Grassroots Farm Magazine May/June 2015

N E W B E E F : T H E S U R P LU S DA I RY B U L L C A L F

FARM MAY / JUNE 2015

MAGAZINE

SPRAYING FEATURE

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SILAGE RENEWABLES INNOVATION SHOW CALENDAR CONTRACTOR PROFILE MACHINERY

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CONTENTS

WELCOME

NEWS 04.

News 09.

Agri Finance 10.

Innovation LIVESTOCK 12.

Rose Veal 14.

New Beef 17.

Pedigree 18.

DIY AI 19.

Spring Production FEATURES 20.

Silage 22.

Forestry 23.

Microgeneration 24.

Renewables TILLAGE 26.

Sprays + Sprayers Dairygold supplier Joe Tobin, (second from left) Cashel, Co. Tipperary is the first farmer in Ireland to wrap his silage in Dairygold’s new pink bale wrap in support of the Irish Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Awareness. He is pictured with John O’Gorman, Dairygold Board Member, John O’Carroll, Dairygold, General Manager Retail Business and local contractor Tommy Prendergast.

Dairygold Wraps it Pink for Irish Cancer Society Dairygold Co-Op has joined forces with the Irish Cancer Society in a highly innovative new initiative called ‘Wrap it Pink’. The focus of this initiative is designed to raise cancer awareness in rural Ireland as well as raising much needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Farmers all over Ireland are being encouraged to wrap their silage bales in pink this summer.

The distinctive high quality, Irish made wrap is available through Dairygold Co-

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Op Superstores and for every bale of wrap purchased, a donation will be made to the Irish Cancer Society.

“Many farming families throughout Ireland have been affected by cancer and the Irish Cancer Society provides terrific support for sufferers and their families”, said John O’ Carroll, Head of Retail at Dairygold. “We’d love to see farmers embracing this initiative with pink silage bales visible in every parish this summer, knowing that in doing this we are not

he face of farming changes every decade, and in a new milk quota free era, we are in a period of change. Some people are looking at renewables and micro generation to either add income or reduce electricity costs. We take a look at both in our features.

Others are looking at ‘white gold’ and taking their first steps as milk producers. We visit one such farm in Kerry. We also look at the possible changes to beef production as suckler herds shrink and there is a surplus of dairy bull calves.

The new era brings a lot of talk about agrifinance. We look at what options may be out there and make sure that you are prepared.

The summer has blown in with gust and rain.

April’s showers seem to have been postponed

just raising cancer awareness but also helping to raise much needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society . Farmers will be buying the black wrap anyway so why not ‘wrap it pink’, brighten up the fields and put a smile on people’s faces. We believe it’s going to be a huge success.”

This pink silage wrap is available from Dairygold Co-Op Superstores across Munster or go online to www. coopsuperstores.ie for nationwide delivery.

to May but that is no reason not to prepare for the busy months ahead. Here in Grassroots Farm we have you covered with spray and silage features.

We are in Clare for our contractor profile as Tom Garvey grows his operation in the county.

We take a look at the new Poettinger Novacat 10 mower combination and the Hardi NX sprayer.

This publication comes to you free due to our advertisers. I want to take this time to encourage you to support them and mention love from Grassroots Farm.

Now please take time from your busy schedule to sit back and enjoy Grassroots farm.

Until next time, Jason Webb, Editor

NEXT ISSUE Dairy Equipment, Farm Finance, Summer Shows, Tractors, Motors. Out Mid-June.

GRASSROOTS FARM NEEDS YOU! Please send us any stories, images or anything else that you might consider of interest to us: editorgrassroots@gmail.com

02 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

MACHINERY 32.

Pottinger 34.

Valtra Speed Record 35.

Contractor Profile MACRA/YOUTH 36.

Macra SHOWS 37.

Cork Show 38.

Show Calendar PROPERTY 39.

Property CORRESPONDENCE Grassroots Media Ltd, Ballinoe Hse, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork.

EDITORIAL Editor: Jason Webb Email: editorgrassroots@gmail.com Tweets: twitter.com/Ed_GrassRoots Friend: facebook.com/ed.grassroots ADVERTISING (086) 468 4411 advertgrassroots@gmail.com ADVERTISING CONSULTANT William Wills (086) 466 4488 MAGAZINE DESIGN Patrick Browne Design (086) 831 9322

CONTRIBUTORS Kate Cannon, Carly Dolan, Stephen Dowling, Pat McCarthy, Dr. Mary McEvoy PHOTOGRAPHY Stephen Dowling, Tom Garvey, O’Gorman Photography, Victoria Webb and Flickr (cc) PUBLISHER Grassroots Media Ltd. DISTRIBUTION Munster Advertising AgMedia Solutions DISTRIBUTION FIGURE 15,000

Grassroots Magazine is published by Grassroots Media Ltd, Ballinoe Hse, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork. Tel 086 387 1172.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any shape or form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocoping or otherwise without written permission of the publishers, Grassroots Media Ltd. Whilst every care is taken of submitted MSS, photographs, drawings and content, no responsibility can be accepted for their loss or damage.

Grassroots Media Ltd does not accept responsibility for the quality or content of advertisements or articles supplied by, or compiled under instruction from a third party. Grassroots Media Ltd does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by opinion, tips and advice giving in this publication.

Grassroots Media Ltd accepts no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors and advertisers. In addition, while every care is taken to ensure accuracy of information contained in Grassroots Magazine, we do not accept responsibility for any errors or matters arising same.

Copyright Grassroots Media Ltd

The trough with all the advantages

Spring Farm Technology

www.gripmax.ie

NEWS

New Innovation Centre for Grassland and Dairying Opened Over €4.5 million has been invested in a new Innovation Centre for Grassland and Dairying at the Teagasc campus in Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork. The Paddy O’Keeffe Innovation Centre, funded by FBD Trust and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was officially opened today, Friday, 17 April.

The centre will be used by the researchers, specialists and advisers involved in the delivery of the Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Programme, and in the delivery of part of Teagasc Education programme. Specifically,

it will support the research programme on grassland, animal breeding and health, and farming systems.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD said: “Paddy O’Keefe was a much admired figure who spent his life seeking out new knowledge that would ultimately help improve the agri-food sector here in Ireland. His commitment to education, research and the dissemination of information to the farming community remained constant over the decades and this Innovation Centre is a truly fitting tribute to his legacy.”

Michael Berkery, Chairman of FBD, said: “FBD’s very substantial financial investment in the Moorepark Research and Innovation Centre is a strong statement of the Company’s commitment to Irish farmers and the agricultural industry.”

He added; “The Teagasc Moorepark research team, led

by Dr. Pat Dillon, were greatly admired by the late Paddy O’Keeffe. This talented team and the new facilities co-funded

by FBD private funding, have the capacity to elevate Ireland’s grass-based dairy industry to compete with the very best in the world.”

Mayo Tractor Driver Banned for Year after Causing Tailback.

Knowledge Transfer Payment Should Go Direct To Farmer – ICMSA.

A tractor driver who caused a 11km tailback on a national primary road in county Mayo, involving 80-100 vehicles, has been fined €300 and banned from driving for a year.

