Christopher’s lease of 150 acre farm pays off
A SLIGO farmer featured last week in Agriland, the national online farm news and features platform, says it is a shame that a lot of young farmers won’t get the opportunity to have a go at taking on a significant farm project. Christopher Tuffy, a former student at Kildalton Agricultural College, who is leasing a 150-acre farm and is currently milking 155 cows on the farm near Sligo town, told Agriland how he started on the leased farm in 2012 with 90 cows, consisting mainly of Christopher’s dad’s home herd and heifers.
He was just 20 when he started into what was a massive undertaking, financially and otherwise, but as said himself, he was just “mad to go milking” and, with the help of his dad, his dream became reality, but it was far from plain sailing.
Christopher is originally from a dairy farm near west Sligo’s Enniscrone, where his father milked 60 cows.
After he finished a dairy herd management course at Kildalton Agricultural College, Christopher decided to head to New Zealand. On his return, he set out to farm on his own.
He said he saw himself as managing a herd of cows for someone else.
“The home farm wasn’t big enough and is fairly fragmented, so when the opportunity came up for here we said we’d go for it,” he told Agriland.
Christopher told Agriland that his father’s support was critical to allowing him to be able to venture out on his own.
“People tell me now it was fairly brave, but looking back at it was more brave on my father’s behalf,” he said.
“My father took all the risk. I had nothing to lose, I was only 20 at the time.
The farm, outside of Sligo town, consists of 150 acres, of which Christopher says 140 acres is good, farmable land.
He started on the farm in 2012 with 90 cows, consisting mainly of Christopher’s dad’s home herd and heifers.
Over the next few years herd size increased due to a combination of extra heifers and bought-in stock.
“We are at maximum numbers for the farm now at 155 cows. We hit that number in 2015 and
actually came back in numbers for a few years.
“The farm just wasn’t growing enough grass at the time,” said Christopher.
When asked if he would do anything differently, Christopher said: “If I was to go back and do it again, I feel you really need to hit the ground running and start with maximum cow numbers.
“It has taken us nearly half-way through the lease before we really got motoring.
“We didn’t really get humming until year six or seven of the lease,” he stated.
“The way things are going it is a shame that a lot of young farmers won’t get the opportunity to do what we did.
“I was very lucky to get the opportunity I got. I know we had a few very tough years to get to where we are now.
“But there are so many young farmers that aren’t going to get that chance. I think young farmers should be given the opportunity to have a go.
He added: “We have three great young lads working here as relief milkers and helping during the calving season, they should have the opportunity to do what I did if they want.”
BORD Bia is promoting its €760k million EU Pork campaign in Mexico City to build awareness of Ireland as a supplier of high-quality, safe and sustainably produced pork. The three-year campaign, European Pork: Excellence in Quality Assurance and Food Safety, focuses exclusively on pork for Mexico, and targets a population of 126 million people.
It is the first major in-person event since
Ireland gained market access to export pigmeat to Mexico in 2020.
Bord Bia invited Mexican government officials and food industry representatives, including top importers, distributors and wholesalers, to an EU Pork seminar at the Irish embassy in Mexico City. The event, which was also attended by media, featured presentations on Irish pork and production. Speaking at the event as part of the Irish government’s trade mission to Mexico, Irish Minister of State with responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety, and New Market Development, Martin Heydon TD said: “I am particularly pleased to announce that the first commercial shipment of Irish pork will arrive into Mexico early next month.” He added: “This represents an important milestone and first step in forging a stronger commercial partnership with the Mexican meat importers.” Key trade events as part of this EU campaign include showcasing the industry at technical seminars supported with a marketing campaign including PR, digital and social media.
Bord Bia is working with the leading Irish exporters of pork and are ensuring that Irish exporters connect with the key Mexican importers, retailers and food service providers.