co.uk

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FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 128 July July January 2017 2017 2017

NEWS 3

Sheepmeat exports show major rise JOHN SLEIGH SCOTLAND EDITOR jsleigh@farmersjournal.co.uk

Exports of sheepmeat from the UK to the EU are up 8% in volume in the first quarter of 2017.

Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany saw the largest increase, as they bought 20% more sheepmeat from the UK from 1 January to the end of March this year.

The average price of sheepmeat exported has risen year-on-year by 3.5% to £4.32/kg. But when compared with its value in euro, the average price of UK sheep meat exported is down 6.5% – highlighting the impact of the fall in the pound sterling.

Those three countries now account for 39% of the UK lamb export trade.

Despite Brexit uncertainty, European buyers are taking advantage of the weak pound and increasing volumes from the UK. This indicates that foreign buyers have not turned their

back on UK suppliers as a result of Brexit.

The price paid for finished lambs in the first quarter of 2017 in the UK was steady for farmers, which helped drive exports.

The average price of sheep meat exported has risen yearon-year by 3.5% to £4.32/kg.

But when compared with its value in euro, the average price of UK sheepmeat exported is down 6.5% – highlighting the impact of the fall in the pound sterling.

Meanwhile, the volume of sheepmeat shipped from the UK to France has decreased by 9%, as the French public look to buy more domestic lamb.

France is still the largest destination for UK sheepmeat, with 44.5% of exports. Less than half the exports to the continent are lamb carcases, falling from 54% to 47%.

“Brexit has not happened yet so it is business as usual with our European customers,” Alan McNaughton, site director at McIntosh Donald, told Farmers Journal Scotland.

“Clearly there is demand for our high-quality beef and lamb.

“The European market is vital for our sheep meat industry, without good access to the mainstream continental markets it causes a potential serious concern.”

Costly payments system may become redundant post-Brexit

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here is no guarantee that the Scottish Government’s beleaguered rural payments IT system will work post-Brexit. Under crossexamination last week by members of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee about payment delays, Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing said it was “by no means clear” that the system could cope with a different system of financial support.

It is the UK Government’s intention that powers governing the design of direct support policy and its disbursement will revert to

Westminster once the UK leaves the EU. Mr Ewing said to the committee: “Plainly, the system was devised in the expectation that the UK would remain in the European Union and therefore devised to meet the compliance requirements for the reformed common agricultural policy.

A totally different system “Were a totally different system of financial support to be put in place, the current IT system would obviously need to be adapted considerably to cope with that – and it is by no means clear that it could.”

The cabinet secretary high-

lighted that the new system’s capacity to maintain land holding information digitally should be of great value, but said that it would be “an extraordinary waste of money if one of the consequences of Brexit was the requirement to purchase new IT systems”.

Defra could not confirm that it is working on the issue of combining Rural Payment Agency and devolved payment systems, but a spokesperson said that conversations between new secretary of state Michael Gove and devolved administrations have been “very constructive” and that Mr Gove “is looking forward to continuing these positive

talks in the weeks and months ahead”.

Neil Parish MP, who is seeking re-election to the UK Parliament’s EFRA committee, said his committee was very interested in ensuring the systems would be compatible.

He said there was “fear and trepidation” about what might happen again and that he didn’t think Westminster had drilled down yet on the capabilities of each system.

“I’m hoping that the Scottish Government and Defra will have learned lessons from the debacle that has taken place and will put in place a computer system that addresses that,” concluded Parish.

Store trade expected to thrive this autumn ODILE EVANS NEWS CORRESPONDENT oevans@farmersjournal.co.uk

Tightness of supply is causing optimism among beef store producers ahead of the main store sales starting in August.

However, sheep producers are waiting to see how the market develops.

With a falling national herd, beef numbers will remain tight. Scottish and GB calf regScottish and GB calf registrations are back 0.5%.

istrations are back 0.5% in early spring, compared with last year. This is likely to drive beef prices and cause concern among store buyers.

“The trade looks good for beef and sheep at the moment,” said Colin Manson, beef farmer in Moray. “The cow numbers are not there, so we could see prices remain firm into the back end. If this happens, then

confidence is likely to flow into the store market.”

With good grass growth, stores have been driven to £1,000/head for quality animals.

However, this coming winter, potentially higher feed and straw prices could bring more stores onto the market.

“The currency is in our favour and I would expect prices to average 20p/kg higher than last year,” beef and sheep farmer near Inverness Allan Young told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Sheep Meanwhile, in the sheep trade there has not yet been a dramatic drop in the deadweight price as lamb numbers come forward. If this continues, a buoyant store trade is likely this back end.

“If the fat price is good, it will pull prices up, but unless there is a higher winter price for lamb in 2017 there will be little margin,” Young said.

Ä See Camera at the Mart on page 76

Grant Hurcomb feeding sheep in Stranraer. \ Ian Jacobs

Vote on endocrine disruptor criteria Since the Great Repeal bill at Westminster is transposing most EU rules into UK law, the decision on the criteria to define potentially harmful endocrine disruptors is likely to affect Scottish farmers.

A qualified majority of experts mandated by the EU’s 28 member states voted this Tuesday to establish the criteria for endocrine disruptor assessment for pesticide registration, due to the chemical interfering with human hormones.

The criteria agreed are very complex, but it seems likely

that their application could effectively remove up to 78 actives from the market in the EU. Not all of these face endocrine disruptor issues, and other factors will also bring about losses.

Products at risk The list of fungicides that could be lost are cyproconazole (Cielex, Furlong); difenconazole (Score); epoxiconazole (Opus, Strand, etc); fluazinam (Shirlan); folpet (Phoenix); metconazole (Caramba); prochloraz (Sportak);

propiconazole (Tilt), prothioconazole (Proline); tebuconazole (Folicur); and others. Chlorothalonil (Bravo) is also under pressure from other elements of legislation.

Among the herbicides are asulam (Asulox); chlorotoluron (Tower); clopyralid (Dow Shield, GrazonPro, Thistlex); fluazifop-P-butyl (Fusilade Max); fluroxpyr (Starane, Hurler, etc); glyphosate, MCPB, metribuzin (Sencorex Flow); pendimethalin (Stomp, Flight, etc); and triflusulfuron (Debut).

From the small insecticide list, actives such as esfenvalerate (Sumi Alpha); dimethoate; deltamethrin (Decis); lambdacyhalothrin (Karate); and Spirotetramat (Movento) are all on the danger list.

Veto The European Commission will now send the criteria for approval to the Council and the European Parliament.

If approved, which is likely, the new criteria will be adopted in November 2017.

–ANDY DOYLE

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday Saturday Saturday 81June July 2017 Saturday 28 24 January

4 NEWS

trade EU compliance will Milestone deal with Japan be required for trade PHELIM O’NEILL

MARKETS SPECIALIST

poneill@farmersjournal.ie

T

his week in Brussels, it was highlighted that the squeeze on the CAP budget after the UK withdrawal means an ever-increasing focus on environmental controls, plus a further engagement on animal welfare. This leaves the agriculture lobby in Brussels plenty of work to do.

This chimes with UK politicians’ focus on environmental support measures.

However, many in the Conservative party would liberalise production systems to make them more closely aligned with the rest of the world than the EU. The first debate will be how much of agriculture policy post-Brexit will be made in Whitehall and how much will be devolved to the regional administrations.

If the UK wants a deal with the EU on trade then both are likely to address equivalence in farm support, writes Phelim O’Neill Speaking at the AHDB export conference last week, Agriculture Minister George Eustice gave the impression of wanting to address the future of UK agriculture from a UK perspective.

In many ways there is a log-

ic to this thinking, with effectively a common agriculture policy, made for the UK in the UK. Of course, just as with the EU version, there could be some details left for the regional administrations to prioritise.

If a formula is found in negotiations that avoids a trade default of WTO rules, Scottish farmers will remain having to be bound by EU standards if they want to do business in the EU. With the Great Repeal Bill designed to subscribe all EU laws into UK law from day one, this is unlikely to be an issue in the short term.

However, given the complexity of agricultural negations in any global trade deal, Scottish farmers can expect scrutiny of the UK policy by EU negotiators.

If negotiations proceed as quickly as the UK wants, these could be part of the negotiation itself, with the long hand of the EU continuing to reach into UK farming even if they are not contributing to its support.

Scottish beef and sheep farmers will have a particular interest in how PGIs are treated post-Brexit. With Scotch beef and Scotch lamb being among the most famous of the UK’s PGIs there will be a desire to protect them.

PGIs are a greater priority on the continent, as evidenced by the EU making them a negotiation priority in trade talks with Japan.

Future trade talks between the EU and UK will likely see a focus on PGI recognition, which would be good news for Scottish beef and sheep farmers.

A new trade deal has been struck between the EU and Japan, creating opportunities across all major agricultural commodities.

The success achieved in getting EU PGIs recognised will be good news for Scotch beef and lamb once they have export approval.

This week Scotland had an inspection visit as part of the process of approval for export

to Japan.

Furthermore, the imminent BSE-negligible status will increase access to Japan, particularly for cattle over 30 months.

However future trade hinges on the UK’s Brexit deal with Brussels.

Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, was in Brussels on Thursday for a summit, where he and Commission President Jean-Claude Junker concluded the deal.

Ä See industry insight p59

Sheep farmers fear the Lynx effect ODILE EVANS NEWS CORRESPONDENT oevans@farmersjournal.co.uk

An imminent application by the Lynx UK trust to release a lynx into the wild has sparked an angry reaction from sheep farmers.

The Eurasian Lynx is classed as a dangerous wild animal and cannot be released into the wild under current legislation, according to the National Sheep Association (NSA).

The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 makes keeping these animals without a local authority licence a criminal offence. These licences are only available for zoo and captive animals, not for those in the wild.

“It has become clear there

would need to be a change in current legislation to keep such a release legal,” NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said.

“In my opinion, this is very unlikely to happen in the near future, given the raft of priority legislative work needing to be done after the Great The Eurasian Lynx is classed as a dangerous wild animal.

Repeal Bill,” said Stocker.

A spokesperson for the NSA told the Farmers Journal Scotland that while compensation packages are available to farmers in some countries where Lynx roam the wild, it can be difficult to prove that sheep were injured by a Lynx.

Deadline for Nuffield scholarships coming up Birds will become wise to scarecrows, so they need to be moved regularly. Try also to vary the makeup of your scarecrows to slow the birds’ awareness.

Options for minimising crow damage DECLAN MARREN LIVESTOCK SPECIALIST dmarren@farmersjournal.ie

With recent heavy showers, winter barley crops are starting to lean a bit, leaving a great opportunity for crows to feed on the grains. Preventing them access altogether is ideal. Once they are in to the crop, ensuring that they cause as little damage as possible is key.

What sort of options are available to help?

Option 1: Gas guns Pros: Very effective, the gas gun is a great way to scare crows off.

Cons: If not already on farm, there is an initial purchase cost. If at all close to residential areas, might not be too popular with the neighbours!

Will need management at morning and night or a timer.

Option 2: Kites or helium balloons Pros: Good efficacy. Covers large areas cost-effectively

Cons: Initial purchase cost and if a field has power lines running through it, aerial control may not be an option.

Option 3: Scarecrows Pros: Very economical. Can be made up at home.

Cons: Birds will become wise to them, so need to be moved regularly. Try also to vary the makeup of the scarecrow to slow the birds’ awareness.

Option 4: Shooting Pros: Very effective.

Cons: Difficult to deal with a large number of crows. Very time-consuming.

Option 5: Low-level strings to prevent crows landing in weak areas Pros: Cost-effective.

Cons: Site-specific. If more crop goes down, it renders the strings useless.

In all reality, none of the above solutions is a cure-all.

However, combining two or more methods can be quite successful.

ODILE EVANS NEWS CORRESPONDENT oevans@farmersjournal.co.uk

The Nuffield Farming Scholarship application deadline is 31 July 2017, just over three weeks away.

The £12,000 travel bursaries are awarded to approximately 20 individuals in the UK each year. Granted by the Nuffield Scholarships Trust, they give the successful applicants a chance to research topics of interest in either farming, food, horticulture or rural industries.

Scholars are able to travel anywhere in the world for a period of no less than eight weeks, in order to further their knowledge and understand-

ing of their chosen study topic.

“The contacts you make are life changing, because you get to bounce ideas off people around the world,” 2013 scholar Robert Neil told the Farmers Journal. “They’re looking for busy people that will get on with it and make a difference.”

This week, Neil hosted nearly 50 delegates from the International Farm Managers Association conference, being held in Edinburgh. The Jedburgh farmer travelled to Belgium, Argentina, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to research the benefits of EID cattle tagging.

Application forms can be found on the Nuffield Farming website.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 28 124 July July June January 2017 2017 2017 2017

NEWS 5

Scotland signs seed potato export deal with Brazil ODILE EVANS NEWS CORRESPONDENT oevans@farmersjournal.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE

An agreement that could triple potato seed exports to Brazil has been signed by government officials, according to AHDB. The agreement sets out an equivalence of standards on seed grades between the two countries that will help to decrease barriers to export.

In addition to this, the Scottish government has agreed to test the seeds for disease prior to export.

Plant health is a key issue for Brazil, as the South American country is experiencing problems with brown rot and ring rot. Brazil cannot easily produce due to disease pressure and in the last few years the supply base for seed potatoes, , has changed dramatically. Scotland has moved up from being the sixth major source of seeds to third. While Scotland exports approximately 1,000t of seeds to Brazil per year, The Netherlands exports

around 50,000t. However, producing seeds in a high health region and will testing prior to export bodes well for increased Scottish business.

Three Brazilian officials visited Scotland last week on a mission to match seed grading systems and visit labs.

“They were impressed with the labs that we have here,” Claire Hodge from AHDB told Farmers Journal Scotland. AHDB were involved in demonstrating the technical data produced to back up seed grades.

“Scotland sends 50,000t or more of seeds to Egypt at the moment so we need to diversify our markets.”

However, it is yet unclear as to how exports to Brazil will work in a post-Brexit scenario.

It is hoped that once the UK leaves the EU agreements like these can continue to be ratified or used as a template for swift trade talks. Further business relationships built up will be best placed to ensure continued trade. Trade on seed potatoes is currently tariff free under a EU agreement.

New bloodlines of the Dutch Spotted Sheep breed are set to be introduced to the UK this year. The breed was introduced to 6FRWODQG LQ DQG WKHUH DUH p RFNV UHJLVWHUHG LQ WKH 8.

Grocery Code Adjudicator cuts supply chain shenanigans A recent survey of supermarket suppliers has highlighted the progress made in food chain relations.

The report states that since the Grocery Code Adjudicator’s (GCA) inception suppliers are “getting paid more per delivery; and there are no sur-

prises on invoices anymore”.

Suppliers had complained of delayed payments and additional invoices.

Suppliers found it challenging to refute these claims due to the strength of the supermarkets.

Christine Tacon, of the GCA,

is now looking at the impact of short notice promotions on suppliers who struggle adjust to the change in demand.

The GCA is also looking into the “drop and drive” issue – whereby suppliers deliver fresh goods to retailers where

less than the full amount is claimed to be received.

“What I hear from suppliers leads me to believe not all retailers have good enough systems and processes in place to ensure they are Code compliant. Drop and drive is firmly in my sights,” said Tacon.

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FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday Saturday 248June July 2017

6 VIEWPOINTS

A Farmer Writes Strong and fast-growing lambs fetch a good price

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fter the near-drought conAs our ewe numbers increase to ditions at the end of May, around 1,000 this year, we need to normal Scottish focus on planning how we summer weather winter them rather than the has resumed. We old “wing it and feed concentrate when we have to” methsowed kale at the end of May od that we have been practisin great conditions and the ing. As I mentioned, we have rain we have had since has sown nine acres of kale and been ideal for this crop as we also plan to defer some well as kicking the grass into grass to paddock graze top gear. Although the rain is causing us a few hold-ups BEEF & SHEEP post-tupping. I am not feeding concenwith the contract shearing, Andrew and against trates but feel we need to we have got our own hoggs Aileen Marchant limit our reliance on it clipped and hopefully by the time you are reading farm a QMS/ through better grassland management and target this the ewes will also be bare and we’ll have silage in AHDB monitor feeding to groups of stock that are going to give us a the pit. farm near on that investment.

We are really pleased Thornhill . The return We have been building a with the way the lambs are 300ha farm herd of pedigree Luing catgrowing at the moment, and so far our decision to runs 900 ewes tle over the past couple of years and recently purtup all the NCC ewes with and 12 Luing chased a new stock bull.

Aberfield tups looks to be Craigdarroch Nickel is six paying off with strong, fastcattle years old, has a great pedigrowing lambs. We have a gree and has the depth and small number of lambs power we are looking to put in to our away at a great price. Let’s hope plenty cows without making them too big. of people are taking advantage of the We are delighted with the Luing good trade and also shifting lambs as cows. They are really docile cattle to it can only help strengthen the trade work with and, as well as living outside later in the year.

Cows on the Marchant farm.

Physical work doesn’t appeal to the wi-fi generation BEEF Tommy Moyles runs a suckler to beef herd in, Co Cork, Ireland

I

magine the fanfare if it was announced that 6,000 jobs were required in a sector of the economy other than agriculture.

That’s a thought that passed through my mind on hearing the news of the need for many jobs over the next decade in dairy farming.

The jobs may have been easier filled in an economic downturn but as construction is on the rise again, the game has changed. The idea of getting drystock farmers to fill the labour gap has

been floated but a significant proportion of these are already in off-farm employment.

At times, as drystock farmers, we get belittled by an element within the dairy sector.

If you know from the outset that you’re seen as second class then you’re not going to be in a rush to work for those who view you as such are you? It wouldn’t surprise me to see compulsory placement on a dairy farm as a measure in a future drystock knowl-

all year round on rough grazing, they can produce a good-sized store calf.

The cows are really acting as grazing management tools behind the sheep at the moment and appear to complement our system really well.

We had a great family day at the RHS last week. It never fails to amaze me how an event of its size appears to run

so smoothly. The atmosphere at the show was great and I think that reflects the attitude of most farmers at this time of year. There is a great deal of uncertainty and worry surrounding our industry at the moment and a lot of this is justified.

Our take on it is that we can only really control the factors within our

edge transfer programmes to try to fill the gap.

Circumstances are placing extra pressures on farmers across all sectors.

You have to run faster to stand still.

A lack of labour will lead to extra pressure on family farms that are already dangerous places.

Farms that through the decades could support a few households can no longer do so and the financial unsustainability of many agricultural

units creates extra pressure. Across the country, off-farm employment is a necessity on many drystock and even dairy units. If you have a mortgage or family in education you have little choice but to try and find work off farm.

This leads to less time available on the farm and this in turn can cause its own troubles. The key is to find a system that puts you in charge of the farm rather than the farm in charge of you.

This applies across all sectors within farming.

It means working smarter rather than harder and basing decisions on your most limiting resource which, on many farms across all systems, is time.

Sometimes you just have to prioritise jobs and this can cause friction

Sometimes you just have to prioritise jobs and this can cause friction between generations on family farms

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 24July June 2017 2017

VIEWPOINTS 7

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Silage season yielding mixed bag

NORTHERN IRELAND Derek Robinson

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as solving a problem without having to spend any money. This silo is too wide (about 11m) relative to the speed of silage removal, and I’m always battling against secondary fermentation across the face. Rather than building a new wall, I’ve experimented by placing bales right down the clamp, and lining them with plastic sheeting before ensiling the grass. At this stage, it seems to have worked well, but we shall see what happens during the winter months.

T After near-drought conditions at the end of May, normal Scottish summer weather has resumed.

There is a great deal of uncertainty and worry surrounding our industry at the moment and a lot of this is justified

between generations on family farms as an older generation does not understand why the farm does not come first all the time. Often, there isn’t time for general maintenance or repairs. This can in turn lead to slowing down work time at best and become safety hazards at worst.

Contractors On this farm contractors are used where possible; this allows the focus to remain on grass and stock. That’s probably a legacy of how my father started the business coming from a landless base owning machinery wasn’t an option when trying to get started. Currently, the only PTO in the place is on the fertiliser spreader and aside from the tractor and loader, a

own business, so are focusing on keeping costs down and producing the best product we can. If we can be at the top of our game by maximising output and profit from our farm and keep an open mind to new opportunities that may arise then I am confident we will be able to survive whatever the next few years throw at us.

roller is the only other piece of machinery in the place.

Managing is a skill in itself and managing yourself is one of the hardest skills to learn that is a lesson that will continue to be learned the hard way on farms across Ireland for the foreseeable future.

Labour will always be an issue in farming, the principles of which haven’t changed much over time but the experiences of those who farm have. Physical work appeals less and less with each generation. Increases in technology and exposure to it at a younger age means physical work won’t appeal to a generation that is more concerned with the Wi-Fi password rather than passing a ball around.

o describe my silage-making season as disjointed would be something of an understatement, and a variety of fields were either baled or clamped over a seven-week stretch.

If you factor in differing weather conditions too, and stir in a huge range of sward types and composition, then results for silage analysis next winter may also be all over the place.

It began so well, with fantastic weather making an April start easily possible. This was followed up with a bit more baling during the first week in May, and thereafter things sort of slid downhill, to the extent that I was just glad to get the 12 acres of clamped material saved (mid-June) before quality disappeared altogether.

As always, the weather controlled the game, and wasn’t overly suitable just when I needed to mow the big half of my grass acreage. Against that, the swath turner (wuffler) proved invaluable once again, and really is my getout-of-jail-free card when trying to make bales for sheep during showery weather. I’ve never seen any sort of trial work on these machines, but I’m pretty certain that running grass through a wuffler, even when showers are frequent, will considerably raise the dry matter.

Certainly, a sward that is relatively dry on top but absolutely sodden underneath is better lifted and shaken out, than left with the bottom six inches lying saturated, even if it’s raining at the time.

Queue One other issue raised its head (again) this year, and I’m sure there are a lot more farmers than me who will recognise this problem. What do you do when the weather is broken, your grass is ready for cutting and you are waiting in a long queue for the local contractor?

This is specifically a subject that applies to harvested grass going into a silo, since balers (at least in this part of the country) seem to be two-a-penny.

And when one of these armies does manage to descend on your farm, all control of dry matter is out of your hands, as machinery that wouldn’t look out of place in a quarry vomits a 100t of grass per hour into your little silo.

That said, watching a loading shovel with a 15ft buckrake march a 16t load of grass up the clamp is nothing short of awesome.

And linked to this is another pertinent question. Are you better (during a delayed harvest) to have an old sward of sheep grass that grows horizontally and with a bottom as thick as tar, or a young sward of erect grasses, but that appear to be as hard as nails?

Correct growth stage Obviously, the answer is to cut the grass at the correct growth stage, but in the big, bad real world, some of us find ourselves in these predicaments. I like to cling to the vague hope that, indeed, my field (having been grazed with sheep) has a lovely thick green bottom, and that is much better than if it were a young sward, as hard as wire, with no bottom at all.

However, this may be a forlorn wish, and I’d love someone to tell me what’s best.

Unfortunately, there are only those with a vested interest in these matters, and getting a genuinely independent opinion is nigh on impossible.

My contractor has no such doubts, and subtly told me that my grass was the worst they had cut this year. But, then again, maybe he was judging it from the ease of mowing perspective, and perhaps wasn’t too interested in the science of making grass into silage.

Who knows?

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017 Saturday 28 January

8 FEATURE

How to get banks to help unlock your farm’s potential This week Lorrie Kyle looks at the best ways to get support from banks

T

he prospect of going into the bank to look for a business loan can be daunting. Even those who are experienced in business confess that it can be nerve-racking meeting with a bank manager. But one has to remember that the bank is in the selling business and you are its customer. The bank is also there to be a support to you and your business. Knowing what is required and how you should go about presenting your business plan, and having well-thought-out and detailed cashflows, can help with your confidence and give the bank manager confidence in you and your business.

When considering a bank loan, there are many institutions out there.

Neil Wilson, head of agriculture, corporate and business banking at HSBC, offers some advice. “Go out and network, go to the agricultural and trade shows and the stands and have a chat with the agriculture managers. It is an excellent opportunity to decide for yourself which bank would be a good match to you and your business. Having a 20-minute chat with an agricultural manager gives you both the chance to ask questions. From there an appointment can be set up at your local branch and the application can be started.”

ÁKey points  What do you need the loan for?  How much do you need to borrow?  What type of loan do you need?  Have a good credit history.  Always talk to your bank.

It is vitally important to sell yourself.

Do your homework, know your business plan inside and out

A young person working in agriculture may not have the level of experience yet of working with a bank as parents, relatives or employers typically have. When considering a loan for new investment, it is important to establish what exactly you need the loan for and how much you need to borrow.

You should also consider what type of loan you will need and how long you will need it for. Having a look at bank websites can help in establishing what kinds of loans are available to startup clients.

It’s important to establish a good relationship with the bank, as the agricultural manager can look back at your history with them. Having no bounced cheques, no bank overdrafts, and having consistent deposits into your current account will establish good financial history. Inform your bank in good time if any issues or payments that are problematic. By keeping an open dialogue with the bank, understanding, advice and help will be forthcoming.

When applying for a business loan, security or match funding is typically put forward, and it shows that you have invested interest in the success of the business.

Farmer Andrew Merchant from Conlie Farm, Thornhill, said: “It is vitally important to sell yourself. Do your

Andrew Marchant feeding cattle on his farm.

homework, know your business plan inside and out – know your numbers, so you are able to talk about them and show your dedication to cashflow forecasts. This helps you decide how much of an investment you are looking for from the bank. Show them you are a qualified individual who knows your business because the lender needs to know that you have the drive and push to make your business plan work.”

Don’t be afraid of using your contacts. Ask different friends and family who they bank with. Also, a bank meeting can include someone who is there to help support you with the discussion.

A business plan gives direct and focused information for the bank to view and consider. Your business plan should be well thought out and give a clear understanding of what your business is to achieve. Do your research on the market forecasts, competition and pricing, and have a clear objective on how you are going to pay the loan back. The lender will need in-depth information about financial history of your current business. Your business plan will need to include a profit and

loss budget and cashflow forecast.

Stating your experience with in your business is incredibly relevant. For example, if you want a loan to buy new heifers and you have worked for the couple of years as a relief milker, it is notable that you have worked in the industry in which you want to invest.

Equally, if machinery is what you want the loan for, showing you have a firm grasp of pricing, depreciation and profit margins will make a good impression on the bank manager and their financial team.

Include your work history and your future plans for your business. State the people on your team, which might include family members or farm workers.

Stating any education relevant to your experience, such as agriculture education, work experience and possible business qualifications, will all help in showing that you have a clear understanding of your own business.

How well you understand and how much research has gone into your business plan and detailed cashflows will strongly influence the outcome of your loan application.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

NEWS 9

Hardy ‘Belties’ make 30-hour voyage from Dumfries to Cape Clear From Scotland to one of the southernmost parts of Ireland, the journey of the Belted Galloway heifers to the Voarino farm took 30 hours, writes Anthony Jordan

P

hillipe Voarino and his family farm an Angus and Hereford herd but want to change to Scottish Belted Galloways .

They farm in Cap Clear island, which is o the south coast of Ireland.

The strong rain and wind from the Atlantic batters the island, so they want strong Scottish cattle which can thrive in the challenging conditions.

After sampling a number of “Belties� in the herd, the Voarinos made a decision to convert their enterprise into the production of pedigree Belted Galloways and source the animals from their homeland in Scotland. “During a short trip to Scotland we visited the Mochrum herd, one of the oldest and most famous herds, as well

as the Clifton herd, which produces regular show winners. We decided to purchase six heifers from the two herds,� said Phillipe, who is originally from France.

The cattle then made the 470-mile journey from Dumfries, Scotland, down to the coast at Baltimore in Co Cork. “After some organising, with the help of livestock transporter MD Workman, we were guiding a worryingly long livestock truck through the small roads of Baltimore. “Once on the pier, we transferred the cattle into two small trailers, before the crew of the Cape Clear Island ferry loaded them on board, using the ship’s brand-new

FARMERS JOURNAL Scotland

The Belted Galloways being transported from Scotland to Phillipe Voarino’s farm on Cape Clear island. The journey took up to 30 hours to complete.

crane,â€? he continued. “Just over an hour later, the trailers were unloaded and the cattle brought to their ďŹ nal destination,â€? explained Phillipe. “Our Belties were welcomed by wind and lashing rain – something they are well accustomed to – and are now

Scotland to Siberia and back again

1 July 2017 Vol 1 No 5 | ÂŁ3.10

After stints in Siberia and Vietnam, Andy McGowan is settled in Scotland as CEO of the Scottish Pig Producers Six page Focus on agricareers >> 11-16

No CAP deadline ďŹ nes – EU The looming threat of a ÂŁ60m ďŹ ne for the Scottish Government for late payments to farmers has receded

Dumfries

Cape Clear

thriving in their new home,â€? Phillipe concluded. “We were very impressed with the way the Belties were able to cope with the harsh Atlantic weather. Their coarse outer coat helps them shed the rain, and their soft undercoat provides insulation and waterprooďŹ ng. “We were amazed by how little forage our Belties required compared to the rest of our herd, so immediately we fell under their charm.â€?

Subscribe to the Scottish Edition For special features and the latest farming news from Scotland, subscribe today and get the paper posted to you every week.

For an extra ÂŁ10 you get early access online and archives of all Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish content

JOHN SLEIGH SCOTLAND EDITOR jsleigh@farmersjournal.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE

Scotland is unlikely to face ďŹ nes running into the millions as a result of late payments, the European Commission has indicated to the Farmers Journal Scotland.

This comes two weeks after Audit Scotland suggested that the Scottish Government would miss the deadline and be landed with a ďŹ ne of up to ÂŁ60m.

Applications have been processed at double the speed within the last few weeks. If there are still outstanding applications after the deadline, the number is likely to be so small that any penalty will be modest and far removed from the initial threat.

The Farmers Journal Scotland understands that while there has been a request for an extension to the payment deadline, the Commission is unlikely to provide it, given that the payment rate has been ramped up signiďŹ cantly in recent weeks.

Ă„ Continued on page 2

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Subscribe at www.farmersjournal.co.uk/subs JOURNAL Ĺ° Glasgow 014-13011044 VARIABLE or call us: Aberdeen Scotland

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28 January 2017 Vol 70 No 4 R2

The slaughter records give valuable information for breeding decisions.

Some sheep are plain looking, but they kill out well

Farmer focus >> 26

BSE negligible risk status recommended for Scotland JOHN SLEIGH SCOTTISH EDITOR jsleigh@farmersjournal.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE

The Scottish Government have announced that they are a step closer to BSE negligible status. This comes after the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) scientiďŹ c commission recommended that Scotland be recognised as an area of the UK having Negligible Risk status. This recommendation will need to be passed by the OIE General Assembly of Delegates at its meeting in late May 2017. Before the May meeting any other country has the ability to ask for the papers and pose questions which has the potential to delay the process. Along will Northern Ireland, Scotland hopes to become the ďŹ rst region of a member state awarded BSE negligible risk. Scotland has been BSE-free since 2009, and has had no cases of BSE in animals born since 2005.

The status could be worth millions of pounds to the beef sector as more parts of the animal could be used and more export markets could be opened up.

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FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 28 January R1 Saturday 8 July 2017

10 LIVESTOCK

Ten steps to improved worm control Worm burdens will be rising on pastures putting cattle at greater risk, Kieran Mailey

W

ith the change to wetter conditions, worm burdens will be increasing on grazing ground, putting young cattle and lambs at risk. If you delay treating animals for too long, then animal performance will drop, leaving you with lighter cattle at weaning and housing.

Gut worms (Osteragia) are most common in calves and yearling cattle during the summer months from June to September. Once ingested, they affect the animal’s stomach and intestines and cause gastroenteritis. Symptoms include calves having prominent watery, green diarrhoea. Animals can also suffer a loss of appetite and a rapid weight loss of 10% to 20% within a 10- to 14-day period. Young animals in their first grazing season have no natural immunity to gut worms. Older cattle groups in their second season have some resistance, but will still be at risk of picking up a heavy worm infestation.

Mature cows tend to be less at risk as they will develop some form of immunity to these worms over time. Lungworms (hoose) are also a problem in spring- and autumn-born calves, but generally it is more of an issue from mid to late summer onwards. However, older cattle in their second grazing year tend to develop immunity to lungworm, unlike gut worms.

Withdrawal period

Always check the withdrawal period before dosing animals.

Where fat lambs will be ready for sale in the coming month, dosing could delay sale date, and lambs can then run over weight. The same applies to beef cattle that will be o QLVKHG RII JUDVV this summer.

Ideal conditions It is most common from July right through to late September. Warm, humid weather creates ideal conditions for lungworms to multiply rapidly, especially if these conditions follow rainfall. The most common characteristic of lungworms is the harsh coughing in young cattle, followed by heavy breathing from the onset of pneumonia. Parasites such as gut worms need cattle to complete their reproductive cycle. Worms are ingested by grazing animals, with larval eggs then laid in the digestive tract of cattle and sheep.

These eggs are excreted in faeces and then hatch and are again ingested by grazing animals where they mature and start the cycle again. With more animals on grazing ground, the multiplication rate of a worm burden quickly increases, as does the risk of parasite exposure to younger animals.

Most farmers will routinely treat animals for worms, but timing and product choice are important. Treating too early means there will not be an effective kill and shorter residual cover period. Treat too late and animal performance has already been affected. To reduce the build-up of anthelmintic resistance, you should alter the products used to kill worms in livestock.

Repeated use of the same product will eventually reduce how effective it is.

For best worm control, follow the outlined steps

1

Faecal egg count (FEC): If there are no visual signs of a worm problem, use a FEC to determine when animals need to be dosed.

5RXWLQH GRVLQJ RIIHUV OLWWOH EHQHo W LI there is a low worm burden present and will increase anthelmintic resistance.

Take 10 to 12 fresh dung samples from calves, stores and lambs for each FEC. Use a FEC test to monitor how effective the wormer was at killing eggs.

2

Delay o UVW dose: To encourage natural immunity to worms, cattle need to have some level of exposure during their o UVW JUD]LQJ VHDVRQ Delay dosing spring-born calves until mid-June so that worms will have completed a full-life cycle in the animal. Normal dosing routine should then be followed.

3

Weigh cattle at dosing: Guessing the weight of an animal means there is a risk of underdosing cattle. Therefore, animals

will not be properly treated.

4

Dose to the heaviest animal: If you cannot weigh cattle, group WKHP WR VL]H DQG VHW WKH JXQ WR the heaviest animal in the group to give effective treatment cover.

5

$SSO\ SRXU RQ SURSHUO\ Run cattle through a race so that a pour-on drench can be correctly applied to cattle on the back.

6

Do not dose and move: Rather than moving animals to clean pasture

after dosing, return them to the paddocks they were in for another two to three days to reduce contamination of FOHDQ JUD]LQJ

7

0L[HG JUD]LQJ Mixing cattle and sheep helps to dilute the worm burden on pasture. As mature cows have natural immunity and can consume larger quantities of grass, they will also ingest high levels of worm eggs reducing the worm burden for younger animals.

8

)ROORZHU OHDGHU JUD]LQJ: Where calves or lambs are weaned, a follower-leader system can help WR RIIHU FOHDQ JUD]LQJ WR \RXQJ VWRFN $OORZ FDOYHV DQG ODPEV WR JUD]H for one to two days before moving on to the next paddock. Use cows to clean out the paddocks afterwards.

9 10

&KDQJH ZRUPHUV: Rotate worming products to reduce resistance and get a more effective kill and cover period.

Mixed grazing helps to dilute the worm burden on pasture.

3XW ERXJKW LQ VWRFN RQ WR FRQWDPLQDWHG SDVWXUH: Bought-in cattle have a different health status to homebred animals. Put bought-in animals on to “contaminated” pasture until they have been dosed.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 2017 2017 28July January

LIVESTOCK 11

6FRWWLVK pRFN ZLWK IRFXV RQ 1= JHQHWLFV Brogan Farm has embraced New Zealand genetics and rotational grazing techniques in recent years as they move towards an outdoor lambing flock, writes Barry Cassidy

T

he Davidsons, owners of Brogan Farms, have been farming at Newburgh in Aberdeenshire for near 100 years. The partnership is currently made up of sisters, Gail and Tanya, their mother and father, Shelly and Raymond, and Dane, who spoke to the Farmers Journal Scotland about their farm.

They farm 1,200 acres on two land blocks on the North Sea coast. They run 2,800 ewes along with 1,200 ewe hogs, with all progeny finished in Morrisons bar those kept as replacements.

They also buy lamb and beef stores to utilise any additional grass available on the farm.

“As a business,” Dane explains, “we are trying to get genetics, health and feed right without spending too much on labour and other costs.”

While it sounds simple, it is not something that is easily achieved.

There have been several key management decisions made in recent years to try to improve on a system at Brogan Farms which has been based largely on grazed grass for the last 20 years.

Genetics One of the key decisions is the breeding of the sheep and the genetics used.

“Our ewes would be Texel Mule crosses that are then bred to either a Suffolk or a New Zealand Romney tup,” Dane says. This decision is based on whether a sheep is located in flock A or flock B. Flock A is the main flock and is used to breed replacements (from the NZ Romney tups). Flock B on the other hand is crossed with more terminal sires. It is made up of sheep that have presented with issues – these range from lameness, lambing issues, scanning barren as a ewe hogg or any other problem. Ewes presenting with the same problem twice or any more serious problem are culled.

The farm breeds all its own replacements. Currently, one-third of the farm has Romney genetics and only replacements that have these genetics will be kept. Dane elaborated more on the decision to use Romney tups.

