My herd test was a success but I find it hard to be optimistic about 2024
Because of the unrelenting spell of rain leading up to and continuing right over the Christmas period, my efforts to reorganise my paddock system were seriously delayed. In fact, it was the arrival of the harsh frost in January which eventually allowed me to get some work done.
Modern technology certainly came to my help in doing this task. A friend of mine had told me about a free phone-app called Fields Area Measure. It turned out to be really invaluable in getting the various paddock sizes correct.
Another task which had to be undertaken in the New Year was my annual herd test. This used to fall due in June. However, as a result of being ‘locked up’ a few years ago this has now changed to January.
The exhilaration shown by the cattle when suddenly released from the confines of the shed, can sometimes result in the herd test turning out to be quite an exciting affair.
Thankfully, all went well this time and no cattle, or indeed humans, suffered any ill effects, and yes — thankfully, they all passed.
The Friesian cattle I am feeding this winter are doing OK on their diet of silage. They may not be showing any great improvement in condition, but they are certainly growing stronger and taller
On the silage front, the amount of silage left over since last year turned out to be quite good. I also discovered a second bank of silage, hidden behind it from a previous year, which was a welcomed bonus
As I must now begin buying in the balance of my stock for summer,
I have started visiting the marts to see what the trade is like. Similar to last spring, prices appear to be very strong at the moment. Hopefully the collapse in price experienced later in 2023 will not repeat itself this year.
I must confess that I am finding it very difficult to look forward with any confidence to 2024.
Last year we saw our critically important EU farm support payments being substantially reduced. These supports were introduced to make it possible for farmers to produce reasonably priced food in our high cost economy.
Income research shows that these support payments were in very many cases a farmer’s only source of income.
It is not surprising that repurposing these funds into financing new complex environmental schemes aimed at undoing the damage caused by flawed EU farm policies is causing deep concerns at farm level.
It has already resulted in growing farmer unrest right across Europe. Farmers in France are the latest group to mount increasingly disruptive protests.
In Ireland, our Teagasc’s Chiefremarked that he sees a transition to part time farming as a ‘good thing’.
This response appears to be somewhat unfortunate. Imagine the reaction of workers in other sectors, if told that rather than seeking a pay increase it would be a ‘good thing’ if they went off and got themselves a second job.
In hindsight, the deafening silence from our farming organisations in response to last year’s punitive single payments reductions is extremely concerning. Unfortunately it would appear that this regrettable silence has been interpreted by Government and EU officials as a lack of resolve amongst farmers.