Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on [email protected] for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact [email protected]

What kind of farming system would you suggest in this setup.

  • 21-09-2022 12:59pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,367 ✭✭✭JustJoe7240


    Coming to the stage now where it's coming close to the time to return home to build. Father is beginning to take a step back, Farming approx 80 acres of good quality land. Currently running a herd of PB animals, Not a system I have any interest in operating. Won't be relying on farm as sole income. Had thought about milking but with the cost of building needed and some pre existing health issues (joint pain) It's not something I'm comfortable committing to anymore. Suggestions for a system would be most welcome.



Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 273 ✭✭roverjoyce


    Sell it and live on the proceeds, see can you sell a few sites first

    Build your house mortgage free,

    go on a dream holiday,



  • Registered Users Posts: 8,475 ✭✭✭Mooooo


    Be clear with parents about what is wanted and / or needed for themselves and start from there. Most profitable is likely a long term lease if they would be agreeable. Other than that if working off farm I'd imagine store cattle of some description would be the least labour intensive, others here would have more experience in the beef side of things so I'll leave any advice on that side to them



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,367 ✭✭✭JustJoe7240




  • Registered Users Posts: 8,475 ✭✭✭Mooooo


    You'll have to find out what you want to do yourself really and how it'll work around the off farm job



  • Posts: 6,192 ✭✭✭ Renee Brief Stipend


    I'd imagine that contract rearing of heifer calves would suit best,as it's good enough cashflow....and you could easily add on a few yourself and bring to point of calving (how profitable this is,I dunno)


    While it keep the physical aspect to a minimum,add a quad and virtually eliminate any handling on feed/herding aswell



  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 7,644 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    What is the farm layout? Is it all in one block or scattered? What type of buildings do you have for machinery and livestock?

    If you are returning home have you much experience in farm management and decision making? Might be best to just run it as is until you get your feet under the table - that way your father can easily help out until you start standing on your own feet.

    What hours can you give each week?



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,367 ✭✭✭JustJoe7240


    Thanks for the replies to date folks.

    Farm is all in one block, enough winter storage for 25 cows + followers, dry shed for calving. Machinery sheds for silage gear.

    Experience managing a medium scale dairy herd.

    Not really sure regarding hours ATM



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,089 ✭✭✭blackdog1


    Rent it tax free for 5 years. Rent is making stupid money. Give it to your parents as a top up to their pension and after certain amount of years put it into your bank account. Hobby farming is a waste of time.main thing is to transfer the land into your name atm



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,499 ✭✭✭amacca


    If you want to continue farming would you consider a reasonable number of weanlings and fatten (whatever you can comfortably house and feed for one winter) + collect what subs you can....do you have a farm payment?

    Downside is it could be costly to stock up and you wont be making a fortune but 80 good acres isn't to be sniffed at imo......maybe calves to stock up initially...definitely costly and work intensive.... and disappointing if you are unlucky and don't avoid screws.



  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 7,644 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    @Bass Reeves - how close are you running to max stocking density with those figures?



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,634 ✭✭✭Jjameson


    2018 2019 I didn’t make a sausage finishing cattle. Weather 2018, cartel greed 2019.

    if you can get a good taker OP let it.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,097 ✭✭✭weatherbyfoxer


    Best off setting it for top dollar to a dairy farmers,..good land in my area is making €300-400+ per acre for long term letting also on top of that the value of the entitments are paid back to the farmer



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,367 ✭✭✭JustJoe7240


    By the sounds of things there'll be no part time farmers atall.

    Thanks to the posters who contributed, especially those who actually suggested systems.

    Sure if we all did what made the most financial sense we'd all probably be doing something completely different, but might not be near as content with our lot.


    To add a spanner to the mix, Also likely to inherit another 75-80 approx 2 miles away. Not mentioned earlier as nothing is certain in life bar death and taxes. Would that change anyone's perspective?



  • Registered Users Posts: 3,931 ✭✭✭davidk1394


    What about calf to beef or buy weanlings that are off milk or sell them as stores ? Just have what you need for the entitlements. The margins might be tight but if you want to go farming it'd be one of the easier ways in.



  • Registered Users Posts: 17,434 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    Calf to beef is grand but it's down to time spend rearing calves. One think that will change that option is if dairy farmers have to retain calves until six weeks. Then it would be very viable to go calf to beef.

    Calf to store maybe but it would have to be AA, trying to source good ones is an issue at present. If you did not get weight on them it's a mugs game. Watching the better store going through mart rings most would make more hung.

    Calf to 18-22 month beef off grass would be very viable if you can get them to 250+ DW.

    Slava Ukrainii



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,367 ✭✭✭JustJoe7240


    Great post, Thank you.


    My comment re part time farmers was tongue in cheek considering the amount of suggestions to rent out the land to a dairy farmer.



  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 17,434 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    No matter what system you operate you will have money tied up in stock. Ya calf to beef is a two years system disadvante is its two years before yu see a return. However its every year after that if you stick with it. Its a relatively cheap way to get into stock. but ties money up longer. You have bigger investment tied in store to beef buy your turning money in 12-16 months.

    Another options is traditional breeds to beef and slaughter as many as possible at 18-20 months off grass. Next year there will be a slaughter premia on such cattle. My fear for it would be a bigger glut of cattle every autumn.

    Slava Ukrainii



Advertisement