Dairy Chit Chat- Please read Mod note in post #1

mahoney_j · 10-12-2015 12:44PM

RightTurnClyde wrote: »

Ya, but that's when the fun goes out of it. I think half the buzz of farming is the next project or the next bit of expansion
I'd say I'd throw my hat at it the day I stop having "a plan"

The buzz then comes from chasing efficiencies around what u have ,growing more grass ,producing more milk and solids as a herd matures .expansion don't have to be a nos game and burying yourself in debt taking extra land on etc .ill be quite happy when I reach 120 cows ,saying that if an opportunity that suits arises I'll be ready to pounce

Dawggone · 10-12-2015 12:51PM

RightTurnClyde wrote: »

Ya, but that's when the fun goes out of it. I think half the buzz of farming is the next project or the next bit of expansion
I'd say I'd throw my hat at it the day I stop having "a plan"

Spot on Clyde.

However I've had a bit of time of late to reflect, and I wonder have "we" gone down the wrong track re commodities etc.
I think that big ag may be the only winners, with family farms and rural communities the losers..

kowtow · 10-12-2015 01:06PM

Dawggone wrote:

However I've had a bit of time of late to reflect, and I wonder have "we" gone down the wrong track re commodities etc. I think that big ag may be the only winners, with family farms and rural communities the losers..

I'm more sure of it with every day.

But a lot of this discussion is about being a great farmer ( or maybe just a brave farmer) and we'll need that kind of determination, commitment, engagement even more if ever there day comes when the tables turn on the food corporations.

Expansion hurts because it has to be financed, even if it's not paid for in ready money.

Dawggone · 10-12-2015 04:39PM

Just finished a meeting with my milk manager.

Price for Jan, Feb and Mar is going to be 28.7cpl +vat for base price milk.

When questioned on the amount of milk being sold onto world market, he said that none of it goes into those markets but that the German processors are gaining market share on our supermarket shelves.

He can't see any positive change on milk price for the whole of the coming year.
He also added that they might have to offer a base of 30cpl for 2016 to stem the flow of farmers leaving the industry...

Milked out · 10-12-2015 04:48PM

Dawggone wrote: »

Just finished a meeting with my milk manager.

Price for Jan, Feb and Mar is going to be 28.7cpl +vat for base price milk.

When questioned on the amount of milk being sold onto world market, he said that none of it goes into those markets but that the German processors are gaining market share on our supermarket shelves.

He can't see any positive change on milk price for the whole of the coming year.
He also added that they might have to offer a base of 30cpl for 2016 to stem the flow of farmers leaving the industry...

2 questions dawg. If he says they may have to offer a base of 30c/l to prevent dairy farmers exiting can they (milk purchaser) afford it as in will it be loss making for them or just less profit iykwim?. Also if large numbers are exiting are they likely to effect your grain price by turning to tillage or is the grain market in France totally global orientated that the possible switch from dairy to grain within france would have little effect on your price?

Dawggone · 10-12-2015 05:03PM

Milked out wrote: »

2 questions dawg. If he says they may have to offer a base of 30c/l to prevent dairy farmers exiting can they (milk purchaser) afford it as in will it be loss making for them or just less profit iykwim?. Also if large numbers are exiting are they likely to effect your grain price by turning to tillage or is the grain market in France totally global orientated that the possible switch from dairy to grain within france would have little effect on your price?

Firstly they (Coop) are going to post excellent profits this year. I think that they are facilitating a complete change in the supply base. They know that the small/marginal producers will have to exit and now is a good time to let them go. He strongly hinted (and I ignored) that if I produced an extra million litres, there "may" be a chance of a guaranteed price of 32cpl. Nice carryon from a Coop??

Secondly Milked out, the cereal market is an export commodity market jobby and and any extra grains will make no difference whatsoever. Example, the French have targeted the malting barley market in Ireland, UK and Demark very successfully.

Greengrass1 · 10-12-2015 06:21PM

http://www.farmersjournal.ie/the-12-crucial-lessons-from-new-zealand-195586/#.VmmtbGj-jhk.twitter

V good read.

mahoney_j · 10-12-2015 06:52PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

http://www.farmersjournal.ie/the-12-crucial-lessons-from-new-zealand-195586/#.VmmtbGj-jhk.twitter

V good read.