“We buy high-index rams from Wairere UK. In our system, we find their genetics provide good maternal ewes and lambs that thrive. We need something that can cope with a high worm burden, quite high stocking pressure and a reliance on grass rather than provided feed. I think NZ Romney genetics have had a good head start to meet that criteria.”

The Davidsons are also marketing 300 Romney gimmers this year, due to having an excess in replacement stock.

While Dane says that Texel or Suffolk progeny might perform better under certain conditions, it is the commercial pressures in their system that has influenced their decision. “The Romney lambs are hardier and are far more

The Davidsons breed Texel mule ewes with Suffolk or Romney tups.

Newburgh, Aberdeenshire

The Romney lambs are hardier and are far more likely to survive. They also require far less intervention at lambing time.

likely to survive. They also require far less intervention at lambing time.”

This year, for the first time, some of the ewe hogs were bred to a Shetland tup. Dane thinks that due to the smaller size of lambs it has meant zero handling of Shetland sired ewe hoggs at lambing time.

Lambing In recent years the farm has moved gradually towards an outdoor lambing system. In the past roughly 1,200 ewe hoggs and 1,000 ewes were lambed inside before the rest of the flock was lambed outdoors in April/May. This year all sheep were lambed outdoors in a six-week period bar the singles, which were retained indoors as it allows the Davidsons to mother on any

Scottish sheep farmer Dane Davidson.

triplets that are born. Tups were run with the ewes for 26 days and with the ewe hoggs for 40 days in order to achieve this tight lambing spread.

Romneys served an average of 80 ewes and Suffolks about 50. Therefore, from a labour point of view, it is important for the family that all stock outside lamb with minimum intervention and thrive off a grass-only diet.

Overall, Dane thinks the move has been a success. “This year it has worked well but we have been blessed with good weather. Some years we may end up getting battered by hellish weather and have high losses but even at that I think the Shetland and Romney lambs are better equipped to survive.”

Those loss rates can run at a drop of 25% in a bad year but are usually closer to 20%. This, coupled with a scanning rate of about 170% to 180%, means the Davidsons generally wean about 1.5 lambs to the ewe. “A lot of places would be doing a lot better than us,’ Dane acknowledges, “but for our system of outdoor lambing and low bought-in feed costs, we mightn’t get much better.”

Grazing The farm has also set aside 300 acres for rotational grazing with the aim of growing more grass on the same block of land. This grazing platform has been fenced off to make smaller divisions roughly 2 ha in size.

Dane said he made the move to try the system, widely practised in New Zealand, following knowledge transfer events held by Quality Meats Scotland (QMS). “I would give a lot of credit to QMS. They’ve hosted really positive discussion groups where guest speakers from around the world have come

to talk about the merits of paddock grazing. I think, generally, by having discussions focused on ways to improve sheep farming rather than saying that we are doomed, we will encourage young bright people to get involved.”

Once sheep enter a paddock they will be allowed to graze it for three to four days before moving on to fresh ground. The paddock will then be closed for a set period, ranging from 20 days in peak summer time to 90 days in the winter, in order to give grass time to recover and regrow. This ensures that the flock always benefit from leafy green grass that is in high energy when entering a paddock.

The farm also runs some set stocked fields, so it has given the family a chance to compare and contrast the performance of both systems.

“The big difference,” Dane says, “is the ability to control pasture quality in the rotated pastures when grass growth really takes off. After the paddock has been grazed three to four times before late July, the quality is almost like silage aftermath.

“Of course, it’s not all roses either.

We are still learning how best to adopt paddock grazing. We haven’t found an improvement in the weaning weights of the lambs but you can definitely carry more ewes to the acres, which is a big plus.”

The Davidsons also purchase store cattle every year to help utilise any excess grass that grows in the summer months. “We buy them about eight to 18 months old and keep them for anything between four to seven months before finishing them or selling them on as forward stores. Usually off a grass- only diet,” Dane explains.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday Saturday 248June July 2017

12 LIVESTOCK

What to do with excess With the sun shining, Andrew Gammie considers what to do with surplus grass. Rob Gilchrist reports

T

he Gammies farm in a family partnership at Drumforber Farm, Laurencekirk, in the Howe of the Mearns. It is very much an arable farm, with much of the land Macaulay Class 2. However, the area of the farm in grass is progressively expanding at the expense of arable, as the family prefers cattle and can see a better income from livestock compared with growing cereals for the current market. Around a third of the farm is in grass, with the rest in cereals and potatoes.

The expanding herd of commercial cows is made up of Limousin-cross and Aberdeen Angus-cross cows. Alongside this, there is a pedigree Limousin cattle under the Westpit prefix. Calves not retained for breeding or pedigree sale are sold in a variety of ways, from store through to fat.

In total, there are 80 cows and the plan is to increase numbers over the next few years. However, trying to do this from within the herd is a slow process.

Farm plan One of the key things in the programme will be maximising the output from grass.

In the plan, some fields for subdivision were identified to improve the utilisation of grazed grass. Alongside this, the plan is to improve the feed value in the silage to reduce the amount of purchased feed used.

Andrew Gammie’s view

After the tremendous growth earlier in the season giving us extra silage in the first cut, we now have the lucky problem of what to do with all of the extra grass that we have

Grass has continued to grow, with favourable conditions keeping it going.

After the tremendous growth earlier in the season giving us extra silage in the first cut, we now have the lucky problem of what to do with all of the extra grass that we have. Winter forage requirements are already met from first cut and the move to ammonia straw for the dry cows.

The use of ammonia-treated straw makes sense for our dry springcalving cows. This will mean there is no need to dilute our high-quality first-cut silage with straw for the dry cows as they will spend most of winter on treated straw.

Around one month to six weeks pre-calving, they will move on to a 50:50 silage and ammonia straw diet to make sure that when the calves hit the ground, there is good-qual-

Above silage being baled at the Gammie farm and, below left, Andrew Gammie.

ity colostrum in their mothers.

This will be useful for us in a few ways, including simplifying winter feeding and reducing the amount of silage required.

With the reduction in silage required, this has left us with a conundrum of what to do with the grass that is still available. I have turned one silage over to grazing, leaving a 10ha silage field spare.

After a bit of thought, I am going to cut it for hay next week, weather permitting, as having the pedigree bulls and different cow breeding programmes, it is useful for us to have for any animals that need to be in for a couple of days, without needing to open a silage bale and accept

ÁMagnesium in soil  Too much magnesim in the soil will reduce other mineral contents.  Magnesium (Mg) interacts with calcium, potassium and nitrogen.  Excess amounts of magneium will diminsh the absorption of these minerals.  7KLV FDQ OHDG WR GHo FLHQFLHV LQ cluding chlorosis and problems such as poor plant structure.  Magnesium should be spread with calcium at a ratio of 1:6.

the wastage that we’ll get.

Fertility wise, the farm is in good order, with us having invested well over the years to maintain pH, phosphate and potash status across the farm. The only concern from the soil samples that were taken recently is the high magnesium

levels across the farm.

This has come from a history of applying magnesium lime. The soil type across the whole farm is clay and can be a challenge anyway at some points in the year.

High magnesium levels do not help with this at all as magnesium levels out of balance encourage the soil to stick together more tightly. The current liming plan calls for calcium lime to be used until the magnesium level falls back to a more moderate level.

To speed the reduction in magnesium levels, we have tried spreading some gypsum spread across 25 ha. The idea behind this is that the sulphur in the gypsum binds to the magnesium in the soil and the resulting magnesium sulphate is more mobile. It is then leached lower in the soil profile and the remaining calcium from the gypsum remains to help free the soil.

Alongside the gypsum, compaction in

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 24July June 2017 2017

LIVESTOCK 13

grass at Drumforber

Andrew and Kathryn Gammie, Laurencekirk

Cattle grazing on the Gammie farm.

the grass fields was also thought to be an issue.

Back in February, we walked the grassland with a spade and dug a number of holes to investigate what was happening below the surface.

Initially, we thought that the compaction was down quite deep and that a subsoiler would be the best option. However, the bulk of the compaction was found to exist only in the top 5cm to 10cm of the soil.

We tried an Alstrong aerator across some of the ground and subsequently purchased it. All of the grassland has now had a run with it. One field in particular was quite mossy and had a history of giving one good grazing in May/ June and then running out of steam quite quickly after that.

This year, after gypsum, aeration and rotational grazing, it is holding its’ own and looks healthier than it has in a long

Mg The Gammies’ spread gypsum across the land to reduce the damage done from use of magnesium lime in the past.

A soil sample from the Gammie farm.

time. Bulls are out and working with their groups now. One of the issues identified early in the project was the calving pattern. Due to the initial rapid expansion of the herd from a low base, calving pattern was fairly protracted with the spread from first calf to last calf being 10 months.

This is quite trying and, to make management easier, we decided to fit the cows in to two groups, with the commercial cows all calving in the spring

and the pedigree cows all calving in the autumn.

This has meant some cows being held back from the bull for around three months and some falling naturally in to place. Over the life of the project, I am targeting getting calving down to two compact 10 week blocks. To simplify management further, I could close calving down to one 10 week period. However, the pedigrees are better suited to calving in the autumn to match bull sale dates and I would prefer to calve the rest in the spring.

Scottish Rural Development Programme

IRISH FARMERS FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday Saturday 8 8 July July 2017 2017

14 NEWS Grass growth (kg DM/ha) 04/07/2017

BETTER FARM BEEF CHALLENGE NI

O McKenna

Eskra

D Rafferty

Pomeroy

65

A McNeilly

Antrim

90

Downpatrick

25

F Hamill

42

M Lewis

Armagh

97

J Blair

Limavady

49

Keep the focus on grass utilisation Utilisation is key during the second half of the grazing season, writes Kieran Mailey

W

e are entering the second half of the grazing season and the focus on grass management will be dierent compared with earlier in the year. Grass has now passed the stage when it turns to stem and seed. In well-managed paddocks where swards are properly grazed out, grass quality will remain good even if covers become too strong for cattle.

Therefore, grass utilisation becomes the main grazing challenge. As the summer progresses, building grass covers is

Ă Week in review Ă‚ After a busy start to the breeding period, bulling activity has been quiet this week, with little signs of cows repeating. Ă‚ Replacement heifers that were synchronised and served to AI are now running with the stock bull to cover repeats. Ă‚ Grass growth remains high on farms, leading to grass covers building. Ă‚ Ground conditions on farm are good, despite more regular rainfall.

also important to try to extend grazing into the autumn period for as long as ground conditions permit.

Where grazing swards still have headed out grass, they should be topped.

Leaving headed out grass in a sward will reduce grass growth for the rest of the season, leading to a possible grazing shortage.

Swards should be topped as low as possible, ideally to about 4cm to remove all dead matter from the sward. Once dead grass, or headed out grass has been removed, there will be no need to top

grass again this year.

Ideally a compound NPK fertiliser should be applied after topping to kickstart grass growth again. Applying 25 to 30 units per acre of nitrogen will suďŹƒce and then be replicated after each grazing during July and August to build grass covers for the autumn.

Where there is too much grass on farm, paddocks should still be taken out for silage as soon as possible.

Alternatively, reducing the size of grazing paddocks will give higher utilisation, as will strip grazing using electric wire.

Farm focus – Declan Raerty and Aidan Quinn, Pomeroy, Co Tyrone this spring. We sourced him from the same herd as our other Limousin bull as we are pleased with how he has performed on farm. We have four stock bulls in total. Heifers are served with the new Limousin, while cows are mated with the older Limousin, a Simmental and a Stabiliser bull.

The Stabiliser ran with heifers last year, but he was harder to calve than we would have liked. Therefore, he is running with mature cows only this year.

Cows have been given a bolus for iodine, selenium and copper as well as other trace elements, but they also have access to magnesium lick buckets at grass.

Bull beef

Our spring-born 2016 bulls are now o QLVKHG ZLWK WKH ODVW JURXS RI DQL mals being killed last week. In total, WKHUH ZHUH EXOOV o QLVKHG DQG ZH DUH delighted with how they performed. )LQLVKLQJ EXOOV LV GHo QLWHO\ WKH EHVW RS tion for selling cattle on this farm.

Carcase weights ranged from 420kg back to 362kg, with bulls being killed at 13 months of age. Average carcase weight was 390kg, which gives a lifetime carcase gain of about 0.93kg/day.

Taking a beef price of ÂŁ3.65/kg, this works out at a daily income of ÂŁ3.39 for every day that the bulls were on farm from birth to slaughter.

The youngest bull was just over 12 months of age and killed out at 380kg.

Despite the young slaughter age, all bulls were hitting fat class 3. %XOOV ZHUH o QLVKHG RQ W RI PHDO which was a blend of soya, barley and distillers and worked out at ÂŁ181/t.

Bulls were housed last autumn and o QLVKHG RYHU DERXW GD\V ZLWK average daily liveweight gain around NJ GD\ IURP KRXVLQJ XQWLO o QLVKLQJ Bulls were started off on 2kg of meal and built up on to ad-lib levels.

Over the 200-day housing period, they would have averaged 6kg of meal per day, which cost ÂŁ1.09 per head.

At 1.6kg/day of liveweight gain, the bulls would have been gaining around 0.96kg of carcase per day which is worth ÂŁ3.50/day in terms of income, meaning the bulls were more than covering their feed costs and leaving a margin.

Autumn bulls

WATCH ONLINE watch the video on www.farmersjournal.tv

There are eight 2016 autumn-born bulls to kill this back end. They are on 5kg/day of the same blend that the spring-born bulls were on and they are thriving well.

Autumn cows

Cow numbers are being increased in the Autumn herd with 11 replacement heifers that will be served to calve down next August. They weigh 400kg and will be bred to AI in October.

Grazing Hopefully they will be killed in November or early December. Again, they should be upwards on 400kg carcase weight when slaughtered.

High spring breeding activity 6SULQJ FDOYLQJ o QLVKHG XS RQ 0D\ with 70 cows and 70 calves on the ground. There were 76 cows scanned in calf, but we had a few losses just like everyone else. %UHHGLQJ VWDUWHG EDFN RQ WKH o UVW week of June. We are only putting 68 spring cows to the bull as there are a couple of cows we are planning to cull.

There are also 19 maiden heifers bred in June as we are building cow numbers. The heifers were synchronised using a CIDR programme and served to AI on 1 June.

Angus sires were used with Americano and Red Canyon. We have used these bulls before and are pleased with calf quality, as well as his calving ease.

Heifers got one service to AI and on 14 June we put the stock bull in with them to catch any repeats. The plan is to take the bull away on 6 July.

The heifers are being served with a new Limousin stock bull we purchased

IRISH

Supported by

Autumn calving is due to start around 28 August and cows were weaned in the shed before going out to grass.

The cows are being used to mop up rough grass after spring cows or young weanlings.

There are 19 cows to calve and they scanned fairly tight. They should be mostly calved inside three weeks going by scanning dates. Cows will calve outside on a paddock next to the yard.

FARMERS JOURNAL farmersjournal.ie

Grass growth has been excellent during June. We made 260 bales of good quality silage from surplus grazing this year ZLWK o YH DFUHV SHU ZHHN EHLQJ EDOHG LQ the last month alone.

Grazing ground is getting 30 units per acre of nitrogen after every rotation. If grass has not been grazed tight by cattle, the paddock is topped before resting. Cows and young cattle are moving on to high quality after grass in every paddock.

The bales made from surplus grass ZLOO EH WDUJHWHG WR o QLVKLQJ FDWWOH DQG autumn cows this winter.

FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

LIVESTOCK 15

Dairylink Ireland

Investing in stock and laneways in Co Down

N Nigel Corbett and his family plan to stick with autumn calving but tightening the calving period is a work in progress.

Conail Keown reports

igel Corbett is milking 101 cows on his 40ha grazing block. The farm has moved from a spread calving profile over an eight-month period to a ďŹ ve-month calving period from September to January. Calving will start on 5 September with 75% of the herd calving before the end of December. This includes 15 replacement heifers which will also calve in this period.

A lot has been done on this farm already to improve the fertility situation within the herd.

Heavy culling in 2016 and improved heat detection have had an immediate eect, coupled with a focused sire selection on delivering longer-term improved fertility performance.

The cow type on the farm is moving towards a robust Holstein Friesian cow type capable of delivering high milks components and volume. In 2016, the herd produced 7,400 litres per cow at 4.07% fat and 3.29% protein delivering 560kg of milk solids per cow. Comparing the ďŹ rst six months in 2017 with that of 2016, the herd produced 7% more volume and milk protein also increased. Volume is up 28,000 litres and protein has lifted by 0.12%. From a total output perspective, the increased milk sales projected for 2017 potentially will increase farm output by ÂŁ17,000 for the year.

Maximising grass growth on this farm is key. Yes, weather conditions play a major role in grass growth but soil fertility must be correct, or at least attempting to correct it in order to capitalise on the grass growth. Soil analysis for the farm revealed significant shortfalls for key nutrients on the farm in 2015 with only 22% of the grazing block optimal for grass growth based on soil pH, phosphorus, and potash.

Based on 2017 soil analysis soil fertility has improved with 62% of the grazing block now optimal for grass growth with this ďŹ ltering through to increase average grass growth on the farm. Last year, this platform had an average growth of 9.5t DM/ha, but, this year growth will improve further with 6t DM grown this year already.

The Corbett family invested in this milking parlour and slurry storage for compliance reasons and are only now getting to invest in farm roadways and growing more grass.

Nigel Corbett and family Banbridge, Co Down I now measure every week, and use the information to improve the quality of grass cows are on. The last few weeks have seen growth around 70kg/day on the farm. I have second-cut silage in the pit, so this means I can now increase the grazing area available for the cows. Cows are eating 17kg grass DM per day and 3kg concentrate. Condition score at the moment is good and WKH o UVW RI WKH DXWXPQ FDOYLQJ FRZV will be dried off towards the end of July. The topper has been out last week to clean paddocks and remove any stem. Grazing area is getting 27 units of nitrogen per acre on this rotation.

Cows are on 24-hour grazing blocks.

Silage was cut this week in ideal conditions with no additive used. Slurry will go on at 2,000 gal/acre and I plan to use 24-6-12. A compound will be used again on the grazing block at the end of July to help improve soil P and K. Despite the improvement in soil fertility on the farm, we still have paddocks which require reseeding and based on grass measurement they’re

Kevin McGrade, Dromore, Co Tyrone

Nigel Corbett and family, Banbridge, Co Down

Robin Clements, Trillick, Co Tyrone

Bill Brown, Millisle, Co Down

Charles Clarke, Bailieborough, Co Cavan

IRISH

FARMERS JOURNAL farmersjournal.ie

DQ LQFUHDVHG p H[LELOLW\ RQ WKH JUD] ing front with improved access and water in all paddocks. The thinking is to capitalise on the dry land currently used for silage in the early spring and autumn, allowing an early turnout and ultimately pushing up milk produced from grass.

Additional cows Cow numbers have increased with the purchase of 20 additional cows in April.

All Investment this year is targeted at stock and infrastructure on the farm with more new track and improvements to existing tracks needed. To achieve any improvement in milk from forage and capitalise on grass growth on the farm, we need to make access in and out of paddocks much easier for the herd. Electric fencing and drilling for a water well on the farm is required. This work, along with some drainage and RSHQ GUDLQ PDLQWHQDQFH ZLOO VLJQLo cantly improve the grazing block on the farm allowing us to capitalise on grass at either end of the season.

Also, with multiple access points to paddocks, grazing management will improve with less labour required.

Weekly grass and milk production statistics from participating farms Week ending 02/07/17 Average farm cover (kgDM/ha) Growth rate (kgDM ha/day) Stocking rate LU/ha Days at grass this week % of herd milking Average concentrate fed (kg/cow/day) Calving system

David Brady, Tierlahood, Stradone, Co Cavan

Supported by

not the paddocks I expected. The best paddocks on the farm seem to be those established the longest, and grazed early in the season.

Cow fertility and getting cows back in calf has been our primary focus. We KDYH WLJKWHQHG WKH FDOYLQJ SURo OH IURP over 31 weeks in the 2015/16 season down to 20 weeks this autumn. There are now 101 cows in the herd with 75% due between September and December this year. The remaining 25% will calve in January 2018. Our plan is to move to 100% autumn calving with all cows calved by the end of December.

Sires used have been selected on milk components and fertility. We used prenomen, YAB, FR2351, FR2056, FR2385, WLY and all the EBI sires have fertility sub-index greater than â‚Ź100.

Development of the grazing infrastructure is in progress with 500m of farm track laid down last month. Ten new water drinkers have been purchased and these will be positioned in paddocks with a 32mm water pipe feeding into them. Historically, half of the land block was grazed with the other half cut continuously for silage.

We plan to take silage but we will have

C Clarke R Clements

K McGrade N Corbett

B Brown

D Brady 614

553

659

541

783

552

52

101

88

72

70

61

3.59

3.26

1.93

4.6

3.57

3.35

7

7

7

7

7

7

100

100

100

100

100

100

3

1

0

2

Spring

Autumn

Autumn

4 4 70% 70% Autumn Autumn 23 25.4

Spring

Milk Yield (l/cow/day)

25.2

19

16.5

Fat %

3.74

4.46

4.71

4.16

3.90

3.33

25

Protein %

3.29

3.58

3.82

3.45

3.32

3.73

Milk Solids (kg/cow/day)

1.82

1.57

1.45

1.80

1.89

1.82

IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

16 LIVESTOCK

319 (1.39)

200-day weights of autumn 2016-born calves on BETTER farms (kg) Average daily gain in brackets (kg/day)

Right up there on his or her main goals list for the year should be to make rocket fuel silage for their suckler cows

VIDEO ONLINE

watch a video from Maurice Hearne’s farm on farmersjournal.tv

210 (0.87)

191 (0.75)

Cow type Sire type System Birth weight (kg) Replacement index (€) Cow milk index (kg) Meal to cows (kg) Silage quality (DMD) Meal to calves (kg) Calving interval (days) Culling rate (%)

Kieran Noonan Continental Continental Selling weanlings 40 89 2.7 1.5 68 1 380 11

Ken Gill Continental/Angus Angus Organic beef 35 94 4.3 no n/a no (red clover silage) 362 31

228 (0.95)

The Stanleys First-cross/ Hereford Limousin/Hereford Steer/heifer beef 38 80 7 no 65 1 386 19

257 (1.08)

Michael McDonald Continental Continental Selling weanlings 42 84 7.2 no n/a 1.5 377 17

272 (1.15)

273 (1.16)

Martin O’Hare Continental Continental Bull/heifer beef 42 90 4.8 no 75 1 359 13

Sean Hayes Continental Continental Bull beef/selling stores 42 92 5.7 no 69 1 378 10

Maurice Hearne First-cross/Coninental Continental Bull/heifer beef 42 91 7.9 beet and soya bean 69 1 372 14

Who’s the heaviest of them all?

Ciarán Lenehan examines the weaning performance of the autumncalving BETTER farms

IRISH

W

hile spring calving into a long grazing season seems the cheapest and most logical option, autumn calving systems have big benefits too. Â Cows can calve outdoors – an inherently healthier environment – in a fit state to do so. Â Huge pressure is taken off in the spring from a grazing point of view, both in terms of grass supply and land trafficability. Â For live sellers targeting back-end weanling sales, a stronger, more mature animal is hitting the ring. Â AI breeding is easier, given animals are housed at breeding time. Â In split herds, it can spread the workload and help cashflow with more sale periods.

However, a poorly run autumn calving system will lose much more money than a poorly run spring system. Autumn calvers haven’t got the luxury of high feed value spring grass going into their cows during the most crucial period of the production cycle, the postpartum interval (time between calving and concep-

FARMERS JOURNAL farmersjournal.ie

A TEAGASC/IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL INITIATIVE

tion). Keeping this period as short as possible is critical for successful suckling and nutrition is the key to doing so. Conserved forage and potentially meals are the staples. Feeding meal to suckler cows might seem sacrilegious, but it can be minimised where silage quality is good enough in an autumn-calving scenario.

What do we mean by good enough?

75% dry matter digestibility. Is this being achieved on autumn-calving farms?

Rarely.

Silage quality The first thing I ask an autumn-calving farmer is what quality his silage was or is. Not knowing is almost as bad as having poor-quality stuff. Right up there on his or her main goals list for the year should be to make rocket fuel silage for their suckler cows. Feeding creep meal to young calves during their first winter period is a given on these farms and actually a very worthwhile investment – young animals are extremely feed-efficient, but lots of kilos going into cows to prop up a poor silage crop is a situa-

In association with

tion they desperately need to avoid for the sake of their wallets.

So, with this in mind, how do the BETTER farm group fare? A suckler cow’s number one job is to produce a heavy weanling on the button every year. Our autumn calvers with 200-day weights on calves are laid out above. Birth weights are assumed based on parental genetics in the herds, with Corkman Kieran Noonan having recorded his own.

Fertility Given the importance of fertility, calving interval is presented also and, as a high culling rate can mask infertility in a herd, this has been added to the mix as well.

In terms of 200-day weights, Kieran is at the lower end of the group, but this can be put down to an outbreak of respiratory disease which hit calves hard last winter. On top of this, his herd could do with some milky genetics, given its low average milk index figure. Like all of our autumn-calvers, save for Martin O’Hare, he will need to improve on his silage quality and reduce his meals in

the cow trough. While Martin doesn’t top the list from a 200-day weight point of view, you could argue that he is as deserving of the accolades as top weightproducer Maurice Hearne.

His exceptional calving interval, achieved with no meal, is a true reflection of fertility and not created by an unusually high culling rate as is the case with Offaly’s Organic man Ken Gill. For me, Ken has huge potential in that he is growing a pea/barley mixed crop as well as oats and red clover on the farm so there is plenty of nutrition there to tap into to ramp up the energy going into his cows which, in turn, will drive on calf weight gain, fertility and reduce the need for such big empty cow culling rates.

Maurice Hearne’s 200-day weights are huge and show what can be done with a milky cow (lots of first-cross Limousin/ Friesian here) and the right feeding. His silage quality could be better, but the fodder beet is homegrown and fits well into his system. His calving interval is low, and the culling rate is acceptable – so fertility is good here.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

NEWS 17

NFU Scotland news

The North East Region has marked the death of Joe Watson, former agricultural editor at the Press and Journal, every year since his passing in 2014 with an annual charity stockjudging and social evening. More than 200 farmers attended this year’s event. Over £2,400 was raised for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance. The hosts and representatives of the region presented the cheque to SCAA at The Royal Highland Show.

Big turnout for the stock-judging and retirement evening for former senior group secretary for Perth, Robin Gawn.

The event was held at Inchoech Farms, Alyth.

6WDII LQ WKH .HLWK RIoFH DUH VHQGLQJ D FOHDU PHVVDJH WR GRJ walkers who plan to get out and about this summer. Signs will be available at many of the local agricultural shows this sumPHU LQ DGGLWLRQ WR ORFDO 1)8 6FRWODQG DQG 1)8 0XWXDO RIoFHV

Lorn branch’s celebrity chair Sybil Macpherson undertook the extreme step of having her hair shaved off at the Highland Show in support of Cancer UK. In recognition of Sybil’s fantastic effort, members of the branch donned their favourite hats at this week’s meeting with Sybil’s favourite being a hand-knitted special from secretary Euan’s wife Freddie.

CHANGE to be the next step in Scottish agriculture

N

ational Farmer’s Union Scotland’s focus is discussing CHANGE with members, stakeholders, policymakers and politicians according to president Andrew McCornick McCornick views the Union’s discussion document CHANGE – A New Agri Policy for Scotland Post-Brexit, launched at the Highland Show, as the next step in securing a profitable and sustainable

NFUS activities

future for our industry.

Politicking According to Andrew: “There has been a lot of politicking since the Brexit vote but not a lot of action on what is going to be the most fundamental change to our industry in 43 years. We must take control of our destiny and CHANGE is the next step to ensuring our voice will be heard at the start of negotiations. Our

industry is too important to the rural and national economy to be sidelined.

“We want the membership to use the CHANGE document as an opportunity to get the priorities for their business into the melting pot. And we are meeting with allied industries, suppliers and processors to get a common message from different voices.

“The engagement with politicians and their officials is also ramping up, both

Our industry is too important to the rural and national economy to be sidelined

in Westminster and Holyrood.

“Our presidential team will also be at 30 shows through the summer, so come and see us.

“We need member input on how we design, shape and build the future then influence politicians into delivering what is best for farming, crofting and the rural economy.

“CHANGE is a discussion paper – Let’s get discussing.”

Milk prices

Sprayers tests

Photography competition

Greening rule changes

Some milk buyers have increased prices but frustration is building as the market can stand much, much more.

NFUS dairy representatives met colleagues from NFU, NFU Cymru and UFU last week to discuss market conditions.

Milk chair James Rankin lambasted milk buyers for their intransigence. Commodity prices are at levels last seen in 2013 and patience is wearing thin.

Have your sprayers had the test? A reminder for owners of pesticide/plant protection product application equipment in use (except knapsack and handheld sprayers) that they must ensure all sprayers have passed an inspection by 26 November 2016, unless it was less than five years old on that date. Details of accredited testers can be found at www.nsts.org.uk

Make it snappy! The Union has launched its first-ever photography competition, open to all ages, looking to showcase the best of Scotland’s countryside.

Food, farming and the environment are the themes and we’re on the look-out for eye-catching, creative images with the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Deadline is 17 August. For more details on how to enter, visit www.nfus.org.uk

NFUS has been continuing to push for details of Greening rule changes, coming both from Brussels and from the Scottish Government, to be published before autumn planting begins.

The union is frustrated that, to date, there have been no announcements.

Securing simplification remains a priority for NFUS.

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With livestock numbers up and a packed itinerary, we’ve got the Highland Show covered Focus >> 9

Dairy farmers earned 46p/hr in 2016

JOHN SLEIGH

SCOTLAND EDITOR

jsleigh@farmersjournal.uk

D

ue to a shocking milk price in 2016, dairy farmers earned just 46p/hour, according to new data. Figures published by the Scottish Government in the economic report on Scottish agriculture 2017 this week highlighted that across Scotland the average farmer earned £4.50/hour, less than two-thirds of the minimum wage.

Dairy farmers were at the bottom of the table, earning just over 6% of the national minimum wage. Some non-aligned producers saw milk prices crash to below 15p/litre.

Next are less-favoured area (LFA) sheep farmers, who earned £3.15/hour: less than half the minimum wage of £7.17.

Ayrshire dairy farmer Alan Kerr said: “Last year was the toughest in my lifetime.

It will take a good number of years to recoup the losses we incurred.

“We need to see more processors signing up to the dairy code of practice to prevent disasters like 2016 happening again. It is also concerning what happens after Brexit.

“The single farm payment is a lifeline to the business in difficult years. The support amounts to 1.5p per litre and without it we would struggle to survive,” Kerr stressed.

Heather Gray is 18 years old and farms along with her father David in Drumnessie, Banton, Kilsyth, primarily hill ground, have 1,900 Glasgow. They farm around 2,000 ewes and 50 cows. A keen member acres of SSS young farmers club, she pictured here in class 132 of Friday will show two mule lambs, and at next week’s Highland Show. the gimmer

Ä Continued on page 2

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Heather Gray is 18 years old and farms along with her father David in Drumnessie, Banton, Kilsyth, primarily hill ground, have 1,900 Glasgow. They farm around 2,000 ewes and 50 cows. A keen member acres of SSS young farmers club, she pictured here in class 132 of Friday will show two mule lambs, and at next week’s Highland Show. the gimmer

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ue to a shocking milk price in 2016, dairy farmers earned just 46p/hour, according to new data. Figures published by the Scottish Government in the economic report on Scottish agriculture 2017 this week highlighted that across Scotland the average farmer earned £4.50/hour, less than two-thirds of the minimum wage.

Dairy farmers were at the bottom of the table, earning just over 6% of the national minimum wage. Some non-aligned producers saw milk prices crash to below 15p/litre.

Next are less-favoured area (LFA) sheep farmers, who earned £3.15/hour: less than half the minimum wage of £7.17.

Ayrshire dairy farmer Alan Kerr said: “Last year was the toughest in my lifetime.

It will take a good number of years to recoup the losses we incurred.

“We need to see more processors signing up to the dairy code of practice to prevent disasters like 2016 happening again. It is also concerning what happens after Brexit.

“The single farm payment is a lifeline to the business in difficult years. The support amounts to 1.5p per litre and without it we would struggle to survive,” Kerr stressed.

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IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

20 LIVESTOCK

Beef

Bull fertility issues on Farmers Journal Farm Adam Woods profiles what has been happening on Tullamore Farm including a fertility issue in one of the stock bulls

Since cows have been joined together in one big group, there is no longer a requirement to split paddocks

A

nxiety over the number of cows returning to heat led to a series of actions on the Tullamore sheep and beef farm in the Irish midlands this week.To take pressure off stock bulls, 81 cows/heifers out of a possible 125 were served to AI in the first three weeks of the breeding season which started on 1 May. Stock bulls were turned out on 23 May after three weeks of AI but, last week, farm manager Ger O’Dwyer noticed a number of unusual repeats to a Limousin stock bull that was running with one group of cows.

In total, there are three stock bulls running with three groups of breeding cows/heifers (4,643 and 36 in each group).

A September 2015-born Limousin (20 months), a January 2016-born Limousin (16 months) and a January 2016-born Aberdeen Angus (16 months).

Five repeats to one of the bulls raised the alarm last week and the decision was taken to fertility-test both bulls. Both bulls returned poor results for semen motility and morphology. Both were semen tested prior to purchase and had passed the pre-sale checks on scrotal circumference and fertility tests. One bull had served 19 cows in the last four weeks and the other bull had served 21 cows over the past four weeks.

The vet advised to stand the bulls off for five days and get them semen-tested again to see if the result changed. In the meantime, the two groups of cows were joined together and the Aberdeen Angus bull was put out with this large combined group. The third group of cows and heifers that were originally with the Angus bull were artificially inseminated to standing heat over that period.

The bulls were blood-sampled and tests came back clear for Johne’s disease, BVD and IBR; they are also OK for mineral status.

The two bulls were semen tested again last Wednesday and the September 2015-born bull has tested fertile (four out of five), while the January 2016-born bull returned another poor fertility test. The bull is insured under the Irish Limousin Cattle Society fertility insurance scheme and this is currently being followed up on.

Counting the damage To establish the extent of the fertility chal-

All calves were faecal-sampled again last week and results came back clear. Faecal sampling will take place every two to three weeks.

lenge in the herd, a pregnancy scan was carried out last Thursday on the cows that were served to AI in the first three weeks of breeding. The results were good. Fifty-three out of a possible 81 cows served were in calf – a conception rate to first service of 65%.

Those cows served by the stock bulls and over 30 days in calf were also scanned.

Eight cows were scanned in calf to the September 2016-born bull while no cows were scanned in calf to the Jan 2016-born bull.

One clear message from what has happened over the past two weeks is the importance of keeping accurate records during the breeding season. Without these records and the vigilance of farm manager Ger O’Dwyer, the 2017 breeding season could have ended very badly.

The problem with the stock bulls was picked up early and has hopefully limited the damage on the calving spread in spring 2018. The decision to use AI for the first three weeks to take the pressure off the stock bulls has paid real dividends.

The likely scenario is that the 19 cows that the poor-fertility bull served will drop back three weeks but will hopefully hold to their third cycle with no issues. We will have more cows in-calf to the Aberdeen Angus bull than originally anticipated. The biggest loss to the business is that this subset of cows will be later calving next spring and closer to falling out of a springcalving setup and, of course, the lost output in terms of calf growth rate next February and March. The next pregnancy scan will inform us more.

We will remain vigilant and keep recording heats to avoid any further Tullamore Farm cows and calves. issues. At the moment,

the Aberdeen Angus bull is still running with the big group and the Limousin bull is with the small group of cows. These bulls will be rotated next week. The young bull that has tested twice with poor fertility has been stood down indefinitely and cannot be depended on.

Grass growth Grass growth has dropped over the past week with 46kg of growth being recorded. Demand is still quite high running at 57kg/DM/ha. The reason for the high demand is the level of reseeding that has taken place on the farm over the past two months. This demand will drop back as reseeded paddocks start to come back into the rotation next week.

Eighty-five bales of silage have been taken out as surplus grass and three paddocks have been topped to maintain grass quality. Cows are spending two to three days in each paddock, with each paddock being split to increase grass utilisation.

Since cows have been joined together in one big group, there is no longer a requirement to split paddocks. Grazing paddocks are currently getting 20 units of CAN after each grazing. Any paddock that has silage removed gets two bags of 18:6:12/acre. Forty-seven acres of first-cut silage were cut on 17 June. This was delayed by about 10 days due to unsuitable weather conditions. Ten acres of Maris Kestrel kale was sown on 10 June and is up and doing well. It will get three bags/ acre of CAN this week. This will be grazed by late calving cows from October onwards.

Calf performance Calves were weighed on 1 June. The average date of birth of all calves weighed in the herd is 9 March 2017. Male calves weighed 155kg and have gained 1.32kg/ day since birth and female calves weighed 142kg and have gained 1.28kg/ day/since birth. Calves have started to

creep graze underneath the electric fence especially in the final stages of each paddock being grazed. So far, calves have received two shots of Tribovax T clostridial vaccine. They have been faecal sampled twice on 12 and 29 June and both results have returned clear. This could be as a result of grazing uncontaminated reseeded pasture and land that was previously in tillage.

Male and female calves will be separated when the stock bulls are removed on 14 July. The 61 dairy calves are grazing a recently reseeded paddock and are currently eating 0.5kg/day of concentrates.

