Dairy Chitchat 3

Panch18 · 10-12-2019 6:04pm

Birdnuts wrote: »

No one comes out good from this report - it does mention the issue of sewage discharges but nitrate losses from farmland also get alot of coverge with the SE and South Midlands seeing the most severe deteriation on that front. Also quiet shocking how the number of "pristine" water bodies has collapsed to virtually nothing since the 80'S:eek::(

nitrogen use in agriculture has been flat in ireland since the 1980's at around 300k tons per year if i remember correctly. Obviously it varies from year to year but the trend is flat

Also farmers are much more aware of nitrogen usage these days with the bloody cost of it so it use of fertilise is much more targeted

Also from a slurry point of view we are now using trailing shoe and dribble bars which are meant to reduce the threat of pollution - these didn't exist in Ireland in the 80's

So it is easy to blame nitrate losses from farming but the reality should point to a different source because the reality (that word again) is that we are NOT using any more fertiliser than the 80's and we are better (supposedly anyway) at making use of the fertiliser that we do use

Birdnuts · 10-12-2019 6:16pm

Panch18 wrote: »

nitrogen use in agriculture has been flat in ireland since the 1980's at around 80k tons per year if i remember correctly. Obviously it varies from year to year but the trend is flat

Also farmers are much more aware of nitrogen usage these days with the bloody cost of it so it use of fertilise is much more targeted

Also from a slurry point of view we are now using trailing shoe and dribble bars which are meant to reduce the threat of pollution - these didn't exist in Ireland in the 80's

So it is easy to blame nitrate losses from farming but the reality should point to a different source because the reality (that word again) is that we are NOT using any more fertiliser than the 80's and we are better (supposedly anyway) at making use of the fertiliser that we do use

Nitrogen use fell between the late 90's and 2015 - but has been rising since then according to a piece I saw in the IFJ a couple of weeks ago . I suppose many will make the link between that recent rise and the lifting of milk quotas. Rising amonnia emmissions are also being flagged

https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/forestry-enviro/environment/options-to-reduce-fertiliser-use-will-need-to-be-implemented-at-farm-level-epa-38087938.html

alps · 10-12-2019 6:16pm

Too many farmers couldn't give a damn.....

Simple as this now....those without the slurry storage, who blacken ground mid winter, who constantly moan that regulations are only for eejits..

Well, they'll cost us all plenty now...

Say my name · 10-12-2019 6:20pm

jaymla627 wrote: »

Depends on your county council, department wont bother you at the minute anyway once you go off the radar, i.e dont submit any information re land farmed

You'll be snookered by the bord bia inspection eventually. Every year it's getting more onerous. It's meal dockets they look for now. Next year it'll be fertilizer records, carbon audit aside.

The last inspection I had they need to know about your watercourses.
Inspection time has increased too from an hour at the very start to now just over three hours.
Other than bord bia it only takes a phone call from some erroneous neighbour with a grudge to get you landed with a council inspection.

Edited: to say BB also need to know how many acres you farm in the latest inspection.

Birdnuts · 10-12-2019 6:29pm

alps wrote: »

Too many farmers couldn't give a damn.....

Simple as this now....those without the slurry storage, who blacken ground mid winter, who constantly moan that regulations are only for eejits..

Well, they'll cost us all plenty now...

Yes - I think those in the industry with a bit of commonsense know that the sight of slurry tankers going full blooded over land in late autumn/early winter is a pretty toxic image at every level that does not go unnoticed by the non-farming community, especcially this year and its relentless late autumnal downpours. As others have mentioned on this thread - the days of derogations and indulgences on such issues are coming to an end.

Say my name · 10-12-2019 6:38pm

Birdnuts wrote: »

Yes - I think those in the industry with a bit of commonsense know that the sight of slurry tankers going full blooded over land in late autumn/early winter is a pretty toxic image at every level that does not go unnoticed by the non-farming community, especcially this year and its relentless late autumnal downpours. As others have mentioned on this thread - the days of derogations and indulgences on such issues are coming to an end.

The pity is it's the ones in derogation that are currently subject to the most inspections that are most likely the most compliant.