Garda John Boyle told Castlebar District Court that on June 20 last he came across “a convoy” of vehicles travelling eastwards on the N5 outside Westport which were held up by a tractor towing a trailer which contained a mechanical digger. The tractor was keeping traffic at a speed of about 20 kilometres per hour.

Garda Boyle said that when he told the tractor driver he would be “getting a ticket”, the driver replied “sound”. He stated the fixed charge notice issue had never been paid. The defendant did not appear in court in mid - April to answer the charge.

The Judge, Judge Mary Devins, commented that everybody has to exercise a little consideration on the road. She fined the driver €300 in his absence and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

The payment made under the Knowledge Transfer Scheme to farmers should be paid directly to the farmer by the Department and the farmer should not be dependent on the advisor making the payment, according to Mr. John Comer, President of ICMSA. It is totally unacceptable that under the scheme, the €750 payment per farmer will be paid to the facilitator of the Group and the farmer will then have to wait for the facilitator to pay him/her. Such a system does not reflect the so called simplification agenda at EU level at this time and is a significant departure from the normal system of payment where a farmer is now relying on a third party to make a payment from a Department scheme.

While welcoming the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine regarding the opening of the Knowledge Transfer Scheme, a scheme that all farmers should consider given its benefits from a farming and personal perspective, Mr. Comer said, that it makes no sense that the farmer will not be paid directly by the Department. “At a time when the EU is talking up simplification, it would appear that yet again, actions say otherwise and what we now have is complication rather than simplification when the simple fact should be that the farmer should be paid directly by the Department.”

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NEWS

‘New laws on GM approvals could cost farmers’

By Carly Dolan

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iotech and agri-food authorities warn that allowing European countries to ban genetically-modified (GM) imports on political grounds could distort the single market and push up feed costs for farmers.

The new rules proposed in April by the European Commission on the approval of food derived from GMOs has received backlash from both the agribusiness sector and environment non-government organisations.

Under the proposal, individual EU countries would be allowed to opt-out from the Europe-wide approval system for the first time.

“This proposal, when it is adopted, will enable member states to address at national level considerations covered by the decision-making process that we use right now,” Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said. “These are new measures and they will provide member states with tools to decide on the use of EU-imported GMOs based on reasons other than risks for health and the environment, which will remain assessed by the European Food and Safety Authority.”

European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, said that in making these proposed changes, the EU had listened to the concerns of many European citizens, which were reflected in national government stances on the matter.

“Once adopted, the proposal will, fully in line with the principle of subsidiarity, grant member states a greater say as regards to the use of EU-authorised GMOs in food and feed on their respective territories,” he said.

Both the European Association of Bio-industries, EuropaBio, and NGO group, Greenpeace, criticised the new proposals, but for opposite reasons. EuropaBio said giving national governments the power to ban the imports of specific GMOs, even if they have been approved in the EU-wide authorisation process, would be detrimental, undermining single market rule.

“This proposal would limit the choice for livestock farmers and threaten their livelihoods,” EuropaBio agri-food council chairman Jeff Rowe said. “It would also set the alarm off for any innovative industry subject to an EU approval process in Europe.

Failing to uphold the EU-wide approval of safe products will damage jobs, growth, innovation and competitiveness.”

Meanwhile, Greenpeace argued it will allow the commission to authorise the import of GMOs, even if a majority of national governments and the public oppose it.

“The commission’s proposal is a farce because it leaves the current undemocratic system untouched,” Greenpeace’s EU food policy director Franziska Achterberg said. “It would allow the commission to continue ignoring major opposition to GM crops, despite president Juncker’s promise to allow a majority of EU countries to halt commission decisions on GMOs.” GM crops and grown and used widely in Asia and

America, but the only GM crop currently grown in Europe is Monsanto’s maize MON810 in Spain and Portugal.

The legislative proposal will be sent to the European parliament and the council as well as the economic and social committee and committee of regions, which will consider it in the context of the ordinary legislative procedure.

European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 05

NEWS

Agri Business News Briefs

Two Global Livestock Feed Companies Merge A lltech and Ridley Inc. announced that they have entered into a plan of arrangement agreement under which Alltech will acquire 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Ridley, one of the leading commercial animal nutrition companies in North America.

Dairy Calves Up.

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he number of dairy calves registered so far in 2015 is up by over 87,000 (11%) on the same period in 2014, according to data from ICBF.

The combined company will have a presence in over 128 countries and 4,200 employees worldwide.

Although the move is still waiting on approval by shareholders, regulatory review and other customary closing conditions, the boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the merger.

The two companies both have a strong focus on research and development, and through the merger the company hopes

to sustainably deliver the most advanced animal nutrition solutions to a broad range of consumers.

Dr Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech, said: “With Ridley’s leading animal nutrition supplements, block products, extensive livestock and poultry producer distribution network and on-farm presence, we will be able to bring our advanced nutrition technology to market faster and more effectively.

The Irish government’s target is to increase milk production by 50% from 2008/09 levels by 2020, equivalent to an additional 2.5 billion litres per annum. Estimated annual production for 2014/15 is showing an increase of 13% compared to the base year, despite being restricted by quota.

Now that quota restrictions have been removed, greater numbers of dairy calves being born and eventually included in the national milking herd is key to achieving this ambitious target.

O’Leary Takes Chair of Carbery Group

Chinese Liquid Imports Increase

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hinese consumers are reported to be increasingly focused on the quality of their dairy products, which could be driving strong growth in China’s liquid milk market.

Imports of liquid milk to China grew 78% year-on-year in 2014, reaching nearly a third of milk powder import volumes.

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Liquid imports from the UK grew by more than eight-fold, making the UK the ninth largest supplier of liquid milk to China according to latest figures released by DairyCo. Ultra-high temperature (UHT) pasteurised milk has become more popular with Chinese consumers, with some branded products in particular seeming to gain shoppers’ confidence.

D

ermot O’Leary has been appointed chairman of the Carbery Group. He takes over the role from Donal Tobin who stepped down.

Dermot has been chairman of Bandon Co-op since July 2014 and previously served on the Carbery board for two years commencing 2009.

The Enniskeane dairy farmer said “It is a great honour to become chairman of Carbery. I am very much aware that it is also a great responsibility as Carbery is a very important business for dairy farmers and for the general economy of West Cork.”

NEWS

LAMB DRESSED AS MUTTON WHEN HOGGETS CALLED EWES? T

he ICSA sheep chairman John Brooks has said that overzealous Department officials are downgrading certain hoggets to ewe status in meat plants, with potential losses to farmers of up to 50-60 euro/head.

“This is happening where hoggets’ mouths are being examined and those animals found breaking teeth are classified as ewes, even though this

method of determining age is a flawed science,” said Mr. Brooks.

“The consequence is that the farmer is being paid ewe price rather than hogget price. This can be a loss of €2.50/kg so a typical hogget of 24kgs is downgraded by up to €60. This is an unacceptable loss to a farmer. As we never see any retail outlet selling mutton, is it a case that we we have lamb dressed as mutton when it comes to paying the farmer but mutton dressed as lamb on the supermarket shelves?”