These calves were also faecal sampled and have returned clear. These calves were weighed on 4 July and they weighed 114kg and have gained 0.7kg/day since birth. The heifer calves need to be 230kg or heavier on 1 November to be on target for finishing off grass in autumn 2018.

They will be monitored closely for any signs of coughing as lungworm larvae may not have shown up in faecal samples.

Open day A national open day will take place on Tullamore Farm on Tuesday 25 July where farm tours will take place from 1pm to 7pm and areas such as infrastructural investment, grassland management, breeding DQG IDUP SHUIRUPDQFH oJXUHV ZLOO be covered. A forum discussion will take place in the yard area at 4pm ZKHUH OHDGLQJ LQGXVWU\ oJXUHV ZLOO debate the future of the Irish beef LQGXVWU\ ,W ZLOO EH WKH oUVW WLPH WKDW the farm has been opened up to the public and promises to be an interesting and informative event.

Car parking and catering facilities will be provided. Trade stands will also be present. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

PEDIGREE

LIVESTOCK

Edward Buckley, Charollais Sheep Society chair; judge William McAllister; sponsor Kevin Graham, Greenvale Feeds; and Declan, Josh and Chloe Miley exhibiting the overall Charollais champion.

Son of champion keeps Mileys on top Having only started competing and showing Charollais sheep five years ago, the Mileys have certainly made the headlines in the sheep showing arena. Úna Sinnott reports

T

he Athlone Agricultural Show hosted three national sheep All-Irelands recently – the Irish Charollais Sheep Society AllIreland, the Beltex Sheep Soci-

ety All-Ireland and the National Commercial Championships all took place at the Moydrum Showgrounds in Co Westmeath.

As well as these important catalogue

fixtures, the Western Texel Sheep Society also held its regional championships, along with six other sheep breeds for spectators to admire.

In the Charollais ring, there were over 110 pedigree sheep competing in the sunshine for the title of supreme AllIreland Charollais champion 2017.

William McAllister from Co Antrim, chair of the Northern Ireland region of the Artnagullion Flock, was the man to

impress in the ring. His deciding view saw Declan, Mark and Joe Miley keep the Coillcuill Cup for supreme champion rosette for a third consecutive year.

The Mileys, who run the Knockcroghery Flock, were the overall champions in 2016 and 2015, and theirs was a frequently spotted surname on the scoreboard throughout the day, but it was their ram lamb, H1917015, which claimed the top spot.

Continued on p23

22 PEDIGREE

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

A winning family affair for the Browns at Beltex championships Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Sean Brown was out in front at this year’s Beltex AllIreland Championships in Athlone, writes Úna Sinnott

J

udge John Harbinson selected John and Sean Brown’s shearling ewe as the 2017 Beltex national champion at the society’s finals held at the Athlone Agricultural Show recently. The Boherawillin flock from Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly, is no stranger to winning the championships having secured the overall title every year from 2012 to 2015.

The Boherawillin pedigree Beltex flock was originally established by John and his wife, the late Breda Brown, in 1996, and their loyalty and commitment to the breed has continued down through to generations to their grandson, Sean.

Their success on Sunday did not stop with the champion as the Boherawillin flock also took the reserve overall championship with another homebred sheep, this time their senior ram. Grandfather and grandson smiled proudly for photos, sharing the same flock name and family surname.

Breeder Dermot Goss, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth, had a very successful day. His ram lamb received the first prize in his class while his Hillview flock’s shearling ram also received first prize in his class before going on to be awarded reserve champion male when it came to the championship stage.

Laois breeder Alan Cuddy who runs the Aughduff flock took the reserve female champion prize with his first prizewinning senior ewe, while his ewe lamb also picked up the red rosette in her class. Commenting after the show, judge John Harbinson said he was not only impressed by the numbers forward for the national championships but also the quality of sheep.

Melissa Harbinson took the helm when it came to the young handlers’ class; she awarded the first prize to Ryan Cuddy of the Aughduff flock.

The society members will now move their focus to the annual society premier sale, which is taking place on 23 August at Tullamore Mart, Co Offaly.

Athlone in brief All-Ireland crossbred sheep championship Tim Kelleher was the busy man with the duty of adjudicating crossbred sheep in the All-Ireland commercial ring at the Athlone show.

The overall supreme champion went to Christopher Johnston from Lifford, Co Donegal.

John and Sean Browne with the overall and reserve overall national Beltex champions. Also pictured is judge John Harbinson.

His best crossbred ewe lamb saw him take the major when all champions were placed against each other in the championship lineup.

The class winner and reserve overall champion was awarded to David Kelly from Oldtown, Tiermaclone, Ennis, Co Clare, for his crossbred hogget ewe.

Western Texel regional championship The very successful Niland flock was out in great force at

ÁFull results from the Beltex All-Ireland Championships Beltex shearling ram

Beltex senior ewe

1 Dermot Goss, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth.

2 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

3 Sean and Paul McCartney, Oldcourt, Clough, Ballacolla, Co Laois.

1 Alan Cuddy, Aughduff, Camross, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

2 Brian Mathews, Quarrymount House, Killeigh, Co Offaly.

3 Alan Cuddy, Aughduff, Camross, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

Beltex senior ram

Beltex ram lamb

1 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

2, Brian Mathews, Quarrymount House, Killeigh, Co Offaly.

3 Sean and Paul McCartney, Oldcourt, Clough, Ballacolla, Co Laois.

1 Dermot Goss, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth.

2 Colm Curran, Kilbride, Trim, Co Meath.

3 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Beltex shearling ewe

Beltex ewe lamb

1 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

2 Dermot Goss, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth.

3 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

1 Alan Cuddy, Aughduff, Camross, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

2 Dermot Goss, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth.

3 John and Sean Brown, Gormagh, Durrow, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

the Athlone show. Padraic Niland from Kinvara, Co Galway, claimed top honours on the day with his female champion and supreme champion Texel ewe.

Thomas Kenny, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, followed suit, snatching the reserve female champion and the reserve supreme champion sashes at the show.

John Foster was the judge in the Texel ring throughout the day and awarded the male championship to Padraig Treacy from Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon.

Beltex young handlers’ competition Judge: Melissa Harbinson Ryan Cuddy, Aughduff, Camross, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

All-Ireland champion 2017 Beltex shearling ewe (John and Sean Brown).

All Ireland reserve champion 2017 Beltex senior ram (John and Sean Brown).

Reserve male shearling ram champion Dermot Goss.

Reserve female senior ewe champion Alan Cuddy.

Christopher Johnston with his all-Ireland crossbred sheep champion. He is pictured with judge Tim Kelleher from Co Cork.

PEDIGREE 23

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

Ä Continued from page 21 Having only started competing and showing Charollais sheep five years ago, the Mileys have certainly made the headlines in the sheep showing arena.

The sire of the supreme champion was Rheaedr Orlando and the dam was Oprah. Oprah, no stranger to the show ring, claimed the 2016 and 2015 All-Ireland titles and was again placed top of the line in the senior ewe class this year. Oprah was also awarded the champion of champions award in 2015 and 2016, which will this year be received by her new champion son.

The Mileys also received the number two spot in the ram lamb section with H1917010. The winning ram lamb had the same sire as the overall 2017 champion, Rheaedr Orlando.

Irish Charollais sheep breeders will now turn their focus to the premier male and female sale in Tullow on 29 July The reserve supreme champion title was awarded to Richard Allen’s winner of the shearling ewe class, H7616004.

Just like the Mileys, Allen – of the Wicklow-based Uppertown Flock – also likes to travel across the Irish Sea for diversity in his flock, so the battle for supreme and reserve champion became a bit of a nonIrish-bred affair.

The sire of the reserve champion was Loanhead Powerhouse, with the dam 13ZNN07274. Allen also claimed second

place in both the ewe lamb class and the senior ewe class with H7617008 and 13ZNN07258, respectively.

Senior ram class Liam Conway from Ballinasloe, Co Galway, sealed first, second and third place

in the senior ram class, with A4615099 claiming the top spot and XYU01056 coming in second place.

In the shearling ram class, Frank Jordan from Attanagh, Co Kilkenny, sealed the red rosette with H4216009, while Kevin Brady from Tullamore, Co Offaly,

came second with H7616009.

Irish Charollais sheep breeders from across the country will now turn their focus to the premier male and female sale that will take place on Saturday, 29 July, at Tullow livestock sales, Tullow, Co Carlow.

All six of the AllIreland Charollais class winners.

Contact Cattle Procurement Gabriel Lynch +353(0)867775966 +353(0)749140608 +353(0)749140228 gabriell@foylefoodgroup.com www.foylefoodgroup.com

Edward Buckley, Charollais Sheep Society chair; judge William McAllister; sponsor Kevin Graham, Greenvale Feeds; and Richard and Liam Allen, exhibiting the reserve overall champion.

ÁFull results from the Athlone Agricultural Show Supreme champion 2017 H1917010 by Rheaedr Orlando; the Mileys, Co Roscommon.

2 H1917020; the Mileys, Co Roscommon.

3 F9117015; Kevin Brady, Co Offaly.

Reserve supreme champion 2017

Senior ewe

H7616004 by Loanhead; Richard Allen, Co Wicklow.

1 14ZNNO9857 (Oprah); the Mileys, Co Roscommon.

2 13ZNN07258; Richard Allen, Co Wicklow.

3 B7214012; Liam Conway, Co Galway

Senior ram 1 A4615099; Liam Conway, Co Galway.

2 XYU01056; Liam Conway, Co Galway.

3 B7214017; Liam Conway, Co Galway.

Shearling ram 1 H4216009; Frank Jordan, Co Kilkenny.

2 H7616009; Kevin Brady, Co Offaly.

3 H1916022; the Mileys, Co Roscommon.

Ram lamb 1 H1917010 by Rheaedr Orlando; D, M and J Miley, Co Roscommon.

Shearling ewe 1 H7616004 by Loanhead; Richard Allen, Co Wicklow.

2 D3216018; J and F Jeffery, Co Cork.

3 C7116007; D, M and J Miley, Co Roscommon.

Ewe lamb 1 H1917015: the Mileys, Co Roscommon.

2 H7617008; Richard Allen, Co Wicklow.

3 D3217011; J and F Jeffery, Co Cork.

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24 PEDIGREE

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

Knockcroghery flock bags Belclare title SHANE MURPHY PEDIGREE smurphy@farmersjournal.ie

Clonmel show was all go around the sheep section this past weekend with a number of breed societies using the racecourse showgrounds for their annual all-Ireland finals. One such breed was the Belclare, which saw stiff competition throughout the six classes and championship. Taking centre of the ring under the glorious sunshine was Kildare man Graham Murphy, who found his champion in the senior ewe class.

This particular senior ewe was the property of Declan, Mark and Joe Miley and stands as a sheep that has never been beaten, clocking up wins at Athlone, Galway and the all-Ireland last year as a ewe lamb. She is sired by the Knockcroghery flocks current stock ram and out of a homebred dam who also claimed the overall title three years ago.

This topped a great week for the Miley outfit who also secured the overall Charollais all-Ireland title at Athlone the previous week.

Reserve honours went to Richard and John Lalor for their ram lamb Rathkenty Caesar. This ram was already placed first at the nationals as well as Athlone the previous week but came out in force at the all-Irelands to secure the reserve supreme championship.

Sired by last year’s Tullamore shearling champion, Caesar’s full brother won the same class at the all-Irelands last year before placing top of the shearling again this year for new owner Sonny Williams.

Topping a successful day, another full sister to the reserve champion also went on to collect the red ribbon in the ewe lamb class for the Lalors.

Overall Belclare all-Ireland champion exhibited by Declan and Mark Miley, reserve overall champion exhibited by John Lalor with judge Graham Murphy and breed secretary Mike Neenan.

3 Richard and John Lalor.

Full results Senior ram 1 Richard and John Lalor.

2 Eunan and Mark Bannon.

3 Liam Delaney.

Shearling ram 1 Sonny Jennings.

2 Declan and Joe Miley.

Ram lamb 1 Richard and John Lalor.

2 Richard and John Lalor.

3 Declan and Joe Miley.

Senior ewe 1 Declan and Joe Miley.

2 Declan and Joe Miley.

3 L Barrett.

Shearling ewe 1 Declan and Joe Miley.

2 Declan and Joe Miley.

3 Liam Delaney.

Ewe lamb 1 Richard and John Lalor.

2 Declan and Joe Miley.

3 L Barrett.

Tullymain flock on top for four years running The Southern Zwartbles Sheep Society held its annual all-Ireland championships in Clonmel over the weekend where close to 100 sheep fought it out for the title of supreme champion.

Coming out on top for the fourth year running, this time under judge Cyril Cromie of the Fort flock, was Jim Croke of the Tullymain flock. His homebred ewe Tullymain D-66 first secured the female championship before going all the way to secure the supreme championship. Sired by Welsh bred ram Kenny, D-66 is out of an imported ewe. This also marks the fifth year in a row the flock has won the shearling ewe class after only being formed in 2012.

Following close on the heels of D-66 was the reserve female champion and inevitably the reserve supreme champion Allstar Dainty from Jimmy Smith.

This ewe is no stranger to success having secured the overall breed championship at Tullamore show last year. Sired by homebred Allstar Autos, Dainty is out of a Scottish imported ewe.

In the male section of the championships, Johnathan Workman secured the champion sash for his stock ram Barrmurie Ceizer. This ewe was purchased at Carlisle last year for 600gns and has since gone on to secure a number of red

MORE ONLINE

More pictures at farmersjournal.ie

Reserve female and reserve overall champion Allstar Dainty with Jimmy Smith and judge Cyril Cromie.

Full results rosettes for the young show man.

Hilltop Ted followed close behind to secure the reserve male title for Denny Lyons. This homebred ram is out of stock ram Clarke Tiger and out of Cumbriaborn ewe Skyhigh. This marked Ted’s forth first prize placing this summer.

Female and overall champion Tullymain D-66 with Jim Croke and judge Cyril Cromie.

Early ewe lamb 1 Martha Smith.

2 Jonathan Workman.

3 Denny Lyons.

Late ewe lamb 1 Noel Alley.

2 Jimmy Smith.

3 Johnathan Workman.

Shearling ewe 1 James Croke.

2 Jimmy Smith.

3 Johnathan Workman.

Early ram lamb 1 Denny Lyons.

2 Colin Stephens.

3 Peter Howard.

Late ram lamb 1 Jim Croke.

2 Jimmy Smith.

3 Maria Smith.

Shearling ram 1 John Powell.

2 Noel Alley.

Aged ewe 1 Jim Croke.

2 Jimmy Smith.

3 John Powell.

Aged ram 1 Johnathan Workman.

2 Jim Croke.

3 Linda Walsh.

PEDIGREE 25

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

O’Keeffes remain on top at National Quintrent-bred stock

secure three top spots

SHANE MURPHY PEDIGREE smurphy@farmersjournal.ie

Blessington was once again the venue for the South of Ireland Suffolk Sheep National Championships, with over 90 sheep on show from the four corners of the country. Judge for the day was wellknown breeder PJ Howard from Clare, the Suffolk Sheep Society national hall of fame recipient for 2017.

Females once again dominated the proceedings with a shearling ewe from Arthur O’Keeffe taking the overall title, a very smart homebred ewe sired by Cairness Casper. Taking the reserve overall spot was the male champion, a ram lamb sired by Shannagh Resolve from Wm J & R Wilson.

Following the show, an elite sale of some 25 ram lambs took place. The aforementioned male champion sold for £1,320, heading to Germany to join the flock of Mr Hass later in the year. Matching this price was the third prize ram lamb from John A Doherty – he found a new home in Co Mayo with James Cuffe’s flock.

Two more rams sold at the £880 mark to the west of Ireland. The reserve male champion from Patrick O’Keeffe sold to Mr Kenny, with PJ McMonagle selling his best to a Mr Burke.

One of the positives of the sale was seeing three of the four top-priced rams being sired by Irish-bred rams. A small selection of females was also on offer, with Colin Watchorn taking the top price of £370 for his ewe lamb.

Full results Class 1 shearling ram and upwards 1 Sean O Connor NRF:15:00395.

Class 2 aged ewe 1 Susan O’Keeffe BYD:13:031F. 2 Philip Lynch CZK:15:00808.

3 Susan O’Keeffe BYD:14:01768.

Class 3 shearling ewe 1 Arthur O’Keeffe R15:16:05309.

2 Arthur O’Keeffe R15:16:05310.

3 Thomas Kenny SPJ:16:62973.

Class 4 novice ram lamb 1 PJ McMonagle CFP:17:02205.

2 Lexi and Alan Kilpatrick PWW:17:00057.

Suffolk National champion 2017 exhibited by Patrick O’Keeffe. \ Tricia Kennedy

Reserve overall champion at the National show and sold for £1,320. \ Tricia

year on numerous occasions.

Conor and Cheryl also secured the reserve male championship with their shearling first prize winner. This young ram was out of French AI ram 7262, while the dam was of Johnson breeding.

The reserve champion also came with a wealth of Quintrent breeding, having being bred by the O’Brien duo. This senior ram was exhibited by Ciaran Coughlan of the Noggus flock and since his purchase has clocked up a number of top accolades including the ram lamb and reserve male champion at last year’s Tullamore Show.

This one’s sire is Quintrent Niall.

Reserve female championship was awarded to John and Stephen Lynch of the Ballinascraw flock for their shearling ewe champion.

John A Dohertys third prizewinning ram which sold for £1,320. \ Tricia Kennedy

Kennedy

3 Michael Clarke LWW:17:00214.

Class 5 ram lamb sired by an Irishbred ram 1 Wm J & R Wilson 78A:17:06017.

2 Patrick O’Keeffe NBK17:05615.

3 John A Doherty CFN:17:02633.

Class 6 open ram lamb 1 Wm J &R Wilson 78A:17:06009.

2 Philip Lynch CZK17:00877.

3 Susan O’Keeffe BYD:17:02209.

Class 7 novice ewe lamb 1 Richard Thompson TDL:17:02281.

2 Jeffrey and Robert Thornton PWU:17:03883.

3 Colin and Jonathan Watchorn PXL:17:00296.

Class 8 ewe lamb 1 Arthur O’Keeffe R15 :17:05515.

2 Susan O’Keeffe BYD 17:02217.

3 Wm J &R Wilson 78A:17:06021.

Female and supreme champion Arthur O’Keeffe’s shearling ewe R15:16:05309.

Male and reserve supreme champion Wm J &R Wilson’s ram lamb 78A:17:06017.

Reserve male champion Patricia O’Keeffe’s ram lamb NBK:17:05615.

Reserve female champion Arthur O’Keeffe’s ewe lamb R15:17:05515.

Charollais Ladies Shine through in Interbreed A packed ring witnessed a stunning spectacular of 11 Champions and Reserve Champions, each judged earlier in the day in their own breed, competing against each other under the capable eye of Sean Brennan.

Quickly and efficiently, 22 were reduced to six, which incidentally were all female, to go forward for final selection. Finally, the 2017 Interbreed Champion and the National Sheep Breeders Association (NSBA) Cup was awarded to M, D & J Miley of the Knockcroghery Flock from Co Roscommon with their ewe Logie Durno Oprah.

The Irish Vendéen Sheep Society this year held its annual national finals at Clonmel Agricultural show. While wet conditions hampered judging in 2016 in Galway, the same couldn’t be said for this year, with sheep panting from the heat. Judge Neil Howie of the Lyham Flock in Northumberland made the journey across the Irish Sea to judge this year’s competition, which this year comprised of over 60 sheep.

After just over two hours judging, he found his champion in the form of a senior ewe from the Quintrent flock of Conor and Cheryl O’Brien.

This four-year-old is from French AI and out of a dam who was shown with great success as a shearling.

The O’Briens are far from strangers on the showing scene, having accumulated the title of show flock of the

Stephen Lynch exhibiting the reserve female champion with Cheryl O’Brien exhibiting the female and overall champion. Also pictured is judge Neil Howie.

2 Andrew Gilmore.

Results Senior ram 1 Ciaran Coughlan.

2 John & Stephen Lynch.

Shearling ram 1 Conor and Cheryl O’Brien.

2 Ciaran Coughlan.

Ram lamb 1 Conor & Cheryl O’Brien.

Senior ewe 1 Conor & Cheryl O’Brien.

2 Andrew Gilmore.

Shearling ewe 1 John & Stephen Lynch.

2 John & Stephen Lynch.

Ewe lamb 1 Conor & Cheryl O’Brien.

2 Ciaran Coughlan.

ZSA-SIB

Premier Show & Sale 2017

The first ever Zwartbles sheep Premier sale will take place in Tullamore Mart Co. Offaly, Saturday 19th of August.

Sheep will be inspected on arrival to ensure compliance with breed standard Over 60 top quality entries expected Entries must be submitted by 19th of July to Christina,

Shay Kennedy; Mrs C Achenson, president, Clonmel Show; Mike Quintan, chair, Clonmel Show; Sinéad Brophy, NSBA; Declan Miley and Paul Bergin (sponsor); Front: Liam and Richard Allen; Mark Miley and Sean Brennan (judge).

Oprah also comes with the accolade of having previously won the 2015 and 2016 National Charollais Championships.

Reserve Interbreed Champion went to Richard Allen of the Uppertown Charollais flock from Co Wicklow.

He secured the title with his H76 16004 hogget ewe.

Both of these ladies had earlier been awarded the Charollais Champion and Reserve Charollais Champion titles respectively.

Email entries to secretary@zwartbles.org For more information and entries forms Contact Tim on +353 85 7183910

IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

26 LIVESTOCK

Livestock

(01) 419 9530 livestock@farmersjournal.ie @FJdairy @FJbeef @FJsheep

Hit the right targets for 10 times more income

T Jack Kennedy outlines the technical messages from this year’s Moorepark open day

he average dairy farmer is making £220/ha profit but hitting all the right technical targets could see this increase tenfold to £2,200/ha. These were the numbers that shocked farmers on the first stand at the Moorepark open day on Tuesday. The figures are quite stark and represent the huge difference in how the average dairy farmer compares to those implementing the best on-farm technical performance.

You might rightly ask what the technical messages are that could make such a difference. Brendan Horan said: “Moving herd EBI from the national average of €70 to over €200 EBI is part one. Moving a six-week in-calf rate from 57% to 90% is equally as important and average lactation length needs to move from 3.1 lactations on average to over five lactations per cow.”

Brendan also explained what needs to happen on stocking rate, milk solids and grass – move from the average 2.0 livestock units per hectare closer to 2.9 cows/ hectare, produce 1,350kg of milk solids per hectare instead of 730, and achieve grass utilisation of 12.5t instead of the average 7.9t of dry matter per hectare.

While Brendan admitted that these are stretch targets for a number of farmers, he said the positive message is that more progress can be made and achieving a net profit of €2,500 per hectare is possible with the best technical performance.

In terms of investments, Brendan suggested prioritising the high-return investments and, in general, feed (purchasing meal) is not a high return area as

Over 10,000 farmers and dairy industry representatives attended the Moorepark open day with crowds moving between stands and demonstrations from 9am on Tuesday.\ Donal O’Leary

usually the actual feed is only part of the cost because equipment generally needs to be purchased for feed, etc.

On the second stand, Padraig French and Paidi Kelly outlined the challenge around getting more labour on dairy farms. They suggested that one of the key issues is the negative perception portrayed by dairy farmers about the industry. For those herds expanding, they suggested the hours worked per cow needs to move from 40 to 20 hours per cow.

Grass message On the third stand, Mike Egan and Mick O’Donovan outlined the grass message.

Mick said: “Set up your farm with the proper infrastructure for grazing, not for the silage contractor. Your cows will be grazing hundreds of days per year while your contractor might only be in the fields for two days per year. You also need to graze what grass you are growing. No point in growing more grass and making more silage.”

Researcher Frank Buckley explaining the differences between some of the cows from the Next Generation Herd based at Kilworth. \Donal O’Leary

Mike Egan said: “In spring, you need to aim for an opening grass cover over 900kg DM/ha and that is important because every 100kg of extra grass in the

Set up your farm with the proper infrastructure for grazing, not for the silage contractor. Your cows will be grazing hundreds of days per year while your contractor might only be in the fields for two days per year spring is worth an extra 9kg of milk solids per hectare.”

When Mike was queried on the value of clover, he said: “We have shown in trials that a grass clover mix can increase dry matter yield by 1.1t/ha per year but you need to get soil fertility right, and a lot of other elements before it can deliver.”

On the fourth stand, Moorepark researchers Donagh Berry and Stephen Butler discussed how to breed the perfect cow. Donagh spent a good bit of time suggesting that the EBI is going in the right direction and delivering a cow with better fertility, higher milk solids and better for the environment. He also said: “Believe it or not, increasing EBI is improving carbon footprint and every 10 units of EBI will lead to a 2% reduction in carbon emissions per kilo of milk solids.”

He stressed that breeding indexes have been proven to work in only two countries – Ireland and Australia. As if to reassure farmers that breeding for fertility will not reduce milk solids he showed figures that milk solids is up 83% of what it was over 20 years ago. With national herd fertility figures almost back to where they were in 1990, it seems the way forward is more EBI, and if you are brave enough, crossbreeding with high EBI Jersey sires can deliver an additional profit of €100 to €150 per cow per year.

Michael O’Donovan explaining the basics on grassland management to one of the many groups attending the Moorepark open day. \ Donal O’Leary

FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

LIVESTOCK 27

Village life at Moorepark open day Aidan Brennan reports from the village section of the Moorepark open day

Jersey crossbred cows at the ‘what is the perfect cow’ village at the Moorepark open day.

T

he village section of the open day is an area dedicated to specific topics. Researchers present their work and interact with the crowd in small groups. Below is a sample of some of the interesting topics discussed.

Pushing stocking rate Donal Patton presented the results from the Ballyhaise study, which looked at what happens when you push stocking rate over what the farm can support. He compared net profit when milk price is at 21p/l, 25.5p/l and 30p/l at varying levels of feed self-sufficiency. The range, depending on stocking rate and grass growth, was between 50% and 90% selfsufficient.

At 30p/l, all systems are equally profitable. As milk price drops, there is a linear drop in net profit in line with lower levels of self-sufficiency. This is because bought-in feed had to fill the hole in the feed wedge created by the extra cows.

There was a loss of £704/ha in the 50% self-sufficiency treatment when milk price was at 21p/l. Â The message: match stocking rates to what the farm can grow. High stocking rates are not resilient.

The perfect cow This village attracted the most attention.

There were six cows on display – three Jersey crossbreds and three high EBI black and white cows from the Next Generation Herd. Which cows are the perfect cows? Frank Buckley said that both cows are perfect cows in their own right depending on what you want, but he said that the crossbred cows are the most profitable.

“The average farmer with black and white cows would be around £132/cow better off by crossbreeding. The Next Generation Herd is hitting all of our targets, but those cows are 10 years ahead of the national herd,” Frank said.

When asked if there would be faster genetic gain by sticking with Holstein Friesian, he said that if the current level of genetic gain in the two breeds continues, it would be 2040 before the Holstein Friesian outperforms the Jersey crossbred. Â The message: use the highest EBI sires from the top of the active bull list and use Jersey sires for extra milk solids production.

Clover There was huge interest in the clover section also. Results from Clonakilty show a 58kg of milk solids per cow increase when cows are on grass and clover swards versus grass only with an extra 1.5t/ha of grass grown too.

Every year, the researchers are learning more and more about how best to

ÁIn short

Grazing demonstration plots in the Grass 10 village

The average farmer with black and white cows would be around £132/cow better off by crossbreeding

manage clover. Fergal Coughlan no longer gives bloat oil to prevent bloat. On the 5% of paddocks with over 50% clover, he grazes these at a higher cover than normal – around 1,700kg rather than 1,500.

This increases the fibre content of the sward and he allocates the grass in 12-hour allocations when they graze those fields.

He hasn’t had a case of bloat in two years.

No silage is cut off fields with a very high clover content as this exacerbates the problem and leads to clover taking over.

High clover fields lose cover over winter so he grazes this last when closing up

 At low milk prices, additional IHHG SXUFKDVH HURGHV DQ\ SURoW  Stock your farm to what grass it FDQ JURZ  The Next Generation Herd is 10 years ahead of the average black DQG ZKLWH KHUG  It will be 2040 before the Holstein Friesian outperforms the -HUVH\ FURVVEUHG  Managing clover swards takes careful management but should not limit the decision to introduce clover into the sward as the benHoWV DUH YHU\ ELJ

for the winter; therefore no cover is lost over the winter.

3URoWDEOH V\VWHPV If you had 100 cows on 100 acres, how would you make an extra £20,240 per year? This challenge was addressed by Liam Hanrahan who works on economic modelling.

The key factors when it comes to increasing profit is to focus on grass utilised and calving rate. Every extra tonne utilised is worth £152. For every 1% increase in the six-week calving rate, net profit per cow, for all cows in the herd increas-

es by £7.

Liam indicated that if the farm grew an extra 2t/ha by improving soil fertility, reseeding and grazing management that net profit would increase by £12,179.

Getting the herd out for an extra 10 days at grass would generate an extra £651.2. Increasing the six-week calving rate by 10% would generate an extra £7,233.

Between the three, net profit would increase by £20,064. Â The message: focus on what is happening inside the gate before looking outside the gate.

IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

28 LIVESTOCK

Grass+

Dairy

Growth differs as moisture varies AIDAN BRENNAN DAIRY SPECIALIST abrennan@farmersjournal.ie

A

verage grass growth this week on our Grass+ farms is 74kg/ha/ day, which is more or less the same as last week.

The most noticeable thing about growth at the moment is the regional variation. Some farms are growing almost twice as much as others. Moisture deďŹ cits are beginning to aect some farms that missed the rain, while reduced fertiliser spreading, and/or a lot of the farm cut recently, is

reducing growth on other farms.

Of course, you only need to grow enough to feed the herd and produce enough winter feed. Your grass demand is calculated by multiplying your current stocking rate by how much grass the cows are eating. Holstein Friesians are probably eating over 18kg/ day, while Jersey crossbreds are eating closer to 16kg/day, before meal is fed.

On farms with a low demand and a high growth rate, the extra growth will have to be converted to silage in order to maintain quality. Count how many bales you have made

Ă In brief Ă‚ Average grass growth is 74kg/day. Ă‚ There is a big variation in growth-rate between farms. Ă‚ Manage growth based on demand. Ă‚ Avoid making excess silage.

so far. A lot of farmers would like to have at least two goodquality bales for every cow in the herd, to be fed when grass is tight next autumn and spring. If you have enough bales, and are still generating

surplus, then consider bringing other stock back to the milking platform to increase demand and closing up more ground for second-cut silage on the outblock.

The other option is to reduce nitrogen spreading rates for this month. The advantage to this is that you are saving money on nitrogen and not having to make expensive silage. The downside is that grass can get stemmy on low nitrogen, but at low stocking rates you can graze selectively, that is, to eat the leaf and leave the stem. A good level of clover in the sward will make a big dierence.

Growth rates around the country (kg DM/ha/day) Beef farms Dairy farms

116 67

30

72

Shane Leane

Donal Patton

Tom Lyng

John Kingston

Teagasc Curtins Co Cork

Teagasc Ballyhaise Co Cavan

*UHHQo HOG )DUP Kilkenny

Ballygarvan Cork

Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.92 Growth rate (kg/day) 57 Average farm cover (kg/cow) 163 Yield (l/cow/day) 18.9 Fat % 4.35 Protein % 3.61 Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.55 Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 0.2

Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.58 Growth rate (kg/day) 79 Average farm cover (kg/cow) 150 Yield (l/cow/day) 20.3 Fat % 4.25 Protein % 3.58 Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.64 Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1

Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.12 Growth rate (kg/day) 74 Average farm cover (kg/cow) 149 Yield (l/cow/day) 19 Fat % 4.48 Protein % 3.74 Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.61 Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 3

Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.53 Growth rate (kg/day) 62 Average farm cover (kg/cow) 196 Yield (l/cow/day) 23.2 Fat % 4.47 Protein % 3.73 Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.96 Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1

Growth rate dropped a good bit this week. The farm has dried out a lot and we could GHo QLWHO\ GR ZLWK PRUH UDLQ Our average farm cover is o QH DV ZH WRRN EDFN RQH paddock that was intended for bales. This had a cover RI DERXW NJ EXW LW was leafy so we grazed it. If JURZWK UDWH GRHVQ W LPSURYH we will be in trouble and will have to introduce some supplement. Our demand is currently 67kg/day. We are still spreading 20 units/acre of nitrogen and we have a week left in the breeding season.

*UDVV LV p \LQJ LW KHUH 7KH mostly dry and humid weather is really suiting this farm. We skipped over some more paddocks for silage this week. The average farm cover is at 150kg but this is where I want it to be as I can’t see grass growth declining any time soon.

Clean-out is reasonably good DQG ZLWK VR PXFK DIWHUJUDVV IURP VLODJH LQ WKH ZHGJH quality is good also. BreedLQJ LV SURJUHVVLQJ DZD\ ZLWK the bulls doing their work.

We are spreading around 25 units of nitrogen per acre after grazing.

While the growth looks JRRG DW NJ GD\ WKH IDUP is drying out fast and the recovery after grazing has slowed down a lot. It looks like we are heading into a drought. Demand is low at 57kg but this includes the aftergrass from silage which LVQ W o W IRU JUD]LQJ \HW 3UH grazing yield is struggling WR VWD\ DERYH NJ VR ZH are feeding meal for a few days. We will measure again tomorrow and decide then whether it needs to stay in RU QRW EXW ORRNLQJ DW WKH IRUHFDVW WKHUH GRHVQ W VHHP to be much rain on the way.

*UDVV LV p \LQJ LW DW WKH PR PHQW LW KDV EHHQ D JUHDW \HDU VR IDU VR ZH FDQ W complain. We don’t have any ground closed for longterm silage so we just take surpluses when they come.

Cows are grazing paddocks that were last grazed 16 or GD\V DJR 3UH JUD]LQJ \LHOG LV DURXQG NJ DQG cows are milking well. I’m spreading 20 units/acre of protected urea with sulphur after grazing. I have a IHZ o HOGV ZLWK JRRG FORYHU content and the cow’s milk great on it so I’m planning to over-sow clover into more paddocks.

Phone: 01224 426001 (Aberdeen) or 0141 301 1044 (Glasgow) GRAZING GUIDE 2 This guide aims to help farmers ensure that they are exploiting the full potential of grazed grass on their farm, irrespective of production system or land type. Our expert team cover topics such as the role of clover, farm infrastructure, reseeding and soil nutrients in improving grass growth and utilisation.

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FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

LIVESTOCK 29

Grass+

Beef

It’s Christmas week – new year, new me CIARà N LENEHAN BEEF SPECIALIST clenehan@farmersjournal.ie

W

38

53 90

48

ith the dawn of a new year, comes a blank page. There is opportunity for a fresh start – to make positive change. We all make new year’s resolutions in early January, but does the 1 January apply to all agricultural cycles as the start point?

In terms of a grass year, it is Christmas week – ďŹ ttingly perhaps given the coming to-

gether of the country’s grass gurus in Fermoy on Tuesday.

What is meant by this is that a grassyear does not start with the turnout of cattle next spring, it starts in July. Spring is something that we prepare for and that preparation starts in the coming weeks.

Question – at what point in the year should our farm’s grass supply be at its highest?

No, it isn’t the springtime.

Our farm should have its highest grass cover in mid-September. Second-cut silage ground is well and truly back in the mix, rotations lengthen and we are building a supply that

will carry us into the back end and, crucially, allow us to set up for grazing the following spring. This is why thinking about grass in the spring is too late, grass needs to be built up when it is actually growing.

So, for those currently drowning in a sea of stem, the time for grassland new year’s resolutions is now. If you’ve got it in your mind that 2018 is your year for getting more from your grass, then the wheels need to start turning on this pronto.

What does this mean? Planning paddocks – how do I split

my current ďŹ elds in the best way? Drinkers – where can they be best placed? Soil fertility – what parts of the farm are slow to grow? Drainage – should I do it now while land is traďŹƒcable?

Ask any serious grass farmer who took the plunge and addressed these issues and their only regret will be that they didn’t do it sooner.

Often, taking the ďŹ rst steps is a daunting prospect and puts many off – ‘where do I start?’ If you would like help with this, do not hesitate to email us.

Matthew Murphy,

Shane Gleeson,

Tom Bolger,

55

64

48

59

67

65

119

80

Tommie Holmes,

51

46

66

55

53

83

46

55 77

8 86

8822 75

108

59

65

66 62

67 56

88 74

677

58

73

65

108 86 66

10-year average grass growth kg DM/ha/day

100

2017

80 2016

60 40

Newford Herd, Co Galway

System suckler to bull beef Soil type variable Avg farm cover (kg DM/ha) 1,449 Grass demand (kg DM/ha/day) 34 Growth (kg DM/ha/day) 30

System suckler to steer beef Soil type dry to heavy Avg farm cover (kg DM/ha) 1,004 Grass demand (kg DM/ha/day) 67 Growth (kg DM/ha/day) 84

System suckler to weanling Soil type mixed Avg farm cover (kg DM/ha) n/a Grass demand (kg DM/ha/day) n/a Growth (kg DM/ha/day) n/a

System suckler to store Soil type free draining Avg farm cover (kg DM/ha) 701 Grass demand (kg DM/ha/day) 33 Growth (kg DM/ha/day) 58

Growth is back here over the last two weeks but I still have surplus grass. I’ve a very healthy average farm cover and, once the weather settles down, I’ll be taking out more paddocks for baled silage. It’s been a great year for grass and I’ve recently reseeded seven acres, deciding to go with an intensive silage mix. I hope to get two or even three cuts from this o HOG JRLQJ IRUZDUG DV WKH ground is away from the farmyard.