Read it in journal earlier ,some good stuff in fsirness but environmental regulations finally catching up with them with requirements for slurry storage ,winter accommodation Sr restrictions etc .no point in them looking for sympathy for things we need to have as standard .a lot of the kiwi advantages are going to be seriously eroded by environmental regulations over next few years.their low cost lax enviornmental grass based systems can only take a system so far ......

Greengrass1 · 10-12-2015 07:15PM

mahoney_j wrote: »

Read it in journal earlier ,some good stuff in fsirness but environmental regulations finally catching up with them with requirements for slurry storage ,winter accommodation Sr restrictions etc .no point in them looking for sympathy for things we need to have as standard .a lot of the kiwi advantages are going to be seriously eroded by environmental regulations over next few years.their low cost lax enviornmental grass based systems can only take a system so far ......

Fully agree. Environment needs to be looked after.
It just shows we shouldn't get carried away with getting into a high cist production system.

In one way milk price tanking can be seen as a good thing. It stopped lads getting carried away and refoucusing after milk quota removal

mf240 · 10-12-2015 07:18PM

Not to mention some questionable animal welfare pratices.

Its not really the mecca of milk some lads think it is.

mf240 · 10-12-2015 07:21PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Fully agree. Environment needs to be looked after.
It just shows we shouldn't get carried away with getting into a high cist production system

In one way milk price tanking can be seen as a good thing. It stopped lads getting carried away and refoucusing after milk quota removal

Thats probably true. In years of good milk price its very easy to build in extra fixed costs that have to be dealt with in bad price years.

Its nearly more important to keep control of costs when things are booming.

Dawggone · 10-12-2015 07:22PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

It just shows we shouldn't get carried away with getting into a high cist production system.

Then explain how the "low" cost grass based system can be married to 200+unitsN/acre?

Greengrass1 · 10-12-2015 07:23PM

Dawggone wrote: »

Then explain how the "low" cost grass based system can be married to 200+unitsN/acre?

Clover

There is a husband and wife team in tipp doing it.
Stocked at 2/ha I think
Producing 425kgs ms/ cow with little to no meal and if im not mistaken around 150 units of N (maybe less)

mf240 · 10-12-2015 07:25PM

Dawggone wrote: »

Then explain how the "low" cost grass based system can be married to 200+unitsN/acre?

Creatively:D

Dawggone · 10-12-2015 07:28PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Clover
There is a husband and wife team in tipp doing it.
Stocked at 2/ha I think
Producing 425kgs ms/ cow with little to no meal and if im not mistaken around 150 units of N (maybe less)

Lol. I thought that clover is seen as a weed!

Try growing grass on 60unitsN/acre...

Edit. Isn't it illegal to use artificial fert in organic production? Or are they ordinary producers?

mf240 · 10-12-2015 07:32PM

whelan2 wrote: »

My dad spoke to a lad the other day, he increased his cow numbers by 45. Said it was the worst thing he could have done, he was tipping along nicely beforehand. Now he owes everyone money, last months milk cheque was a good bit smaller than the same month last year, extra mouths to feed and extra work. I would assume he is in the minority?

Dong forget he has about 50 grands worth of extra stock on hands. So while he mightened see it on the bottom line just yet he might be better off than he thinks.

mahoney_j · 10-12-2015 07:46PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Fully agree. Environment needs to be looked after.
It just shows we shouldn't get carried away with getting into a high cist production system.

In one way milk price tanking can be seen as a good thing. It stopped lads getting carried away and refoucusing after milk quota removal

High cost systems can and will survive perhaps more so than low cost grass in future .grass and little or no meal can only go so far and ultimately once a place reaches a certain place and growing max grass feed has to come into play more unless more land (and more borrowings )are got..the yanks and European indoor based systems whilst under pressure in low price phases can open the taps once price recovers

Greengrass1 · 10-12-2015 07:51PM

Dawggone wrote: »

Lol. I thought that clover is seen as a weed!

Try growing grass on 60unitsN/acre...

Edit. Isn't it illegal to use artificial fert in organic production? Or are they ordinary producers?