Mr. Brooks went on to express frustration at this process. “The reality is that one hogget is much the same as another when it comes to quality of meat even though the process of breaking teeth can vary by weeks between sheep. No Department inspector can argue that he is absolutely spot on in determining age. In any event, the market for hoggets will be finished in a matter of weeks. This arbitrary downgrading of sheep is not based on scientific precision and must be ended,” concluded Mr. Brooks.

SHEEP2015 ANNOUNCED

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lans for a major National Sheep Open Day, Sheep2015, were announced at the Teagasc Centre in Athenry, Co. Galway. Sheep2015 is the major National Sheep event this year and takes place on Saturday, 20 June in Athenry, County Galway.

Sheep2015 will be of interest to sheep producers from all over the country. There is a positive outlook for the sheep sector and this event will provide an opportunity for all involved in the industry to come together to develop the potential that the sheep industry offers.

Kepak in conjunction with Musgraves/Super

Valu are the main sponsors for Sheep2015 with other sponsorship provided by MSD, Zoetis, FBD and Germinal Seeds. This year’s event will build on the successful Sheep 2010 and Sheep 2012 events.

Visitors will have the opportunity to gather information from 10 thematic villages covering Grassland Management, Hill Sheep Production, Flock Health, Sheep Breeding, Environment, Agricultural Education, Wool and Wool Products, Meat Industry and Markets, the Science of Farming and Health and Safety. Sheep2015 will include a series of practical, workshops, the Teagasc Sheep Research Demonstration flock, recently imported New Zealand Sheep Sheep Breed Championships

and numerous commercial exhibits.

Frank Hynes, Co-chairman of the Sheep2015 organising committee, said: “Saturday the 20th of June is a date for the diary for all interested in the sheep sector. This event, Sheep2015, will be a must attend event for all sheep producers and the sheep industry. Up-to-date information on all aspects of sheep production will be available on the day”.

Sheep production is a major economic activity in rural Ireland. Its contribution to the agricultural economy is valued at €205million. There are currently about 2.5.million ewes in 33,000 flocks in the country, with over 75% of the lamb produced exported.

The open day is organised by Teagasc, UCD, DAFM, Irish Farmers Journal, Bord Bia and Sheep Ireland. The main sponsors are Kepak, Musgraves/Super Valu with additional support from MSD, Zoetis, FBD and Germinal Seeds. Pictured discussing plans and details for the upcoming event were: Front row (l to r) Tommy Boland, UCD; Angela Shine, account manager Kepak; Frank Hynes, Teagasc sheep specialist; Áine Mulvihill, Procurement, Kepak; Norina Coppinger, Teagasc Athenry; Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc; Stephanie Fitzgerald, lamb category manager, Musgraves/Supervalu.

Back row; (l to r) Loreto Ferguson, Teagasc; Michael Diskin, Teagasc Sheep Enterprise Leader; Michael Geoghegan, Kepak Athleague; Bertie Mannion, Procurement, Kepak; Phillip Creighton, Teagasc researcher, Athenry; Ciarán Lynch, Teagasc Better Farm Sheep programme; Shane McHugh, Teagasc sheep specialist.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 07

NEWS

ONLY A 30,000 TO 40,000 HEAD POPULATION OF CATTLE WOULD BE NEEDED

Lab-grown Meat Industry Has Major Hurdles to Jump By Carly Dolan

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aboratory-grown meat is expected to become viable in the next couple of decades, but Irish researchers say there are some major hurdles to overcome before consumers will accept it.

Maeve Henchion

08 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

Scientists created the world’s first stem cell burger in 2013 by using cells from a cow that were then turned into strips of muscle to create a patty. The burger cost a little under €300,000 to grow at the time.

Speaking at an Australian cattle farming event earlier this year, Professor Mark Post, of Maastricht University, who led the research, said he believed the ongoing advances in technology would allow the meat growing industry to become viable in the next 20 to 30 years.

Some expects estimate that if this technology became viable that only a 30,000 to 40,000 head population of cattle would be needed to sustain it.

Ireland’s agricultural and food development authority, Teagasc, said the widespread uptake of laboratory-grown meat, known as in vitro or cultured meat, would be dependent on offering consumers benefits that would help them overcome the “yuck” factor and other perceived risks.

“In vitro meat offers a number of potential benefits to consumers and citizens, including food safety benefits as a result of eliminating potential for contamination

by E Coli, for example, from the hide, and reduced GHG emissions,” Teagasc’s Maeve Henchion said.

“The potential to be able to modify the processing parameters to produce meat with a consistent and specific nutritional profile is another potential benefit.

In vitro meat could also potentially result in less waste as there wouldn’t be a fifth quarter (hide, bones offal, blood).”

“Regarding the food safety benefit, most outbreaks are the result of post-slaughtering practices so the food safety in practical terms is likely to be very small.

Regarding the GHG emissions, much research is

being conducted to reduce GHG production through, for example, improved breeding, specific nutrition strategies and improved feed conversion efficiency.”

“For Ireland, given our grass-based beef production results in significant environmental benefits, this positive effect is also mitigated.”

Ms Henchion said there were at least four significant challenges facing consumer acceptance of in vitro meat.

“While the elimination of the need to slaughter animals may be seen as a benefit to in vitro meat, animal welfare concerns could also have a negative impact on adoption given the growth medium that is often used, which is foetal calf serum,” she said.

“Secondly, price is still a significant barrier. The costs of cultured meat are unknown. In 2004, it was estimated that 1kg of cultured meat cost US$5 million to produce in a small-scale lab.”

“Thirdly, presenting in-vitro beef in a format resembling a steak still seems a long way off from a technical perspective. Presenting the product in ground, processed format, such as burgers and sausages, may be more acceptable to consumers from a sensory perspective as well as being more technically feasible.”

“And lastly, the importance of naturalness as a choice motivation. The production process for in vitro meat was perceived to be unnatural by Irish consumers.

One participant in a focus group stated, ‘it sounds revolting… real Star Trekky… it’s too way out’.”

According to Irish research, it is likely that consumers would accept in vitro poultry before beef.

Ms Henchion said in vitro meat would likely supply only a very small proportion of the growing demand for alternative sources of protein in the long-term.

AGRI FINANCE

Need a bank loan?

Go in prepared

By Carly Dolan

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lster Bank’s recent headline-grabbing farm loan aimed at improving pasture is the latest in a string of new agricultural loans being offered

by Irish banks, following years of recession and halted lending.

However, despite Bank of Ireland, AIB and now Ulster Bank introducing new loans in the past few months, the world of bank loans is still far removed from the Celtic Tiger years, and there is little sign that they intend to foot any major risks in the near future.

So Grassroots Farm has put together some helpful tips to help Irish farmers looking for an agricultural loan.

business, personal credit or financial history will be very important, as well as a financial forecast in the business plan.

Understand your loan

It is extremely important that you understand exactly what you are signing up for. Ask your bank to calculate the total cost of your loan offer, including the cost of interest and charges. That way, you can easily compare your different offers if you are able to secure more than one. It is also a good idea to discuss the potential loan and costs with your accountant and take any advice they offer. After all, they are the financial experts who will give it to you straight!