I’ve been concentrating on P and K all year, targeting poorer performing paddocks with 18-6-12. Lime will be spread in the back-end, across the whole farm. My bulls will be going to the VKHG LQ $XJXVW IRU o QLVKLQJ and as the demand for grass falls, I’ll close paddocks for next spring. The last of the slurry will go out later in the back-end, it worked well for PH ODVW \HDU DQG PRVW GHo nitely helps build grass covers over the winter months.

Poorer performing cows will be culled as I continue to tighten my calving spread.

Utilisation has taken a hit on some parts of the farm, as a result of the cold nights and some heavy downpours. 24mm of rain fell last Monday (26 June).

Since my last update, we have removed a further 13 acres as bales from grazing ground to keep tabs on grass quality. Cutting or grazing is being followed with CAN at a rate of one bag per acre at present.

The two stock bulls (SI & LM), which were turned out to the herd on Saturday 3 June to mop up after AI, were removed this week. Scanning of the herd will take place at the end of July O u r 4 7 b u l l o c k s we re weighed on 22 June and tipped the scales at 500kg at 15 months of age, with a daily gain of 0.99kg since birth. They have put on 1.3kg daily since their last weigh in (37 days).

The 42 heifers weighed 463kg (0.91kg daily gain since birth).

As for the 2017-born calves, bulls now weigh 196kg, averaging growth of 1.3kg daily form birth. The heifers are currently gaining 1.24kg daily and weigh 178kg.

I am currently taking out paddocks that are getting too strong. So far, I have 110 bales taken as surplus and more will follow. I have 14 acres closed for second cut. , o QG WKH EDOHV D PXFK PRUH p H[LEOH RSWLRQ WR SLW ZLWK regards having both quality and quantity. I have cut back on fertiliser usage for the moment, to avoid having too large a surplus of bales. I will spread nitrogen again in late-July to begin planning for autumn-grazing and build covers for next spring.

While I am lowly stocked this year, due to having a large number of young calves on the ground, I plan to use this year to improve my soil fertility and grazing infrastructure so as to be ready to carry a higher stocking rate next year, when these calves mature and will eat proper grass.

I have dosed all calves for worms recently using a white drench. I may give a second dose in August depending on faecal sample results.

Although growth has slowed in recent weeks, there is still a good quantity of grass at present on the farm. Last week, the entire farm got 20 units of nitrogen in the form of CAN. Over the last few weeks, I managed to take surplus bales off a number of paddocks and with application of fertilizer. I hope it will allow me to take out more bales in the coming weeks. The second-cut silage will be ready for harvesting in the next 10 days.

I was disappointed with how it grew but it looks to be good quality grass. Over the last few days, I have a lot of drainage work done on a particularly wet paddock to allow me to get better use out of it during wet times of the year. This paddock will also be reseeded in the next few weeks. All stock are doing well, steers were weighed three weeks ago and I was happy with the performance to date. Calves were treated for lung worm last week and this week all the yearlings will get a dose.

10-year average

20 0

Co Mayo

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IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

30 LIVESTOCK

Sheep

Tackling the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance DARREN CARTY

Having a good biosecurity programme in place is seen as a vital component in reducing antibiotic usage.

LIVESTOCK SPECIALIST dcarty@farmersjournal.ie

A

ntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest challenges facing human and animal health in the future.

This was the view given by John Grant, Parklands Veterinary Group, at Monday’s NSA Northern Ireland sheep event held in Ballymena Livestock Market.

John said that a recent forecast highlighted the seriousness of the challenge AMR presents, with more people forecast to die from issues related to AMR than cancer by 2050.

“Resistance to antibiotics is a growing worry across the world. Everyone will be personally hurt by it and there is a moral obligation on us to farm properly.”

As well as a moral obligation, John says that we are already seeing more stringent rules and regulations being enforced around antibiotic use. This is well documented in human health, with campaigns around the misuse of antibiotics in treating illnesses such as the common cold, for example.

It is also apparent in the pig and poultry sectors with a marked switch away from the use of in-feed antibiotics and a growing emphasis on vaccination use to prevent disease.

The majority of sheep farmers can manage OK with the normal range of antibiotics such as penicillin or Norodine

Antimicrobial resistance Explaining how antimicrobial resistance is caused, John says that every time an antibiotic is used, we are potentially promoting resistance by killing off susceptible bacteria.

“This is not a new phenomenon. Bacteria change over time and this has happened for thousands of years. The big problem is that the rate at which it is occurring has increased. The rise of MSRA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) has also brought AMR into the spotlight and such infections are going to lead to a marked change in how antibiotics are managed but also in how hospitals will be run in the future.”

While AMR is a rising threat worldwide, John is keen to point out that Ireland and north Europe are not serious offenders.

“The use of antibiotics in the world by people differs greatly. In north Europe, there is a focus on controlled usage. This compares favourably to Spain, Greece and south Europe, where antibiotic usage in people is 3.5 times that of north Europe and is streets ahead of Africa and Asia, where antibiotic usage is worryingly up to 15 times higher than in north Europe. This is having a marked effect on the occurrence of AMR. “For example, Swedish tourists were swabbed on returning from holiday from other countries in north Europe and the Far East. Three per cent of those returning from north Europe were shown to have come in contact with ESBL (extend-

ed spectrum beta-lactamases), a bacterial infection related to E coli and Klebsiella and capable of causing serious illness. In contrast, 36% of those returning from the Far East tested positive as coming in contact with ESBL.” Animal usage The growing threat is casting a spotlight on all antibiotic use, including in animals. John sees this as more of a good news story for the sheep sector than a bad story.

“When we look at sheep farms, the use of antibiotics is low and this is something that can be used in promoting the high health benefits of Irish lamb. We are in a good position but we cannot afford to be complacent. We have to be open to change in how we run our systems – antibiotic use should be as little as possible but as much as is required.”

The main areas where Parklands Veterinary Group currently sees the most antibiotic usage are in treating lameness, enzootic abortion and E coli scour around lambing. All of these illnesses are preventable and John says that the starting point in many health programmes is in ensuring disease is kept out of the farm.

“Many strains of lameness or enzootic abortion are unfortunately brought into healthy flocks when purchasing sheep. External biosecurity should be the first line of defence.

Isolating purchased animals and quaran-

tining for at least three weeks should be the norm for identifying issues such as CODD or footrot. Treatments for sheep scab and worms should also be administered.”

The use of vaccinations is also seen as providing huge opportunities to reduce the need for antibiotic use. “If we look at lameness, for example, the first port of call is often jagging animals with an antibiotic. The use of the vaccine Footvax for footrot is a no brainer for the majority of farms with a significant problem.

It has treatment properties and one treatment will give a 75% cure rate, with two treatments increasing this to 86%. We also need to be mindful of high-risk periods and put preventative plans in place.

For example, using the vaccine before housing or in combination with targeted antibiotic treatment to bring a problem under control gives good results.”

Accurate identification of the illness causing lameness was also highlighted. “If you have CODD, there is little point treating it with normal antibiotics or using the vaccine. Once you have CODD, you have it for good and the only solution is to put a treatment programme in place with your vet.”

Biosecurity Not enough use is made of internal biosecurity and isolating sick animals from the flock.

“Many farmers need to rethink how they look after sick sheep. If you

think about it, you wouldn’t send a sick child to school. Sick animals need to be taken out of the flock to reduce the risk of disease spreading and allow preferential treatment. Animals should be kept isolated from other healthy animals until you are sure that the risk has passed.”

Cleaning and disinfecting equipment is also seen as hugely important. For example, trailers used in transporting sick or purchased sheep should be washed and disinfected between animals, while sheds and lambing facilities should be cleaned as early in the season as possible to allow a long interval and lower risk of bacteria surviving in the environment between use.

In terms of antibiotic treatment, the advice is that antibiotic usage should not be feared as it is a vital tool in addressing health issues when required.

Great care should be placed by farmers and vets on using the appropriate antibiotic for the ailment being treated.

“The majority of sheep farmers can manage OK with the normal range of antibiotics such as penicillin or Norodine. Critical groups of Marbocyl or Baytril for example should be protected and only used where necessary. Early intervention will greatly increase the success of treatment and care should always be taken to administer the full treatment course prescribed as failing to do so can also promote resistance.”

John also points out that a tougher stance is also required in many cases with repeat offenders.

“If an animal doesn’t respond to a treatment and is continually requiring treatment, then you need to ask some tough questions as in most cases the overall health of the flock or herd will benefit from culling these animals.”

John Grant, Parklands Veterinary Group, speaking at the NSA Sheep NI 2017 event in Ballymena Livestock Market.

FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

ARABLE 31

Arable

Andy Doyle (01) 4199531 adoyle@farmersjournal.ie

Over 200 years helping soil fertility 1 A visit to Clogrennane Lime Ltd showed how burnt lime is produced and how the process intensifies its liming capability.

Andy Doyle reports

ÁKey points  Growmax is a burnt lime produced in Clogrennane, Co Carlow.  Burnt lime has a higher pH, a much higher calcium concentration and a TNV of 1.7 times ground limestone or ground calcium carbonate.  It is fully available within days of application where a pH problem exists.  Cost per tonne is higher because of the cost of burning but cost per acre seems quite competitive.  Ground limestone may be less effective at higher soil pH levels.

O

ne of many visits in a recent Groups Together tour took us to Clogrennane Lime Ltd in Co Carlow. This is a limestone quarry with more than 200 years of activity but is different to a standard limestone quarry and services many markets outside of agriculture.

Lime from Clogrennane is processed or burnt limestone and it trades under the White Rhino brand. This converts it from calcium carbonate (limestone) to calcium oxide (quicklime). This conversion results in a more concentrated and fast-acting product.

Clogrennane starts with a relatively pure source of limestone rock which is then quarried. Standard ground limestone involves taking the rock and grinding it mechanically into particle sizes that can be weathered by climate and acidity to free up the calcium from the CaCO3. The finer the limestone rock is ground, the quicker the calcium can be freed up to neutralise the negative ions in the soil and increase pH. The specification for ground limestone requires one-third of the sample to be ground to a level capable of working in the first year of application. The remainder of the ground limestone is of a size that will degrade to do its job in years two to four following application. Particle size is the main way ground limestone has a long-term effect on soil pH. Based on the specification provided for burnt or white lime, it is about 1.7 times more effective at increasing soil pH than finely ground limestone. Clogrennane burnt lime is sold as Growmax. This is a fast-acting quicklime, which is mainly calcium oxide (CaO rather than CaCO3).

It contains 68% calcium rather than 38% in a typical ground limestone and it reacts with moisture to help increase soil pH. So what is white lime Clogrennane, a CRH company, has produced kiln or burnt limestone for the past 200 plus years. It was always regarded as a highly effective product because it produces rapid improvements in soil pH and this helps the efficacy of all other nutrients, whether applied or in the soil.

Soil pH is important for growth because it directly affects availability and uptake of nutrients, whether they be in the soil or applied through fertiliser. Essential nutrients are poorly available at lower pH levels (see Table 1) but even at pH6, expensive phosphorous is said to be only 52% available to support plant growth.

It is useful for farmers to understand what exactly Growmax is and how it is produced. It starts with the same lime-

Lime production process

2

Crushing and screening: dumpers tip the stone into crushHUV ZKLFK EUHDN LW GRZQ LQWR o QHU pieces. Screens separate the stones into different sizes.

3

Fuels: The lime kiln is fuelled by petcoke and gas.

Extraction: in the quarry explosives are used to break up limestone. The broken stone is then loaded into dumpers by track machines.

4

The kiln: The stone is heated to 1,000°C for 15 to 20 hours.

7

Storage and dispatch: The lime products are bagged or stored in silos, ready for sale.

5

Cooling: Lime that leaves the kiln is cooled with air. This is known as quicklime.

6

Hydration: A further step is taken to create hydrated lime by adding water.

The limestone quarry at Clogrennane Lime Ltd.

Table 1: 7KH VLJQLo FDQFH RI VRLO S+ OHYHO for nutrient availability pH pH pH pH pH Fertiliser 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 7.0 Nitrogen 30% 43% 77% 89% 100% Phosphorous 23% 31% 48% 52% 100% Potash 33% 52% 77% 100% 100%

stone rock source which is blasted and crushed to kiln-feed size (40mm-110mm) and screened to remove large lumps (which are re-crushed) and the undersize, which are sold for other uses.

The kiln feed is then put into a modernstyle kiln which heats it to about 1,000°C. This splits the CaCO3 to produce CaO and carbon dioxide (CO2). This process is fuelled by natural gas and petcoke. The removal of the CO2 leaves a more concentrated form of calcium which has a higher total neutralising value (TNV) or a higher calcium carbonate equivalent.

The smaller active molecule means it has a higher calcium density per tonne, with more molecules per unit.

The kilning process increases the calcium concentration in the lime by a factor of about 1.7. So 1kg of CaO is equivalent to about 1.7 times the amount of calcium in CaCO3.

Total neutralising value TNV is a measure of the potential of a material to neutralise soil acidity and raise pH level to optimise plant growth.

It is expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent and standard ground limestone is said to have a TNV of about 35%.

This is because 65% of the product is not yet fine enough to have neutralising value but this becomes available in time.

Granulated limestone products have a TNV of 95-98% because they are ground finely enough to be available post application. But this is still CaCO3 and the TNV of Growmax (calcium oxide CaO) is 160-170%, hence the 1.7 times higher calcium content.

Growmax might be described as having an angular to dusty consistency following the kilning process. It is not a fine product and so it is said to be spreadable accurately at up to 24m with suitable spreaders.

Its rapid activity means it is much faster acting than ground limestone, which means it delivers visible growth improvements on low pH soils in the year of application.

This is the reason why burnt lime was often referred to in the past as quicklime.

The kiln which heats the kiln-size limestone rock to over 1,000 degrees to remove the CO2 and increase the calcium and liming capacity of the burnt lime.

Cost While there is less grinding cost compared with ground limestone, the energy requirement makes quicklime a more expensive product per tonne to produce. But this cost, adjusted for liming ability, works out at roughly the same cost as ground limestone spread. But the longevity of quicklime is said to be around two rather than 3-4 years for ground limestone and so it needs to be applied every two years or so.

Clogrennane agronomist Colm Dempsey told us the pH of burnt lime is around 12.5 compared with 8.1 for ground limestone products. He said the activation of ground limestone to increase soil pH is more efficient where soils are more acidic. But as levels get closer to pH 7 (neutral) ground limestone may be less efficient at getting all the way up to this level for crops such as beans.

In such situations, Growmax may have a particular advantage for pH improvement. Colm warned that Growmax contains dust and so the spreaders should be washed immediately after application.

It can be spread through a standard fertiliser spreader so farmers have control over application timing.

He also warned that it should not be spread during damp/wet conditions as the dust will stick to and consolidate on machinery. He also advised that it should not be spread in a mix with other fertilisers.

The rough cost of Growmax is €180/t and its concentrated formulation means that much less is required on a per acre basis (see Table 2). It is a bagged product and generally sold through the merchant trade. Colm suggested the following rates for different soil pH levels to provide a guide on cost. It is supplied in 375kg bags with four per pallet, making 1.5t.

At these cost levels it compares well with ground limestone, especially for anyone who needs an immediate pH correction and for those who need to keep soil pH levels close to 7.

Table 2: Recommended rates and cost of Growmax lime at different soil pH levels Soil pH Low 5.5-6.0 Medium 6.0-6.3

Rec rate (kg/ac) 150 75

Cost/ac €27 €13.50

IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

32 ARABLE

Brexit casts a shadow over Cereals 2017 The inevitable implications of Brexit will result in many challenges for UK cereal producers, but some look forward to the opportunities that may ensue, writes Stephen Robb

T

here was no doubt that the shadow of Brexit loomed over Cereals 2017. The show took place less than a week after the UK general election and many realised that a proportion of the crops to be harvested in 2018 (sown this autumn) will be marketed in a post-Brexit world. So attendees were eager to set out the priorities of the sector for the new government.

The critical importance of having some form of trade deal in place between the UK and the EU was highlighted by various speakers throughout the two days.

At farm level, the message was clear.

Whether one was farming 2,000ha in Lincolnshire or 200ha in Limavady, growers needed to Brexit-proof their business. %UH[LW SURRoQJ The UK typically produces a surplus of grain with the vast majority being exported to the EU (see graph). For example, in 2016 the UK exported 2.8m tonnes of wheat and over 80% of this went to EU countries; 66% of the 2m tonnes of exported barley also went to EU countries, along with 94% of the 430,000t of exported rapeseed. Around 70% of the wheat and barley imported into the UK (see graph) also came from EU countries, while around two-thirds of imported maize also originated from within the EU. This complex interdependent trading relationship was highlighted in AHDB’s (Agricultural & Horticultural Development Board) new Horizon report, PostBrexit Prospects for UK Grains, which was launched at Cereals 2017. The report states that due to the UK being a relatively small-scale exporter and high-cost producer, competing on the global grain market is likely to be difficult. This is essentially a numbers game driven by high volume and low margins.

The report also outlines a scenario where tougher trading conditions and reduced farm supports could put a question mark over arable production in marginal areas and eventually lead to a change in land use between agricultural sectors. With the UK outside of the EU and so potentially beyond the protectionism approach to GM imports, the UK could become a target for maize exports from the Americas.

The view of Tim Isaac, AHDB head of knowledge exchange (cereals and oilseeds), was that Brexit will bring both opportunities and threats for the UK arable sector. “While the UK arable sector will most likely be one of the least affected sectors, the threat of cuts to farm supports, reduced market access and a

UK growers’ thoughts

ÁKey points

 There was considerable focus on the implications of Brexit for the arable sector at the recent Cereals event in the UK.  Around 80% of UK wheat and barley exports go to EU countries currently and these supply about 70% of wheat and barley imports also.  A satisfactory trade deal is seen as critical for the future of the UK arable sector.  The likely reduction in or removal of direct farm supports may provide an opportunity for some to scale up but other marginal areas may cease cereal production.

Shortly after one of the conferences I spoke with two Lincolnshire growers and asked them about their feelings and attitudes towards Brexit.

While they didn’t tell me which way they had voted in last year’s referen-

UK wheat and barley imports 2016/2017

UK wheat and barley exports 2016/2017 37%

Spain Portugal

12%

Canada France

Netherlands 12%

Denmark

Algeria 8%

Ireland

Tunisia 6% Japan 2% Other EU

18% 16%

Germany 9% 8% 7%

Sweden USA

6% 4%

Ukraine 1% 16%

Other non-EU 7%

worst-case ‘cliff-edge’ Brexit scenario, means that growers should be preparing for Brexit.”

Tim advised growers to actively Brexitproof their business through improving competitiveness, driving productivity, ensuring that businesses in the supply chain don’t exist in isolation, improving consistency of grain quality and getting to grips with potential grain and product niches at home and abroad.

“There will also be opportunities presented by Brexit and farmers are beginning to understand this,” he said. “We can explore new markets and there’s even potential for producers to expand their businesses. If there is a reduction in subsidies, this could actually help improve availability of land.” dum, they did state unequivocally that the uncertainties surrounding Brexit were very worrying for their businesses.

The growers were very aware of the potential negative aspects which

Other EU Other Non-EU

16% 17%

Arable conferences The arable conferences featured debates, panel sessions and seminars on a vast array of topics affecting both the UK and global arable sector. The panel session on Brexit discussed what might be in store as 2020 draws closer.

The panel consisted of Meurig Raymond, National Farmers Union president; David Caffall, chief executive of the Agricultural Industries Confederation; Ruth Bailey, CEO of the Agricultural Engineers Association; Sir Peter Kendall, AHDB chair; and Paul Temple, AHDB chair (cereals and oilseeds).

There was unanimous agreement that a post-Brexit trade deal was needed which would not disadvantage UK farmers.

While they all recognised the potential Brexit could impose on them. The potential cut in farm subsidies for UK producers was an obvious concern.

They were also quite concerned about the availability of labour.

The situation demands that there

opportunities Brexit presents to the sector, the uncertainties surrounding their departure from the EU have already affected the sector.

Meurig said that if a trade deal is not struck, the Government will have to commit significant funds towards agriculture.

“For me, the trade deal is the most important issue.

“If we end up with a fair trade deal we can look forward in an optimistic manner to an ambitious agricultural policy.

“But if we get a bad deal, the argument will be that we will need a good degree of financial support.”

David Caffall, AIC, said the effects of continued financial uncertainty created

by Brexit have already forced some of the organisation’s members, which comprise mainly UK agricultural input suppliers, to delay or cancel important investment decisions.

Ruth Bailey, AEA, represents the UK farm machinery and components sector, worth over £4bn, and she stated that 60% of the sector’s exports go to the EU market, while 75% of its imports arrive from Europe. She stressed the need for a smooth policy which minimises the effects of leaving the single currency and customs union.

“So we are looking for a smooth trading policy and as soft a Brexit as is possible. But there is an opportunity to become a highly efficient and highly productive leader in technology.” needs to be joined-up thinking between government, farmers, businesses and everyone else along the supply chains.

But this is not happening according to these growers and a feeling of powerlessness is prevalent.

MACHINERY 8 July 2017

Cultivating

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34 MACHINERY

IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

UNDER THE HOOD Highlights from Crops & Cultivation

I

n this week’s machinery section, I look back at a massively successful Crops & Cultivation event in Oak Park last week and pick out some of the interesting pieces of kit from the show both from the demonstration plots and from the static displays.

In the vintage section, Peter Thomas Keaveney went south to Cork to the first-ever working day of the Irish County Tractor Owners Club and found a field full of seriously impressive classic old Alistair blues. The club ran a very successful event Chambers and it was great to see so many old county variants at work.

In motoring, I report on a week I spent at the wheel of the Skoda Kodiaq seven-seater SUV. I found it to be a really good option for people who need the extra seating.

With the arrival of the second tranche of TAMS II Tillage on Saturday and the first sight of the specifications and reference costings early this week, we look at the main change – the inclusion of full fertilser spreaders with GPS control. It seems that the new specifications and costings for these machines will work in the main.

A range of fertiliser spreaders on display at the Crops & Cultivation event last week.

Competition winner

Congratulations to Paul Noonan, Co Longford, who was the winner of the recent mower competition in the Irish Farmers Journal. Paul is pictured along with this father Larry receiving his prize of a brand New Kverneland TA 2624 mower from Allan Hetherington of Kverneland Group Ireland and John Mc Dermott of D&E McHugh, Paul’s local Kverneland dealer. Well done Paul and happy mowing for many seasons to come.

achambers@farmersjournal.ie

Phone: 01224 426001 (Aberdeen) or 0141 301 1044 (Glasgow) Our workshop manuals contain clear and concise repair instructions with photos, illustrated diagrams, line drawings and include all fits, timings and tolerances which are required to carry out repairs.

For a wide range of tractor workshop manuals call the Farmers Journal Store on 01224 426001 or 0141 301 1044

MACHINERY 35

FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

FTMTA NEWS

FTMTA AGM The 2017 annual general meeting of the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) will take place at 12pm on Thursday 7 September at the FTMTA offices near Naas. Full details, including the agenda and associated material, will be issued by email only to FTMTA member firms in due course.

FTMTA ProDealer credit policy

Be a part of a stronger farm machinery industry – join the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association – contact FTMTA at 045 409309 or membership @ftmta.ie for details.

In the midst of the busiest months of the year for mechanised activity on Irish farms and consequently a busy time in farm machinery businesses, it is an opportune time for FTMTA member firms to consider implementation of the FTMTA ProDealer credit policy. The policy was designed a number of years ago to improve the cashflow position in the farm machinery industry by tackling the long-standing issues around credit in the sector.

The viability and sustainability of the

farm machinery sector overall and of many individual businesses within the sector is undermined by inadequate control of credit. Many dealerships have levels of outstanding debtors that are totally disproportionate to their turnover. As well as the amount owned, there is a substantial problem with the age of some of the debt. Such a situation, in the long term, benefits neither supplier nor customer.

The FTMTA believes that it is in the interests of our members’ customers that a viable, local, farm machinery industry continues to exist to deliver the support that they require within their farming businesses. The level of support required by modern farm machinery can only be provided by well-funded, professional,

farm machinery businesses and credit management has a role to play in this.

The association calculated some years ago that it was costing many dealerships up to 20% of the book value of their debtors to collect the money owed. This was made up of staff costs, cost of money and write-downs. It seems unlikely that any sector can sustain such a cost and the farm machinery trade certainly cannot.

The sector is one of extremely tight margins and much reduced credit from suppliers at the wholesale level in comparison to that enjoyed in years gone by.

The benchmark figure to gauge the health of the farm machinery sector has traditionally been the registrations of new tractors.

A look at the current numbers gives

an indication of how challenging a business environment the farm machinery sector is to operate in. The registrations of tractors fell by 13% in the first five months of the year when compared with 2016 and is slightly less than one third of the level of registrations in the same period of 2008, the last year prior to the downturn.

Credit can be an important aspect of any business relationship and the FTMTA ProDealer credit policy very much allows for the provision of credit but on an agreed and controlled basis to the benefit of both parties.

FTMTA member firms should contact the FTMTA office to receive their copy of the full FTMTA ProDealer credit policy which will be issued by post.

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JH Fitzpatricks and McHale demonstration day

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The JH Fitzpatricks and McHale demonstration day took place last Friday on the old Limerick road out of Monasterevin, Co Kildare.

Mchale had a full set of its grass equipment from the front and rear mower combo, an f5600 and f5500 baler, orbital wrapper and a Fusion 3 plus on show. Fitzpatricks had a fleet of the latest Case IH tractors on show, including the new Optum 300 which was attached to the McHale mower combination and made for an impressive sight as it knocked grass for the rest of the machines to bale and wrap. The day was a success, with a good crowd coming along to see the machines at work.

Scenes from the JH Fitzpatricks and McHale demonstration day.

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36 MACHINERY

IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL 6DWXUGD\ -XO\ Saturday 8 July 2017

Mean machines on Alistair Chambers looks at some of the show highlights from Crops & Cultivation

A

t the arable event of the year in Carlow last week there was a massive turn out of machinery and farmers, with 4,000 people attending the free event. The demonstration area was set up to show the main methods of crop establishment available in Ireland. Across 19 different plots, four differing methods were demon-

VIDEO ONLINE

watch the video on farmersjournal.tv

strated – conventional plough, min-till, strip till and direct drilling. Running beside these demonstrations was a large static display area where all the manufacturers showed off their latest equipment, from combines to small pneumatic seeders for cover crop establishment.

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MACHINERY 37

FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

the market now KUHN

Kuhn demonstrated the latest in its one-pass equipment, which can be used after a plough or after a min-till cultivator.

The Kuhn cultimer 3000 consists of a duck foot share which allows for shallow stubble cultivation from 3cm to 7cm. For deeper stubble cultivaWLRQ WKH oQV RQ WKH OHJV allow you to go from 5cm to 15cm. The mounted drill on display was the LC 300 pneumatic drill with disc coulters. This was mounted on the latest YHUVLRQ RI D oUP IDYRXULWH on Irish farms, the Kuhn power harrow.

The model number now is the HR 3004. These power harrows feature an improved headstock design with higher top-link attachment and increased clearance for easier coupling to modern, large frame tractors.

JOHN DEERE

The 750A All-Till drill was used in the demonstration area.

This pneumatic drill from John Deere can work in different systems, Conventional, minimum or no till. Giving precise seed placement in all conditions. On this occasion, the drill

was used as a direct drill.

The opening for the seed placement is opened by 36 457mm discs working at 16.6 cm spacings, giving this machine a ground-gobbling 6m width. The machine that was used at the show has since been sold to an Irish farm and will be in use this autumn.

AMAZONE

Farrmhand brought along the latest in spreading technology from Amazone, the ZA-V 3200. This machine gives precise spread patterns at working widths of up to 36m. If you FKRRVH HLWKHU WKH 7URQLF RU +\GUR VSHFLoFDWLRQV ,62%86 FRPHV DV VWDQGDUG 6RIW %DOOLVWLF 6\VWHP 6%6 IRU PRUH gentle handling of the fertiliser is standard across the whole range. The spreading discs are easily adjusted using the QuickSet system. For headland spreading, the hydraulic Limiter V or the electrically actuated Limiter V+ border spreading systems can both be variably adjusted.

WEAVING

Anner Agri demonstrated the GD 3,000m direct drill. The PRXQWHG *' 'ULOO LV DQ DIIRUGDEOH pH[LEOH DQG PDQRHXYUDEOH zero-till drilling system for all farm sizes. A slimline 1,600-litre hopper provides operators with ample capacity. Fitted with an easily accessible pneumatic metering unit accom-

panied by RDS Artemis Lite, calibration is fast and simple. A closed hydraulic circuit provides individual coulter pressure, helping to maintain consistent ground contact across undulations, with an accurate sowing depth. The little Weaving was my star of the show due to its simplicity and ease of use.

38 MACHINERY

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

VINTAGE

Irish County Tractor Club hosts first working event Peter Thomas Keaveney visited the Irish County Tractor Club’s first working event, which took place just outside Araglin, Kilworth, Co Cork, on Saturday 24 June

W

ith the sun beaming down on these glorious restored machines, a total of 12 County tractors could be seen working on the day. These included a number of 1184s, 1174s, 1164s, 1124s, a County 754, a 6610 4E (only six of these tractors were ever made) and a 7600 4.

This event is part of a silage working day which vintage enthusiasts run every year on the farm of Jack Hyland.

There was a total of 14 vintage harvesters cutting silage on the day. These included eight single-chop harvesters, five double-chop harvesters and one trailed precision-chop harvester.

Spectators could witness Taarup, JF, John Wilder, Kidd and New Holland harvesters being operated. There was also a number of other vintage tractors being worked by people who have supported this event from the very beginning.

Members of the club worked all of the County tractors together for an hour and, after that, everyone with vintage machinery was allowed to cut away until all of the silage was gathered.

The club was extremely satisfied with how its first working day went. Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, club treasurer Kieran O’Donoghue said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better day out. We had sunshine, beautiful scenery and a venue to work and test our machines.”

The club expressed its gratitude to Jack and the Hyland family for providing a wonderful day. It was certainly a most enjoyable event to attend, with all members and associates sitting down to lunch before the event commenced and again for dinner afterwards. Without the help and support from Jack, his wife Bernie and their family, the working day would not have been possible, according to the club.

After the silage cutting finished up, club members had a get-together in the barn for the evening, with traditional music and dancing taking place until the small hours of Sunday morning. Many neighbours and friends joined in and a great night was had by all.

History The first meeting of the Irish County Tractor Club took place on Saturday 4 February 2017 in The City North Hotel, Dublin. There were a total of 25 members

in attendance. At this meeting the following committee was formed – president: John Dan O’Hare; chair: Francie McBride; vice-chair: Michael Howey; secretary: Martin Everard; treasurer: Kieran O’Donoghue; technical representatives: Dan Flynn, Ken Cooke and Jimmy Cotter.

The official launch of the club took place in Nutts Corner, Co Antrim, in April 2017 as part of the Ford 100 celebrations.

The club had a total of 42 County tractors on display at the launch.

Francie McBride, a County enthusiast and collector, is the man that put forward the idea of forming the club.

“My son Joe gave me the idea one day when we were working with our vintage machinery. Joe is 16 years of age and he is also passionate about all things vintage.

“Shortly after this, I was away on a trip with some like-minded vintage enthusiasts and I proposed the idea of the club at the dinner table. I got a really positive response from everyone. We all had a strong network of friends through attending vintage machinery events around the country. It just developed from there.”

Members from the club outlined that Mark Osbourne, the brand owner of County Tractors, was very happy for the club to form and that he wished the club every success into the future.

Future The club intends to run two more working events in the 2017 calendar. These consist of another silage working day in the northern part of the country in August and a ploughing event in September.

Members explained that the club does not intend on organising any public events, simply because it hasn’t got the manpower to steward such events. There are currently over 40 members from all over the country in the club, with the number steadily increasing. The club encourages any County tractor enthusiasts to get in contact and join. Any interested people should contact Francie on 086-363 5056 or Martin on 086-858 2693 for more information.

The Irish County Tractor Club is intended to be a working club. Members set up the club so proud County owners can work their tractors and machines among one another.

Kieran O’Donoghue with his County 1164 tractor and a push off buckrake on the silage pit. \ Ger Donovan

Club president John Dan O’Hare, Banbridge, Co Down, taking part in the Irish County Tractor Club vintage silage working day in Araglen, Co Cork. \ Donal O’Leary

The club is for similar minded individuals to come together, while there is also a huge social aspect to the club. The club is non-profit and non-fundraising orientated.

Upcoming vintage event The Coolmine and Moyglass Vintage Club will host a silage extravagnza on 29 July 2018 (yes, 2018, not 2017) in Fethard, Co Tipperary.

The Irish County Tractor Club will be

MACHINERY 39

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

Tractors in action at the vintage silage working day. \ Donal O’Leary

UNRESERVED

VINTAGE & CLASSIC TRACTOR AUCTION When:

Where:

Viewing:

Saturday 15th July Naas Auction Centre, Naas Industrial Estate, From 11.30am Naas, Co Kildare

The Irish County Tractor Club vintage silage working day in Araglen, Co Cork. \ Donal O’Leary

Auctions with Results

Thurs& Fri 13th & 14th July 10am – 5pm

Paul Cooke Auctions, Irelands Leading Auction Centre, Have Been Instructed To Sell A Large Selection Of Vintage Tractors From A Private Collection By UNRESERVED Public Auction On Saturday 15th July From 11.30am at Paul Cooke Auctions, Naas Auction Centre, Naas Industrial Estate, Naas, Co. Kildare

OVER 40 UNRESERVED Lots MUST BE SOLD to include:

International 454

Massey Ferguson 185 Multi-power

Massey Ferguson 230

McCormick International B275

Massey Ferguson 265

Nuffield 3.45

1969 Zetor 2511

1953 Ferguson 20D

Massey Ferguson 135

Ferguson 35 Copper Belly Vineyard Tractor

Ford 2000 Super Diesel

Ferguson 35 Copper Belly

Club members of the Irish County Tractor Club. \ Donal O’Leary

in full attendance and will be working its machinery on the day.

The club intends to try to have the most County Tractors ever in the one venue.

They are asking all County tractor owners to help make this possible.

In 2015, over 7,000 people attended the event where onlookers cast their eyes on 103 vintage silage harvesters in operation.

In 2018, vintage enthusiasts are hoping to have an even larger event.

For more information and Further Entries Accepted Contact:

Paul Cooke: + 353 86 406 7292 Auction Centre: +353 45 254 250

86 158 9867 Stephen McKeon:+353 McKeon: 086 158 9867 Patrick Manning: Manning:+353 086 158 9870 86 158 9870

Email: info@paulcookeauctions.com

FURTHER ENTRIES ACCEPTED

)XOO /LVWLQJ RQ ZZZ SDXOFRRNHDXFWLRQV FRP

40 MOTORING

IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

ROAD TEST Skoda Kodiaq New Skoda handles the pressure Alistair Chambers got to spend a week with the Skoda Kodiaq and found that it lived up to the hype

Once out on the motorway, the Kodiaq travels completely fuss-free at the national motorway limit and with its adaptive cruise control it is very easy and comfortable to eat up motorway miles with

Room in the back row is at a premium but will oW VRPH OLWWOH people.

T

he Skoda Kodiaq is the latest entry into the large SUV market that offers a seven-seat option.

The big Skoda is based on the same Volkswagen group chassis as the Audi Q5 and the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace which is due for launch later this year.

As I arrived to collect the Kodiaq, I couldn’t but think that after all the fuss about the arrival of this car I hoped it wouldn’t be an anticlimax. The test car that I was collecting was the 190hp fourwheel drive version with the two-litre diesel engine linked to the wheel by a DSG box.

This car has also been specified with the seven seat option and the style+ pack which gives the panoramic sunroof, electric boot opening and closing and handy tablet holders on the back of the front seat to help keep the little ones happy on a long haul. These specifications will not be the biggest seller in the Kodiaq – the standard 150hp with the manual box will be the big seller.

On the road Once on the move, as is usual with modern Skodas, the Kodiaq felt like a very well-built, solid piece of engineering. All the switchgear and fixtures and fittings were solid but by no means luxurious.

This car came with the 8in colombus touchscreen radio and infotainment system. Skoda’s system is one of the better ones on the market at the minute with all the important functions very easily accessible from the touchscreen.

Android phone and Apple CarPlay are both installed on this car.

These systems give really easy access to your phone capabilities, from simple phone calls to using the maps function on the car’s display.

The driving experience of the big Skoda is what you would expect from a car of this size. On the twistier stuff, the handling is passable when given the beans and very comfortable at slower speeds. It rides and soaks up the biggest of bumps and potholes with ease. Once out on the motorway, the Kodiaq travels completely fuss-free at the national motorway limit and with its adaptive cruise control it is very easy and comfortable to eat up motorway miles with.

Over the week and with around 1,000km covered, the diesel Skoda used close to the manufacturer’s figure of 5.7l/100km (50mpg), which for a big seven seater is very frugal. With the road tax being at £140, this makes for some fairly reasonably priced motoring.

The new Skoda Kodiaq feels like something a little special, and the fuel economy on this diesel was quite respectable.

THE

VERDICT The big Skoda arrived with lots of fanfare and to be fair it lives up to the hype. It is a brilliant car on a day-to-day basis and comes with VXIoFLHQW JDGJHWU\ WKDW LW IHHOV OLNH something a little special. The car that I drove will not be the one that most of the paying public will go for.

If you’re in the market for a seven seater SUV, the Kodiaq is the best option out there at the minute if you can get one. The kodiaq will be a huge seller once they are available in larger numbers.