It's the farms that as stated above that receive no bps that get no inspections that feel they'll be no consequences that should be looked at. I'm saying that as I know a few of those in my locality where anything could go.

whelan2 · 10-12-2019 6:40pm

When I ring our local county council now to tell them their sewerage line is overflowing into the river they tell me it's irish water I should be ringing. In fairness it hasnt happened in a while but I can never understand how they dont realise that the sewerage isn't coming to the plant anymore

alps · 10-12-2019 6:44pm

Birdnuts wrote: »

Yes - I think those in the industry with a bit of commonsense know that the sight of slurry tankers going full blooded over land in late autumn/early winter is a pretty toxic image at every level that does not go unnoticed by the non-farming community, especcially this year and its relentless late autumnal downpours. As others have mentioned on this thread - the days of derogations and indulgences on such issues are coming to an end.

Well it certainly doesn't go unnoticed by the river..

I'll pull you up on derogation though...ive seen the map of the special concern catchements, and it is in no way related to the map of derogation farms.

Derogation farms have on going inspections, and have to at the very least sign a declaration that the required slurry storage is in place. Derogation does not automatically equal problem, I'd argue quiet the opposite, and until all farms are subject to the same inspection protocol, we will have guys spreading and leaking chyte goodo..

Groundwater is near perfect, that's what would have been more at risk from derogation farms.

The problem is runoff from slurry spreading at the wrong time, from dirty yard and roadway runoff and from la k of slurry storage..

whelan2 · 10-12-2019 6:53pm

It's like sticking the 2 fingers up to the people who do have things in order. Wet ground here so more or less 6 months slurry storage needed. Never get to spread 15th January as ground is always too wet

yosemitesam1 · 10-12-2019 7:35pm

alps wrote: »

Well it certainly doesn't go unnoticed by the river..

I'll pull you up on derogation though...ive seen the map of the special concern catchements, and it is in no way related to the map of derogation farms.

Derogation farms have on going inspections, and have to at the very least sign a declaration that the required slurry storage is in place. Derogation does not automatically equal problem, I'd argue quiet the opposite, and until all farms are subject to the same inspection protocol, we will have guys spreading and leaking chyte goodo..

Groundwater is near perfect, that's what would have been more at risk from derogation farms.

The problem is runoff from slurry spreading at the wrong time, from dirty yard and roadway runoff and from la k of slurry storage..

It's worth having a look at the full report. There's a lot of different maps in it.

There's also the time lag of 5-10 years before water quality responds to changes in management that is likely to start showing as we've upped n usage by over 50,000t Inthe last 5 years

straight · 11-12-2019 9:36am

alps wrote: »

Too many farmers couldn't give a damn.....

Simple as this now....those without the slurry storage, who blacken ground mid winter, who constantly moan that regulations are only for eejits..

Well, they'll cost us all plenty now...

Fella near us has doubled up his cow numbers with feck all slurry storage. He's out with the rain gun twice a week every week.

straight · 11-12-2019 10:32am

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

One of the lads just found a camera in one of the chicken houses. There’s no way of entry without a key and the key is well hidden outside. Whoever placed the camera must’ve hidden in the bushes and waited to see where the key is hidden...

Be careful folks, there are people out there that want to nail agriculture.

Some balm pots out there

https://bigthink.com/technology-innovation/livestock-disruption?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1575747126

alps · 11-12-2019 11:03am

yosemitesam1 wrote: »

It's worth having a look at the full report. There's a lot of different maps in it.

There's also the time lag of 5-10 years before water quality responds to changes in management that is likely to start showing as we've upped n usage by over 50,000t Inthe last 5 years

If it's not in the groundwater, then that not the route to the rivers. It leaves runoff to be the source, and the result from runoff is damn near immediate.

mahoney_j · 11-12-2019 11:10am

straight wrote: »

Fella near us has doubled up his cow numbers with feck all slurry storage. He's out with the rain gun twice a week every week.

Well if u listened to the mantra from lots of farmers for last few years it was load on cows first then worry about everything else ,lads were in such a rush to expand and keep up with Johnny next door

yosemitesam1 · 11-12-2019 12:00pm

alps wrote: »

If it's not in the groundwater, then that's not the route to the rivers. It leaves runoff to be the source, and the result from runoff is damn near immediate.