Put it in writing

Always make a formal application for your loan in writing. It will make everything run smoother, whether you get the loan straight away or not. If you are not granted the loan initially, the formal application will allow you to appeal the decision straight away.

Research all your options

There are a number of agricultural loans available from different banks in Ireland today. Ulster Bank’s pasture improvement loan is the latest, but it is certainly not the only one.

The Ulster Bank pasture loan offers a fund of up to €60,000 per customer over a five-year period, and was introduced in order to assist dairy, beef and sheep farmers who are seeking to improve their pasture grass production.

AIB has a €500 million fund to support capital investment, asset finance and working capital on Irish farms. A spokesperson for AIB said the funding was available to all farming sectors to support all types of on-farm investment with loan terms tailored to the investment and asset class.

Bank of Ireland reported an increased demand for credit in the last quarter of 2014, with overall approvals to the agricultural sector exceeding €620 million, which was a 19 per cent increase on the previous year. That included approval for land purchase and overdrafts.

The more research you do on which bank and which loan would suit your needs, the better. If you have an opportunity to be choosy, that is better still.

Go in prepared

Make sure you go to your meeting prepared with either a business plan or proof that your business is viable. If possible, outline exactly how much money you require, how you plan to spend it, and how the cash injection would benefit the business and its profits. Proof of a good credit history is also very important. If you are applying for a loan for a start-up company or GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 09

INNOVATION

Innovation & Creation in Cork

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hen it comes to investing in livestock handling equipment strength, safety and efficiency should be the key decision factors. Investing in the correct equipment is essential in maximising productivity and ensuring safety on your farm.

This is why O’ Donovan Engineering are excited to announce the launch of two new additions to their range – the ODEL Portable Crush & the Rubicle Soft Touch. The Cork based family run firm are known for innovation in the agri-sector and are delighted to be extending their catalogue of products.

ODEL Portable Crush: Their new mobile crush, the ODEL Portable Crush, which meets the Department of Agriculture’s requirements for the Farm Safety Scheme, is suitable for field use or in a yard and comes with a number of features including: • Semi-Automatic Head Gate • 3 point linkage & pallet fork guide • Chequer plate floor • Rear hinged gate with spring latch and slam closer for added safety • Adapted to take Loadbars for Weighing, Super Scoop and Hoof Knack • Additional panels may be fitted to form a holding pen Sales Director at O’ Donovan Engineering Dermot Donovan outlines why the company saw a need in the market for the ODEL Portable Crush; “With an increasing number of farmers expanding and renting land, they have an outside farm. However, they often come without suitable handling facilities. Speaking to farmers we concluded that there was a need for a hard wearing, superior quality handling crush that the farmer can transport easily and use in the field, yard or an outside farm.”

Rubicle Soft Touch The Rubicle Soft Touch is their most recent creation and company founder, Damien O’ Donovan, outlines the benefits of this innovative concept; “The very design of the Rubicle Soft Touch means that the strength and ability of our cubicles is not compromised. In fact, with this new addition all of the qualities of our existing cubicles are enhanced with the special soft touch sleeve which can be fitted to existing cubicles. While undergoing design over the last 2 years, the Rubicle Soft Touch has been fitted on the ODEL test farm, where we test all of our products before bringing them to the market, and my cows definitely approve of the added comfort.”

Following on from the success of the Crest Feed Barrier last year, the Cork based company have continued innovating into 2015 and feel the outlook for the agri-sector is positive. The ODEL Portable Crush and the Rubicle Soft Touch are available to view at the O’ Donovan Engineering premises in Coachford, Co. Cork.

For more information visit www.odonovaneng.ie or call 021 7334066

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INNOVATION

Award Winning HerdInsights Do More Than Heat Detection

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erdInsights, dramatically improves the efficiency of farm breeding programmes and significantly reduces healthcare costs through early illness detection.

While other systems on the market are developed exclusively for heat detection, HerdInsights has been developed as an all-encompassing dairy health monitoring system. However, with a 93% heat detection rate and 97% accuracy of alerts, HerdInsights has been independently verified as by far the most accurate heat-detection system available in the world today.

The technology behind HerdInsights is truly revolutionary, combining gesture recognition, multi-metric analysis and proprietary behavioural algorithms, developed exclusively by the team of software experts at Alanya Animal Health Monitoring in Little Island, Co. Cork.

Following multi-metric analysis, if a cow is identified as being in heat, cystic, anestrous or unwell, an alert is sent to farm management via text message or the HerdInsights app - available to download from all app stores. This cloud-based technology can be accessed anywhere in the world at any time.

Alanya’s leadership in this market has been recognised through many awards from leading industry organisations, including a business ambassador award from President Michael D Higgins in September 2014. They most recently beat off stiff competition from established multinationals in the agri-sector to win the coveted National Innovation Award at the 2014 National Dairy Show.

“Our team of world class developers and researchers are 100% focused on animal health monitoring.

Unlike other companies that sell a range of products,

we’re fortunate that we do not have the distractions that less focused companies encounter.” said Founder and CEO Donald Cronin.

“Since 2007, we have had a dedicated team working solely on animal health monitoring. We’re delighted with the level of support we’ve received from the Irish farming community. Irish farmers are always asking consumers to buy Irish and as we all know, by buying Irish you’re supporting local jobs and local

communities. Up until HerdInsights was launched, choice was limited for farmers and regrettably a lot of farmers unknowingly bought Israeli products.

It’s fantastic to see that given the choice to buy a superior product carrying the Guaranteed Irish stamp that farmers are choosing to buy Irish. I really can’t thank the farming community enough for the level of support we are receiving.”, said Founder and CEO Donald Cronin.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 11

DAIRY / BEEF

Q&A

Rose Veal 12 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

DAIRY / BEEF

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wo years ago, Kilkenny’s Bill Madigan and his son Jack saw a potential opening in the Irish market for Rose Veal, along with a way of using some of the dairy industry’s unwanted bobby calves and keeping money in the Irish economy. Grassroots Magazine’s CARLY DOLAN speaks to Bill about what happened next.

When did you first start looking into producing Rose Veal?

We started thinking about it and looking into it two years ago.

What made you decide to take the plunge?

My son Jack is studying Agri-Business in GMIT and he thinks it could grow into a good business so we decided to go for it.

Was there a market for it when you started?

No, there wasn’t much of a market and the market is still small now. I think Kilkenny Rose Veal will be able to supply the entire Irish Veal Market on its own unless the Irish people change their minds about veal and the stigma attached.

What was the process from having the idea to making it the success it has become?

The concept of producing veal here in Kilkenny and bringing the product all the way to the end consumer had never been tried before so we didn’t know how well it would sell. We decided to do a pilot programme of 10 calves per month for 8 months – 80 calves in total to see if we could find a market for the veal. We contacted Compassion in World Farming and asked what would need to be done to make veal production acceptable, and they were very helpful with setting down the conditions. All our calves come from the locality, all are straw bedded, and fed hay and milk with plenty water and meal. Nothing is done to keep the meat pale or anaemic like restricted light or restricted movement, which is done in traditional veal rearing. All our calves are allowed to do as they please and eat what they like.