The spacious boot in the seven-seat version.

ÁSkoda Kodiaq Engine

2.0 TDi

Engine power

190hp

Economy

5.7/100km

Annual road tax

£140

Price

£34,035 The driving position is comfortable even on a long run.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

FOCUS

WATER & SEPTIC TANKS

FOCUS 41

INTRODUCTION Existing systems under pressure as demand for water increases

S

ince 2010, dairy cow numbers have been on the rise. This means demand for water is on the increase too. With the increased demand, existing water systems and water wells are coming under pressure and may require upgrading. Upgrading can be a considerable investment but when you consider the fact water is crucial for milk and beef production, the cost is put into perspective.

In this Focus, we look at the installation of a water well. The installation process of these wells has come a long way.

Fifty years ago, it could take three weeks to hit water.

Today, with the help of modern machinery a new well can be drilled, lined and fitted with a pump in just three days. The Peter EPA has useful Varley guidelines on protecting wells from surface water pollution. These guidelines should be seriously considered and implemented if the water well is used for human consumption. Remember to always site a well away from septic tanks, silage pits and animal accommodation. The top of the well should be capped to protect it from wildlife.

Mineral injection systems are an ideal way for dairy farmers to improve the accuracy when feeding minerals to cows.

In this Focus, we find out why a Co Louth farmer finds this system useful on his dairy farm.

Septic tanks It’s four years since the crackdown on defective septic tanks and sewage treatment systems, and there has been very little movement in terms of upgrades. As Paul Mooney reports on page 48, to make best use of resources county councils are targeting inspections where watercourses near septic tanks are most at risk of pollution.

Approximately 1,000 domestic septic tanks have been inspected every year since the new regime was put in place.

Each year, about half these systems fail inspections. It is only when a system fails that a rural dweller may be eligible for grant aid to upgrade their system. Therefore, rural dwellers with old or defective septic tanks usually have to go to their own expense to upgrade systems. On page 49, Sean Mullooly features a Co Westmeath company that claim to have an alternative for upgrading poorly functioning existing systems.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

42 FOCUS

Corey McKeever, Tom, Eoin and Hugh Briody.

Protecting L a new well Peter Varley visited a drystock farm to see the boring of a new well designed to prevent surface water contamination

ast week, the Farmers Journal visited Corey McKeever’s farm.

A new well was in the process of being sunk on the farm to supply water for his beef and sheep enterprise.

Well drilling specialists Tom Briody and Son were installing the well on the farm. Company director Hugh Briody said some farmers are interested in investing in the protection of newly drilled wells to prevent well water becoming polluted from the surface groundwater.

Hugh said his company can finish a well to suit any customer’s budget and requirements.

“We can seal up wells far better now to prevent ground water seeping into the water source and reducing the quality of the water,” explained Hugh.

Where customer’s budgets are more

The drilling rig positioned behind the farmyard in a dry accessible area.

limited, the basic well can be installed without these sealants, according to Hugh. The well on the McKeevers’ farm was being installed with this greater level of protection. Here we go through the process involved in drilling this type of well and the time it takes.

The site Hugh says there are a number of considerations they take into account when choosing the site of a new well. The EPA recommends you keep the borehole a safe distance from any pollution risks in the farmyard. Access is a big consideration because the drilling rig cannot travel on every type of terrain. Wet weather makes access more difficult.

Rubber mats are useful in a lot of cases but if there is a considerable hill the mats might not work. Sometimes a farmer

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

FOCUS 43

ÁCost

The well structure

To bore a new standard 200ft deep well, install standard casing, supply DQG o W WKH QHZ SXPSV costs £4,400 excluding VAT. Farmers get the VAT back for well drilling. Hugh says it costs approximately £1,760 excluding VAT more to seal a well using his technique mentioned earlier.

Usually it takes two days to GLJ D ZHOO DQG o W WKH VWHHO casings. It takes another GD\ WR o W WKH SXPS DQG pressure vessel. He says all new wells are disinfected with chlorine to EPA guidelines to kill off any bacteria that might be present.

A stainless steel cap at the top of the well to prevent vermin falling in.

A 5in PVC well casing lined from top to bottom.

12-in diameter borehole.

10-in steel casing.

42ft

57ft

10-in borehole.

Cement grout seal.

6-in steel casing.

Borehole continues to a depth of 220ft

Open 6in borehole.

10in and 6in diameter steel casings that are used in wells to prevent debris entering the water.

might put down a temporary roadway so the rig can travel to the site.

Hugh says ideally he tries to avoid depressions in the ground, the area should be close to a power source and well away from animal housing or septic tanks.

“You should site the well where it won’t be at risk of contamination but still close enough to the farmyard for convenience” he explained. Hugh says they don’t rely on divining and are happy to drill once the site fits the criteria mentioned earlier. “You really don’t know what you are going to hit until you dig,” he explained.

“We obviously cannot set up where there are overhead power lines because the tower of the rig is 45ft high and we have to be careful of underground electricity or gas mains too,” said Hugh. The drilling rig was set up in a dry area at the back of Corey’s farmyard.

Drilling

The drill bit on the rig is rotating constantly as it enters the ground. Air is simultaneously being pumped into the drill bit to create a hammer affect allowing the drill to get through hard material such as boulder clay and bedrock.

Drill cuttings of clay and bedrock are brought to the surface via pumped air.

The graphic on the facing page shows the different depths the borehole for the well was dug on Corey’s farm. The first part of the borehole was drilled at 12in diameter to a depth of 42ft, through boulder clay and bedrock. A 10in steel casing was then placed in this section.

From there, they drilled a hole 10in in diameter from 42ft to 57ft. A 6in tubular steel casing was placed in this section and centred in the borehole. This left a void of 2in between the bedrock and the

steel casing. A cement grout seal was placed in this void to help prevent groundwater seeping from above straight into the water source. From there, a 6in diameter open borehole was drilled from 57ft to 220ft. When the drilling is over, the well is air developed (cleaned) and the water supply is monitored. In this well Corey was fortunate enough to have a supply of 750 gallons/ hour. Hugh says this is a good supply. He said supply can vary from 30 gallons/ hour to as high as 10,000 gallons/hour.

A dairy cow can drink 90l of water a day, a beef animal can drink 45l/day and a sheep can drink 20l/day. When the well is air-developed, 220ft of 5in slotted PVC liner is fitted from top to bottom. The well liner protects the borehole and it also protects the submersible pump, cable and piping.

Pumping

The size of the submersible pump used depends on the requirements of the farm and dwelling house and it also depends on the depth of the well. A 1.5hp pump was used on Corey’s farm which can deliver 40l to 50l of water per minute on average. The pump is suspended by a nylon rope. Hugh says it is very important that the headworks of the well (where the well meets the surface) is above ground. He uses a stainless steel cap to protect the top of the well from vermin. In the shed nearby a 200l pressure YHVVHO ZLOO EH o WWHG 7KH SUHVVXUH YHVVHO LV D JUHDW ZD\ RI reducing the amount of times the pump has to cut in/out.

It is only when the pressure in the vessel drops below a certain level that the pump switches on to replace the water used and build pressure in the vessel again. Hugh says all existing pumps and pressure vessels on farms should be serviced at least once annually. A full service costs £150 and during the service checks are carried out on pressure vessels to ensure they are not leaking air.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

44 FOCUS

Getting minerals to cows Mineral injection systems are getting more common in grass-based dairy systems, writes Peter Varley

O

isin Duffy, from the northeast of Ireland, worked in Cantebury, New Zealand, on dairy farms for two years. He formed a partnership with his father Niall and started dairying on a greenfield site in 2012 where they used to run a beef enterprise.

Through leasing, the farm has been expanded to 70ha and they now milk 180 cows. They built a new 24-unit parlour on the farm and installed a new water system. Oisin’s plan was to set up a low-cost grass-based system, similar to the systems he worked on in Canterbury.

The first year they started milking he was finding it difficult to supply cows with minerals.

“I was putting out licks and putting it through the meal but it was hard to know which cows were using them and if they were getting enough,” explained Oisin.

Because options were limited, they were forced to feed more meal throughout the year to make sure cows were getting enough minerals.

The Duffys decided to install a Terra Liquid Minerals mineral injection system, which mixes minerals through the water system automatically every day. Oisin said the installation has helped him make the low-cost system successful because it reduced the dependence on concentrates. Now the Duffys feed less than 500kg of concentrates annually and meal feeding usually ends once breeding time is over. Oisin said because there was a good mineral source in the water, soya hulls was an adequate feed.

A mole plough being used to lay heavy duty piping to service more paddocks.

To sinks and taps

ÁCost  Mineral injection system £1,540.  Magnesium: 2p - 9p/animal/day.  Minerals: 4p/animal/day.  40mm piping installed £2/m (based on a minimum of 1,500m install).  Electro Fusion joint £18 each.  Isolation valve £31 each.  10,000 litre storage tank £1,364.  300 gallon concrete trough, bottom HQWU\ ZLWK IXOO p RZ EDOOFRFN d  5LVHUV LQFOXGLQJ SLSLQJ DQG o WWLQJ £31 each.

All prices are excluding VAT.

The system Valve Hot water cylinder

Plate cooler

To sheds

Pump 2 Water storage tank Minerals controller Min water level Ballcock top-up

Valve

Well with submersible pump

Pump 1

7R o HOGV

Back-up from well

Wash down

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

FOCUS 45

through water system Water system 7HUUD VHUYLFHV DOVR VHW XS WKH ZDWHU system on the Duffys’ farm. They use D VSHFLDO PROH SORXJK WR EXU\ WKH SLSH ZRUN IW LQ WKH JURXQG /DVW ZHHN ZKHQ WKH Irish Farmers Journal FDOOHG WR WKH IDUP WKH V\VWHP ZDV EHLQJ H[WHQGHG WR UHDFK PRUH SDGGRFNV $OO WKH SLSLQJ LV 0'3( KHDY\ duty and 40mm diameter. The mole SORXJK ZDV YHU\ TXLFN OD\LQJ WKH SLSH ZRUN DQG D ODUJH UHHO DW WKH IURQW RI WKH SORXJK DXWRPDWLFDOO\ IHG WKH SLSH LQWR WKH JURXQG 7KH PROH SORXJK LV FRQVWDQWO\ YLEUDWLQJ ZKLFK KHOSV LW PRYH WKURXJK WKH VRLO TXLFNO\ 1R ELJ VWRQHV FDPH XS GXULQJ WKH LQVWDOODWLRQ DQG WKHUH ZDVQ W PXFK GLVWXUEDQFH WR WKH JURXQG :KHQ WKH PDFKLQH WUDFNHG EDFN RYHU WKH

Electro fusion joints in the process of being fused.

The electro fusion joints are used in the gas industry worldwide, guaranteeing no liquids are released through the joints

10,000 litre water storage tank and Terra Liquid Minerals mineral containers for the injection system.

Tom Hennessy and Anne O’Dwyer from Terra Liquid Minerals pictured with Oisin Duffy on his farm in Louth Village.

How it works

On the Duy farm, the main supply of water comes from a well. They also have a council supply they can fall back on.

The graphic shows how the system works. Water from the well ows through the plate cooler where milk is cooled before it enters the bulk storage tank.

After the water passes through the plate cooler it enters a 10,000 litre plastic water storage tank. The tank is outside the dairy.

A pump inside is used to pump water from this tank to troughs in the winter accommodation and to troughs in the paddocks. Another pump is used to supply water for washing down the parlour.

Tom Hennessy from Terra Liquid Minerals said they always install two separate pumps on farms. This is because cows will drink most after milking, which is also the time farmers are washing down the parlour. He said if there was only one pump farmers might decide to switch o the supply to the paddocks to increase the pressure for washing the parlour but easily forget to turn on the parlour supply again.

After the pump the injection system is connected to the water supply and this is regulated by a water meter. The water meter is connected to the Terra controller. This monitors the Duy herd water intake and can compensate dosing to ensure accurate daily delivery. Magne-

sium and minerals are injected separately. This is because higher volumes of magnesium are used in the spring. “That magnesium might have to be ďŹ lled once a month while the minerals could last for two to three months,â€? said Oisin.

Tom said you can alter the herd numbers or dosage settings in the Terra Controller at any time. He said this is a good way of eliminating wastage and ensuring accurate mineral delivery at all times.

According to Oisin, Terra Liquid Minerals delivery drivers monitor and refill minerals as needed. When your minerals are running low, the system sends an alert to Terra to replenish stock so the farmer won’t run out.

WUHQFK DQ\ ORRVH PDWHULDO VHWWOHG EDFN QLFHO\ 7KLV GUXPOLQ W\SH JURXQG ZDV SHUIHFW IRU WKH PROH SORXJK LW PLJKW QRW EH DV VXLWDEOH LQ VWRQLHU oHOGV \RX ZRXOG LPDJLQH 7KH DUP RI WKH SORXJK FDQ PRYH OHIW DQG ULJKW VR WKDW SLSH FDQ EH EXULHG WLJKW WR D GLWFK LI QHHGV EH ,QWHUHVWLQJO\ HOHFWUR IXVLRQ MRLQWV ZHUH XVHG instead of standard joiners. Tom says they are used to ensure there are no OHDNDJHV LQ WKH V\VWHP “The electro fusion joints are used in WKH JDV LQGXVWU\ ZRUOGZLGH JXDUDQWHHLQJ QR OLTXLGV DUH UHOHDVHG WKURXJK WKH MRLQWV y 7RP H[SODLQHG 7R oW WKHVH SLSLQJ LV SXVKHG LQWR WKH MRLQHU WKH V\VWHP XVHV HOHFWULFDO currents to melt the joiner and pipe WRJHWKHU PDNLQJ LW RQH VROLG XQLW ,W WDNHV VHFRQGV WR KHDW WKH FRSSHU LQVLGH WKH MRLQHU DQG DSSUR[LPDWHO\ 10 minutes for it to cool.

8VXDOO\ WKH 7HUUD VHUYLFHV WHDP ZLOO oW DOO WKH MRLQHUV WR VHUYLFH ZDWHU WURXJKV oUVW :KHQ DOO WKH MRLQWV DUH VHW WKH ZDWHU will be turned on to ensure there are QR OHDNV 2QFH WKH\ KDYH HVWDEOLVKHG WKHUH DUH QR OHDNV WKH MRLQHUV DUH buried too.

BeneďŹ ts 7RP FODLPV WKHUH DUH D QXPEHU RI EHQHoWV WR LQVWDOOLQJ D mineral injection system on a farm which include: Ă‚ $XWRPDWHG GRVLQJ UHGXFHV ODERXU UHTXLUHPHQWV VDYLQJ time and money. Ă‚ 7UDQVSDUHQW PLQHUDO GRVLQJ HQVXUHV DOO DQLPDOV UHFHLYH WKH FRUUHFW YROXPH RI PLQHUDOV Ă‚ ,PSURYHG KHUG KHDOWK Ă‚ 5HGXFHV ZDVWH KHOSLQJ WR FXW FRVWV Ă‚ &RQWLQXDO PDLQWHQDQFH SURYLGHG IUHH RI FKDUJH Ă‚ &DQ EH oWWHG WR DQ\ H[LVWLQJ ZDWHU SLSLQJ V\VWHP 2LVLQ VDLG KH QRWLFHG D GLIIHUHQFH VWUDLJKW DZD\ ZKHQ KH LQVWDOOHG WKH V\VWHP k7KH FRZV FRDWV ZHUH VKLQLHU PLON \LHOG ZHQW XS WKHUH ZHUH YHU\ IHZ SUREOHPV DW FDOYLQJ DQG FDOYHV seemed healthierâ€? he said.

IRISH FARMERS FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL 6DWXUGD\ -XO\ Saturday 8 July 2017

46 FOCUS

Irish septic tank inspections are heading for 4,000 PAUL MOONEY NEWS CORRESPONDENT pmooney@farmersjournal.ie

County councils have inspected an estimated 4,000 rural domestic septic tanks around the country since the current inspection regime began four years ago.

The figure is an estimate because the number of inspections carried out in 2016 by the country’s 29 local authorities is still being centrally collated and totalled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

But testing is continuing at a rate of about 1,000 per year. The total inspected so far is a small fraction of the 400,000 domestic septic tanks in the country.

However, to make best use of available resources, county councils are targeting inspections at areas where water quality is known to be vulnerable and problems are occurring. As a result, the rate of failure has been relatively high at approximately 50%. No signiďŹ cant change in this is expected for 2016 or indeed 2017.

The graphic shows the number of inspections carried out in 2015, the most recent year for which totals are available.

Local authorities were given a target of doing 1,000 inspections.

The counties with the highest targets were Cork, Donegal and Galway, followed

by Mayo and Wexford. In total ,1,097 inspections were carried out. Of these, 608 passed and 489 failed.

All 489 householders that failed were given an advisory notice instructing them to replace or ďŹ x their septic tanks. Eight months later, just over half had carried out this work and their advisory notices were deemed “closedâ€?. The other half had yet to carry out this work. Extension had been granted to 59 householders.

Percentage of failed septic tank inspections

Donegal 35 (22)

(Number of inspections in brackets)

Leitrim 37 (43)

Monaghan 30 (33) Cavan Louth 38 Mayo 39 Roscommon (39) 70 (28) 75 (27) Longford (28) Meath 19 Dublin (16)Westmeath 49 68 (43) 31 Galway (5) (16) 30 Offaly Kildare 29 17 (14) Wicklow Laois (29) 34 43 (35) Clare (23) 39 Carlow (49) 18 Tipperary (11) 22 Limerick Kilkenny Wexford (37) 76 63 58 (51) (32) (105) Sligo 59 (34)

Kerry 43 (68)

Waterford 16 (25)

Cork 59 (99)

0-30 30-60 60-90

Grants Household income 8S WR ø ø ø 2YHU ø

The trends

% of approved costs available

1R JUDQW DYDLODEOH

 Older units had a higher failure rate.  7KH PRVW FRPPRQO\ LGHQWLoHG SUREOHP ZDV SRRU RSHUDtion and general maintenance  1H[W ZDV LQDGHTXDWH HPSW\LQJ GHVOXGJLQJ ‹ DJDLQ D maintenance issue.  1H[W ZDV GLVFKDUJH WR VXUIDFH ZDWHU RU DQRWKHU W\SH RI OHDN IURP WKH V\VWHP ‹ XVXDOO\ D GHVLJQ RU LQVWDOODWLRQ issue.  /HVV FRPPRQO\ SLQSRLQWHG ZHUH URRI ZDWHU RU VXUIDFH ZDWHU HQWHULQJ WKH V\VWHP DQG VXUIDFH SRQGLQJ $JDLQ WKHVH DUH GHVLJQ LQVWDOODWLRQ SUREOHPV

Maximum grant available ø ø 1R JUDQW DYDLODEOH

Grant scheme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ø DQG WKH WRWDO JUDQW DLG SDLG RXW LV ø

Retro-ďŹ t An Athlone-based company has a new system for enhancing the treatment of sewage coming from existing septic tanks, writes Sean Mullooly

I

n Ireland, septic tanks and percolation areas are the main method of treating waste from rural dwellings. However, many of the systems in place are not working eectively and are failing to treat sewage properly. Rectifying problems with sewage systems can be diďŹƒcult and costly. Many older systems are no longer ďŹ t for purpose and should be replaced with a new treatment system.

FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

FOCUS 47

The water on the left is from the old septic tank and the ZDWHU RQ WKH ULJKW LV DIWHU LW KDV EHHQ WKURXJK WKH ,6.$ oOWUDWLRQ V\VWHP An ISKA system in place beside a traditional septic tank. No major excavation work is required for its installation.

7KH oOWUDWLRQ EHDGV DUH VSHFLDOO\ GHVLJQHG WR PD[LPLVH VXUIDFH DUHD IRU EDFWHULD WR JURZ

septic tank treatment There are local authority grants available for replacing sewage systems.

Unfortunately, rural dwellers cannot avail of them until their existing facility fails an inspection. This can be frustrating for people with a defective sewage treatment system because they cannot request an inspection.

A new company called Iska Water Treatments claims to have an alternative solution for people with defective septic tanks who cannot afford to replace the system. It consists of an apparatus retro fitted above ground to a pre-existing one/two chamber septic tank system.

It was designed by engineer, John Scouner who claims it can almost completely purify sewage coming from a septic tank. John Scouner and Michael O’Sullivan are business partners in Iska

Water Treatments, which is based in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

The company is two years in operation and research has been carried out on the apparatus for four years. The Irish Farmers Journal visited a rural dwelling house in the midlands to see the system fitted and find out how it works.

How it works John says when your septic tank and percolation area fails, the septic tank fills up with waste water. This system sucks in the waste with an electric power pump, filters it and puts it into the percolation area at 93% purity in a 100% biological way, he claimed.

“A normal septic tank sends out 40% pure water into the percolation area and it is the other 60% that blocks up

the percolation area and causes the system to fail over time,” said John. He said their system works by lifting a set quantity of soiled water from the septic tank.

“The water is treated with biological bacteria in the tank. The bacteria breaks down the suspended solids and other waste and the water, which is 93% pure, is pumped into the percolation area. A very small amount of solids are gathered and returned to the septic tank,” explained John.

He said the amount it lifts and the frequency that it lifts can be adjusted to accommodate different-sized households. If the number of people in the house changes during the year, like at Christmas, the system can be adapted for this. It can also be turned off at night when no water is being used.

ÁCost This system and installation costs £1,751 including vat. Michael claims this is a low-cost alternative to replacing an existing system which could cost up to £8,800. “It takes one hour to install whereas a traditional septic tank could take a few days,” said Michael. He said it could be a useful addition to new installations too. “Even if you do reinstall a traditional septic tank there’s a high possibility that the system will fail again because of the poor soakage and T value in the soil.”

John said the unit is ideal for a lot of gardens that are not accessible for a digger. “Our system can be installed in almost any space it is not very big at 1.6m x 1.3m x 0.8m or heavy at 45kg empty.”

According to Michael, this is the only system of its kind in Europe. They currently have a patent pending and its SHUIRUPDQFH KDV EHHQ (1 FHUWLoHG LQ FRXQWULHV WKDW H[SHrience extremes in temperature. Michael said the system is approved for grant aid in Ireland.

IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

48 AGRIBUSINESS

AgriBusiness

Eoin Lowry (01) 4199500 elowry@farmersjournal.ie @FJAgribiz

Strong M&A activity in the Irish food sector Despite Brexit, the level of mergers and acquisitions in the Irish agri-food sector shows continued strength in the first half of 2017.

Eoin Lowry reports

Scale creates a meaningful market presence, which improves bargaining strength with both suppliers and customers

T

he first six months of 2017 have proven to be another active period for mergers and acquisitions in the Irish agri-food sector. Even in the past couple of weeks, JBS announced it was to sell Moy Park, ABP extended its relationship with Linden and Carton Brothers sold Manor Farm to Scandi Standard.

This is on top of acquisitions or mergers completed recently by Glanbia, Dawn Meats, Liffey Meats, Dunbia, Carroll Cuisine, Wilbay and La Rousse Foods to name just a few.

Jan Fitzell, director of IBI Corporate Finance, explains that the recent strength in activity is down to a growing level of confidence among Irish players in the sector. While Brexit is on their agenda, the main driver of activity continues to be the push for scale.

“There are many food companies here generating sales of less than £8.8 m,” says Fitzell. However, he adds that the relative small size of the Irish market acts as a constraint on growth and so there are very few food companies with sales greater than £44m.

He says scale creates a meaningful market presence, which improves bargaining strength with both suppliers and customers. For example, the recently completed sale by Glanbia plc, of 60% of its branded consumer dairy and agribusiness division, Dairy Ireland, to Glanbia co-op is reflective of this trend. He explains that with annual revenues of £1.3bn, Glanbia Ireland will be the largest dairy processor in Ireland with significant brand capability, which will enable it to unlock synergies to maximise opportunities from the growth in milk supply.

He says another major motivating factor behind many M&A deals is to bring cost efficiencies. By combining the assets and resources of both businesses, capacity can be increased allowing it to lower the cost of production, improving competitiveness. For example, he says the purchase of Wilbay Ltd, a Laois-based meat wholesaler, by Monaghan-based sausage producer, Arthur Mallon Foods in 2016 created a significant domestic meat wholesaling and processing group with greater purchasing power and a broader customer base.

One of the big drivers of M&A activity has been slowing levels of growth in mature markets. This is creating an environment for innovative, fast-growing startups to come under the radar of larger, slower-growth corporations, according to Fitzell.

Scale creates a meaningful market presence, which improves bargaining strength with both suppliers and customers.

He says that businesses may seek to purchase a distribution company to push more, and in some cases new products through to customers. The 2015 sale of La Rousse Foods, which supplies premium food restaurants and caterers to Aryzta, was a prime example of this.

“We are seeing more food producers trying to move up the value chain by developing branded products to try capture more profit margin,” says Fitzell. But he warns that branded food products are under increasing pressure from cheaper own-label products. Second-tier brands are particularly vulnerable to this while the strong, market-leading brands are holding their own. For this reason, brand leaders tend to be very attractive acquisition targets for active consolidators in the sector.

Fitzell says the acquisition by private equity fund, Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), of Tullamore-based branded chilled food business, Carroll Cuisine in 2015 was a case in point. He explains that Carroll Cuisine was as a proven company driven by a brand which had consumer appeal coupled with a track record of growth and innovation.

International expansion He says Brexit for some food companies will mean shifting away from the UK market to diversify into other geographies. However, he says on the other hand, some major players are examining whether it makes sense to make acquisitions in the UK to protect against the threat of customs levies.

“Irish-owned businesses are currently punching above their weight in terms of international expansion, particularly in the meat processing sector,” according to Fitzell. For example, Dawn Meats purchased a 49% stake in Elivia, France’s second largest beef and veal processor, in 2015. The deal also included an option for Dawn to increase its stake in Elivia,

which has a £0.9bn turnover, to 70% by 2019.

Another recent Irish success story was the acquisition by Cavan-based Liffey Meats of a majority shareholding in the French meat processor, Chiron Viandes, which specialises in producing frozen hamburgers for supermarkets. ABP also recently expanded its operations in Poland with the acquisition of a third production facility in eastern Poland.

He says Valeo Foods, the branded food company, has also expanded geographically in recent years. Established in 2010 through the merger of Batchelors and Origin Foods, Valeo added Rowse Honey, the largest producer of honey in the UK, to its growing stable of brands in 2014, followed by the acquisition of Balconi, an Italian bakery and confectionery producer the following year.

Ireland for sale Fitzell says Irish companies continue to attract strong interest from international investors seeking to enhance their European presence. “We also have a very strong pipeline of sale mandates for agri-food companies currently.’’

For many entrepreneurs and family businesses, the exit question is likely to rear its head at some stage. While realising value will be a key driver, there are many reasons why an owner might consider selling, according to Fitzell, including a desire to retire while not having a clear succession plan in place; a wish to expand the business as part of a larger group; or an unsolicited approach from a credible buyer.

Ireland’s meat industry is uniquely exposed to Brexit.

He says companies are realising that strategic plans cannot be put on hold to wait for final Brexit certainty.

He explains that the re-

cently announced strategic partnership between Dawn Meats and Northern Irish meat giant, Dunbia, provides Dawn with a Brexit buffer through Dunbia’s considerable UK presence – two large plants in the north and seven in Britain – as well as cementing its UK supply chain.

This followed the sale by Dunbia of its pork operation in Ballymena to listed UK agri-food group, Cranswick plc, in November 2016, which took place against the backdrop of post-Brexit uncertainty and resulted in significant synergies due to Cranswick’s specialisation in pork production.

He concludes it looks set to be a very active second half, especially given the number of acquisition searches and live acquisition mandates IBI is working on for a number of Irish food and agribusiness companies.

Jan Fitzell, director of IBI Corporate Finance.

FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

MAIN MOVERS

AGRIBUSINESS 49

+6.7%

+2.7%

+0.7%

Brent crude oil $49.70

Donegal IG €5.70

Butter €6,140/t

FBD €8.15

Kerry €73.71

Greencore £2.40

-3%

-3.9%

-4.4%

€1=

£0.8833 US$1.1321

on 13/07/2017

Milk price supports hit Centenary profits In brief

The Thurles-based co-op reported a loss for 2016 due to the cost of supporting farm-gate prices in a difficult year, writes Lorcan Allen

One51 chair retires Denis Cregan, chair of One51, has retired this week. Hugh McCutcheon has been appointed as interim chair.

Over the last five years, Cregan has stewarded One51’s transformation, after major restructuring. One51 had a turnover of £306m and operating profits of £23m in 2016.

Centenary Thurles Co-op reported an operating loss of £362,560 for its 2016 financial year. The operating loss is due to the exceptional costs incurred supporting both milk and grain prices paid to farmer members last year, which came to a combined £1.1m.

The majority of this was used supporting milk prices with just over £0.9m, or 0.7c/l, paid out in supports to dairy suppliers in 2016. Grain supports came to just over £189,200 last year.

Centenary reported a pre-tax loss for the year of £805,200 but this was related to a £1.4 m charge on the balance sheet to account for the downward movement in the co-op’s investments under the new FRS102 accounting rules. These investments include shares in Aryzta, Glanbia and One51.

Excluding this charge, the co-op would have made pre-tax profits in the region of £607,200 as a result of more than £1m received in dividends, including two special dividends paid out by Glanbia Co-op in 2016.

Centenary saw a 4% decline in sales last year to £67.1m as falling milk and feed prices more than offset higher sales volumes and farmer activity. The co-op has no debt with over £3.5m cash in the bank.

Strong milk volumes The co-op collected more than 142m litres of milk in 2016 from its 352 dairy suppliers, which represents a 7.4% increase compared with the previous year.

Centenary sells almost all of its milk on to Glanbia for processing.

Less than 3m litres are retained by the co-op for processing into liquid milk, which is sold under the Thurles Fresh milk brand.

Centenary chief executive Joe Kerrigan described the liquid milk market in Ireland as extremely competitive, with a lot of pressure being applied by own label brands in the milk aisle.

The co-op’s grain intake was down by almost 20% last year to 18,500t, as some farmers opted out of tillage farming

Donegal Investment Group sells non-core assets The proceeds of the sale of An Grianán Estate will see Donegal Investment Group receiving £154m. As at the end of August 2016, the group had net debt of £129m.

The group said that during the 12-month period ended 31 December 2016, the company earned net income of approximately £255,200 from the disposed assets. This comes on the back of an announcement last week that it had completed the sale of its UK-based premium sandwich business, Chef in a Box. These disposals represent further progress on the board’s strategy to realise the value from non-core assets.

Jameson Distillery, Midleton, Co. Cork. \ Donal O’Leary

Centenary reported a pre-tax loss for the year of €915,000.

while others scaled back.

After a difficult year in 2016, Kerrigan said the mood among farmer suppliers is much improved this year.

“The mood is excellent at the moment.

Milk prices are up from last year and input costs are still down, while weather conditions have been good,” said Kerrigan.

Based on milk collections in the first half of 2017, Kerrigan is expecting a fur-

ther 5% to 6% increase in milk supply this year.

With a significant shareholding in Glanbia, Kerrigan said the co-op is in line to receive close to £2.6m from the share spin-out following the completion of the Glanbia Ireland deal this month. He added the co-op will hold a special general meeting (SGM) to vote on transferring out the £2.6m value entitlement to farmer members of the co-op.

Glanbia plc completes Dairy Ireland deal with Glanbia Ireland The deal to buy 60% of the consumer foods and agribusiness division off Glanbia plc was completed this week after the shareholder vote held at an EGM in May. The £98.6m deal also involved a £88m spin-out for co-op shareholders and a £35.2m support fund with the coop reducing its ownership of the plc by a total of 5% to 31.5%.

Working capital The final consideration payable to Glanbia plc for the Dairy Ireland division is

60% of the Glanbia plc division Dairy Ireland is being sold to Glanbia Ireland

subject to finalisation of the value of actual working capital on the completion date, and completion accounts, which are currently being prepared. These will be published once finalised and agreed.

Glanbia Ireland will be majority-controlled by the co-op (60% ownership) with the other 40% owned by the plc. It will subsume the current Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII) joint venture, have sales of £1.3bn, control a 2.4bn litre milk pool, and include the grain and feed business, along with consumer foods.

Irish Distillers returns €2.1bn to French parent The holding company for Irish Distillers, Comrie Ltd, and owners of Jameson whiskey has returned £1.761bn to its French parent company, Pernod Ricard, by reducing the nominal share value of each issued share from £1.12 to £0.61 per share. The documents show reserves and capital levels were reduced to pay the £1.85bn to Pernod Ricard last month. As this is an internal transaction, it streamlines the capital structure of the Irish companies. Before the transaction, total assets of Comrie were just under £3.525bn.

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Glanbia chairman Henry Corbally

The Musgrave Group has reported sales up 3.4% to £3.26bn. The group owns retail brands SuperValu, Centra, and Daybreak and the wholesale brand MarketPlace.

SuperValu, Ireland’s largest grocery retailer, recorded a 2.4% increase in sales to £2.38bn in 2016. SuperValu is to invest £30.8m in store revamps. Its other brand, Centra, achieved a 3% increase in sales to reach £1.4bn in 2016. It is planning to refurbish over 100 Centra stores.

IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017 6DWXUGD\ -XO\

50 AGRIBUSINESS

20 minutes with Aidan Connolly

The crop side comprises less than 10% of turnover but shows the greatest opportunity for growth

Business brieďŹ ng

Lorcan Allen

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Goldcrop, the seed, agri-chemical and hardware supplier based in Cork, has reported pre-tax proďŹ ts of ÂŁ359,191 for its 2016 ďŹ nancial year, which is a more than 50% decline compared to the previous year.

Sales for the year were back slightly (-4%) to ÂŁ40m. The company reported a 40% decline in operating profits to ÂŁ582,273, as proďŹ t margins in 2016 narrowed 90 basis points to 1.4%.

The company said that 2016 was a very challenging year in terms of volumes and price. Grass seed sales were signiďŹ cantly back as a result of wet autumn weather and a very cold spring.

On the tillage side of the business, sales were also aected, along with margin pressure as a result of increased competition.

Goldcrop has grown through acquisitions over the years and acquired Power Seeds from Origin Enterprises in 2007.

Last year, it acquired Croplink, a supplier of crop protection products for an undisclosed sum.

Croplink had annual revenues of between £8m and £11m which doubles the size of Goldcrop’s agri-chemical sales.

Goldcrop’s bank borrowings have risen by almost £4m to £9m.

Danone has completed the sale of its US organic dairy business, Stonyfield, to rival French dairy giant Lactalis for $875m (ÂŁ678m). Danone said the sale price amounts to 20 times earnings (EBITDA) at StonyďŹ eld.

Stonyfield is an exclusively organic manufacturer of milk, cream and yoghurt products in the US with ÂŁ286m in sales last year.

The deal to sell the StonyďŹ eld business arose from an agreement struck between Danone and US competition authorities following Danone’s move to acquire WhiteWave this time 12 months ago.

The acquisition of WhiteWave, which is a US-based manufacturer of branded health foods, did not come cheap for Danone with a price tag of $12.5bn (ÂŁ10bn), or 25 times earnings. But the deal did double the size of Danone’s business in the US market. However, concerns arose among US competition authorities about the deal and Danone agreed to ooad its StonyďŹ eld business to facilitate the WhiteWave takeover. In Europe, the European Commission approved Danone’s takeover of WhiteWave in December after the dairy giant agreed to sell one of its subsidiary infant formula businesses based in Belgium.

The bottom line Having 18% of Ireland’s national milk pool dedicated to one product dependant on one market is high risk – Jim Woulfe commenting on the dependence of Irish cheddar on the UK market

How focused is China on food quality and safety?

Food safety issues are critical to the Chinese Government but many Chinese believe they are overstated. The government’s current ďŹ ve-year plan has agriculture front and centre. The government is particularly focused on air and water quality. I think China has moved away from the challenges of food availability and food prices to focus much more on food safety issues.

Many say China is unique and that relationships are vital to doing business. Is this true?

I think the idea that there are some countries out there where you can just get by without building relationships just isn’t true. Yes, it’s more emphasised culturally in China but relationship-building is the same everywhere. If you think you can y into China, get a deal and y out again, I think you are sadly mistaken – you have to have people on the ground and people who can speak Chinese.

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Why have agribusinesses focused on acquisitions recently?

A lot of the acquisitions have been about getting closer to the farmer and trying to understand more directly the farm needs.

Over the past three years, Alltech has been on an acquisition pathway, which has trebled the size of the company. We expect more in the future, with the aim to grow sales to $5bn by 2018.

Alltech’s recent acquisitions such as Keenans and E-CO2, which help farmers with carbon footprinting, have helped us to get closer to farmers.

In what area do you see the greatest growth potential for Alltech?

Crop science has a lot of opportunities, but it is a dierent cycle to animals. When you feed an ingredient to an animal you get a response in anything from three to 30 days.

With crops, the beneďŹ t may not be seen for six or nine months when you harvest the crop.

Currently, the crop side comprises less than 10% of turnover but shows the greatest opportunity for growth.

The rise of skim milk consumption 600 500 Million litres

Is Chinese agricultural production increasing?

Chinese agriculture has been changing to an extraordinary degree over the last few years and I don’t think anybody appreciates the speed of change. For example, three years ago, China had 52m sows, but today it has 36m. Yet pigmeat production is more or less the same as productivity per sow has increased dramatically. The Chinese government is focused on consolidating farms and feed mills so they can better control food safety and pollution.