There's what moves into rivers from runoff, surface soils, and multiple depths below that. The deeper you go, the slower things change (for good and bad). When nitrates was introduced there was a couple of years after that before there was any sign of improvements and it certainly looks like the effects of more cows in the south east is starting to cause changes.

Millionaire only not · 12-12-2019 10:52am

Kerry have forward contract out for today only 32.4 cents - 20% of your milk next year summer months !
Would u take it ?

mahoney_j · 12-12-2019 11:14am

Millionaire only not wrote: »

Kerry have forward contract out for today only 32.4 cents - 20% of your milk next year summer months !
Would u take it ?

I’d normally jump at an offer like that but if only a 1 year scheme ,no .milk base price for next year will be that and possibly more for full 12 months of 2020.if over 2 years I would fix tho

awaywithyou · 12-12-2019 4:22pm

this may have been discussed elsewhere.... i was just looking at some pics of a river in New Zealand bursting its banks... its summertime over there.... have they had alot of rain etc... was this just a freak event does anyone know?

Water John · 12-12-2019 4:32pm

Knew there had been some flooding in Wellington.
Some pics on this link;
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118070384/weather-relief-allowing-crews-a-good-window-to-clear-si-highway-blockages

Looks like a good bit of damage.

Sacrolyte · 12-12-2019 6:13pm

See an artical in AGRI land on head locking barriers. Anyone price them lately. Tempted to stick a few in.

jaymla627 · 12-12-2019 8:50pm

So paddy Irisman has to have clover included in any grass mixes he uses for reseeding under derogation rules but then he has to go and spray it off and kill the clover he's just sown as the EU is banning clover safe sprays from October 2020, that's another einstein moment from our public sector

Water John · 12-12-2019 8:56pm

What are you spraying a reseed for? Just graze it with light stock.

jaymla627 · 12-12-2019 9:01pm

Water John wrote: »

What are you spraying a reseed for? Just graze it with light stock.

Have ground rented of a lad that done the above, on 40 acres after reseeding, plagued with docks now, and has to be sprayed twice yearly, batsh*t crazy not spraying a reseed if their is dock seedlings and weeds coming into it

mahoney_j · 12-12-2019 9:02pm

jaymla627 wrote: »

So paddy Irisman has to have clover included in any grass mixes he uses for reseeding under derogation rules but then he has to go and spray it off and kill the clover he's just sown as the EU is banning clover safe sprays from October 2020, that's another einstein moment from our public sector

There’s a day comming when we as farmers will just have to say enough is enough re all these extra nitrates regulations etc and decisions made by pen pushers which are going to have a negative effect on how we farm and make a living ,at a presentation by a bord via rep this week we were given a fancy presentation on all the great work they do ,how our clean grass fed image is such a bonus when they go to sell products and market it also the extras constantly been added to bord bia audits .were doing all the work taking all these new things on board but for frig all extra return .times like now we need a strong committed ifa,sadly it’s not there but after these elections I hope there’s a big change

mahoney_j · 12-12-2019 9:04pm

Water John wrote: »

What are you spraying a reseed for? Just graze it with light stock.

Post emergence spray arguably more important than pre,

Water John · 12-12-2019 9:08pm

Doing a false/stale seedbed will get rid of most of the weeds.

jaymla627 · 12-12-2019 9:12pm

mahoney_j wrote: »

There’s a day comming when we as farmers will just have to say enough is enough re all these extra nitrates regulations etc and decisions made by pen pushers which are going to have a negative effect on how we farm and make a living ,at a presentation by a bord via rep this week we were given a fancy presentation on all the great work they do ,how our clean grass fed image is such a bonus when they go to sell products and market it also the extras constantly been added to bord bia audits .were doing all the work taking all these new things on board but for frig all extra return .times like now we need a strong committed ifa,sadly it’s not there but after these elections I hope there’s a big change

Not going to spend another euro here on complying with ever lengthening regulations, I probably need to put another 100k here to tighten the thing up, slurry storage wise etc but in all likelihood, with the stroke of a pen even if I done the above, in a year our twos time, something else will be brought in and your non-compliant again overnight, our allowable stocking rates will be cut....
Lads cant be expected to mortgage farms in some cases to comply with nitrates and have the rug pulled out from then at the whims of politicians and public servants

alps · 12-12-2019 9:20pm

mahoney_j wrote: »