Love clover here. Been sowing it in monoculture leys
Nope ordinary producers. Ifj had a piece on them back in Septemberbut can't find it

Greengrass1 · 10-12-2015 07:59PM

mahoney_j wrote: »

High cost systems can and will survive perhaps more so than low cost grass in future .grass and little or no meal can only go so far and ultimately once a place reaches a certain place and growing max grass feed has to come into play more unless more land (and more borrowings )are got..the yanks and European indoor based systems whilst under pressure in low price phases can open the taps once price recovers

But they can grow cheap maize and soya where as we can grow grass

yosemitesam1 · 10-12-2015 08:11PM

Dawggone wrote: »

Lol. I thought that clover is seen as a weed!

Try growing grass on 60unitsN/acre...

Do you think the EU will force this down in the coming years?

mahoney_j · 10-12-2015 08:21PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

But they can grow cheap maize and soya where as we can grow grass

And cheap maize is a much better feed than grass .only downside is need to balance for p but then they can either aquire cheaper soya etc and in dwags case graze and make very high quality grass and grass silage

Mehaffey1 · 10-12-2015 08:39PM

mahoney_j wrote: »

High cost systems can and will survive perhaps more so than low cost grass in future .grass and little or no meal can only go so far and ultimately once a place reaches a certain place and growing max grass feed has to come into play more unless more land (and more borrowings )are got..the yanks and European indoor based systems whilst under pressure in low price phases can open the taps once price recovers

It's becoming less and less common to see a NZ farm running on grass and silage alone. Supplementing on platform Fodder Beet in Autumn and Palm Kernel is becoming very popular. This system in a good payout year can pump away on Pk for a substantial amount of DM needed.

stanflt · 10-12-2015 09:42PM

Mehaffey1 wrote: »

It's becoming less and less common to see a NZ farm running on grass and silage alone. Supplementing on platform Fodder Beet in Autumn and Palm Kernel is becoming very popular. This system in a good payout year can pump away on Pk for a substantial amount of DM needed.

Only issue is that the pke doesn't leave milk suitable for cheese production

tanko · 10-12-2015 09:55PM

Anyone watching the programme on channel 5 about the woman in Sicily milking donkeys and selling the milk for €14/litre.
People with lactose intolerant children buy it.

Deepsouthwest · 10-12-2015 10:19PM

tanko wrote: »

Anyone watching the programme on channel 5 about the woman in Sicily milking donkeys and selling the milk for €14/litre.
People with lactose intolerant children buy it.

Apparently donkey milk makes u stubborn!

kevthegaff · 10-12-2015 10:28PM

Deepsouthwest wrote:

Apparently donkey milk makes u stubborn!

HeHaw:-D

mf240 · 10-12-2015 11:12PM

tanko wrote: »

Anyone watching the programme on channel 5 about the woman in Sicily milking donkeys and selling the milk for €14/litre.
People with lactose intolerant children buy it.

Glanbia have been milking donkeys for years!!!!!

Timmaay · 10-12-2015 11:30PM

Both abortions here from 10days ago have tested positive for salmonella. Thankfully no more abortions since.

RightTurnClyde · 10-12-2015 11:56PM

Timmaay wrote: »

Both abortions here from 10days ago have tested positive for salmonella. Thankfully no more abortions since.

Tim, kinda the same sh1te going on here aswell. had two abortions here last Thu and Fri. I got the two foetuses down to Kilkenny on Friday. No report back yet, but the vet rang them this evening. No sign of salmonella.
We had neosporia here 8 years ago. Had to cull 16 cows. Hope it's not back again.
Hope you get on top of your situation

RightTurnClyde · 10-12-2015 11:56PM

Timmaay wrote: »

Both abortions here from 10days ago have tested positive for salmonella. Thankfully no more abortions since.

Tim, kinda the same sh1te going on here aswell. had two abortions here last Thu and Fri. I got the two foetuses down to Kilkenny on Friday. No report back yet, but the vet rang them this evening. No sign of salmonella.
We had neosporia here 8 years ago. Had to cull 16 cows. Hope it's not back again.
Hope you get on top of your situation

Dairy Chit Chat- Please read Mod note in post #1

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