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