What are the prospects for this industry now that milk quotas have been lifted and dairy herds will be increasing in Ireland?

There will be no shortage of calves now but then again there never was. We export 80,000 calves to Holland every year and import the small amount of veal we consume in Ireland.

Perhaps Kilkenny Rosé Veal can supply this market in the future.

Do you think it’s something other farmers should look into now that there will be even more bobby calves?

Yes, why not? If they can find a market for them then they should try it.

What age do you get the calves and how long do you grow them?

There are two types of Rosé Veal. Category V, which is veal from calves aged six to eight months and Category Z, which is from calves aged nine to 12 months. If it is over 12 months, then it’s beef, not veal, and we produce all three categories.

Campagne Restaurant, Kilkenny What are they fed and where are they kept?

They are fed on milk for the first three months of their lives with free access to water, hay, straw, and a good cooked calf coarse ration, and all the calves are TB tested and vaccinated against disease. After weaning, the calves are put on a high protein diet, which allows them to grow naturally. For the last few months before slaughter, the protein is reduced from 18 per cent cp to 14 per cent cp and the energy is increased to 12Me. This gives Kilkenny Rosé Veal some nice marbling and a slight cover of white fat for texture and taste.

Is there a good market for Rose Veal in Ireland or is there still a stigma around veal, which people confuse with Rose Veal?

Yes, there is definitely still a stigma. Most people think veal is from baby calves and they are surprised to see how big they can actually be at slaughter, particularly for category Z veal.

The thing that most people are surprised at is Kilkenny Rosé Veal is older than pig meat and older than lamb. It’s hard to see this changing but many farmers rang me after Kilkenny Rosé Veal was shown on RTE’s Ear To The Ground asking why veal wasn’t promoted more. These farmers say it looked good in the scene shot in Rinuccini Restaurant in Kilkenny and they would love to try it. In fact, since the show, Rinuccini have told me that people are ringing the restaurant from all over the country asking if Kilkenny Rosé Veal is on the menu and then booking a table because of that.

What sort of businesses do you supply to?

At the moment we’re supplying some of Ireland’s top restaurants and artisan butchers.

What’s the best way to cook Rose Veal?

There are so many ways to cook veal. Campagne is a Michelin Star restaurant in Kilkenny and they do a pickled silverside of veal, which is fantastic. Antonio is shown doing an Escallop of Kilkenny Rosé Veal on the RTE clip and that only takes a minute to cook. A roast shoulder of veal is incredibly easy to cook and tastes great, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could try Ossobuco, which is braised cross-cut veal shanks.

Will the demand for Rose Veal ever fill the capacity of male bobby calves produced or will there always be excess unwanted calves that have to be shipped to the continent, do you think?

No – never There is no way the demand for Rosé Veal in Ireland will ever catch up to the supply of calves, but remember Ireland is a tiny market. In Holland they don’t eat much veal either, but they buy up all the surplus calves around Europe and produce veal with them, exporting to 50 different countries. Last year, Holland exported one €1.2 billion worth of veal and 80,000 of the calves used were Irish. We are missing out here.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 13

DAIRY / BEEF

New ventures for beef production

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n the post-quota environment there are new opportunities and new risks for dairy and beef farmers. Many dairy producers will be looking to expand and there will be an increase of dairy calves available for beef producers or export markets. There will be an expected extra 240,000 calves becoming available for either export or retaining to finish within the country. Dairy calf to beef systems can be a complementary scheme for main suckler beef or dairy farmers and they are an opportunity to increase efficiencies on the farm.

14 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

DAIRY / BEEF Why purchase dairy bulls?

Before you think about this as an option, you will need to ascertain what market you are aiming for. Decide if you want to finish them early as veal or finish as a two year old steer that can maximise grass as a cost effective feed. The main economic factors to consider before moving to a new system of production are:

• • • •

calf price carcass price price for animal for live export feed costs

Calf prices for dairy bulls are a lot lower than for beef breeds for obvious reasons.

Choosing a suitable calf will make the difference to overall profits so make sure to choose a healthy calf and one from a breed that will achieve a profit at sale.

The benefit of using dairy bred bull calves for beef is that the cost up to and including calving is borne by the dairy industry.

Purchasing a calf will be cheaper than a grown animal but there should still be a lot of care taken to make sure it is a good investment. Inspect the animal to make sure it is lively and strong and shows no signs of illness. Calves should have a shining coat, bright eyes and a clean moist noise. Ideally buy in groups from the one farm to minimise spread of infection. Calves should not be moved from the farm of origin until at they are at least a week old and ideally not before three weeks of age. This will help reduce the risk of scour and stress for very young calves. Isolate animals on arrival at the farm and monitor for a week to make sure they don’t spread any infections to the rest of your livestock.

Factory or live export prices will fluctuate according to market demands.

However it is worth looking at trends to see when is the best time to sell or to try to secure contracts for your end product. The new international markets opening in US and China may assist with lifting prices for beef. Indigenous markets may grow in niche areas but it is unlikely that there will be a big increase for beef in the home markets.

Feed costs will depend on the system used. Grassland will always be the cheapest option but will also need inputs in terms of grassland management. The cost of milk replacer, concentrate or mixed rations will need to be taken into account when balancing the profits from this enterprise. A crucial time for growth of these animals is the early days, if they don’t achieve a good weaning weight it will be difficult to make this up later on.

Teagac coordinated research on the Dairy Calf-to-Beef Programme has shown that profit margins are tight with this enterprise. In order to be successful at this you will need to be very careful with timings and targets. For example a turnout weight target of 95-100 kg at 12 weeks is advised. The figures to date show that animals below this weight for age will have a reduced carcass output at the end of the production system. Liveweight gain needs to be a minimum of 150 kg during the grazing period. Good attention to grassland management can achieve this with only a small amount of supplementation needed. The 2012 figures for the programme show the average margin per head was €248, and it ranged from €86 to €330 The programme looked specifically at dairy-bred bulls slaughtered at less than 16 months of age and achieving a carcass weight of 270 kg or greater, fat cover of 2=/2+ or greater and conformation grade of O= or better. The results of this trial so far indicate that profits can be made but that high levels of management are necessary.

will get used to you very quickly and will be easy to move from field to field.

The investment in the calves will be a decider on how much they will thrive and gain weight. Larger numbers of calves provide a larger work load. Good housing and nutrition will be the two main areas of focus to ensure a return on investment.

Feeding

The quicker that grass can be utilised the more profitable this production system is. For autumn born calves that will be a much longer wait. When buying new calves it is a good idea to give them electrolytes on arrival at the farm to rehydrate them after travel. They will need to be fed on milk or milk replacer until they can be safely weaned.

Milk replacer should be the highest quality you can afford. Higher protein levels in the milk replacer will promote healthy growth in calves. Ideally an automated system for feeding the calves should also be installed if there are large numbers of calves. There are many computerised calf rearing systems which can also wean automatically according to concentrate intake. These systems provide information on how much milk is consumed and can be used to identify problems. They can be used to feed cow’s milk and/or milk replacer.