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2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Whole milk

Skimmed and semi-skimmed milk

World news Ekosem increases Russian dairy herd to 27,500 Ekosem-Agrar, the German company that runs the largest dairy farm in Russia, increased its herd by 10% to 27,500 cows last year. This increase, along with a rise in milk yield per cow of close to 26l/day, saw total volume produced by Ekosem’s Russian farm increase by more than a ďŹ fth (+22%) to 220m litres in 2016.

Revenue from the sale of this milk increased 19% to just under ÂŁ66m, despite

Despite a 10% recovery in the last four years, overall liquid milk sales in Ireland have remained relatively static over the last 10 years. A 51% (73m litres) rise in the sale of skimmed and semi skimmed milk sales have balanced an 18% (70m) fall in whole milk sales.

a very weak Russian Ruble and poor milk prices. Ekosem supplies its milk to a number of processors including Danone.

The dairy farm now accounts for 50% of Ekosem’s entire business in Russia.

The German company also operates a number of beef feedlots, ďŹ nishing 40,000 mainly Angus head.

Added to this, Ekosem operates largescale cereal farms at seven locations throughout Russia. More than 220,000ha (545,000 acres) is planted in wheat, barley, oats, maize, soybeans, peas, sugar beet and potatoes every year.

Total revenue from these combined operations increased 3% to ÂŁ1312m last year, while earnings (EBITDA) fell 11% to ÂŁ44 m. This gives the group an earnings margin of 34%. Stefan Durr, the majority shareholder and managing director of Ekosem described the results as “decentâ€? in light of the weak milk prices in 2016.

FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

AGRIBUSINESS 51

Trade deal paves way for Scotch meat INDUSTRY INSIGHT Phelim O’Neill

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan had a good outing in Japan last weekend on trade discussions on access for agriculture as part of EU Japan trade deal.

T 38.5% Current tariff for beef imported into Japan – one of the highest in the world

he recent EU-Japan trade deal could be vital for gaining access for Scotch beef. While the Brexit deal will dictate the trade terms with other nations, the deal being finalised in Brussels this week could form a template for UK-Japanese trade talks.

Japan has some of the richest consumers and high food prices in the world, so gaining access offers a huge opportunity to Scottish farmers.

This deal marks something of a new world order following the collapse of the wide-ranging Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal between the USA and 11 countries that border the Pacific Ocean.

Similarly, the Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations have gone into cold storage, with no likelihood of a trade deal any time soon between the USA and the EU. Of course the policy of US President Donald Trump is more protectionist “America First” and with the UK departing the EU, it looked like the world was heading into a more protectionist era.

Post-TPP/TTIP However, the EU and Japan deal – the second- and fourth-largest trading blocs in the world – could be a deal in contrast

to the new world norm. It is seen as positive for both in the aftermath of the failed TPP or stalled TTIP talks and puts the EU and Japan to the forefront of leading global free trade.

By coincidence, the UK this week hosted a visit in the process of securing market access for beef at the same time the EU and Japan announce a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA).

The inward visit is a major step on the road to the UK recovering access to the Japanese market for the first time since BSE, over 20 years ago. If the UK can secure access, Scotland and to a slightly lesser extent Northern Ireland will be exceptionally well placed to take advantage and use the recently acquired negligible-risk BSE status to its full advantage.

Japan, like many third countries, has a rule that doesn’t permit beef from cattle over 30 months be imported from countries with a controlled-risk BSE status. That means Ireland, which has had approval since 2013, is confined to supplying beef or offal from cattle that are under 30 months, thereby completely ruling out beef from all older cattle. That should not be the case for either Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Up until this week’s agreement, exports to Japan would have been virtually im-

While Scotland shares negligible-risk status with Northern Ireland, it alone – of all the UK regions – scores with its PGI status for Scotch beef and Scotch lamb.

There is specific reference to Japan’s recognition of EU PGIs in the FTA, which is also highlighted by EU negotiators

possible, even if we had approval for market access.

This is because Japan is one of the world’s most protected agricultural markets with beef, for example, carrying a tariff up to 38.5%. With this reduced immediately to 27.5% and reducing to 9% eventually (after 15 years), this would change the economics of supplying Japan completely.

PGI status While Scotland shares negligible-risk status with Northern Ireland, it alone – of all the UK regions – scores with its PGI status for Scotch beef and Scotch lamb.

There is specific reference to Japan’s recognition of EU PGIs in the FTA, which is also highlighted by EU negotiators.

Of course, the big question now is what happens after the UK leaves the EU, possibly as soon as March 2019.

It was made clear that this agreement is with the EU 28 but also recognised that this could change later in an oblique nod to the UK’s position in the departure lounge.

However, it is one step at a time and, providing the agreement takes effect before that, Scotland’s exporters will be able to look at Japan in a way that wasn’t possible previously.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

52 AGRIBUSINESS

Global Focus Ireland should seek to persuade the UK to change its mind about leaving the EU at all points a year below the average of comparable European countries.

Former Irish prime minister John Bruton looks at the likely permutations in the ongoing Brexit negotiations

B

rexit has not yet happened. But just the prospect of Brexit has reduced the purchasing power of the pound by 10%.

The UK used to have the best of both worlds as far as the rest of Europe was concerned. It was sufficiently in the EU to exercise influence, but sufficiently out of it to maintain the sort of freedom of action that befitted its historic role.

The UK’s budget contribution had been modified through a rebate, and agricultural policy had been modified in a direction sought by the UK. That was the position that the UK held in the EU on 22 June 2016, the day before the referendum. The UK was having its European cake, and eating it at the same time. A year ago it decided to give that up.

Ireland’s position is very different from that of the UK. It has different priorities which explain why Ireland is determined to remain in a strengthened EU and is prepared to pay a price for that. In the dilemma created by this British action, nothing comes for free.

Like most of the smaller and medium-sized powers in Europe, Ireland does not have the military or economic strength to exercise the sort of freedom of action a bigger power, like the UK, France or Germany, can.

For a smaller country, the common rules guarantee it against unfair competition by an overweening bigger neighbour. They make the markets in which it competes predictable, open, and free of arbitrary behaviour. The common rules that the EU makes, and enforces, enable a country, like Ireland, to compete on equal terms for international investment. That would not be the case if bigger countries were unconstrained by the EU rule-based system. Investment would follow power.

The hard evidence of the benefit to Ireland of this aspect of EU membership is there to be seen.

Between 1950 and 1973, before it joined the common market, Ireland’s economic growth was 2 percentage

Economic growth In the period after we joined in 1973, Ireland’s economic growth has been well above the European average, and remains so to this day.

Even in fields in which it might not be directly involved, like defence, Ireland has benefitted from the fact bigger countries cooperated, through entities such as NATO and the EU, to defend a peaceful, and secure, space in our vicinity.

As the Brexit talks develop, it is important to remind ourselves of the unique benefits of EU membership for a country.

In a world where even the biggest European country can be buffeted by forces originating in other countries, the EU gives every EU country a means of regulating those forces for the common good.

It provides its member states with a common system for making, amending, enforcing and interpreting common rules in the common interest.

The fact that the rules are now common to all, means that food can be sold, airline competition can be facilitated, patents respected, and savings protected, across the whole 28 countries of the EU. The fact that these same rules can be amended democratically, in a single legislative process for all members, saves a lot of time. So does the fact that the rules will, if necessary, be enforced across Europe under the supervision of the European Commission.

Uniform These rules will also be interpreted, in a uniform way across the whole of Europe, under the aegis of the European Court of Justice. This avoids all sorts of confusion, haggling, legal expense, and duplication.

Without the EU, the UK will find that none of this would be the case. The UK will lose the benefit of common EU standards, and the right to a vote of how those standards are made, amended, interpreted, and enforced, once it leaves.

But British voters did not seem to see this a year ago. Now that it is negotiating to leave the EU, the UK may, for the first time, get a sense of what it is losing.

As a non-member of the EU, to be able sell in Europe, the UK will now have to negotiate a new deal on each topic, then agree a separate procedure

for amending, enforcing and interpreting that deal.

An initial trade and services agreement between the UK and the EU may, hopefully, be concluded sometime in the next five years.

The bigger problem will come afterwards. That will be when the UK and the EU have to update, interpret, and enforce the initial agreement. The opportunities for gamesmanship by commercial and political interests, for opportunistic blocking minorities, and for sheer bloody-mindedness are easy to imagine.

Everything will be up for grabs each time. Bureaucracies will have neverending occasions to justify their separate existence.

A British initiative But that is the path the UK has chosen.

And it is important to remind ourselves that Brexit is a British initiative, and Britain has the primary responsibility for how it turns out.

They knew the rules before they started the process; indeed, they had a big part in writing those rules.

But one can still expect British negotiators to try to blame the EU side for sticking to these same rules.

It is also important to remember what the EU is.

\ istockphoto

Ireland has experience in the past of being in a union where relative power rather than rules decided what happened.

The bigger country in the Union could call the shots

It is a rules-based institution.

It is attractive for smaller countries, such as Ireland, precisely because it is a rules-based institution rather than one based on raw power.

Ireland has experience in the past of being in a union where relative power rather than rules decided what happened. The bigger country in the Union could call the shots. There was no written constitution, no superior court, to which the weaker party, like Ireland or Scotland, could appeal.

The Brexit negotiation will be an educational process for all of us, but particularly for the UK One often only learns the full benefit of existing arrangements, when one tries to break them.

Ireland should press to have maximum publicity for all aspects of the Brexit negotiation, to give voters everywhere the fullest possible insight into what is at stake.

As the negotiation proceeds, Ireland should seek to persuade the UK to change its mind about leaving the EU at all.

If that fails, it should try to persuade the UK to stay inside the EU Single Market, or inside the Customs Union.

But Ireland’s overriding interest, as the Brexit negotiation proceeds, will be to ensure that the EU stays together.

FARMERS IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017 6DWXUGD\ -XO\

VIEWPOINTS 53

Viewpoints UK farmers want access to free and frictionless trade

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organisations is the same ith a mar– to inuence policy for the ket of over beneďŹ t of the sector. They 60m peoaim to represent the entire ple and sector in their countries and only about operate at national, 60% self-suďŹƒcient in European and interfood, I had always national levels. assumed British Despite the farmers were resmall size of the laxed about the direct farming vote to leave the sector in the UK, its EU. However, in access to governfact Brexit is seen ment has always as a fundamental shift in the condiDEMPSEY AT been strong but its eectiveness has tions in which BritLARGE inevitably varied ish agriculture with the governMatt operates and how ment priorities. At British farming and Dempsey this stage, the NFU food are aected is is portraying farmgoing to have a real ing as part of the whole eect on Irish farming and food industry with over food exports. There is much 3.9m jobs across the economore of an identity of intermy, and claims that food est than I had realised. It and agriculture will be the was with some curiosity most aected by Brexit of that I accepted an invitation any sector. But there are lot to listen to the views of the of unanswered questions, new director general of the such as what are the likely National Farmers Union trade arrangement in food (NFU) of England and and farm products between Wales, Terry Jones.

Britain and Europe? IroniThe NFU, at 109 years of cally, the NFU sees the UK age, predates the establishgeneral election results as ment of the IFA by about 50 strengthening farming’s years but the aim of both

Ă THE HOME FARM: Did I sell too soon? , DOZD\V oQG WKLV WLPH RI WKH \HDU PHQWDOO\ H[KDXVWLQJ 0DUNHWV DQG ZHDWKHU GRPLQDWH P\ WKRXJKWV RQ WKH WLOODJH VLGH ZKLOH RQ WKH FDWWOH VLGH WKH GLIIHUHQFH LQ WKH SHUIRUPDQFH EHWZHHQ LQGLYLGXDO FDWWOH UHDOO\ PDNHV LWVHOI IHOW DV WKH EXOOV FRPH LQ IURP JUDVV IRU oQDO oQLVKLQJ $ IHZ ZHHN DJR WKH SULFHV RIIHUHG IRU JUHHQ JUDLQ DW KDUYHVW WRRN D VXGGHQ MXPS , ZDV DZDUH WKDW YHU\ GU\ ZHDWKHU LQ WKH 86 ZDV VHHQ DV VLJQLoFDQWO\ UHGXFLQJ WKH SRWHQWLDO RI WKHLU PLOOLQJ ZKHDW FURS +RZHYHU ZLWK WKH PRVW JHQHURXV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ , ZRXOG QHYHU KDYH VHHQ P\ IHHG ZKHDW DV EHLQJ LQ WKH VDPH TXDOLW\ EUDFNHW DQG UHJDUG PDL]H DV PXFK PRUH WKH UHOHYDQW FRPSHWLWRU 6R , IRUZDUG VROG D SRUWLRQ RI P\ ZKHDW DW D JUHHQ PRLVWXUH SULFH RI d W DQG JUHHQ IHHG ZLQWHU EDUOH\ DW d W , IHOW VRPH VPXJQHVV DV WKH SULFH GURSSHG EDFN EXW LQ WKH ODVW IHZ GD\V P\ SULFH KDV EHHQ IXOO\ PDWFKHG DQG , SUHVXPH ZLWK VRPH PHUFKDQWV VXUSDVVHG 7KHUH LV OLWWOH , FDQ GR DERXW LW H[FHSW FRQVROH P\VHOI WKDW WKH EDVH SULFH

IRU WKH VHHG FURSV ZLOO EH VHW RQ WKH oQDO KDUYHVW SULFH ZKLFK LV XVXDOO\ VHW LQ WKH ODWH 2FWREHU SHULRG VR LI WKH XSZDUG PRYHPHQW LV VXVWDLQHG DW OHDVW WKDW SRUWLRQ RI WKH KDUYHVW ZLOO EH SURWHFWHG (OVHZKHUH RQ WKH WLOODJH VLGH WKH RLOVHHG UDSH LV QHDULQJ WKH WLPH ZKHQ LW VKRXOG JHW LWV 5RXQG XS DQG , ZLOO GHoQLWHO\ LQFOXGH D SRG VHDODQW WR SUHYHQW VKDWWHULQJ LQ EDG ZHDWKHU ,Q P\ YLHZ SRG VHDODQWV DUH DQ H[DPSOH RI WKH WUHPHQGRXV GHYHORSPHQWV RI PRGHUQ VFLHQFH 7KH ZLQWHU EDUOH\ LV QRZ IXOO\ WXUQHG EXW LV VWLOO D ZHHN RU WZR IURP KDUYHVWLQJ EXW DJDLQ , KDYH VROG WKH ZLQWHU EDUOH\ VWUDZ IRUZDUG DV ODVW \HDU , HQGHG XS KDYLQJ WR FKRS VRPH RI LW ZLWK D QRQ H[LVWHQW WUDGH LQ WKH LPPHGLDWH SRVW KDUYHVW SHULRG 'XULQJ WKH IHZ GU\ GD\V ZH JRW WKH JUDVV VHHG VRZQ RQ WKH ODVW RI WKH UHFODLPHG JURXQG q LW ZHQW LQ VOLJKWO\ ODWHU WKDQ , ZRXOG OLNH DV ZH XQGHUHVWLPDWHG WKH DPRXQW RI VWRQHV WR EH SLFNHG ,W LV D WHGLRXV EDFNEUHDNLQJ MRE EXW DW OHDVW LW V GRQH DQG WKH UDLQ KDV FRPH ZKLFK VKRXOG HQVXUH GHFHQW JHUPLQDWLRQ

hand with both Ulster’s DUP and the resurgent Scottish Conservatives having strong farming MPs representing strong farming constituencies. But as well as no answers on trade, neither are there answers on what kind

of support framework is likely to be put in place nor how the huge dependence on foreign labour is going to be solved. Already, the NFU is ďŹ nding it more diďŹƒcult to get access in Brussels and, while it is clear that its

objective is free and frictionless trade with the EU, it recognises that it is part of a bigger picture. It also recognises that it has a new proBrexit secretary of state in Michael Gove, whom they will have to inuence.

READ ABOUT OUR FOCUS FARM’S JOURNEYS, EVERY WEEK IN THE FARMERS JOURNAL SCOTLAND: The Farm Profit Programme is a joint venture between ANM Group and the Farmers Journal. Over the next three years, the programme has one simple aim – making livestock pay.

MARK & SHONA MACKAY Greenvale Farm, Dunnet, Thurso, Caithness Farm Size: 368ha

THE BIFFEN FAMILY

Arnage Farms, Mains of Arnage, Ellon, Aberdeenshire Farm Size: 227ha

THE DUGUID FAMILY

Mains of Cranna, Aberchirder, Huntly, Aberdeenshire Farm Size: 164ha

THE DUFFUS FAMILY

Mains of Auchriachan, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch Farm Size: 1,540ha

CHARLES & ALISON WEBSTER Ardhuncart Farm, Kildrummy, Alford, Aberdeenshire Farm Size: 250ha

ANDREW & KATHRYN GAMMIE Drumforber, Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire Farm Size: 131ha

For dierent reasons Irish and British farmers’ interests are closely aligned in seeing the minimum possible changes to the present trading arrangements, but it will be a long time before we will have real clarity.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

54 COUNTRY LIVING

COUNTRY LIVING Weedkiller damage A lot of people in rural areas with large gardens rely on the use of glyphosate-based sprays to control weeds over large areas, such as drives, paved areas and borders.

There is a risk of weedkiller damage to trees, shrubs, hedges and perennial flowers if there is any drift of spray. Glyphosate is translocated in plants to the tips of shoots.

Even a few droplets can cause yellowing and scorching of the growing points of unintended targets. Damage to trees and other woody plants can be caused if suckers are sprayed, and this can kill the branches of some garden trees, such as sumach.

Trees usually recover when the active ingredient is broken down in the plant. Perennial flowers are not woody and can be more severely damaged. Spray carefully on a calm day, not generating too fine a mist, and use a spray shield of some sort over the sprayer head if possible.

Orchids are very wellknown and popular exotic flowers from tropical areas, often grown as house-plants, but there are hardy orchids too, writes Gerry Daly gerrydaly@theirishgarden.ie

T

KH PDLQ RUFKLGV JURZQ DV house plants are the moth RUFKLGV F\PELGLXP RUFKLGV and the cane orchids, or GHQGURELXP DQG WKHUH DUH RWKHUV $OO NLQGV KDYH ODUJH FR ORXUIXO p RZHUV WKDW DUH YHU\ ORQJ ODVWLQJ IRU ZHHNV HYHQ PRQWKV DQG WKH PRWK RUFKLG PD\ EH LQ p RZHU SUDFWLFDOO\ \HDU URXQG SURGXFLQJ D VXFFHVVLRQ RI p RZHU stems. ,W LV HDV\ WR VHH ZK\ WKHVH SODQWV KDYH EHFRPH VR SRSXODU DQG WKH\ KDYH DOVR KHLJKWHQHG WKH OHYHO RI SXEOLF LQWHUHVW LQ ZLOG RUFKLGV DQG KDUG\ NLQGV WKDW FDQ EH JURZQ LQ WKH JDUGHQ ,Q JHQ eral, the orchids that are native, or WKDW JURZ RXWGRRUV DUH GLIIHUHQW LQ VWUXFWXUH VKDSH DQG VL]H EXW WKHUH LV QR PLVWDNLQJ WKH IDPLO\ UHVHPEODQFH 7KH EDVLF VKDSH RI DQ RUFKLG LV WR KDYH WKUHH VHSDOV WKDW IRUP WKH RXWVLGH RI WKH p RZHU ZKHQ LQ EXG ZLWK WZR VLGH SHWDOV RQH RQ HLWKHU VLGH RI WKH ODEHOOXP D SHWDO PRGLo HG E\ HYROXWLRQ WR IRUP D FKDUDFWHULVWLF ODQGLQJ SDG IRU pollinators.

'LIIHUHQW VSHFLHV LQ WKHLU thousands, have adapted this EDVLF VKDSH WR WKHLU RZQ HQGV DFFRUGLQJ WR ZKLFK SROOLQDWRU WKH\ IDYRXU 7KH FRXSOH RI GR]HQ ZLOG VSHFLHV WKDW JURZ LQ WKLV FRXQWU\ DUH PRVWO\ RI VPDOO VL]H ZLWK VPDOO p RZHUV LQ JUHDWHU QXPEHUV DQG JHQHUDOO\ FDUULHG RQ DQ XSULJKW p RZHU VSLNH 0DQ\ DUH SLQN RU SXUSOH DQG VRPH JUHHQ RU ZKLWH 7KH p RZHUV RI PRVW DUH WLQ\ E\

Garden orchids comparison with tropical orchids.

6RPH LQGLYLGXDO p RZHUV DUH OHVV than 1cm across. Given harsher weather at this latitude, small p RZHU VL]H LV D JRRG VWUDWHJ\ EXW WKH p RZHUV DUH XVXDOO\ FDUULHG in scores, while most tropical RUFKLGV FDUU\ IHZHU p RZHUV ,W LV EHFRPLQJ LQFUHDVLQJO\ common to see wild orchids on URDGVLGH EDQNV DQG LQ ODZQ DUHDV DULVLQJ IURP VHHG LQ WKH VRLO 3HRSOH RIWHQ PRZ RU VWULP DURXQG WKHP ZKHQ WKH\ QRWLFH WKH p RZ HUV 7KH GLIIHUHQW VSHFLHV p RZHU IURP VSULQJ WR ODWH VXPPHU VWDUW LQJ ZLWK WKH HDUO\ SXUSOH RUFKLG DQG o QLVKLQJ ZLWK WKH FRPPRQ

VSRWWHG RUFKLG LQ $XJXVW 2I WKH WZR GR]HQ RU VR QDWLYH NLQGV VRPH DUH UDUH DQG VRPH FRPPRQ 6RPH GR EHVW RQ OLP\ VRLO VRPH RQ DFLG VRPH OLNH GU\ VRLO DQG VRPH OLNH PDUVK\ JURXQG 7KH\ YDU\ LQ KHLJKW WRR even within the same species, as WKH VRLO LQp XHQFHV JURZWK 7KH VSHFLHV GDFW\ORUKL]D LV WKH PRVW common and most varied. The QDPH LV GHULYHG IURP WKH ZRUG o QJHU DQG URRW DQG WKH VSHFLHV KDV o QJHU OLNH WXEHUV 6RPH QDWLYH IRUPV RI GDFW\OR UKL]D DUH JURZQ LQ JDUGHQV VXFK as the heath spotted orchid and WKH UREXVW PDUVK RUFKLG 7KHVH

can reach 50cm tall when well JURZQ WKRXJK RIWHQ KDOI WKDW ,I WKHVH RUFKLGV DUH JURZQ PDNH VXUH WKDW WKH SODQWV DUH IURP QXUVHU\ UDLVHG VWRFN DQG QRW OLIWHG in the environment.

From Madeira, Dactylorhiza foliosa LV KLJKO\ UHJDUGHG VHQGLQJ XS VSLUHV RI EULJKW SLQN SXUSOH p RZHUV RYHU VSRWWHG OHDYHV 7KH p RZHU VSLNH DW D JODQFH ORRNV OLNH D PLQLDWXUH OXSLQ VSLUH RU WKH ERUGHU OREHOLD WKDW p RZHUV ODWHU into summer. The one shown is a K\EULG RI WKLV VSHFLHV ZKLFK UHDG LO\ K\EULGL]HV WR JLYH YDULHG IRUPV These are terrestrial orchids, QDWLYH WR PHDGRZV DQG VFUXE DQG

JURZLQJ LQ VRLO 7KH VRLO VKRXOG EH PRLVW EXW IUHH GUDLQLQJ DQG ZHOO VXSSOLHG ZLWK OHDI PRXOG RU RWKHU GHFRPSRVHG RUJDQLF PDWHULDO WR provide humus.

7KH KDUG\ RUFKLG EOHWLOOD LV DQRWKHU JRRG JDUGHQ RUFKLG DQG FDQ EH JURZQ LQ SRWV WRR LQ D JUHHQKRXVH $PD]LQJO\ UREXVW LW KDV PXFK ODUJHU p RZHUV LQ VLQJOH o JXUHV WKDQ WKH GDFW\ORUKL]D 3OHLRQHV DUH ODUJH p RZHUHG QRW KDUG\ EXW JRRG IRU JUHHQ KRXVH JURZLQJ /DG\ V VOLSSHU RUFKLGV RU F\SULSHGLXP JHWV LWV QDPH IURP WKH HQODUJHG ODEHOOXP it sports to attract pollinators. ,W KDV ODUJH p RZHUV WRR DQG LW LV RIWHQ JURZQ LQ D URFN JDUGHQ 2UFKLGV ERWK LQGRRU DQG JDU GHQ W\SHV DUH YHU\ EHDXWLIXO DQG HQJURVVLQJ p RZHUV CL

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

COUNTRY LIVING 55

Think on your

feet H

ands up if you’ve ever been asked or told to pay attention. I think most of us have.

Indeed, for many of us, it is a daily occurrence!

0\ QH[W TXHVWLRQ LV KDYH \RX HYHU been shown how to pay attention? I oQG WKLV LV D OHVV FRPPRQ H[SHULHQFH This is exactly what mindfulness helps us to do: to pay attention – in a deliberate way and without judgement – to what is going on in this moment.

Now, for some that may sound airy-fairy, but could you imagine what it would feel like if you could focus fully on the task at hand at all times during your day? ,PDJLQH KRZ HIoFLHQW \RX ZRXOG EH ,PDJLQH KRZ TXLFNO\ \RX FRXOG JHW through your to-do list. Imagine if you could give all your energy to one task at a time without getting distracted, RU oQGLQJ \RXUVHOI JRLQJ LQWR D URRP shed and then realising you cannot remember what you went in there for.

The ability to direct your attention and hold it there is not just helpful in a workplace environment, but it’s also really helpful in education, in sports, in relationships, in eating, in sleeping, etc.

Being fully awake in our lives has EHHQ VFLHQWLoFDOO\ SURYHQ WR KHOS XV become more resilient when faced with life’s natural ups and downs.

Training our attention is a bit like training a pup. Have you ever tried training a pup to “stay� or “heel�?

'RHV WKH SXS OLVWHQ WKH oUVW WLPH" 1R It gets up and runs away. You sit the pup back down again. “Stay.� And the pup runs away over and over again, doing exactly what it wants to do.

0LQGV GRQ W WHQG WR VWD\ VWLOO HLWKHU q at least in the early stages of our mindfulness training.

The other thing the pup does is bring things back to you that you GLGQ W HYHQ ZDQW ,W UXQV RII DQG oQGV an old sock or a half-chewed slipper.

This is just like the mind trying to pay attention. You ask it to pay attention to one thing, and it goes off and thinks about something completely different.

So, in training our minds, we have WR XVH WKH VDPH TXDOLWLHV RI oUP SDtient, kind repetition that are needed in order to train a pup. If it wanders off 100 times, we bring it back 100

Training your mind to pay attention can be very much like training a pup, writes mindfulness expert Catherine Callaghan

times. And just as with training a pup, it doesn’t help if we treat our minds harshly. Just keep bringing your attention back each time it wanders off.

That’s what mindfulness practice is all about. Like learning any new skill, ZH KDYH WR DFFHSW LW PD\ EH GLIoFXOW WR begin with.

PHYSICAL EXERCISE For more practical mindfulness exercises, visit Catherine Callaghan Yoga on YouTube.

Yoga eye exercises help our eyes to focus better. Sitting erect in a comfortable position, gently move your eyes up and down 10 times, without moving the head or neck.

Next, move the eyes very slowly from side to side. Then, take your JD]H IURP XSSHU ULJKW WR ORZHU OHIW oYH times, then from upper left to lower ULJKW oYH WLPHV Finally, imagine a large circle DURXQG \RXU oHOG RI YLVLRQ 0RYH your eyes gently and slowly around WKH FRPSOHWH FLUFOH oYH WLPHV ZLWKRXW moving your head.

Rest for a few seconds, then repeat WKH FLUFOH oYH WLPHV LQ WKH RWKHU GLUHFtion. Allow the movements to be slow and effortless.

Complete this exercise by rubbing your palms together rapidly to create some heat, then gently cup your warm palms over the eyes and let the heat sink in. Feel the nourishment of the heat and bathe your eyes in the darkness.

>> To ponder Since you got up this morning, what have you done without paying attention to? For instance, can you remember what you ate for breakfast? Can you remember what it tasted like or were you wolfing it down in a rush?

What have you done with real concentration this morning? This week?

Ever?

Can you try for the rest of the day or this week to be curious about the nature of your wandering mind and then try to teach it to focus and pay attention now that you know how.

Life is short: pay attention or you’ll miss the best bits!

MINDFULNESS EXERCISE Imagine for a moment that your attention is rather like the beam from D pDVKOLJKW 6RPHWLPHV LW V ZLGHO\ focused, but can be adjusted to a narrow focus, the same way our attention can be.

So now let’s see if we can imagine \RXU RZQ pDVKOLJKW RI DWWHQWLRQ VKLQing on different parts of your body.

This will need concentration.

7DNH WKH pDVKOLJKW RI \RXU DWWHQtion to a big toe: not looking at your

toe or moving it in any way, but just trying to focus on your own big toe and notice any feelings or sensations (or lack of ) present in your big toe at this moment.

Perhaps you don’t feel anything?

If that’s the case, then just be with the experience of blankness.

What is that like right now? Perhaps you notice your toe is hot, cold, tingly.

Can you feel the big toe against your sock or shoe? What is that like?

1RZ PDNH WKH IRFXV RI WKDW pDVKlight of attention wider to take in the ZKROH RI \RXU IRRW RQ WKH pRRU 1RWLFH WKH VHQVDWLRQ RI WKH pRRU EHQHDWK you with all four corners of your foot.

What is your experience of this? Hot, cold, tingly?

Now to the upper part of your foot.

Is there anything touching it? Now to the toes. Are you aware of each one?

Focus on the whole of your foot now, and try as best you can to hold your attention on all your foot. If the mind wanders, gently return your attention to the foot and any feelings or sensations associated with this part of your body.

To begin with, try this practice for two minutes, building it up to 10 minutes over time. Once you feel FRQoGHQW WR PRYH XS WKURXJK WKH body, such a practice can last up to 45 minutes and is deeply restorative. CL

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

56 COUNTRY LIVING

Kids are all right Meet Charlie and Becky Cole, who aren’t kidding around when it comes to diversifying at Broughgammon Farm, writes Maria Moynihan

W

maria@farmersjournal.ie

hen Becky Gray emailed Charlie Cole to arrange an interview for her blog after seeing him on the BBC TV show Farm Fixer in 2012, she admits her motives may not have been – well, shall we say – purely journalistic? “I did think, yeah, you were pretty cute,� she giggles, as she sits at the kitchen table beside her now-husband. Not that she did all the running, she is quick to qualify. “I wanted to do an email interview, in fairness,� she says. “And I just happened to be in Dublin that weekend,�

Charlie responds – his tone suggesting this stroke of luck may just have involved a last-minute dash down the M1. Either way‌ k,W ZDV ORYH DW o UVW VLJKW y FRQo UPV Becky, who welcomed the couple’s o UVW VRQ 5XSHUW MXVW GD\V DIWHU RXU visit to Broughgammon Farm – an award-winning producer of cabrito (kid goat) meat and rose veal in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.

While the 48-acre farm has only been in the Cole family since 2002 when Charlie’s parents, Millie and 5RELQ GHFLGHG WR PRYH EDFN WR Northern Ireland following his father’s retirement from the army, farming has always been in Charlie’s blood ... and vocabulary. kC7UDFWRU ZDV P\ o UVW ZRUG y KH says, explaining that despite living in Saudi Arabia, Italy, Germany and England as a child, holidays were always spent with extended family on their farms.

After school, Charlie studied rural land management and spent a year’s work placement on the Abercorn EsWDWH LQ 1HZWRZQVWHZDUW 5DWKHU WKDQ return to the UK to work on a vast estate, however, he decided to try to put his training to use at home instead. “I knew I wanted to stay in Northern Ireland, so I came back home and said: ‘OK, what can we do with what we have here?’,� he says.

NO KIDDING 'LYHUVLo FDWLRQ LGHDV UDQJHG IURP rearing wild boar to paintballing, before he stumbled on the solution after his mother asked for a pet goat for her birthday. It turned out to be a bigger

People want to hear the story of how you got started, your own character – that’s what can set you apart from the competition

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

Becky and Charlie welcomed their first son, Rupert, just days after our visit to Broughgammon Farm.

gift than she bargained on. While researching the idea, Charlie discovered that the majority of male kid goats born to the dairy industry were being put down at birth, so he decided to trial rear the surplus male kids. “I went and got 30, so mum’s birthday present was a bit bigger than what she expected,� he laughs.

Charlie’s original plan was to rear the goats before selling them on to a buyer that he had lined up.

However, when that deal suddenly fell through, he had no option but to think on his feet – and fast. With the Ould Lammas Fair taking place locally and his mum having previously worked as a trainee butcher, Charlie decided to use their own meat to make up goat burgers. “We’re very good friends with one of the publicans down there and we said: ‘Look, can we try selling the burgers at the back of the pub?’,� says Charlie. k7KH o UVW GD\ ZH VROG QRWKLQJ That night, after a few [drinks], there were a few dares – someone stood up and came up and bought the burger, tried it, said it was the best burger he’d ever had, passed it around the pub and then the next day we sold out.�

While the story illustrates the initial reluctance around eating goat – despite the fact that it’s a staple for 75% of the world’s population – it also proves that once people tasted Broughgammon Farm’s burgers, they were hooked.

Sensing a niche, Charlie decided to put a butchery on the farm to develop a full range of products – from their bestselling Billy Burgers to goat sausages, as well as conventional-style cuts.

They hit the farmers’ markets and their customers range from an 80-year-old man in the Glens of Antrim who fondly recalled eating kid goat as a child to foodies and members of ethnic communities.

The startup enterprise got a welcome boost when it featured on the BBC show Farm Fixer, which saw Charlie mentored by Nick Hewer of The Apprentice – and the arrival of Becky soon after. An art graduate and landscape artist from Co Wicklow, she was working for Dubarry while running her own country living-style blog ZKHQ WKH FRXSOH o UVW PHW EXW VRRQ decided to move to Co Antrim to join the Broughgammon Farm team. “We had to just jump into it really to make it work because that’s the farming life, you know,� she smiles. “Charlie and I are very similar in the way we think as well in terms of the farm’s future, but I suppose I bring in a different side, maybe the more aesthetic side and marketing side, and Charlie has got all the farming acumen and everything, so it’s worked out very well.�

Becky developed a website to tell the Broughgammon Farm story, as well as starting sales of their meat boxes online, with deliveries available nationwide thanks to a local courier – though orders have also gone to Scotland and England.

The couple now rear about 400 kid

COUNTRY LIVING 57

Much of the Coles’ regular trade comes from St George’s Market in Belfast and Temple Bar farmers’ market in Dublin.

goats a year, as well as approximately 24 Holstein Friesian bull calves for rose veal.

Much of their regular trade comes from St George’s Market in Belfast and Temple Bar farmers’ market in Dublin, but they also supply the restaurant trade, cater for parties, are regulars at events like the Balmoral Show and the Ballymaloe Literary Festival and even won the best snack category in September at the British Street Food awards for their goat taco with chorizo and bacon crumb. Most recently, they have also begun to develop a cured meat range with products like pancetta and pastrami, which they describe as their “Brexit mitigation measure�.

THE GOOD LIFE But that’s not the only way they have GLYHUVLo HG .HHQ WR PDNH WKH YHU\ most of their 48 acres, the Coles have set up a small farm shop on site and regularly run courses on wild game

and standard butchery, seaweed harvesting and seasonal cookery.

They are also in the process of applying for a grant to convert a barn to bring everything under one roof, as well as giving them the extra capacity to host farm tours, supper clubs and pop-up events with other local producers.

While Charlie’s mum and dad are involved in Broughgammon Farm, it’s clear that the young couple wear many hats: farmers, butchers, sales people, caterers, product developers, agri-tourism innovators – and not to mention being new parents. However, they want to develop Broughgammon Farm in the most holistic and sustainable way that they can. “We can’t all be Donald Trump,� laughs Charlie, while Becky adds that it’s not just about making a living, but making a life. “Trying to make a good life for yourself, I think, is so important,� she says.

As for their advice to other startups or farming couples who wish to diversify, Charlie says to take it slowly. “We started with 30 goats to see if it would work and it worked with those 30,� he says. “As you scale it up, you’ve got to bear in mind the different hurdles you’re going to meet along the way. And just take your time, don’t rush it.�

Meanwhile, Becky believes it’s important to share your story with your customers. “People want to hear the story of how you got started, your own character – that’s what can set you apart from the competition, apart from the really big boys who, to be honest, it’s really hard to compete with anyway,� she says. “But I think if you’re wanting to start up, know your story and don’t be afraid to tell it.� CL Tel: 079-762 70465 www.broughgammon.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

58 COUNTRY LIVING

Lazy

Sunday lunch

S

Take a tip from the Italians and slow-roast your pork for the fullest of flavours, writes Neven Maguire

KRXOGHU RI SRUN LV JUHDW YDOXH DQG IXOO RI p DYRXU DQG , P JRLQJ WR VKRZ \RX KRZ , OLNH LW FRRNHG 7KLV FODV sic Italian roast pork is traditionally served on special occasions like Christmas, weddings and christenings. , o QG WKDW WKH VKRXOGHU KDV MXVW WKH ULJKW EDODQFH RI PHDW DQG IDW :KLOH LQ ,WDO\ WR VHH SURGXFWLRQ RI 3DUPL giano Reggiano recently, I learned a lot about Parmesan too. I was amazed at how detailed the regulation was. They are so particular: the area where the cows graze – around %RORJQD q LV VWULFWO\ GHo QHG DQG WKH FRZV FDQ RQO\ HDW KD\ It really opened my eyes. Bacon and peas is a classic taste combination. The wine and the bacon jazz up the garden peas. It is also lovely with roast chicken, or pasta, or cold as a salad. I always keep a bag of frozen peas in the freezer for emergencies. They are very handy.

