Beef price tracker 2

I'm not disagreeing with you.

This is also true, the problem with lower stocking is that it certainly can increase profit per animal it also is hampered by lack of yield.

The farmer getting a vastly smaller portion of the price of beef compared to most of recorded history. People wanting ever cheaper food and that embedded in European politics and outlook.

The problems ultimately are far above the farm gate.

20 years ago when I bought the farm we own the beef price was 2.2/ kg. I was unlucky in that I was not farming the ref years so I got a local average SFP (10k/ year) rather than what I drew the two years after the reference period (20k average) it now about 8k ( I bought some low value entitlements in 2014/15 which kept my values decent)

However in the Intervening period beef price has gone from 2.2/ kg to 5.15. Along with that there was no AA/HE premiums or QA another 220-40c/ kg depending on stock.

The problem for many is they did not adapt. They sat drawing large payments and often stayed in unprofitable intensive systems. Larry squeezed them dry.

There is a lot of whinging from the usual suspects. These are the lads that paid fancy prices for stock last Autumn and again in January/February. I pointed out last Autumn that a lot of cattle bought needed a base of 5.5+/ kg to make any margin and cattle bought after Christmas needed a bit more.

This week I intend to slaughter a few cattle that have been at grass since February. Would I have like 5.5/kg. Yest I would but 5.15/kg will do nicely. I like it to be there in 3 weeks tine when I slaughter some more of these cattle that we're out early.

I housed cattle on the 15th of October, that was 2 weeks after they were in a sacrifice paddock, cause I was hoping the weather would improve. They had access to round bales from October 1st. Sure it was the wettest month I've ever seen.

They went out April 15th, I was earlier than most neighbours, and I could probably have left them in another 10 days. They could easily have gone in the 1st of October as well.

Sure if i tell myself that I'll clear anything worth while from them, that's me kidding myself.

I wish everyone well and hope that ye do clear Money on them but for me the scale of cash flow out throughout the year is more of a problem. I have a neighbour interested in renting my slatted shed. I'm seriously considering it, keep the sheep and just walk away from cattle.

I can see his point...from my point of view the only problem with his plan is you'd then have to deal with sheep!

Haha very true not everyone likes working with sheep the same way not everyone wants to milk a batch of cows….

Personally I think the full time farmer with a decent sized farm should have better income support than a part time farmer who is educated and has a good job…

That’s a bold statement on here. I’d say the majority on here are part time (myself included).

I am running as many cattle on as much land as many full timers but have it set up that I can work full time and farm efficiently. You are saying another man who doesn’t bother heading off to work every day should get a bigger payment than me. It’s not going to happen but it wouldn’t make much sense to me.

I’m part time farming myself as well but I’d rather be full time farming do you guys not see my point…

I wouldn’t bother going with so little any day of the year. If I’m feeding I’m feeding. 4 kg plus any time I am bothering

Plus or including vat?

Inc Vat

Why should they. The problem with that is such actions are usually means tested. Once again the full time PAYE worker is discriminated against.

As well only the farmers income can be taken into account. He could be married or living with a person with a substantial income or wealth and receive a higher payment. This was the crack twenty years ago with farm grants whereby ordinary workers with modest wages (60-70% of average industrial wages) could not access shed grants but the larger dairy or beef farmer or businessman that could control his taxable income could access the grants.

If a lad has had 20+ years of December SFP and has squandered it then giving him more is not going to solve the issues

You also have the anomaly whereby I could access such a payment as I am semi retired.

Often did it. Meal fed over a long period really puts flesh on cattle. Strictly from a labour viewpoint I only start feeding 6-8 weeks ( a few may need a tad longer) pre finish. However if your grass is good quality and plenty if it I see it as a cost cutting measure. Great idea to top paddocks if you are not running a leader follower system. Cattle tend to struggle the last couple of days in a paddock topping it a disc mower when what seems are three days left with increase intake where they may be finished it in a day and a half.

Anything over a half k/100kgs seriously decreases intake

Trying to compare bales with pit.Have a pit.At 14 +4 for plastic +3 to draw e3. =21. Must check price of pit. Allowing 12 bales/acre

Can't draw myself so that cost will have to stay. Will try find out the cost of pit.in this area Think it was 150+ vat last year. Prefer bales and see a few neighbours changed in last few years