Preparation of milk replacer should be done hygienically and according to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid digestion problems in the calves.

Weaning calves

Calves can be weaned once they are taking in at least 1kg calf starter a day for three days in a row. They should also have a body weight of at least 80-85kg and should be over 8 weeks old. Healthy animals can be weaned abruptly or gradually. Gradual weaning does reduce the stress at weaning and can avoid temporary setbacks in growth rate performance. Keep track of growth by weighing calves first on entry to the farm and then at about 6-10 weeks of age.

This can mean you know if they are on track or if changes to the diet need to be made. If weigh scales are not available, use a weigh band (girth tape) or height stick or height marks on the crush wall.

Housing will have to be spacious enough for the animals. The basics need to be in place to keep healthy animals; clean water, good ventilation, dry bedding and enough space. The necessary space and equipment such as pens should be in place before expanding to rear calves. The dangers of overcrowding or of unsuitable housing include the quick spread of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia. Avoid respiratory diseases by ensuring there is correct ventilation, no sudden changes in air temperature, no other external stressors on the animals. Ideally keep calves of the same age together. Calves that have had scour are more vulnerable to other infections so should be monitored. Straw

Calf rearing

High stocking rates will bring down the cost per animal during the rearing and will increase profitability. Of course there will be some initial capital outlay to adapt to higher stocking rates. When calves are introduced at a young age they will be more docile and easier to manage than animals purchased at an older age. The early interaction when feeding very young calves means they

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 15

DAIRY / BEEF has been used by some producers. This is always regrettable. This will continue to happen unless the calf increases in value. The cost of feeding calves will be even more expensive as the milk that was used in an over quota situation will now be expected to be sold on the marketplace.

How does it compare to traditional suckler cow industry?

At a time when the dairy industry is expanding, suckler cows numbers have been dropping in this country. The dairy beef will be needed to support the beef industry if the decline in suckler cows continues. The drop in numbers is directly linked to profitability in the sector, at the moment there are no direct supports for suckling production but these farmers are depending on direct payments such as the single farm payment and REPS payment to keep going.

The drop in rates offered for these supports along with uncertainty around mart and factory prices have meant some farmers are getting out.

On the other hand this is a much less labour intensive system than rearing bull calves from dairy as there is no need to use milk replacer and animals can be fed largely on pasture for good gains. For farmers who do not wish to bother with late night calvings and all that goes with it they can simply buy in replacement animals. for bedding is another cost for rearing calves along with items such as nipples, buckets and feeders.

Breed and gender matters

Date of birth matters too, animals need to be born early in Spring (Jan/Feb) in order to hit weight gain targets, animals born later do not catch up as shown from Teagasc research. Buying strong healthy animals is also essential as this is a very good indicator of how they will perform.

Dairy breeds such Jersey or Holstein crosses do not gain weight as well as the beef breeds such as Charolais or Simmental. As there is a huge discrepancy in the value of a male or female calf for dairy farmers they may go down the route of using sexed semen to avoid male calves. This however is a new technology.

This is semen from pedigree bulls that would only contain male or female sperm depending on the need. A trial has already been carried out on this and has had some success with 90% of calves conceived the correct gender however there is a higher cost for farmers.

Sexed semen could provide a way of changing the genetic make -up of the herd over time. Farmers could choose to breed female dairy cows such as Jersey or Holstein and add a few male calves of beef breeds. This would make the bull calves more marketable for finishing in the beef industry. Another approach would be the use of selected AI straws to deliver animals suitable for both dairy milking and beef finishing.

Vaccinations

The risk of scour can be reduced by good hygiene and food. There is also a protection from some viruses available through vaccination. This is generally administered to cows before they calve so it is worth checking if this has happened before purchasing the calf. Salmonella vaccines can be administered to three week old calves.

Markets:

EU markets will all be in flux with the removal of the quotas as farmers everywhere in the EU will need to adjust their dairy systems to remain profitable. Beef consumption is expected to remain stable meaning that lower prices for farmers could remain a problem. The UK is our largest export market and there is an opportunity to grow this as suckler and dairy numbers have been declining there for the last number of years.

When prices have dropped before the option of disposing of healthy bull calves

16 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

Stocking densities do not have to be as high and there is generally no need for pens or feeding equipment for calves. Slatted house and silage bales are all that are required over winter. If buying in replacement animals there is a risk of disease spreading to the rest of the herd, but this is balanced by the fact that older animals tend to be hardier than calves.

PEDIGREE

Herefords sell to a top price of €4,500 and an average of €3,150 at Nenagh.

The IHBS report another terrific sale for Herefords at Nenagh following on a very good outing at Kilkenny just a few days ago. The sale held on a day of brilliant sunshine saw a range of prices from €4,500 to €2,200. The crowd somewhat smaller than usual were intent on purchasing and taking a bull home which created a further sense of urgency in the sales.

Top price bull Trillick Tyson €4,500 with owner JJ Farrell.

Trillick Tyson proved to have the knockout punch when bidding stopped at €4,500 to secure the top price of the day for well-known Longford breeder JJ Farrell. This son of his UK bred stockbull Freetown Hotspur is out of Trillick Sally and was purchased by Connor Lynch who travelled all the way from Dundalk in Co Louth.

Ballyheigue, Co Kerry breeder Kieran Harty and son Stephen exhibited Ocean Richard. A second prize-winner sired by Dovea AI sire Glaslough Esquire out of Ocean Special Flora he was purchased by Portumna dairy farmer John Heagney at €3,750.

The championship was awarded to Moyclare Magnificent a bull from Michael Molloy, Belmont, Co

Offaly. Magnificent is sired by his herd sire Brocca Saviour a Bowmont Storm A584 son bred by his neighbour Noel Farrell. Saviour was the number one Hereford sire on the ICBF December 2014 evaluations.The dam is Moyclare Rose 10th and the purchaser at €3,500 is well known, longtime Hereford breeder and Judge Tom Ludgate, Kilgubban, Mallow.

The Reserve Champion Ballinveney Pirate a very long Bowmont Storm A584 son was shown by Rory Farrell, Toomevara with the assistance of his show team, sons Daniel, Brian and Seamus. Out of Ballinveney Clodagh he was purchased at €3,350 by local man Matt Crowe, Templederry, Nenagh.

EMERALD EXPO RESULTS 2015

Irish Pure Friesian Championship sponsored by Dovea Genetics Champion: Blackisle Laura 68 – owned by Bill O’Keeffe Reserve: Blackisle Mabel 57 – owned by Pat Cleary Honourable Mention: Churchclara Marty Circus – owned by Bill O’Keeffe

Emerald Expo Junior Championship sponsored by Volac Champion: Evergreen Seven Lauren – Liam & Sandra Murphy Reserve Champion: Cahirmee Alex Paradise – Pat Smith Honourable Mention: Bunacloy VB Doorman – Michael & Ann Maree Manley

Ocean Richard €3,750, owners Kieran & Stephen Harty with purchaser John Heagney, Portumna

Handler Championship sponsored by Volac Champion: Lauren O’Toole, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow Reserve Champion: Stacey O’Sullivan, Bandon, Co. Cork Honourable Mention: Kevin Smith, Doneraile, Co. Cork

Premier Breeder Sash sponsored by Osmonds Philip & Linda Jones – Hallow Premier Exhibitor Sash – sponsored by ICMSA Bill O’Keeffe – Churchclara The Alltech / FBD Senior Championship sponsored by FBD & Alltech Champion: Laurelmore Duplex Impala – John Barrett & Sons Reserve Champion: Hallow Atwood Twizzle – Philip & Linda Jones Honourable Mention: Hallow Advent Twizzle 3 – Philip & Linda Jones

Champion Moyclare Magnificent €3,500 with owner Michael Molloy.