>> Recipes PORCHETTA WITH SAUTÉED POTATOES Serves 10 to 12 4kg (9lb) boneless shoulder of pork with rind 10 long, fresh rosemary sprigs 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped 6 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 75g (3oz) freshly grated Parmesan cheese For the sauteed potatoes 1.4kg (3lb) small new potatoes, well scrubbed 175ml (6fl oz) rapeseed oil 8 garlic cloves, lightly smashed and peeled sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 Put the pork on a clean surface, cut loose any butcher’s strings and open out. Roughly chop the leaves from three rosemary sprigs and sprinkle over the pork. Sprinkle also with the garlic, parsley and Parmesan and season generously. Roll the pork back XS WLJKWO\ WR HQFORVH WKH o OOLQJ FRP pletely.

2 Tie with string at 2cm (¾in) intervals to keep the meat in shape. If the skin is not already scored, use a small sharp

I learned a lot about Parmesan regulation.

They are so particular: the area where the cows graze – around Bologna – is strictly defined and the cows can only eat hay

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

COUNTRY LIVING 59

Shades of happiness knife to score the skin between the strings. Sprinkle with salt, then slip the remaining rosemary under the strings.

3 If you prefer it to have a softer, chewy skin, which is traditional, preheat the oven to 190°C, (375°F/ gas mark 5) and roast it straight away for 20 minutes per 500g (1lb 2oz) plus 20 minutes. For example, if your joint is exactly 4kg (9lb), it will take three hours. If you want it to have a crunchy crackling (this makes it harder to carve), leave it at room temperature IRU DW OHDVW WZR KRXUV DQG GU\ WKH H[ cess water with kitchen paper before roasting. Cook as above, but up the oven to 220°C, (450°F/as mark 7) for the last 20 minutes of cooking time.

4 Remove from the oven and leave to UHVW IRU D JRRG PLQXWHV DV SRUFKHW ta is best served warm, rather than piping hot.

5 7R VDXWÂŚ WKH SRWDWRHV o UVW FRRN them in a pan of boiling salted water until tender, then drain. Heat the oil in a large frying pan (or two, depending on size) over a fairly high heat and add the garlic, followed by the potatoes.

Allow to brown on all sides over a fairly high heat, tossing occasionally.

Season to taste.

6 Carve the porchetta into thin slices (an electric carving knife can be very useful here) and arrange on warmed plates with the sautĂŠed potatoes.

BRAISED PEAS WITH BACON Serves eight to 10

Photography: Ramona Farrelly | Styling: Sharon Hearne-Smith

1 tbsp rapeseed oil 4 rindless streaky bacon rashers, diced 2 leeks, trimmed and finely chopped 2 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 100ml (3½fl oz) dry white wine 150ml (Ÿ pint) chicken or vegetable stock 450g (1lb) frozen garden peas or petits pois 1 tbsp fresh mint leaves, roughly torn 25g (1oz) butter sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 Heat the oil in a large pan and sautÊ the bacon over a medium heat until crisp. Scoop out and set aside.

2 Tip the leeks into the pan that still has the oil in it with the spring onions and garlic and cook over a low heat for o YH PLQXWHV XQWLO VRIWHQHG WRVVLQJ occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly.

3RXU LQ WKH ZLQH DQG EULQJ WR D VLP mer.

3 Add the stock and the peas and simmer for three minutes. Return the bacon to the pan with the mint, butter and season to taste. Allow to just heat through and serve immediately in a warmed dish. CL

With marriage advice from The Muppets – rather than Fifty Shades Of Grey – even the downpour on her wedding day didn’t rain on Maria Moynihan’s parade “

W

hat do you think of the title Fifty Shades Of Barely OK?�

My husband has decided that q UDWKHU WKDQ GRLQJ WKH ZDVK ing up – he should become an overnight literary sensation. “I’m sure EL James is trembling at the threat to her trashy trilogy,� I snap, waving a spatula in his direction with WKH IHURFLW\ RI WKH o FWLRQDO &KULVWLDQ Grey brandishing his favourite riding crop.

His opus dismissed, he takes the tea towel, muttering: “You’re the one who spent the honeymoon reading Fifty Shades Of Grey.�

(I just wanted to see what all the IXVV ZDV DERXW 'HVSHUDWH o OWK , didn’t enjoy it. Much.)

Still, life has been a little grey – as LQ ERULQJ QRW ERQGDJH q VLQFH WKH JLG dy heights of our wedding day. After getting engaged in a graveyard (long story) three years before, we swapped YRZV LQ D ZKLWH UDIWHUHG FKDSHO RYHU looking a glorious bay this summer.

And while I hate clichÊs, it simply was the best day of our lives – even if things didn’t go entirely to plan.

With soaring temperatures the week before, I had visions of arriving at the church with a bottle of Mitchum KRXU DQWLSHUVSLUDQW FRQFHDOHG between the peony roses and pink anemones of my bouquet. Yet a malevolent mist greeted us on the wedding morning. “We could decapitate the Child of Prague,� one of the bridesmaids suggested sacrilegiously as the light drizzle turned to a heavy downpour.

But it was too late for blasphemy and, besides, it wasn’t going to rain on our parade – even when the wipers of the vintage MG cut out en route to the church. (My Micra would have never let us down.)

I’d worried I’d weep my way up the aisle (there’s nothing attractive about a blubbering bride) but as soon as I heard the strains of The Lark In The Clear Air, all I wanted was to see everybody who helped us plan our day.

The friend who designed our mass booklets with words of wisdom from The Muppets on the back: “Life’s a piece of cake, with someone to pedal and someone to brake.�

The groomsman who hired an

mmoynihan@farmersjournal.ie

Maria Moynihan is a columnist with Irish Country Magazine.

See www.irish countrymagazine.ie

LFH FUHDP YDQ WR JLYH RXU JXHVWV V after the ceremony. My sisters, who set up a retro sweet station for the drinks UHFHSWLRQ ZKHUH JURZQ PHQ VXUUHSWL tiously stuffed their suit pockets with Swizzels’ love hearts.

A cousin who organised our blowsy country cottage blooms. An aunt who baked our decadently moist fruit cake. Our photographer friends, who ensured we have more wedding snaps than Will and Kate.

My bridesmaids, who whipped up red velvet cupcakes, chorizo stews and VSLF\ FXUULHV IRU WKH GD\ DIWHU SDUW\ $ IRUPHU p DWPDWH ZKR GURYH HLJKW KRXUV IURP KHU KRPH LQ 1HZ %UXQV ZLFN &DQDGD WR WDNH D VL[ KRXU EXV ULGH WR %RVWRQ p HZ WR 'XEOLQ YLD Paris, and hopped on the Tralee train to be with us in our little corner of the Kingdom.

My dad, dapper and proud. My mom, elegant and understated. My IXWXUH LQ ODZV ZDUP DQG ZHOFRPLQJ My grandparents, the heart of our family. Over 170 people packed in the pews – all part of our story. And my best friend, waiting for me at the altar.

It didn’t matter that he nervously got my name wrong during the vows.

That I spilled champagne on my wedding dress. That the best man wrote his speech on the back of a receipt during dessert. That my father revealed my childhood crush on the banjo player, Pecker Dunne (check out his seminal hit, Myxomatosis Rabbit, RQ <RX7XEH 7KDW ZH p XIIHG WKH o UVW GDQFH o QDOH 7KDW LW QHYHU VWRSSHG raining.

It was the start of the next chapter in our life together.

In all its 50 shades. CL

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

60 COUNTRY LIVING

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want my mother-in-law to mind my sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

D

ear Miriam, , UHFHQWO\ KDG P\ o UVW EDE\ DQG I am really enjoying my time at home with my son. However, even though I have a few months left until I have to go back to work, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m already facing a bit of a dilemma about childcare arrangements.

Myself and my husband built our house on his home farm, close to my inlaws. I get on OK with my mother-in-law most of the time, though she can be very RYHUEHDULQJ VR , KDYH GHo QLWHO\ ZRUNHG on establishing boundaries, etc. Thankfully, I grew up in the town nearby, so my own mother is living close by too.

My hope was that my mother would mind the baby when I went back to work, but my husband thinks it would make much more sense to have his mother mind him, as she is just next door, and he is on the farm as well, so he could be in and out.

But like I said, she can be very overbearing and a bit of a know-it-all.

She and I would have different ideas on parenting and, while my husband obviously turned out all right, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the idea of her taking over completely when I go back to work, especially when I have worked to put those boundaries in place.

(Also, I have read all those letters on your page, Miriam, from other women

AGRIWORD 904 ACROSS 1 Overweight (3) 3 Is this drug good? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a knockout! (11) 8 Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central when you drop a query that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see through it (6) 9 Perching on an insect attack from an informal marsupial? (8) 10 Historical rent: one-tenth (5) 11 Plunge like a bird of prey (6) 13 Head under this, traditionally, in France! (5) 15 Americans call it a cookie (7) 16 She tosses the EC caber - from Sunnybrook Farm? (7) 20 Irish composer found in a farm? (5) 21 Dens (5) 23 Impersonate (5) 24 Cockney rhyming slang for tea (5,3) 25 Apply for unemployment beneďŹ t while one is nosing around (4,2) 26 Great beginning - to an aeroplane race?

(6,5) 27 Lubricant (3)

who â&#x20AC;&#x153;married inâ&#x20AC;? and am doing my best to learn from them!)

I told my husband I would really feel a lot more comfortable if my mother minded the baby, but he took umbrage at that. But I feel that, as the babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, I do know what is best.

The whole situation is causing tension between us when we really should be enjoying the time with our baby boy.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d appreciate your take on the matter.

New Mother

GET IN TOUCH Do you have a problem you would like to share with someone who may be able to help?

If so, you can write to Miriam, Country Living, Irish Farmers Journal, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12, or send an email to miriam@ farmersjournal.ie

and they are both champing at the bit to mind their adorable grandson. %XW \RX FRXOG o QG WKDW ZKLOH \RXU mother or your mother-in-law might be happy to give a hand, they have no intenWLRQ RI FKDQJLQJ QDSSLHV o YH GD\V D ZHHN And even if either woman is keen, we all know how tiring it can be to take care of a small child and the sense of responsibility that goes along with it, so it might not be fair to expect one person to take the job on full time.

What I have seen a lot of people do is share the care three ways: between mother, mother-in-law and then a crèche/childminder. If your mother and mother-in-law are interested, perhaps this is the best solution, as it allows the child to build a relationship with both grandmothers, as well as interact with other children in the crèche. You could give it a trial run and reassess the situation a few months down the line, once you see how it works out.

But I think you really must have a GLVFXVVLRQ ZLWK WKHP o UVW WR PDNH VXUH it is something they want to do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not feel obliged to do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and that they are properly compensated too. , DP GHo QLWHO\ LQ IDYRXU RI ERXQGDULHV but maybe there is no need to build a wall in this case. Time will tell. Best of luck and enjoy the rest of your leave. CL

You could give it a trial run and reassess the situation a few months down the line, once you see how it works out

Dear New Mother, First of all, congratulations. It is great to hear you are enjoying this special time as a new mother, which is a huge change in anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life and not without its challenges.

Even though you still have a few months left at home, I can understand that you are feeling anxious about who will take care of your baby when you return to work and that the debate on this is causing a bit of tension both you and your husband could probably do without. Just one thing came to mind while reading your letter. You mention that you want your mother to mind the baby, while your husband wants his mother to take care of him; but have you asked either of them if they are actually interested in taking on the job?

Perhaps you have had this discussion

BY FINĂ&#x2030;AGAS

1

DOWN 1 Give a third of the yard to the beak? That will pay for everything! (4,3,4) 2 They have pull in Agriculture! (8) 3 Sharp, severe (5) 4 Preselect part of the body with an evangelist (7) 5 The outer parts of ears of corn (5) 6 Drop it differently when it has three legs! (6) 7 Toothed wheel (3) 12 International waterway featuring strangely in an almanac, Pa (6,5) 13 Concise (5) 14 Progression (5) 17 An order to love a soldier! (8) 18 Intensely enthusiastic, ardent (7) 19 This pen will not write! (6) 22 Severe, forbidding (5) 23 Looks like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mayo ďŹ rst to get damp (5) 24 Airborne section of the British military forces (1,1,1)

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>> Answers ACROSS 1 Wait and see 6 Swag 10 Ruing 11 Supernova 12 Warthog 15 Green ďŹ nch 17 Ague 18 Omit 19 Drift 21 Wallaby 23 Rinse 24 Four course meal 25 Loom 28 Preface 33 Estimated 34 Noose 35 Lily 36 Hypothesis DOWN 1 Work ethic 2 Imitation 3 Angst 4 Disco 5 Expo 7 Whole 8 Grain store 9 Tragedy 13 Ha-ha 14 Gas lamp 20 Iron Cross 21 Welcome 22 Bite 27 Hotel 29 Rodeo 31 Athy 32 Kegs

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AGRIWORD 903

6

Some clues are cryptic, some more straightforward and some have an agricultural theme

25

26

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WIN To be in with a chance of winning ÂŁ20 of Farmers Journal Scotland merchandise, answer as many questions as you can, fill in the form and send us your entry with the crossword number on the front of the envelope

Congratulations to Marie Smart, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, winner of Agriword 901. Send entries to Farmers Journal Scotland, Scottish Ag and Rural Centre, West Mains, Newbridge, Edinburgh, EH28 8LT

Name: Address:

Email: Mobile:

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Irish Farmers Journal Journal F Tick box if you do not wish to be contacted in relation to further events, promotions and competitions from the Farmers

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

NEWS 61

Editorial Justin McCarthy jmccarthy@farmersjournal.ie

We need to go back to basics for dairy profits

T

here have been major efficiency gains on Irish dairy farms over the past decade – largely due to better breeding and improved grassland management. Speaking at the Teagasc Moorepark open day on Tuesday, Dr Pat Dillon showed that higher stocking rates from increased grass utilisation combined with improvements in milk composition saw milk solids increase by 30% per hectare from 2008 to 2015. As well as this, production costs on Irish dairy farms have fallen by 16-17% since the abolition of quotas.

Despite these gains, however, Moorepark research shows that the

average dairy farmer is only harvesting a fraction of the potential revenues available. Figures presented by Dr Brendan Horan show that at a constant milk price of 28c/l, there was the potential for the average dairy farmer to achieve a sixfold increase in profitability per hectare by 2025 and for some, to increase the figure tenfold. This would see average net profit, after labour charges, increase from £220/ha to within the range of £1,320 to £2,200/ha depending on the level of efficiency gains achieved over the next decade.

On pages 32 and 33, Jack Kennedy and Aidan Brennan go into detail on the areas farmers need to target

to achieve these gains. Fundamental to the Teagasc profit projections is the need to increase stocking rate by 10%-40% from the current average of 1.96 lu/ha – not by feeding more meal but through improved grass growth and utilisation. For those tempted to drive output from increased concentrate feeding, Teagasc figures show net profit declines by £84/ha for every 10% increase in concentrate use.

Farmers targeting a net profit of £1,320/ha need to utilise 10t grass DM/ha, increasing to 12.5t where the focus was on a net profit of £2,200.

In simple terms, hitting profit targets will depend on utilising 20-50% more grass from every hectare on the farm.

Are targets achievable?

While these targets will certainly provide a useful benchmark against which to measure dairy research and knowledge transfer over the next decade, are they achievable? Unless we go back to the very basics and realise the importance soil structure and fertility plays in governing output potential, whatever the crop, the answer is no.

Many will be quick to rule out the potential to grow and utilise more grass on the basis of land type. But the reality is that poor soil fertility

is a bigger barrier on most farms.

Utilising 12.5t or even 10t of grass per hectare will remain an aspiration for as long as we fail to address the fact that 90% of soils have sub-optimal fertility to maximise grass growth.

It is an area where much more research is needed, particularly around improving soil structure, increasing organic matter, addressing chemical deficiencies and ensuring we fully understand the role of organic manure, in particular slurry, in promoting or inhibiting biological activity in soil – especially with earthworms.

Many will be quick to rule out the potential to grow more grass on the basis of land type. But soil fertility is a bigger barrier Few could criticise the quality of research on display at the Teagasc open day and its direct application in driving farm profit. However, it was all focused on activity above the ground. Relative to its importance in what was being discussed, soil husbandry did not receive the attention it deserved. It is an area that perhaps exposes a flaw within the Teagasc research model in that there is not enough collaboration across

research centres. If the productivity levels that were outlined at the Moorepark event are to be delivered on a national basis, Teagasc must bring soil fertility and productivity back to the core of its research. Addressing the national issue of poor soil fertility must also be seen as strategic in any Government policy aligned with growing our agri-food sector.

7HFKQLFDO HIo FLHQF\ Technical efficiency is only one part of the profitability equation. The ability of the co-op to maximise the value of the milk produced and for this to be reflected in farmgate prices is key to profitability and the resilience of our sector. This week, we run our annual Milk Price Review in association with KPMG (pages 16-21).

Jack Kennedy’s analysis shows the difference between the top and bottom in 2016 was the equivalent of £270 per cow, or £18,480 for a typical 70-cow herd. While factors such as repatriation of profits and the coops’ finance model around investments can all have an impact on milk price, the reality is that, as shown in Table 2 on page 16, those at the top and bottom have been there consistently over the past decade. We will be delving into why this is the case over the coming weeks.

ANTIBIOTIC-FREE BEEF

CETA

Ireland could benefit from a growing trend

Trudeau in Dublin Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to meet An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was a sign of leadership moving to the next generation.

Though Ireland was a stop-off point on the way to the G20, both leaders were anxious to be associated with the CETA deal signed late last year.

This deal has had plenty of opposition, with a widely held view that the EU cannot take another 45,000 tonnes of tariff-free beef. Yet Canada is a market with considerable potential for agri exports, so it has the potential to be a two-way street.

Canada is famous for protecting its dairy industry, so it is not surprising that a problem with agreeing access and use of the 18,000t dairy quota granted to the EU by Canada is running into problems.

We can expect Trudeau to have a more robust engagement with European Commission president JeanClaude Juncker at the G20 summit.

The news this week that Coop Italia is to move to only selling antibioticfree beef highlights the extent to which the issue of antimicrobial resistance is gaining traction at political and consumer level.

There is no doubt that food producers are now under the spotlight and with this will come changes in husbandry practices.

It is positive that the Italian retailer is looking to Ireland as a source of both antibiotic-free beef and weanlings.

We must be in a position to deliver on what is a growing trend globally.

A more proactive approach towards herd health is needed to ensure we keep ahead of this trend.

NI comment

David Wright, Northern Ireland editor dwright@farmersjournal.ie

Argument for return of coupled payments

W

ith the leadership team of the Ulster Farmers’ Union going around local groups to hear members’ views on Brexit,

and in particular, a system of supporting farm incomes into the future, there is perhaps one clear theme emerging.

It is that most of the farmers

going to these meetings believe the current system of area-based payments needs to be changed, with the focus back on supporting the actual production of food.

In many ways, it is hard to argue against payments linked (coupled) to crop area grown, milk produced or the number of beef calves or lambs weaned each year.

It is also a policy likely to find favour with processors, and might be easier to defend to taxpayers than area payments to everyone.

The debate assumes that there will be money to support farm incomes. Despite assurances given by the current government that funding is secure until 2022, beyond that is a total unknown. Also, it is highly unlikely that signifi-

It is hard to argue against payments linked to crop area grown cantly increasing coupled support payments would be acceptable under World Trade Organisation rules.

But perhaps the biggest stumbling block to coupled payments is the British government itself, which has consistently argued against the principle.

However, we should also remember experience of the past, which was that linking subsidies to production resulted in oversupply and lower producer prices.

It also came with various rules,

many of which were deeply unpopular with farmers.

While the current system of area payments is far from perfect, perhaps one option might be to limit payments to those with livestock or crops, maybe by reintroducing the concept of a reference year.

Whatever happens, it is hard to see how there won’t be some form of area-based payment in the future.

Firstly, there is the real issue of land abandonment in marginal areas, with its negative environmental implications.

Secondly, how else will the Government keep farmers in-check if there isn’t the threat of a deduction of money for stepping slightly out of line?

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday 24 10 17 38June July 2017

62 BUSINESS OF FARMING

Scottish weather DETAILED WEATHER FORECAST: 7 July – 9 July

Weather data courtesy of www.yr.no

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FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 10July 17 24 June June 2017 2017 2017

BUSINESS OF FARMING 63 Pig market: 03/07/2017

Market digest | Stories from around the world

Prices reported to IFA

Falling corn (maize) prices in Brazil mean the cost of transport is beginning to rise above market returns for many farmers in cereal growing regions. Corn prices in Sao Paolo have halved in the last year to $131/t, while in Mato Grosso prices are as low as $80/t.

2211

Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wheat harvest for its 2017-18 season will be more than 12m tonnes lower than last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s record harvest as dry weather hits crop yields. The National Australia Bank has forecast this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wheat harvest at 23m tonnes, much lower than the 35m tonnes produced last season.

Compiled by Lorcan Allen

Russian president Vladimir Putin has proposed to extend the Russian embargo on food imports from the EU and US among other countries by another 18 months to the end of December 2018.

Prior to the ban, EU countries exported â&#x201A;Ź12bn worth of food to Russia.

In a normal year, over 50% of milk produced by UK farmers would go for use in liquid milk. However, in the last 12 months liquid milk production in the UK has fallen to just 39% of overall milk use, the lowest level in 40 years.

Comment: IFA pig committee chair Tom Hogan welcomed the positive news which emerged from the southern processors Dawn and Stauntonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of a 4c/kg increase for this week. This leaves the price in the â&#x201A;Ź1.72-1.74c/kg range for most suppliers. At a price of â&#x201A;Ź1.74c/kg, it leaves the Irish price at the same level as the European average. With higher input costs in Ireland, the Irish price needs to be above the European average price to compete with our continental neighbours over the longer term. The 4c/kg increase was not across the board as the main processors in the midlands and north did QRW RIo FLDOO\ LQFUHDVH SULFHV EXW WKH ZRUG RQ WKH JURXQG LV that most pig suppliers received increases from Rosderra, McCarronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Karro in the North over the past few weeks. â&#x201A;Ź1.72- 1.74c/kg seems to be a price that most suppliers are DFKLHYLQJ ZLWK PDQ\ DERYH WKLV o JXUH

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F

France Netherlands

Prices may be moving to upward trend Ong o i ng c o n c e r n s ov er weather continue to help grain prices. But this time we may be moving to a trend rather than a price spike.

This remains a quality wheat supply issue which is now pulling up the whole grain complex. If quality grains are in short supply, this brings a bigger demand for other wheat classes, which could mean other feed grains will be needed to supply these slots. There is still little to indicate a scarcity of feed grains, so the market must maintain some level of balance.

Such is the sentiment on

Belgium

1.614

N D

Pig Slaughterings Week ending 31/06/2017 28/06/2016

Pigs 62554 62175

Sows 1941 1596

Total Cumulative 64495 1,627,449 63771 1,642,221

Potatoes: 04/07/2017 Ex-Farm Potato Prices reported to IFA Rooster box Rooster 10kg Kerrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pinks 10kg New-season queens 10kg

Low â&#x201A;Ź320 â&#x201A;Ź3.50 â&#x201A;Ź3.20 â&#x201A;Ź9

High â&#x201A;Ź360 â&#x201A;Ź4.00 â&#x201A;Ź3.60 â&#x201A;Ź11

Comment: Demand has remained robust over the past week for both old- and new-season produce. There are more queens available this week, however, and this will only replace the reduction in the supply of homeguard and premier. More retailers have moved on to new-season queens and, with larger pack sizes now on sale, there is a balanced supply in the market. Many packers are using up their own supplies of old stock but will need further supplies of the FURS LQ WKH FRPLQJ ZHHNV WR o QLVK RXW WKH VHDVRQ 7KH provisional estimates from the Department of Agriculture show a reduction in Irish plantings of 4.5%. These estimates WHQG WR UHYLVH VOLJKWO\ KLJKHU ZKHQ WKH o QDO o JXUH LV FDOFX lated. However, as a minimum, 2017 plantings will be less WKDQ WKH o JXUH ZKLFK JLYHV VRPH SRVLWLYH SURVSHFWV for the year ahead.

FARMERS JOURNAL

Scotland to Siberia and back again After stints in Siberia and Vietnam, Andy McGowan is settled in Scotland as CEO of the Scottish Pig Producers

SUBSCRIBE Scotland TODAY! No CAP dea dline ďŹ nes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EU 1 July 2017 Vol 1 No 5 | ÂŁ3.10

HELPING YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR FARM

The looming threat of a ÂŁ60m ďŹ ne for the Scottish Government for late payments to farmers has receded

JOHN SLEIGH

SCOTLAND EDITOR

jsleigh@farmersjournal.co.uk

Subscribe at www.farmersjournal.co.uk/subs or call us: Aberdeen Ĺ° Glasgow 014-13011044

Average â&#x201A;Ź340 â&#x201A;Ź3.75 â&#x201A;Ź3.30 â&#x201A;Ź10

EXCLUSIVE

Scotland is unlikely to face ďŹ into the millions as a resultnes running of late payments, the European Commission has indicated to the Farmers Journal This comes two weeks after Scotland.

Audit Scotland suggested that the Scottish Government would miss the deadline and be landed with a ďŹ ne of up to ÂŁ60m.

Applications have been double the speed within processed at the last few weeks. If there are still outstanding applications after the deadline , the number is likely to be so small that any penalty will be modest and far removed from the initial threat.

The Farmers Journal Scotland understands that while there has been a request for an exten i t h

Six page Focus on agricareers >> 11-16

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday 10 17 381June July 2017 Saturday 28 24 January

64 BUSINESS OF FARMING

Irish management notes

Beef

Adam Woods awoods@farmersjournal.ie

Ă&#x160;FODDER: Winter may seem a long way oďŹ&#x20AC;, but now is the ideal time to assess your fodder situation and see have you enough. Taking action now by closing up some extra ground for silage, may be more cost eďŹ&#x20AC;ective than buying silage next spring if stocks are scarce. The ďŹ rst step in carrying out a fodder budget is to calculate demand. Table 1 outlines the demand of various classes of livestock. If there is goodquality baled silage that was wilted prior to baling, you can say one bale is the equivalent of one tonne of pit silage.

Where the bales were baled in wet conditions, use 800kg of pit silage = one bale. To calculate the amount of silage in a pit, multiply the length (ft), by width (ft) by the average height (ft) and divide the ďŹ nal ďŹ gure by 45. If grass is very scarce at the moment, look at other options: including sourcing silage early, buying a crop for ensiling (like wholecrop barley), or have a plan in place to oďŹ&#x201E;oad some stock before the winter months. Suckler cows which are in good BCS at housing may be fed some straw as part of the diet, to prevent excess condition at calving.

Table 1: Monthly winter feed requirements for livestock Livestock type Suckler cow 350kg weanling (+2kg meal/day) 500kg store (+2kg meal/day) NJ o QLVKLQJ DQLPDO NJ PHDO GD\

Ewe

Tonnes/month 1.4 0.9 1.2 1 0.17

Ă&#x160;IDEAL WEATHER FOR FLIES: There has been an increased incidence of mastitis over the past week, particularly cases of summer mastitis in autumn cows due to calve shortly.

The problem was detected early and treatment was given in time, but it could easily have been missed, as these stock groups often do not get the same attention as spring cows or growing cattle. Summer mastitis is less common in spring-calving cows, as the calf is sucking the cow regularly, but can occur in late-calving cows where calves are unable to suck all four quarters. Particularly high-risk areas are those with trees, close to water or sheltered by hedges, as this will attract ďŹ&#x201A;ies. Prevention is better than cure. Treating cows with a pour-on insecticide can help prevent the problem, but the cover period varies with different products. As the peak risk period is normally in late July and August, cows may need a second treatment. Applying tar can work, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s less practical as it needs to be reapplied every three to four days. Cows with summer mastitis will have a swelled udder and ďŹ&#x201A;ies around the teat.

The swollen udder causes discomfort, which results in stiďŹ&#x20AC;ness and lameness when walking. Cows generally develop a temperature, become isolated and dull in appearance.

When drawing a quarter, the characteristic thick, clotted secretion is present. If an antibiotic tube is being used to treat an infected quarter, make sure you clean the teat and use a glove. Preventing further infection is very important.

Sheep

Darren Carty dcarty@farmersjournal.ie

Ă&#x160;GRASS GROWTH: Growth has slowed, as expected, in the last week to 10 days. Previous to this many farmers were in a situation of grass supply running ahead of demand. It is important that steps are taken to ensure there is a supply of goodquality grass available for lambs post weaning, as in the absence of regular fertiliser application grass supplies can quickly turn from a surplus to a deďŹ cit.

On highly-stocked farms, applying 20 to 25 units f nitrogen after grazing will help to underpin growth, while on lowlystocked farms, applying 10 to 15 units nitrogen will help keep growth ticking along.

This will also help to maintain sward quality and reduce

Dairy

Arable

Aidan Brennan

Andy Doyle

abrennan@farmersjournal.ie

adoyle@farmersjournal.ie

Ă&#x160;THIRTEEN TIMES MILKING: Now that we are into July, there is no reason why the cows canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be milked 13 times a week, ie milking once on Sundays. Teagasc research has found no signiďŹ cant drop in yield from skipping one of the milkings in the week. The GreenďŹ eld farm has been milking 13 times a week for the past two weeks, with no signiďŹ cant drop in production over and above what you would expect. The cows are milked at 8am on Sunday morning and cups are on again Monday morning by 7am. Cows are given a full paddock, enough for three grazings, on Sunday morning, so they are content. At this stage in the year, with breeding coming to an end and most of the main jobs completed, we need to re-charge the batteries and take some breaks.

This applies to people working on the farm too. The hard work in spring needs to be balanced out, and taking Sunday evenings oďŹ&#x20AC; for the next few months can help achieve that.

Ă&#x160;AS WE APPROACH HARVEST: A few weeks ago it looked like we could be set for an early harvest. While there may be a few combines moving from this weekend, most growers will look towards next week and the week after. Maturity is variable within regions and there is quite a lot of green straw and some green heads in crops where grains look ripe and were around 22% moisture early this week.

It is bit worrying to see a small number of poorly ďŹ lled heads in some winter barley crops and even the big heads look like they could be better ďŹ lled. But crops are dense with big ear sizes so perhaps they cannot ďŹ ll to the max.

Bits of ear blight have become increasingly evident in winter wheat crops but most are still not bad. I see a fair bit of mildew in some spring barley crops along with some net blotch and a lot of rhyncho in a few crops. What would seem to be ramularia is also evident. There are also single yellow leaves evident in all crops.

A few weeks ago I came across crops of winter sown spring oats that had been hammered by a combination of growth regulator and frost. I came across something similar this week where there was a lack of height uniformity in the crop with evidence of main stems having been killed some time ago and new tillers still coming on aďŹ&#x20AC;ected plants after the dominance of the main seem was removed.

There is also a strong turn on many winter oat crops as the leaves begin to senesce and the grains begin to turn.

Grain ďŹ ll seems good on totally healthy plants but later tillers seem unlikely to be able to fully compensate for main stem death at this point.

Ă&#x160; GRASS MANAGEMENT: There is a fair regional variation in grass growth, with most farms growing very well, but some dry farms are feeling a pinch. I was on a few farms over the last days where growth was less than demand, with pregrazing yields struggling to stay above 1,000kg. One farm was feeding 3kg of meal for a few days and the other was feeding silage for the past week. The farm feeding the meal was measuring grass every ďŹ ve days, and was only planning to feed meal for a few days. Meanwhile, the other farm feeding the silage wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t measuring grass at all and ended up with a big hole in the wedge. At high stocking rates you cannot aďŹ&#x20AC;ord not to be measuring. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s particularly foolish for large farms not to be measuring, as the costs are magniďŹ ed at scale.

A lot of land recently converted from tillage is running out of steam over the last few weeks. Organic matter can be low and this is really beginning to show now â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with a lack of moisture or other stress factors. Reseeds and land converted from tillage canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough fertiliser. Yes, there are limits on nitrogen and phosphorus, but not on potash or sulphur, both of which have a big impact on grass growth and quality. Nitrogen and phosphorus should be targeted at the ďŹ elds that need it most â&#x20AC;&#x201C; meaning the farm can stay within permissible levels. Regular grazing and regular fertiliser applications are the best defence against weed grasses, such as annual meadow grass and scutch grass, in newly reseeded ďŹ elds. Ă&#x160;MILK RECORDING: The fastest way to increase protein percent in the herd is to sell the low-protein cows. The protein result from the bulk tank is the average of all cows in the herd, weighed on volume. By selling the low-protein cows you will improve the bulk tank result overnight. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what makes milk recording such an important tool for farmers selling stock. While selling cows and replacing them with heifers will reduce production levels, as heifers produce about 70% of a mature cow, it is a good long-term investment. That is of course, if the heifer has a higher EBI than the cow being replaced.

Ă&#x160;LODGING AND CROWS: Recent rain and showers have caused an amount of patchy lodging and signiďŹ cant tossing in barley and oats. This is most obvious in seed and nitrogen overlaps and under trees. Lodged spots provide another access point for crows and pigeons. If you only have a few patches lodged consider erecting kites in some of them for protection. Ă&#x160;DESICCATION OF OSR: While some winter oilseed rape crops have been burned oďŹ&#x20AC;, many others will not be ready for a week or two. You will have to use your judgement between the stems / pods that are already quite mature and those that are still green. Continue to watch your crops for a change from green to brown as you look across the top â&#x20AC;&#x201C; check when the colour across the top is broadly similar to the colour of a hareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back.

When you get this colour inspect diďŹ&#x20AC;erent areas as best you can and decide on spray timing relative to the seed colour in 20 pods. Take these pods from the centre of the main rachime or a strong side branch. When at least twothirds of the seeds in at least 15 pods have turned brown or black the crop is at earliest correct stage for desiccation. A number of crops are being sprayed before this stage.

Use plenty water (200 l/ha or more) with up to 2.0 kg/ha of Roundup Powermax or 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4 l/ha of other glyphosate formulations.

the speed at which the sward turns from leafy pasture to developing stem. Consideration should also be given to applying compound over straight nitrogen fertiliser, to address any soil fertility issues.

weaning are currently treating lambs. Farmers need to ensure that the mineral supplement being used is licensed for use in Ireland and that the product used is listed as covering the required timeframe.

Ă&#x160;GRAZING MANAGEMENT: Where the performance of lambs in the post-weaning period is hit, grass quality is frequently to blame. Forcing lambs to graze out paddocks with lesser quality grass will signiďŹ cantly aďŹ&#x20AC;ect liveweight gain. The height at which lambs are removed from paddocks depends on the quality of the sward present. For example, where lambs are grazing fresh aftergrass swards, there will be no problem grazing down to 4cm or 5cm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with quality generally being good right down to the base of the sward.

In contrast, where swards have not being grazed tight in previous grazings, lambs may need to be moved on once the sward has been grazed to 6cm or 7cm, with weaned ewes used to graze out the sward. Alternatively, swards can be topped to improve the quality of regrowth.

Ă&#x160;WORM CONTROL IN DOGS: Regular worm control is important in working farm dogs, and also house dogs, with threats to animal and human health where dogs are left untreated.

Roundworm (prevalent in pups) and tapeworm (most common in older dogs) pose the greatest risk to a dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health, with young dogs or those with illness most susceptible.

For this reason, vets recommend treating pups every few weeks for the ďŹ rst three months of life and monthly until they reach six months of age. After this, the recommendation is to treat adult dogs every three to four months.

Treatments vary depending on the size and weight of the dog, so it is best to gain advice from the vet or merchant selling worm control products.

Worm control products for livestock should never be used on dogs, with ivermectin posing a serious risk to the health of dogs. Treatments should also be recorded under the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme.

Ă&#x160;MINERAL SUPPLEMENTATION: Many hill sheep farmers selecting the measure of mineral supplementation of lambs pre

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 28 3 10 17 124 July June July June June January 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017

BUSINESS OF FARMING 65

On the Irish market Ringside comment

In the spotlight

Strong feeder, farmer and exporter activity NATHAN TUFFY WESTERN LIVESTOCK SPECIALIST ntuffy@farmersjournal.ie

Cattle supplies through marts are at the lowest at this stage of the year.

Usually this results in more variable prices from sale to sale depending on demand and supply. However, the trade is generally firm currently, driven by strong farmer and feeder demand, while exporters are also helping to keep a floor under prices of lighter types. Forward cattle are steady, with cull cows continuing to

be brisk in some areas. The cull cow trade is strong and steady, with plenty of demand from feeders who have already slaughtered stock and are coming back to the marts to source more. The short-keep cow is by far the best trade, with continentals selling from €1.70/ kg to €1.85/kg, while fleshed and slaughter-fit continentals are making from €1.80/kg to €2.00/kg. The number of feeding Friesian cows on offer is small, and prices are ranging mainly from €200 to €380 along with the weight. Plain and thin older cows are selling from €1.10/kg upwards.

This pen of 11 Texel cross lambs weighing 49.5kg on average sold for €111 each at Blessington Mart.