There’s a day comming when we as farmers will just have to say enough is enough re all these extra nitrates regulations etc and decisions made by pen pushers which are going to have a negative effect on how we farm and make a living ,at a presentation by a bord via rep this week we were given a fancy presentation on all the great work they do ,how our clean grass fed image is such a bonus when they go to sell products and market it also the extras constantly been added to bord bia audits .were doing all the work taking all these new things on board but for frig all extra return .times like now we need a strong committed ifa,sadly it’s not there but after these elections I hope there’s a big change

Did anyone push the bord Bia rep on product price, if they actually achieve it ( which they do with butter anyway) and where the money disappears to before it gets back to us..?

Panch18 · 12-12-2019 9:21pm

mahoney_j wrote: »

There’s a day comming when we as farmers will just have to say enough is enough re all these extra nitrates regulations etc and decisions made by pen pushers which are going to have a negative effect on how we farm and make a living ,at a presentation by a bord via rep this week we were given a fancy presentation on all the great work they do ,how our clean grass fed image is such a bonus when they go to sell products and market it also the extras constantly been added to bord bia audits .were doing all the work taking all these new things on board but for frig all extra return .times like now we need a strong committed ifa,sadly it’s not there but after these elections I hope there’s a big change

I think the day is here J

If we leave it much long to stand and fight it will be too late. The anti farming agenda already has far too much air time and power. If we don’t act soon it’ll be over before we start

Gawddawggonnit · 13-12-2019 7:55am

Power outages from 2am. Biblical rain with high winds and thunderstorms.
One of the generators was hard to get going because it kept blowing fuses, then it worked away the finest.
I must put it on the list to give them a run every few months.

GrasstoMilk · 13-12-2019 8:39am

jaymla627 wrote: »

Not going to spend another euro here on complying with ever lengthening regulations, I probably need to put another 100k here to tighten the thing up, slurry storage wise etc but in all likelihood, with the stroke of a pen even if I done the above, in a year our twos time, something else will be brought in and your non-compliant again overnight, our allowable stocking rates will be cut....
Lads cant be expected to mortgage farms in some cases to comply with nitrates and have the rug pulled out from then at the whims of politicians and public servants

How are you getting away with not being compliant?
You've milked more and haven't put the storage in place ?

mahoney_j · 13-12-2019 10:04am

alps wrote: »

Did anyone push the bord Bia rep on product price, if they actually achieve it ( which they do with butter anyway) and where the money disappears to before it gets back to us..?

We got a politicians answer to that !!!!!as u well know only thing that comes back to us is more work with little if any return ,

jaymla627 · 13-12-2019 10:43am

mahoney_j wrote: »

We got a politicians answer to that !!!!!as u well know only thing that comes back to us is more work with little if any return ,

With Boris back in Control of the bus, the whole britexit boloxogly will be rolled out again re price increases our lack of them

jaymla627 · 13-12-2019 10:53am

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

How are you getting away with not being compliant?
You've milked more and haven't put the storage in place ?

The dark arts, going forward I reckon on the 140 acre grazing block here, 100-110 cows will be the allowable max stocking rate, have adequate storage for that amount of cows and have no intention of spending a small fortune on further storage when the cows needed to pay for it, I likely wont be allowed to carry

Buford T. Justice XIX · 13-12-2019 12:12pm

jaymla627 wrote: »

With Boris back in Control of the bus, the whole britexit boloxogly will be rolled out again re price increases our lack of them

They'll be doing well to have Brexit sorted out by the next election.

