The small suckler/beef herd in danger again

kay 9

http://www.thatsfarming.com/news/opinionhttp://www.thatsfarming.com/news/opinion

Interesting read but seems to be repetitive of years gone by. We all know the small farming sector isn't as profitable as it once was but it's not seen the demise that has been promised so many times over the years.
Will it be different this time?
Hard get rid of the small farmer but I guess they've been planning this since the introduction of subsidies etc.
"the West of Ireland being Europe's front lawn" that's a good one. Good luck to the lads that try intensive farming where I'm from, it's not the worst ground but by jez it'll test the best of them

rangler1

kay 9 wrote: »

http://www.thatsfarming.com/news/opinionhttp://www.thatsfarming.com/news/opinion

Interesting read but seems to be repetitive of years gone by. We all know the small farming sector isn't as profitable as it once was but it's not seen the demise that has been promised so many times over the years.
Will it be different this time?
Hard get rid of the small farmer but I guess they've been planning this since the introduction of subsidies etc.
"the West of Ireland being Europe's front lawn" that's a good one. Good luck to the lads that try intensive farming where I'm from, it's not the worst ground but by jez it'll test the best of them

It's the same with all the small industries, labour and costs are too high in Ireland if your enterprise isn't getting bigger, you're on the way down, it's fact of life, it isn't just farming.
It's evolution, no one is planning it, if anything, subsidies gave farmers an extension for those that took advantage...

Western Pomise

IMO there will always be a place for the small part time Farmer in Ireland.Provided that at least one person in each generation has an interest in farming they will continue to see farming as a healthy ' break' from the day job.The fact is that some of the most efficient and profitable farm units in Ireland are run on a part time basis.

Large scale farming is only effective where the farmer is running a good enterprise.

Farrell

Would the way forward not be groups, where 10/20 together.
Lots at it for buying, next step would be selling to shipping of factory in a contact basis

Who2

Farrell wrote: »

Would the way forward not be groups, where 10/20 together.
Lots at it for buying, next step would be selling to shipping of factory in a contact basis

It's started already, there's a beef finisher in Donegal taking 200 bulls from a couple of the discussion groups next year, all have to be born within a set time all have to be a certain weight and have done 1.25 kg per day from birth. It's another control that may end up turning every suckler farmer another step towards contract rearing for larry.

Farrell

Who2 wrote: »

It's started already, there's a beef finisher in Donegal taking 200 bulls from a couple of the discussion groups next year, all have to be born within a set time all have to be a certain weight and have done 1.25 kg per day from birth. It's another control that may end up turning every suckler farmer another step towards contract rearing for larry.

Well even for the likes export, forward selling.