Reserve Champion Ballinveney Pirate €3,350 with John Johnston in background, Judge Gene Lynch, Bantry and owner Rory Farrell.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 17

DAIRY

The Use of DIY AI

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By Stephen Dowling, Dúnmasc Genetics.

ith the AI season firmly upon us, it is time to consider the breeding opportunities that DIY AI can bring to the farmer’s herd. There is a common assumption among farmers that they couldn’t possibly be as good as the local AI man who AI’s hundreds to thousands of cows each year. Both the farmer and the AI man can deliver the same service to a farmer’s herd, the only difference between the local AI man and DIY AI is the speed at which you’re capable of inseminating your cows.

Likewise, many people assume that if your herd size isn’t big you won’t have enough cows to inseminate to keep you in practice. However, this is not the case and from personal experience training people for DIY AI, it can be quiet surprising how many farmers from small herd backgrounds choose to train in DIY AI. Undoubtedly, there are many advantages that make DIY AI a viable option for many farmers and breeders regardless of herd size.

What is the right herd size?

Any size herd is suitable. It’s very easy to justify training yourself and staff members if your herd size is big as costs can be reduced significantly when purchasing semen in large volumes. But is DIY AI worth it if you have a small herd of 10 or 20 cows?

Believe it or not a lot of farmer/breeders that have trained with us at Dúnmasc Genetics have small herd sizes and have trained in DIY AI for many plausible reasons. Firstly, they have the interest; farmers have a very close attachment with their animals and through DIY AI, farmers have a hands-on approach and tend to notice any problems that arise in their herd, this ultimately improves husbandry greatly. Secondly, timing needs to be accurate with AI, cows need to inseminated 12 -14 hours after first standing heat. Understandably, it is not always possible to get an AI technician at the time you want and so DIY AI is a viable option which ensures optimum timing for insemination.

Thirdly, DIY AI farmers are not dependent upon the AI technician to store and mind their AI straws as a DIY AI license enables farmers to hold their own AI straws in the convenience of their own farm.

What makes AI easier?

Is it possible to make DIY AI easy on the home farm? The answer is yes; a good DIY AI training centre will provide you with all the required skills and knowledge to effectively AI on your home farm. Skills and techniques that you will learn include; how to hold and manipulate the cervix, how to identify if the AI gun is in the wrong area or caught in folds,

18 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

and identifying the correct position to deposit the semen.

In addition to this, trainers will cover areas such as having the animal ready and waiting for you, loading one gun, not having any spectators. The one thing I would highlight as a DIY AI trainer is that importance of remembering that it doesn’t matter how long you it take you to serve a cow, once the gun is inside of the cow the semen in the straw is safe due to the body temperature of the cow. So remember take it at your own speed, getting the cow in calf is the most importing thing, not the speed at which the job is completed.

If you’re in a position where you have a lot of cows in your herd and a lot to serve every day and your new to DIY AI, one big factor that can hinder your performance is muscle fatigue. As your muscles become tired and frustrated, the job at hand can become more difficult. Easy ways to overcome this is exercising your hand and arm muscles to build up strength and condition. Some people have natural have strength in their arms weather they are a man or a women, others have to build their strength, and hence why some people can find it more difficult than others.

Secondly, your AI straws should never leave liquid nitrogen unless you are thawing them out to AI a cow. Conception rates can be reduced from thermal damage where straws are being removed from liquid nitrogen unnecessarily. A simple system detailing the straws in each goblet as well as using labelling tabs to identify individual AI straws are effective ways of avoiding the need to remove AI straws from storage unnecessarily. When removing semen for thawing, it should be placed in water at 35 Degrees Celsius for 40 seconds. This is proven to thaw the semen most efficiently and give the best conception rates.

How should I care for my Semen?

Firstly let’s start with your AI tank, many spring herds allow their pots to empty out of liquid nitrogen after the breeding season has ended and will fill it the following season again. I strongly recommend against allow your tank empty, the cost of filling your AI flask with liquid nitrogen isn’t expensive but losing a pot of semen is. When your pot is filled with liquid nitrogen it is -198 degrees Celsius and to cool the pot down to these temperatures each year can put a lot of unnecessary stress on the aluminium insert inside of your tank which can cause fractures that cause the tank to fail.

Important Things to Remember Undoubtedly, a good training course will provide the farmer with the knowledge and skills to effectively AI on the home farm and improve conception rates. The three steps that I highlight to all trainees are; have the cow ready, load the gun with the straw and place it down your back to keep it safe and remember the steps of introducing the gun at the correct angle allowing you to move it up through the cervix. The last thing to remember is that once the gun is inside the cow it doesn’t matter how long it takes to serve her the straw is safe in the gun until you’re ready to inseminate.

DAIRY

Spring Production Focused on Clean Water

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he post quota era is upon us. There are many new dairy farmers around the country taking their first steps in modern dairy production. Grassroots Farm plans to visit some of these over the next few months.

We first went to Castlemaine in County Kerry to visit a farm that is returning to dairy after being out since 1978.

Lactain and Willie Spring have turned from sucklers back into milk production. Willie would be well known to many farmers in Ireland through his many innovative inventions including the Spring Calf Feeder that went into production in 1983. They can still be found in many prominent farmer’s calf rearing units.

The farm is set between the Slieve Mish Mountains on the north and the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks to the south. They describe it as a heavy rainfall area and they should know as they measure rainfall and have a weather vane on farm.

Lactain bought 42 maiden heifers last year. 40 calved down this spring and as is the case with livestock, 39 are now milking. They believe that low borrowing is important to survive in the new era at the scale they are working on. For this reason they bought a second hand 8 unit Dairymaster milking machine and bulk tank. All the fitting was done with the least amount of hired labour possible.

The all heifer herd didn’t cause any problems as they might have foreseen. “Suckler farming is the nearest thing to rodeo we have, these are like a dream. So easy to handle” Lactain said. They are preforming well too for a 100% first lactation herd - yielding an average of 25.6 litres a day at 3.87% protein late April, being feed 8kgs of fertility boost 14% dairy ration during breeding season.

Lactain is very happy with his start to milk production.

He plans to expand to 70 cows. “We will be learning and spending. Isn’t that what dairy farming is about” he says.

“Most people say 70 is a nice number for one labour unit. I work off farm too so I need it to be easy to manage.”

The farm is well laid out. There are 2 to 2.5 acre paddocks serviced by a central roadway. This has been in place for fifty years. Willie tells us “I had a Dexta and a non tipping trailer and I would go up to the mountain where there were men breaking rocks. Load up by hand and bring them down here to unload by hand too. It has never been resurfaced since.”

