Organic Farmer - Dairy

BattyJoe

Anyone here in Organic Farming - with a Dairy Herd ?

If so , id love to hear from you - and how your getting on?

Im milking, and also have beef , and use very little fertilizer at moment, with no slatted shed - all straw beds.

Thinking of getting into Organic - any advice / info appreciated.

thanks

frazzledhome

BattyJoe wrote: »

Anyone here in Organic Farming - with a Dairy Herd ?

If so , id love to hear from you - and how your getting on?

Im milking, and also have beef , and use very little fertilizer at moment, with no slatted shed - all straw beds.

Thinking of getting into Organic - any advice / info appreciated.

thanks

Are you considering organic as a way of life or a business decision. I have a friend in Dorset organic but on a very large scale. I can pm his details if you want

Greengrass1

BattyJoe wrote: »

Anyone here in Organic Farming - with a Dairy Herd ?

If so , id love to hear from you - and how your getting on?

Im milking, and also have beef , and use very little fertilizer at moment, with no slatted shed - all straw beds.

Thinking of getting into Organic - any advice / info appreciated.

thanks

If your getting good returns at the minute is good grass and good solids it might be a good option
I know we looked down that route a few yrs back and it didn't suit us.
I do know one man who was conventional and went organic because if the quota but he is at a crossroads now and wants out. He was pushed into winter milk which he personally doesn't like and he said he was left for a few months with no milk cheque

BattyJoe

frazzledhome wrote: »

Are you considering organic as a way of life or a business decision. I have a friend in Dorset organic but on a very large scale. I can pm his details if you want

Thanks for reply frazzledhome, and offer of the contact.

its a business decision really - but saying that, I was never too much into the way things have gone now - pumping manure into the land like there's no tomorrow.

If I want to keep going the way I am, with the quota going in 2015 - ill have to invest hugely for new parlour, double my dairy heard of cows at least, probably have to build big slatted shed . . . . and it will be all too serious for me!!

So really , its both business and a way of life I want to maintain.

no point talking to the man in Dorset , as it would be too big a scale - and no comparison .

Im milking 35 cows , keep about 90 cattle from aged 0 to 2 years . Its enough for me. I use very little fertilizer, or nuts / meals - which is why im thinking organic.

or can anyone advise differently, as appose to looking into organic?

Greengrass1

BattyJoe wrote: »

Thanks for reply frazzledhome, and offer of the contact.

its a business decision really - but saying that, I was never too much into the way things have gone now - pumping manure into the land like there's no tomorrow.

If I want to keep going the way I am, with the quota going in 2015 - ill have to invest hugely for new parlour, double my dairy heard of cows at least, probably have to build big slatted shed . . . . and it will be all too serious for me!!

So really , its both business and a way of life I want to maintain.

no point talking to the man in Dorset , as it would be too big a scale - and no comparison .

Im milking 35 cows , keep about 90 cattle from aged 0 to 2 years . Its enough for me. I use very little fertilizer, or nuts / meals - which is why im thinking organic.

or can anyone advise differently, as appose to looking into organic?

How about looking at it like this,
His much of an income do you want per yr? 30k ? Work it back from there and if organic gives that to you then go for it

BattyJoe

Greengrass1 wrote: »

How about looking at it like this,
His much of an income do you want per yr? 30k ? Work it back from there and if organic gives that to you then go for it

ya, but is it hard to get into it? Will it cost much to get into ? And will I be able to sell my organic beef for a better price? get paid more for the milk I produce ? - or is it just the grant money I would be considering?

BattyJoe

im from the west of Ireland by the way - but luckily have a lot of good land.

F.D

I know nothing about it, but post up any info you find out,
I would reckon you would need to ring glenisk or other organic milk processor and see if they would collect milk in your area, then get an idea of the price they paid over the past 5 years
as for the beef i think there is only organic marts at different times of the year
not sure though
maybe you would be better bringing them to kill out and supply a butcher ?

Could be a good way forward like you say if your not having high inputs and getting a better reward for your produce

BattyJoe

Don't know too much about it either . . . . But I know the areas most people struggle is with the straw bed requirements , and not being allowed use fertiliser. That's why I think it would suit me. Also €216 per hectare I think. Would need to speak to someone who has done it before making any major changes.

gazahayes

BattyJoe wrote: »

Don't know too much about it either . . . . But I know the areas most people struggle is with the straw bed requirements , and not being allowed use fertiliser. That's why I think it would suit me. Also €216 per hectare I think. Would need to speak to someone who has done it before making any major changes.

Contact these they're always looking for people to convert so should have some info for you.
http://www.organictrust.ie/