Producing for a Changing Market
Producing for a Changing MarketUlster Grassland AssociationPresentation by Michael Doran
1What am I Trying to produce?
How do you like yours?OverviewFarm Details335 acres farmed208 owned; 27 leased; 100 rented217 acres grass83 acres winter wheat8 acres spring barley5 acres oats5 acres kaleMaize silage
Beef enterprise40~50 Autumn Calvers75 spring calvers3 Bulls, 375 day calving intervalBulls finished @ 17-22 monthsHeifers finished @ 18 to 21 monthsCull Cows slaughtered ASAP once identified
Grassland managementMeasure grass every Sunday morningAverage farm cover 22nd jan ~863kgsDm/haTurnout 200625th March to 20th aprilTurnout 201128th Feb to 10th April Turnout 20121st Feb ???250 day grazing season!
Is it possible?
When does the grazing season start?1st October start closing paddocks
Aim to be all closed by 10th December
75% closed by 31st October
Target closed period 100days
kale
Key grass management toolsReseedingCloverPaddocksTeagasc grass programmeDeterminationWeighing platform
BreedingMember of ICBF herdplusHelps identify key performance Calving intervalCalves/cow/yearNo of months calvingNo of live calves/cow/year
Breeding PolicyHalf bred Lim heifersCross to Simmental bullTarget bred Simmental cowLim bull on heifersChar bull on main herd
Target bull carcases 420 kgsTarget heifer carcases 340 kgs
CAP post 2013Commission proposalsMove to flat by 2019Reference year in 2014Shift from link to productionGreening
IMPACT = 50% cut in SFP
Consequences of newCap proposalsDirect hit on Suckler Cows
Impact on land rental market
Move away from link with production
How green is green?
Impact on my farm3 options
Stay doing what we always did
Reduce number of Sucklers, increase dairy beef
Continue to drive outputHow will we feed the worldWorld population- 7 bn in oct 2011Extra 1 bn people by 2025Extra 2bn people by 20501 bn extra in asia1bn extra in africa
Can they feed themselves?
Irelands RoleIncreased demand for foodNo alternative supply base in EUGreen grass based production systemsSustainable productionExcellent infrastructureResearch AdvisoryLand
Irelands key resourceWater???Impact of drought in some countries
Impact of floods in some countries
Growing urbanisation of world
Bord Bia sustainability audits of QA Farms
Is the era of cheap food over
SummaryWe are the best!Food is always wantedGrass is Irelands goldPrices will be more volatileBUT will continue trendsFarmers have key role in food chain EU a food exporter again
Where now at home?Plan ahead despite CAP reform.Improve live weight gainsCut out poorer performing cowsUtilise ICBF reports Increase cow numbers?1000 Gross Margin /haDiscussion Group ProgrammeContinue development
Thank you