Mooooo · 13-12-2019 12:31pm

Down with the flu the past week. First time properly getting it I'd say. Will be getting the jab next year def anyway, would be a fair disaster in Feb getting it

K.G. · 13-12-2019 2:22pm

Mooooo wrote: »

Down with the flu the past week. First time properly getting it I'd say. Will be getting the jab next year def anyway, would be a fair disaster in Feb getting it

Theory going around people only gwt the flu when they dry off.herself gave last week telling me i should have got.jab-she has it this week even though she got jab

wrangler · 13-12-2019 2:35pm

K.G. wrote: »

Theory going around people only gwt the flu when they dry off.herself gave last week telling me i should have got.jab-she has it this week even though she got jab

My memory of the flu is not being able to get out of the bed, always got the jab since.
But got a bad cold 2 weeks ago and on the second treatment now for chest infection/ asthma, delighted I still don't have 5 -600 ewes

Timmaay · 13-12-2019 2:36pm

Mooooo wrote: »

Down with the flu the past week. First time properly getting it I'd say. Will be getting the jab next year def anyway, would be a fair disaster in Feb getting it

Got it last week, 16e in my local pharmacy. You can't get it while your still sick though. Absolute no brainer for anyone who has a job like farming that we can't just lie in bed for a week when it hits.

Gawddawggonnit · 13-12-2019 4:29pm

Yara 33%N is €255 today.
CAN + S is €212.
Might be a good time to buy...

Mooooo · 13-12-2019 8:18pm

K.G. wrote: »

Theory going around people only gwt the flu when they dry off.herself gave last week telling me i should have got.jab-she has it this week even though she got jab

Haven't dried off fully yet. Have 3 off to the factory Wed morning so we'll dry off the lot then as still not in the form for that job. Couldn't face into the cow's the other evening convinced myself that once that day would do, after getting an scc of 500 there... balls.

straight · 13-12-2019 9:26pm

Mooooo wrote: »

Haven't dried off fully yet. Have 3 off to the factory Wed morning so we'll dry off the lot then as still not in the form for that job. Couldn't face into the cow's the other evening convinced myself that once that day would do, after getting an scc of 500 there... balls.

Tubed mine this morning. Put them on once a day for 2 days to try and cut back the milk. Sleep in in the morning for the first time since january...

whelan2 · 16-12-2019 8:50am

Dried off 35 cows this morning. Handy milking now for a few weeks

Mortelaro · 16-12-2019 11:28am

Timmaay wrote: »

Got it last week, 16e in my local pharmacy. You can't get it while your still sick though. Absolute no brainer for anyone who has a job like farming that we can't just lie in bed for a week when it hits.

I got the jab too but still got a dose
It's a flu jab not a heavy cold jab unfortunately and a heavy cold especially with a cough can be just as miserable
And guess where you're most likely to pick up a heavy cold? Yup in the pub at xmas,spreads like wildfire in a steamy room
Always,Always wash your hands before handling your food btw

mickey1985 · 17-12-2019 12:28am

Lads doing parlour here just wondering where could you buy the powder that gives the concrete the orange look?

Sacrolyte · 17-12-2019 2:39am

mickey1985 wrote: »

Lads doing parlour here just wondering where could you buy the powder that gives the concrete the orange look?

Construction chemical supplies

Grueller · 17-12-2019 6:42am

mickey1985 wrote: »

Lads doing parlour here just wondering where could you buy the powder that gives the concrete the orange look?

Expensive stuff. Quoted up to €2000 extra to get it in the parlour here. It's not going in. Paint on the walls will brighten it enough.

GrasstoMilk · 17-12-2019 7:53am

Grueller wrote: »

Expensive stuff. Quoted up to €2000 extra to get it in the parlour here. It's not going in. Paint on the walls will brighten it enough.

Have you looked at putting the hardener on instead? Doesn't change the colour but will stop it wearing away

straight · 17-12-2019 8:14am

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Have you looked at putting the hardener on instead? Doesn't change the colour but will stop it wearing away

Mine is in over 10 years with nothing and it's like new. Concrete doesn't wear away like that. The colour is only for the fancy lads.

kevthegaff · 17-12-2019 11:00am

straight wrote: »

Mine is in over 10 years with nothing and it's like new. Concrete doesn't wear away like that. The colour is only for the fancy lads.

I'm a fancy lad!!I used at 1/2 mix 3 years ago. Looks good. We done the parlour at home half rate 15 yr ago and still looks good. Your man in chemical supper begs to differ. We didn't do pits as we have the fancy mats as well..

Dairy Chitchat 3

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