The marts

At a glance: Average price paid week ending 04/07/2017 Weight €/head € over kg Weekly diff Yearly diff

Accurate mart pprices, es only ly in the Irish Farme mers Journal nal a

550 1149.5 600 -3 1

T S

Weight €/head € over kg Weekly diff Yearly diff

450 1008 558 -1 3

T S

Weight €/head € over kg Weekly diff Yearly diff

350 812 462 -4 3

T S

Steers

Heifers

Weanlings

Bullocks over 600kg are steady, with continentals making from €2.20/kg for R grades to €2.40/ kg at the top of the market for top-quality U grades. Stores from 500kg to 600kg are steady also, with the average 550kg steer making €1,150. Angus and Hereford O grade bullocks are selling at similar prices to the equivalent R grade continental. Stores from 400kg to 500kg saw price ease slightly in some areas dues to plainer stock on show. The average 450kg steer sold for €980, with U grades making €1,150.

Heifers over 600kg are very scarce on the ground. Top-quality 600kg heifers sold from €1,240 to €1,400.

Those from 500kg to 600kg are available in larger numbers than heavy types. The average quality R grade heifer is making €1,210 for 550kg, while 400kg to 500kg types are selling mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg. Angus and Hereford heifers are still in very strong demand.

Lighter types saw larger numbers of plainer types of heifers on offer, which were making around €2.00/kg and slightly less.

Exporters and farmers are keeping life in the weanling trade. Some special autumn-born weanling sales have taken place and there are reports of strong demand for heavy types from feeders. Good-quality bulls over 400kg are selling from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg, with U+ and E grades making over €2.70/ kg. Bulls from 300kg to 400kg are steady, while those under 300kg are a little weaker, with plainer cattle on offer. The weanling heifer trade is solid for those over 300kg, with plainer types under 300kg resulting in slightly easier prices.

YearlyComparison Steers

260

240

250

230

240

220

230

210

2017

2015 2016

220

200

210

190

200

Average price for 300-400kg weanling heifer (c/kg)

Average price for 300-400kg weanling bull (c/kg)

Average price for 400-500kg heifer (c/kg)

250

Weanling Heifers

Weanling Bulls

Heifers

Average price for 500-600kg steer (c/kg)

270

270

260

260

250

2015

240 2015

230 220

2017

210 2016

250 230

2017 2016

200

220 210 200

180

190

190

190

170

180

180

180

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2015

240

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2017 2016

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday 1781June July 2017 Saturday 28 24 January

66 BUSINESS OF FARMING Prices reported as quoted or paid to IFA members Week ending 04/07/2017 Comment: UK market conditions very favourable, with supplies tight and prices continuing to rise. Strong factory demand.

Prices strengthening. Factories paying 5c/kg to 10c/kg above quotes. Steer base €4.05/€4.10kg. Heifers €4.15/€4.20kg. Young Bulls O/R/U €3.80/€4.00/€4.10/kg. Cows €3.25/€3.70/kg. Inspec bonus 12c/kg above base price.

FACTORY BASE QUOTES C/KG Dunbia Kepak Athleague Moyvalley Meats Euro Farm Foods ABP Clones Slaney Foods Kepak Kilbeggan Liffey Meats Kildare Chilling Dawn Ballyhaunis Ashbourne Meats Meadowmeats Rathdowney Charleville Foods Kepak Watergrasshill ABP Bandon ABP Waterford Dawn Grannagh ABP Nenagh

Steers

Heifers

Cows

400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405 400/405

410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415 410/415

320 - 365 320 - 365 320 - 365 320 - 365 320 - 365 320 - 365 320 - 360 320 - 360 320 - 370 320 - 360 320 - 360 320 - 360 320 - 360 320 - 360 320 - 360 320 - 360

Irish beef price differential

€/hd for a 360kg R* grading carcase Source: Bord Bia

*based on British steer price and Italian young bull price

400 300 V Britain 2017 200 100 0 V Italy 2017 -100 -200 -300Jan Feb Mar Apr May

V Britain 2016

V Italy 2016

Jun Jul

Aug Sep Oct

Nov Dec

Export factory disposals

Prices hold despite factory efforts DARREN CARTY

07/01/15

The beef trade remains unchanged in the last few days.

Some factories continue to try and insert pressure on the trade by talking quotes down but their success is limited by firm demand and no real pressure on many farmers to move stock.

The reduced pressure is stemming in cases from producers prolonging having to re-enter the market for replacement stock, with mart prices holding strong. Others have no shortage of grass and are opting to feed on cattle where there is scope on age and weight/fat cover to do so.

This has left the majority of steers and heifers continuing to trade on a base of €4.05/kg and €4.15/kg respectively. There are small numbers trading at a 5c/ kg lower base where farmers have less negotiating power and likewise there are still small numbers

Cattle born on this date will be over 30 months old this week

trading at a 5c/kg higher base at the top of the market.

Last week’s beef kill reduced by 279 head to 33,682. There were some differences within categories, with the heifer kill increasing from 8,619 to 9,078 head.

The increase was offset, however, by the bull kill reducing 787 head to 3,776. Steer throughput is largely unchanged, up about 120 head to 12,571, with cows reducing 84 head to 7,559.

The cow trade has also steadied after price reductions in previous weeks.

Fleshed O grade cows are tradLivestock tool Latest mart and factory prices at \RXU À QJHUWLSV www.farmers journal.ie or our news app

Quality-based pricing grid for steers and heifers CUMULATIVE

26/06/2017

27/06/2016

26/06/2017

27/06/2016

3776 631 12571 7559 9098 47 33682

4650 454 11412 7319 7489 15 31339

109010 13770 292723 183694 236602 887 836686

117608 14926 275518 164098 224539 956 797645

YOUNG BULL BULL STEER COW HEIFER CALF TOTAL

Irish beef trends

Source: Department of Agriculture

2+ 3 44= 4+ 5

ing on average for €3.30/kg to €3.35/kg, with P+3 grades from €3.20/kg to €3.25/kg. Again, regular sellers handling significant numbers of 20 plus are capable of extracting more from the market, while R grades are selling in the main from €3.45/kg to €3.55/kg. A wide price difference between plants continues to be seen in the Department’s official price tables.

R grade bulls are trading in the main from €4.00/kg to €4.05/kg, with U grades from €4.10/kg to €4.15/kg. There are very few Friesian bulls in the market, with those that are generally in the hands of largescale producers. Prices for O grade bulls range from €3.80/ kg to €3.95/kg. Bulls less than 16 months old and trading on the grid are mainly being offered a base price of €4.00/kg, with some sellers trading at the top of the market securing 5c/kg higher.

NI trade Northern plants are also trying to ease prices back. U-3 base quotes have dropped by 2p/kg to 4p/kg, ranging from £3.58/kg to £3.62/kg.

This equates to €4.31/kg to €4.35/kg at 87.7p to the euro and including 5.4% VAT. However, regular sellers continue to secure returns into the lowto mid-£3.60s.

O grading cows range from £2.65/kg to £2.75/kg or €3.18/ kg to €3.31/kg, while R grading young bulls range from £3.60/ kg to £3.65/kg (€4.33/kg to €4.39/kg).

British beef prices remain solid, with falling throughput helping to underpin keen demand. Prices have increased by 8p/kg to 10p/kg in the last two to three weeks, with R4L steers and heifers ranging from £3.76/kg to £3.78/kg (€4.52/kg to €4.54/kg).

30-month age limit Farmers should be mindful of the 30-month age limit and review the age of finishing cattle. It may identify forward spring 2015-born animals to be pulled out for concentrate supplementation or faster drafting of slaughter-fit cattle.

Losing out on the 12c/kg Quality Payment Scheme bonus is worth just shy of €40 on a 330kg carcase, so it is well worth the effort.

Bonus structure for quality assurance payment

U+

U=

U-

R+

R=

R-

O+

O=

O-

P+

24 24 24 24 18 0

18 18 18 18 12 -6

12 12 12 12 6 -12

6 6 6 6 0 -18

BASE BASE BASE BASE -6 -24

BASE BASE BASE BASE -6 -24

-18 -12 -12 -12 -18 -36

-24 -18 -18 -24 -24 -42

-30 -24 -24 -30 -30 -48

-36 -30 -30 -36 -36 -54

R= and R- carcases grading fat class 2+,3 and 4- will be paid the base SULFH 7KH o JXUHV LQ WKH VXUURXQGLQJ FHOOV UHSUHVHQW WKH YDULRXV SUHPLXPV penalties paid across the range of conformation grades and fat scores. For example an R+3 carcase will be paid 6c/kg above the base price.

U+

U=

U-

R+

R=

R-

O+

O=

O-

P+

2+ 3 44= 4+ 5 Steers and heifers grading within the shaded area will be paid an extra 12c/ kg if they are quality-assured and under 30 months old at slaughter. Qualityassured cattle must be on the farms for at least 70 days before slaughter.

Animals over 30 months and not quality-assured will be deducted 12c/kg.

Irish sheep trends Weekly sheep slaughterings (head) 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0

Signs of stability in trade

2016 2017

PETER VARLEY

2015

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Lambs and hoggets: Week ending 04/07/2017 c/kg

700 650 2015 Hoggets

600 2017 Lambs

2016 Hoggets

550 500

2016 Lambs

2017 Hoggets

2015 Lambs

450 400

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

The lamb trade is showing more signs of stability after significant negative pressure applied to prices over the past fortnight.

Prices in general are well ahead of the same period last year, up 50c to 60c on average.

Most lamb producers are securing prices of €5.45/kg to €5.50/kg for lambs to a weight limit of 21kg.

Earlier in the week, some factory agents pulled base quotes back to €5.20/kg but as the week progressed have had to reverse their decision because supplies are not as good as expected.

Farmers with lambs to sell have used the reduced supplies to their advantage and negotiated prices well above

official quotes.

Kepak is leading the factory quotes with its price of €5.35/ kg excluding bonuses. This is followed by Kildare Chilling’s quote of €5.30/kg.

Interestingly, Dawn Meats has officially quoted €5.30/kg for lambs after a number of week’s absence from our table.

Irish Country Meats is at the bottom of the table again with its quote of €5.20/kg, with some lamb producers expressing frustration with the continued lower quotes.

Numbers increase Numbers, as expected, increased last week, with a total of 49,408 lambs slaughtered and the total sheep kill hitting 58,511 (up 4% on the same period in 2016). However, more recently, factory agents are

commenting that numbers are tighter than they would like.

One farmer from a large producer group said the number of lambs sent for slaughter in their group was significantly down on the two previous weeks.

With weaning taking place currently, drafting may be put on hold on some farms. Reports sug gest slaughter weights and flesh cover are significantly lower this year which does have a significant effect on meat yield and sales.

IFA national sheep committee chair John Lynskey said supply and demand is finely balanced but prices are starting to strengthen.

Cull ewes Cull ewe prices are very

strong, with prices of €2.85/ kg to €2.90/kg common. Some farmers have secured €3.00/ kg for ewes but weight limits are usually curtailed to 40kg in this scenario.

There is a limited supply of hoggets still on the market.

Kildare Chilling is quoting a base of €4.00/kg for these sheep.

NI Lamb quotes in the north have fallen 10p to 15p/kg this week. Quotes are sitting at £4.30/kg (equivalent of €5.13/ kg including VAT) in plants.

Some producer groups are securing £4.35/kg (€5.19/kg).

The number of lambs sent south for direct slaughter from the north was 5,985 head, which is down 4% on the same period last year.

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 28 17 124 July July June June January 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017

BUSINESS OF FARMING 67

Northern Ireland Report

Beef trade steady as quotes hold at 364p/kg cations are that finished animals are starting to move.

With a downward move on cattle quotes, processors are working from an official price of 362p/kg to 364p/kg for U-3 grade animals.

Most factories are opening on 364p/kg to 366p/kg. Indications are that cattle are moving at these prices, with 368p/ kg also on offer for good-quality steers and heifers.

Farmers with bigger num-

The cattle trade continues to hold relatively steady this week, although some plants have managed to shave 2p/kg from their quotes.

While cattle numbers are still tight, buying agents have found it easier to source numbers as some finishers look to offload the last of their cattle coming from the shed.

Grass-finished cattle are still slow to materialise given good grazing conditions, but indi-

NI beef base quotes: Week ending 08/07/2017 (p/kg inc VAT) 0 E U R O P

+=+ = + = + = + = -

22= 2+ 3+=- 44= 4+ 364 366 368 370 368 364 360 362 364 366 368 366 362 358 360 362 364 366 364 360 356 358 360 362 364 362 358 354 356 358 360 362 360 356 352 354 356 358 360 358 354 350 352 354 356 358 356 352 348 346 348 350 352 350 346 342 340 342 344 346 344 340 336 334 336 338 340 338 334 330 328 330 332 334 332 328 324 322 324 326 328 326 322 318 316 318 320 322 320 316 312

2IoFLDO 3ULFHV 1, Week ending 01/07/2017 (p/kg ex VAT) Category

Steers

Heifers

Young bulls Cows

U2 U3 U4 R2 R3 R4 O2 O3 O4 P2 P3

371.7 375.5 373.2

370.8 377.9 373.2 363.7 369.7 368.5 351.6 360.1 361.5

365.1 369.3

373.8 371.1 358.5 362.1

361.6 364.5

302.2 303.1 273.2 285.7 287.9 250.1 267.6

336.5 344.3

Note: EU deadweight price reporting – the prices in this table are around 3p/kg below the prices actually paid by NI factories, all of which trim carcases to the UK spec, removing brisket and bed fat before weighing.

The reported factory prices have been adjusted downwards by 1% to allow for the greater EU reference weight of the carcase.

2IoFLDO 3ULFHV %ULWDLQ Week ending 01/07/2017 (p/kg ex VAT) England/Wales Steers Heifers 376.1 374.1 377.9 371.7 375.7 379.4 361 365.3 362.4 326.5 329.3 335.4

380.7 379.5 370.5 371.4 373.6 370.6 358.7 365.1 363.7 319.4 336.5 338.3

Steers U3 U4L U4H R3 R4L R4H O+3 O+4L O+4H O-3 O-4L O-4H

Scotland Heifers

387.8 385.6 384.2 389.5 388.6 390.3 374.6 384.6 381.2 332.1 348.3 332.7

391.8 394.5 385.7 383.8 386.6 387.9 375.9 384.6 377 340.9 342.2 349.1

bers are finding it much easier to negotiate on price and managing to secure as much as 370p/kg.

Deals above this price are much harder to come by when compared with recent weeks, limited mainly to specialist finishers who sell on a regular basis.

Looking to next week, the July holidays will see all plants close on Wednesday. Dunbia is also closed on Thursday.

The shorter kill week will mean buying agents are under less pressure to source cattle, but solid beef sales should help to maintain prices at current levels.

Last week, the average price paid for steers and heifers was 361.39p/kg, down by 0.6p/kg on the previous week. The average price for U3 steers was 373.7p/kg, with U3 heifers on 375p/kg.

Cattle imported from Ireland

Leaving headed out grass in a sward will reduce grass growth for the rest of the season, leading to a possible grass shortage BETTER Farm NI >> P51

MartWatch: Prices in p/kg week ending 04/07/2017 HEIFERS

400-500kg Top1/3 207 18

Avg Bot1/3 178 143 14 -2

500-600kg Top1/3 221 11

Avg Bot1/3 192 165 8 9

600kg plus Top1/3 219 15

Avg Bot1/3 194 165 19 21

400-500kg Top1/3 214 -

Avg Bot1/3 190 167 -

500-600kg Top1/3 216 -

WEANLING HEIFERS

200-300kg

200-300kg

Avg Bot1/3 228 188 18 18

Avg Bot1/3 196 174 -

Top1/3

Avg Bot1/3

256 12

227 8

Top1/3

241 10

249 6 Top1/3

197 5

400kg +

Avg Bot1/3 193 161 -

Top1/3

Avg Bot1/3

215 10

181 11

300-400kg

300-400kg

600kg plus Top1/3 214 -

WEANLING BULLS Top1/3 262 11

235 15

Avg Bot1/3

208 14

178 11

400kg + Avg Bot1/3

218 12

Top1/3

194 11

224 31

Avg Bot1/3

201 21

174 8

The Marts: The tables are based on data from: Ballymena, Clogher, Dungannon, Kilrea, Markethill, Omagh, Rathfriland and Enniskillen marts.

Slaughterings of sheep and cattle in Northern Ireland Week ending Cumulative 24/06/17 25/06/16 2017 Prime cattle * 5,654 5,738 161,423 Cows 1,743 1,963 44,432 Sheep & Lambs 9,038 8,399 162,679 Ewes and rams 459 252 11,876 (prime cattle includes steers, heifers and young bulls) Imports and exports of cattle for direct slaughter Week ending Cumulative 01/02/17 02/07/16 2017 From GB 99 65 3555 To GB 41 116 802 From ROI 87 89 6,160 To ROI 82 261 3,779 Imports and exports of sheep for direct slaughter Week ending Cumulative 01/02/17 02/07/16 2017 From GB 0 0 637 To GB 0 0 0 From ROI 0 0 0 To ROI 5,985 6,620 171,544 Figures are subject to change

Cows The trade for cull cows remains robust, even with an increase in throughput over the past fortnight.

Quotes for O+3 cows range from 266p to 285p/kg with R grade cows on 290p/kg. Farmers report deals of 300p/kg widely available.

Mart comment

Mart prices for various weight categories and difference in p/kg on last week

STEERS

for slaughter fell to 87 head, around one-third of the previous week’s total.

2016 157,932 42,078 146,864 11,863

Difference 2% 6% 11% 0%

2016 1,931 3,161 7,488 7,673

Difference 84% -75% -18% -51%

2016 875 257 0 178,316

Difference -27% -100% -4%

Steady trade in Enniskillen There was an increased entry of cattle for sale at Ulster Farmers Mart, Enniskillen, with prices holding steady.

Forward bullocks sold to a top price of £1,315 for a 574kg Angus animal, with continental animals selling to £1,285 for a 582kg Charolais animal.

Midweight bullocks weighing 450kg to 550kg sold from £1,005 to £1,220, with lighter animals selling from £920 to £1,160 for cattle weighing 350kg to 450kg.

Heifers sold to 223p/kg for a 540kg Charolais at £1,220.

Forward animals sold from £1,180 to £1,290, with midweight animals selling from £900 to £1,150.

The trade for weanlings saw bulls make £1,025 for a 344kg Charolais animal. Heifers peaked at £1,075 for a 374kg Blue animal.

Calves sold to £480 for a Charolais bull calf. Angus calves sold from £200 to £315 with Limousin calves making £230 to £345. Friesian calves sold to £200. Suckler cows sold from £1,200 to £1,480.

– KIERAN MAILEY

North price trends at a glance Source DARD Cows: Deadweight prices (p/kg)

Steers: Deadweight prices (p/kg) 390 380 370 360 350 340 330 320 310 300 290 280 270

2017 2016

2015

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

290 280 270 260 250 240 230 220 210 200 190 180 170

Barley: Growers price (£/tonne)

Finished sheep: Deadweight price (p/kg) 190

500

180

2017

170

450

160

2017

150

400 2016

350

140

2016

130

2017

2016 2015

120 2015

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

300 250

2015

110 100 90

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday 10 17 381June July 2017 Saturday 28 January

68 BUSINESS OF FARMING

Camera at the mart Forfar Mart, Wednesday 5 July

These four Suffolk lambs weighing an average of 46kg sold for £100.

These three Texel lambs weighing an average of 43kg sold for £95.

These three Texel lambs weighing an average of 40kg sold for £79.

These 12 Texel lambs weighing an average of 43.5kg sold for £93.

These eight Texel lambs weighing an average of 42.5kg sold for £90.

7KHVH oYH 7H[HO ODPEV ZHLJKLQJ DQ DYHUDJH of 44kg sold for £90.

These seven Texel lambs weighing an average of 45.5kg sold for £107.

7KHVH oYH 7H[HO ODPEV ZHLJKLQJ DQ DYHUDJH of 45kg sold for £105.

These three Suffolk-Texel cross lambs weighing an average of 45kg sold for £108.

These three Texel lambs weighing an average of 55kg sold for £115.50

These two Texel lambs weighing an average of 49.5kg sold for £110.

These nine Texel lambs weighing an average of 42.2kg sold for £92.

Store cattle: week ending 4 July (£/hd) and change on last week Continental steers

Ayr Tu Caithness Mo Castle Douglas Mo Dingwall We Dumfries Mo Forfar Sa Huntly Th Kirkwall We Lanark Th Lockerbie Fr Newton Stewart Fr Newtown St Boswells Th Stirling (caledonian) Mo Stirling (ua) We\Mo Thainstone Fr

929.42 988.7 930.71 930.57

Continental 10to 14-months

-2.46 897.92 -17.97 996.76 -88.08 891.72 -24.43 935.71

21.98 -9.91 -58.75 -32.83

Continental heifers 840.18 -18.06 1050 836.12 -4.35 860.64 37.65

Continental 10- to 14-month heifers 845.33 81.2 930 779.44 -22.81 807.22 83.69

Native steers 876.25 -149.71 1028.33 71.19 850 863.31 -129.12 895.56 225.56

Native 10- to 14-month steers 875 -115 776.47 -45.2 908.33 68.33

Native 10- to Native heifers 14-month heifers 1004.72 -7.78 720 73.33 670 718.29 -119.71 604.55 -45.45 628.57 -289.35 620 -150

Store cattle numbers 280 0 34 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 1 224 211

Store cattle price 847.04 -45.67 999.26 2.12 721.43 935 573.33 852.92 -86.45 884.41 41.53

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 28 3 10 117 July June July June January 2017 2017 2017 20172017

BUSINESS OF FARMING 69

Irish Mart report – Fermoy

Irish Mart report – Blessington

This Angus heifer born February 2016 and weighing 410kg sold for €825 (€2.01/kg).

This 500kg Belgian Blue heifer born October 2015 sold for €1,090 (€2.18/kg).

Three Texel lambs weighing 43kg on average sold for €109 each (€2.53/kg).

Thirteen Charollais cross fat ewes sold for €118 each.

This Friesian heifer born April 2015 and weighing 505kg sold for €840 (€1.66/kg).

This 330kg Hereford bullock born February 2016 sold for €570 (€1.72/kg).

7ZHQW\ oYH 6XIIRON FURVV VWRUH ODPEV weighing 37kg on average sold for €85 each (€2.30/kg).

Eleven Texel mixed lambs weighing 49.5kg on average sold for €111 each (€2.24/kg).

These four Angus bullocks, born March 2016 and weighing 415kg on average sold for €915 (€2.20/kg).

This pair of Hereford bullocks, born April 2016 and weighing 430kg on average sold for €925 each (€2.15/kg).

Fourteen Suffolk mixed lambs weighing 43kg on average sold for €95 each (€2.21/ kg).

Seven Cheviot fat ewes sold for €104 each.

Angus and Hereford still a firm trade Lamb trade holding well at Blessington Tuesday’s sale at Fermoy Mart saw another firm cattle trade. Mart manager Sean Leahy said supply of cattle is on par with last year, but the trade is holding more firm. All forward feeding cattle continue to be a strong trade, as do cull cows. Angus cattle are still being met with strong demand. Prices are ranging mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg for all goodquality stores over 500kg. Sean said lighter types around 400kg are still making up to

€2.20/kg where the quality of those on offer is good. He said there was good demand for forward Friesian bullocks also, and these sold mainly from €1.80/kg to €2.00/kg for topquality types.

Light Hereford bullocks and heifers were a strong trade also, with those around 280kg making from €600 to €650. Although cow numbers are small at the mart currently, demand continues to be very strong.

Tuesday’s sheep sale at Blessington mart saw a good entry of over 1000 sheep on offer. Mart manager, John Doyle said they are still a few weeks off the height of the sheep numbers, but the trade is holding up well so far.

He said that compared to the same week last year, the prices on offer were much higher, and sellers in the main are quite happy so far.

Having that said, prices are back by about

€3-€4/head on last week, but demand is still very strong. Factory lambs sold from €97 to €107 while butcher lambs sold mainly from €106 to €112 at the top of the market for 50kg lambs.

John said that the cull trade continues to be very strong. Prices of fleshed ewes ranged mainly from €100 to €117, while light feeding ewes sold from €65 to €75 with better-quality types making up to €90/head.

Store sheep: week ending 4 July 2017 (£/hd) and change on last week Numbers

Ayr Caithness Castle Douglas Dingwall Dumfries We Forfar Huntly Kirkwall Mo Lanark Lockerbie Newton Stewart Newtown St Boswells Mo Stirling (caledonian) Tu\Mo Stirling (ua) We Thainstone Fr

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29

Store sheep average price - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 63.93 -1.04

Continental & Suffolk - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 66.47 -28.03

Halfbred & Mule - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 69.3 8.8

Cheviot - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 48.9 -13.96

39.83

Blackface -23.03

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday Saturday Saturday 1081June July 2017 Saturday 28 January

70 BUSINESS OF FARMING

Deadweight cattle Average Scottish deadweight price for steers

World cattle prices

R4L (ÂŁ/kg)

Week ending 24/06/2017

400

p/kg

2017 327

350

R3 Steer

R3 Steer

R3 Young Bull

R3 Young Bull

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

UK deadweight reporting: Week end 04/07/2017 (p/kg) Steers

Southern England Midland and Wales Northern England

NI

GB

Fr

Ger Italy Nld

3

4L

3

4L

3

4L

3

4L

379.4

375.0

375.1

371.9

374.9

375.2

387.8

385.6

R

371.6

378.2

373.8

371.6

368.2

377.2

389.5

388.6

O+

363.8

366.3

361.0

357.3

356.8

369.2

374.6

384.6

-O

323.2

326.2

322.9

325.2

330.6

332.1

332.1

348.3

Heifers

4L

3

4L

3

4L

3

4L

-U

379.6

377.3

383.9

385.3

377.9

376.8

391.8

394.5

R

371.8

375.0

374.7

375.7

365.6

370.5

383.8

386.6

O+

365.4

362.9

357.9

363.2

350.5

368.0

375.9

384.6

-O

321.9

331.4

317.0

326.8

320.1

346.0

340.9

342.2

Young bulls

3

4L

3

4L

Pol AUS US

Averages (p/kg)

Scotland Steers 383.2 +1.9S

Heifers Young bulls 384.8 +1S

368.6 +2.2S

Cows 278.6 +3.1S

Scotland

3

Southern England Midland and Wales Northern England

320

Scotland

-U

Southern England Midland and Wales Northern England

Dec

290

Scot Irl

R3 Steer

300 Jan

363 301

R3 Steer

325

353

Av. Steers

336

Steer

374

Steer

375

360

R3 Young Bull

388

2016

R3 Young Bull

375

Northern England

Scotland

3

4L

3

4L

Steers

Northern Ireland (R grade) Steers

Heifers

Young bulls

Cows

361.3 -0.9T

361.5 -0.3T

354.6 +0.1S

271.6 +0.1S

Heifers Young bulls

361.7 -

364.5 -1.5T

346.2 +6.6S

Cows 258.1 +0.2S

Central and Wales

-U

370.5

369.7

367.0

364.8

358.3

353.7

377.6

380.1

Steers

Heifers Young bulls

Cows

R

364.1

354.9

359.4

358.1

349.6

347.1

372.7

374.1

O+

343.2

350.0

336.7

328.3

331.6

322.8

358.2

369.9

358.3 -0.2T

364.2 +0.8S

250.7 +0.2S

-O

326.6

-

315.1

312.6

311.0

309.0

313.1

313.0

Southern England Midland and Wales Northern England

Cows R O+

350.6 -3.4T

Southern England

Scotland

3

4L

3

4L

3

4L

3

4L

301.3

297.3

305.3

306.0

301.9

300.4

301.3

300.8

295.9

291.5

293.2

292.5

284.3

287.7

293.3

293.6

-O

279.1

281.0

275.6

278.3

272.0

272.8

282.9

280.5

P+

262.8

259.8

246.9

256.8

256.9

245.0

255.3

240.0

Steers

Heifers Young bulls

Cows

359 +2.8S

361.6 +3.2S

252.2 +0.2S

352.5 -0.2T

Prime cattle: week ending 4 July2017 (p/kg) and change on last week Heifers

Steers Market Ayr Mo\Tu Caithness Castle Douglas Tu Dingwall We\Tu Dumfries We\Tu Forfar We Huntly We\Th Kirkwall Mo Lanark Mo Lockerbie Newton Stewart We Newtown St Boswells Mo Stirling (caledonian) Th\Tu Stirling (ua) Th Thainstone Th

Total cattle 13 0 1 12 4 23 0 16 33 0 0 60 61 4 86

370-550 kg 232 212 109.5 -

9.25 8 -30.11 -13.21 235 9 207.7 83.2 14.08

551-650 kg 223 231 216.33 227 220.09 229.29 210.75 218.08

43 -1.75 0.33 57.33 -0.91 6.37 102.05 -5.59

>650 kg 216 0 217.33 5 212.83 7.7 202.1 -3.03

330-500 kg 236 229 130.13 230 208.25 172.82

11 6 -123.87 -13 -27.75 -34.04

501-590 kg 225.45 196 235.56 225 236.92 230 200.22 225.43 238.77 187.5 223.72

-9.75 10 10.65 13.25 1.51 17.33 -28.38 -7.36 10.97 3.67

>590 kg 242.33 198 231.33 223.86 187.84 226.5 225.67 205.41

3.33 3 -1.17 20.86 7.01 -1.39 -3.73 0.58

Young bull numbers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 6

All young bulls 198 192 187.67

16 7.59 29.67

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 28 10 1 July June January 2017 20172017

BUSINESS OF FARMING 71

Liveweight sheep Average price for prime lamb

Average price for cull ewes New-season lamb

250 200

80 70

Old-season lamb

150

60

100 50 50 0

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

40

Jun

Jan

Feb

Mar

Numbers of prime lamb

Numbers of cull ewes

30000

8000

22500

May

Jun

6000

Old-season lamb

15000

4000 New-season lamb

7500 0

Apr

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

2000 0

Jun

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

World lamb prices: (p/kg) New Zealand 17.5 kg lamb (02 June)

369

Ireland lambs (28 May)

455

France butchers lamb (28 May)

571

US lambs LW (02 June)

315

UK price

487

Data provided by

British deadweight lamb price reporting (Old Season Lambs) Final SQQ: week ending 27 June, 2017 (12.0 - 21.5kg) 1 E U R O P

Num 1 14 190 72 2

p/kg 460.0 466.8 460.4 426.0 360.0

Num 626 2640 7237 1403 5

2 p/kg 487.8 486.0 477.9 461.1 348.0

Num 2215 9748 17279 1597 1

3L p/kg 487.4 485.8 477.8 465.8 320.0

Num 662 3235 4815 209

3H p/kg 474.3 476.2 472.0 463.1

Num 102 468 588 18

4L p/kg 455.7 454.7 455.0 454.2

Num 3 42 53 5

4H p/kg 440.0 432.0 433.1 430.0

Num 1 3

5 p/kg 410.0 396.7

Prime sheep: week ending 4 July 2017 (p/kg) and change on last week Ayr (Mon) Caithness Castle Douglas Dingwall Dumfries Forfar Huntly Kirkwall Lanark Lockerbie Newton Stewart Newtown St Boswells Stirling (caledonian) Stirling (ua) Thainstone

Hoggs 25.5-32kg

Hoggs 32.1-39kg

Hoggs 39.1-45kg

Hoggs 45.6-52kg

89 106.2 120.04

100 67.14 157.5 152.81 118.77

147.18 93.29 153.5 152.18 129.16

163.42 145.97 130.46

Average Average price price change 146 84.57 152.76 151.39 120.29

-29 -39.01 18.68 -27.03 -36.44

Total old season lambs 0 0 0 0 40 3 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 192 142

Total ewes 533 0 41 54 279 48 293 0 223 0 83 298 0 727 0

Total ewes average price 83.95 66.85 47.04 68.73 76.57 66.73 74.48 70.54 69.04 61.94 -

Total ewes average change 2.33 5.23 -15.55 -9.02 8.91 1.37 4.46 12.79 -7.48 -9.3 -

FARMERS JOURNAL Saturday 8 July 2017

72 BUSINESS OF FARMING

Market view

£1=€1.14 €1= | £0.88

Cow trade appears to have hit the top GDT suffers

R

BEEF John Sleigh

grading 4L steers are making £3.84/kg with similarly grading heifers running close to this price.

Bulls are still making £3.60/kg for 3 4L carcases, with some abattoirs offering a 15p bonus for U grades under 420kg. The bull kill is down 19% year-on-year, giving evidence that farmers listened to some abattoirs’ advice last year to produce more steer beef. Organic steers and heifers R 4L are making £5.00/kg.

The cow trade appears to have hit the top, with dairy-sired cows averaging £1.19/kg and beef cows £1.42/ kg in the live ring. This is 15% up on this time last year. The manufacturing beef trade has been driving the market since Christmas.

Cow beef exports are up 13% in value in the first quarter of 2017. According to QMS, during May, UK

abattoirs handled over 2% more cull cows than last year. However, reports show that the volume of cull stock they are receiving has dipped slightly in recent weeks.

It is not just the UK that has seen firm. Cull-stock prices and cull-cattle prices are also looking strong across Europe. In many major beefproducing countries, prices are 5% to 10% higher than this time last year.

This week, QMS reported that there are signs of firm demand for manufacturing beef, which would support cull-stock values in the short term.

Kantar Worldpanel retail market research suggests a growth in sales of added-value beef products in the UK, and UK Customs data shows a growth in the imports of frozen boneless beef, although fresh chilled imports have fallen.

Another factor supporting the

The cow trade appears to have hit the top, with dairysired cows averaging £1.19/kg and beef cows £1.42/kg in the live ring

wider European beef market has been a growth in exports outside of the EU of 17% in the first four months of the year. This has been accompanied by a useful growth in markets associated with lower-value cuts, and a 6% reduction of imports over the same time frame. The UK, too, has seen some modest growth in exports outside of the EU and reduced imports.

Over the last first four months of 2017, GB and Scottish calf registrations have dipped by around 0.5% on last year. Store sales in the back end are not far away, and the strong trade in abattoirs will be talking the trade up. Only 757 store cattle were sold last week, so prices can be skewed if supply and demand are out of kilter. But prices look strong, with 10- to 14-month continental steers making £930/head.

Deadweight cattle in Scotland:

Store cattle in Scotland:

Week ending 01/07/17 (£/kg)

Week ending 04/07/17 (£/hd)

+4p R4L steers

-6p R4L heifers

NC

R4L young bulls

+1p

0+4L cows

+£9 Continental 10 to 14 month steers average

£3.88 £3.81 £3.74 £2.93 £931 Sheep in Scotland: Week ending 04/07/17 (£/kg)

-10p Liveweight newseason lamb

-57 Total number new season live sales

-£3 Live ewes per head

£2.14 6,505 £68

-833 Total ewe live sales

-£10 Native 10 to 14 month steer average

+£81 Continental 10 to 14 month heifer average

-£37 Native 10 to 14 month heifer average

£853 £840 £648

R3 Steer UK & Ireland: Week ending 01/07/17 (£/kg)

NC S England

N England

-2p

+3p

NC NI

ROI

2,579 £3.71 £3.68 £3.73 £3.53

Lamb prices have started to dip in Scotland SHEEP John Sleigh

This time last year, the trade was £1.90/kg, so lambs are up £9/head year-on-year. It is hoped that the weak pound will keep prices up over summer, and that we do not see any significant drop like we did in 2013, when prices crashed by 40p/kg.

Ewes have dipped to around £68/ head in Scotland, falling £3/hd in a week. South of the border, ewes have fallen in price to average £65/head.

Most of this is down to the falling

Ewes have dipped to around £68/ head in Scotland, falling £3/hd in a week

demand since Ramadan. Scotland sold 2,579 ewes in the live ring over the last seven days.

According to AHDB figures, the total number of spring lambs and hoggs coming through GB auction markets was 115,000 head, 6% higher on the week. Of these, 109,000 were spring lambs: 10% more than last week, which was a week that recorded slightly slower trade.

Farmers are yet to have a clear pic-

ture of the store trade this back end.

They are watching the sheep market over July, which will be critical to buyers’ mood in the autumn.

Brexit talks are a great unknown, which it helping weaken the pound.

But currency markets can move swiftly if a clearer picture of Brexit emerges.

This nervousness could take the heat out of the lamb store market when sales start.

another price slip PATRICK DONOHOE

NEWS EDITOR pdonohoe@farmersjournal.ie

This week’s Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction in New Zealand saw the benchmark dairy index record another marginal decline of 0.4%, to an average selling price of $3,300/t.

The latest decline in the GDT was driven by a near 5% fall in the average price of skim milk powder (SMP) to $2,090/t.

This latest setback for SMP prices was likely impacted by the European Commission’s decision last week to sell 100t of SMP out of intervention for a price of €1,850/t, which was below market prices for the dairy powder.

On the other side of the powder equation, it was encouraging to see a near 3% increase in the average selling price of whole milk powder (WMP) above $3,110/t.

Of the other dairy commodities traded on the GDT, there was a mixed bag.

After some stunning price rises in

Aside from an 11% increase in the price of buttermilk fat, there were declines in the selling price for the remaining dairy products. Cheddar prices fell over 3% to $4,050/t, while anhydrous milk fat (-3.5%), lactose (-3%) and casein (-3%) were also down recent months, there are now signals the butter market is beginning to slow down and this proved no different at this week’s GDT auction, where butter prices were flat at $5,775/t.

Aside from an 11% increase in the price of buttermilk fat, there were declines in the selling price for the remaining dairy products. Cheddar prices fell over 3% to $4,050/t, while anhydrous milk fat (-3.5%), lactose (-3%) and casein (-3%) were also down in price.

Closer to home, Muller has announced that it is increasing its August price by 1.5p/litre. This brings the non-aligned price to 27.69p/l.

The Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) price is to increase by 0.21p/l up to 29.58p/l from 1 August.

Agriculture director with Muller Rob Hutchinson said the processor could now look forward to passing on greater returns to farmers in the coming months.