Why not livestock in your rotation?

I know things are different over in the UK but if i had one of your big farms instesd of my patchwork quilt spread over 3 parishes i would grass half of it down and throw up a 30 point parlour and start milking 300 + jersey crosscows on the grass system. It puts arable cropping in the halfpenny place . Mega money to be made when milk price is good. Arable farming is a disease most of us are beyond help . Modern grass based dairy farming is a highly profitable business
Many young bucks over here after taking over the farm are going out of cropping and into dairying . One of them said the are following the money and who can blame them ?? But someday the churn will flow over and then the shite will hit the fan but meanwhile .........
are you saying that theirs enough in the dairy job to pay for the infrastructure AND extra staff AND leave a margin over and above arable cropping?
 

Cowcorn

Member
Mixed Farmer
are you saying that theirs enough in the dairy job to pay for the infrastructure AND extra staff AND leave a margin over and above arable cropping?
YES but only if the system is efficent and low cost. The spring block calving that follows the grass curve and produces high solids is extremely profitable . Mind you dont fall into the trap of thinking that turning money is the same as making money.
A Scotch man came over here a couple of years ago and bought a large run out block of formerly arable land . I know the farm well as i was involved with another man renting it years ago . He seems to be going well enough and has taken to grass based dairying like a duck to water . Look up the Greenfield farm project or th Shinagh demo farm for the facts and figures on how and why .
 

Pan mixer

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Near Colchester
whats the best quickfencer to go for?and rough cost?
The one I borrow is just called quick fencer, it has attachments to put on barb too and roll the stuff back up again but I have used neither.

No idea on the cost, doesn't look like rocket science for the stock fence part of it, just lots of heavy steel.
 
YES but only if the system is efficent and low cost. The spring block calving that follows the grass curve and produces high solids is extremely profitable . Mind you dont fall into the trap of thinking that turning money is the same as making money.
A Scotch man came over here a couple of years ago and bought a large run out block of formerly arable land . I know the farm well as i was involved with another man renting it years ago . He seems to be going well enough and has taken to grass based dairying like a duck to water . Look up the Greenfield farm project or th Shinagh demo farm for the facts and figures on how and why .
im at 400-500ft in a 1000mm rain a year area, theres no grass based dairies around here is the altitude likely why?
 

Cowcorn

Member
Mixed Farmer
im at 400-500ft in a 1000mm rain a year area, theres no grass based dairies around here is the altitude likely why?
NO the probable reason is that there is no independent research agency to promote profitable farming like Teagasc over here. Instead you have consultants peddling meal snake oil additives and high cost heavy holstien cows that are not suited to grazing on hilly or wet climates .
The 500kg crossbred cow will suit a wet climate and do the business on a grass based diet . Teagasc have a research farm at ballyhaise Co Monaghan that has a high rainfall and drumlin hills . The only thing to do is give it a whirl Boss if its money you want !!!!!
 

Hasbeennoall

Member
Mixed Farmer
It's funny I've spent life as livestock mixed farmer with every field fenced and hedged mostly and Welsh ewe proof and mad limbo jump over ( perhaps not!)my apinion a modern form of slavery,like most of my cohorts would have love to have spent working life driving my class lesion up and down field and winter n summer climbs!electric fencing waste time walker and travellers tend to mess them up ,if livestock farmer wonabe hang the gates and proper fencing is needed plus Severn day week slog is required,Hell that Black grass looks good now ?Swap my hill pasture for grade 1 - 3 arable anyday!A wannabe frustrated arable farmer ,good day all.?
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
NO the probable reason is that there is no independent research agency to promote profitable farming like Teagasc over here. Instead you have consultants peddling meal snake oil additives and high cost heavy holstien cows that are not suited to grazing on hilly or wet climates .
The 500kg crossbred cow will suit a wet climate and do the business on a grass based diet . Teagasc have a research farm at ballyhaise Co Monaghan that has a high rainfall and drumlin hills . The only thing to do is give it a whirl Boss if its money you want !!!!!

There's an extremely profitable grass based dairy operating under similar conditions near Dunblane.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.9%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.2%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.3%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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