There is a heavy clover cover in the paddocks. Willie informs “We don’t use much fertiliser. I have always been a believer in clover. I remember once a journalist called me the ‘clover king’. We use very little fertiliser and utilise slurry.”

The main feature of the farm is the water system. Willie has spent years perfecting a quick clean water trough. The main thing you notice walking around the farm is that there is no water in any trough other than the one in the paddock which the cows are in. This is for many reasons but mainly animal health.

“I have been cleaning water troughs for 26 years ensuring that animals always had clean water” Willie explains. “I have never had TB in all those years. I know a man who has done it for 40 years after 3 years of TB reactors before that and he hasn’t had a TB outbreak for any of those 40 years. I am a big believer in clean water and its health benefits.”

Willie has developed a quick clean water trough himself and now is heavily marketing it to fellow farmers. He has developed the home farm as a model for the system. The farm is looped with underground inch pipe. Water is fed at 120psi water pressure. As each paddock is grazed out the

ballcock is secured and then the remaining water is released to empty and clean the trough until water is needed again in each paddock (approx 21 days during general rotation).

This prevents summer heat from spreading germs, algae from growing and, importantly in terms of TB, badgers from bathing in it.

Anybody interested in the Spring quick clean water troughs can ring Willie on 087 1163815.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 19

SILAGE NEWS

Know the Value of your Grass Silage

20 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

SILAGE

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ilage quality was a major limiting factor on farms across the country during 2014. Poor quality silage requires increased concentrate usage to maintain animals, not to mention the requirements for growing animals or those producing milk. In terms of the focus and emphasis we place on making silage over the last number of years we may have taken our foot off the pedal, with greater focus on grazed grass and less effort going into ensuring we maximise the potential of our silage forage.

When we talk about making quality silage – there are a number of factors which can influence the quality of the resultant feed – these can be separated into long term, medium term or short-term factors.

It is probably safe to say that for the 2015 silage harvest

there is not much we can do to rectify the long term factors at this stage – these include ensuring you have the right species in the sward. Perennial ryegrass dominated swards will have superior digestibility and be relatively straightforward to preserve and are an essential long term investment. Avoiding soil compaction is important as this can reduce yield and persistency of perennial ryegrass. Taking regular soil samples to ensure correct soil pH, P and K status is also critical.

When making silage, it is usually the case that as quantity increases, quality decreases. This occurs as the more mature (and higher yield) crop will have lower nutrition value compared to a leafier sward. Therefore, there is an inevitable compromise, with decisions on when to cut best determined by the class of livestock to be fed and the stock performance targets as well as the obvious – weather conditions around time of harvest.

Keep an eye on the development of the silage crop and monitor to ensure heading date, absence of lodging and the absence of a build-up of dead herbage are progressing as expected. Once heading out commences the digestibility of the crop will drop by 2-3% units per week. So if your aiming to make a high DMD silage you need to harvest the crop just prior to when the seed heads start to emerge (about a week before the mean heading

date of the varieties in your silage mixture is generally a good guideline for harvesting).

Avoid mowing and harvesting under wet conditions.

Wilting to achieve an optimum silage DM of 30-35% (pit) and 35-40% (bale) should be ideally, quick and short. This generally requires at least a half a day and no more than a 1 ½ days of good drying conditions. The best wilt will occur where the grass is mown after the dew has evaporated and is then placed in wide rows or is tedded.

Fill the silo quickly in thin layers, rolling throughout and immediately seal it perfectly. As the silage sinks somewhat a week or 2 later adjust the plastic seal to ensure no ingress of air occurs. Inspect the plastic cover frequently and immediately repair any visible damage.

Article by

Dr Mary McEvoy B. Agr. Sc., Ph.D Technical Development Manager at Germinal Germinal have produced a booklet on The Value of Grass which gives guidelines on making quality silage and understanding a silage analysis: Visit www.germinal.com for more details.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 21

FORESRTY

Forestry Opportunities in Conjunction With GLAS

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andowners that have been considering forestry as a land use option, now have an opportunity to plant part of their lands during the GLAS contract period. Forestry is complementary to GLAS as it enhances the environment in terms of biodiversity and water quality.

Farmers need to advise their planners to structure plans to enable them avail of the forestry option within the 5 year GLAS contract. This will involve grouping GLAS actions in targeted parcels, thereby maximising the number of remaining parcels for alternative land use options such as forestry. There is also an opportunity to split parcels creating new parcels that can have no GLAS commitments attributed to them.

Forestry is seen as a very viable land use option to farmers today. Green Belt have noticed that farmers are looking at forestry in conjunction with other schemes to maximise the cheque in the post.

Under the afforestation scheme landowners can avail of 100% grants for establishment and a 15 year premium up to â‚Ź 635 / hectare. Entitlements can also be claimed on the planted lands provided that the farmer continues to farm a min of 3 ha or 10% of their holding.

Green Belt are happy to advise farmers on the suitability of land for forestry and how the afforestation can enable farmers to maximise their income from marginal lands. We also offer investment opportunities to farmers who wish to buy land to plant as a pension for the future.

WE CAN BE CONTACTED AT: Freephone 1800 200 233 or contacting our local forester Dermot Fenton on 087 9678779.

22 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

RENEWABLES

Generate your own electricity on the farm The main options for generating your own energy are: • Wind turbine • Anaerobic digestion • Solar energy • CHP- combined heat and power Another potential option would be small scale hydro generation but that would only be suitable for landowers with access to a suitable body of water.

Microgeneration refers to small scale generation of electricity, for most agricultural sites this would be any generation of up to 6kW. If you are categorised as a microgenerator of electricity there is a simplified process of connection to the grid when compared with commercial generation of electricity.

Wind Energy

Adding a small wind turbine can allow generation of

energy on the farm. This can pay for itself over time as energy is created. One flaw of wind energy is that the energy cannot be stored for times when there is no wind or wind is too powerful. In 2014 a new scheme was launched which enables small generators of renewable energy to sell electricity on the Single Electricity Market (SEM). A similar scheme has been in operation in the UK for several years and has been successful, with some farmers near the Northern Ireland border being eligible to avail of it. Under the scheme in Ireland announced last year small scale producers of power can enter a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to sell extra energy. If your turbine is not connected to the grid it can be used to charge a battery to store energy for times when the turbine is not operational.

peak wind energy and long term maintenance of the turbine. Detailed instructions on the types of turbines suitable are available from SEAI or the Irish Wind energy Association.

If you are thinking of installing a turbine there are a number of factors to consider: location, your energy needs and how they will relate to expected times of

Subject to certain conditions domestic wind turbines may be exempt from planning. The cost of installing a good quality turbine can be over €25k to purchase

The best location for a turbine is on top of a high mast on a south westerly facing hill with gentle slopes in an area free from buildings and trees. There is a wind atlas on the SEAI website which will give you a rough idea of how suitable your land may be for installing a wind turbine. This atlas can estimate wind speeds in your location using GPS co-ordinates. The next step would be to consult a site assessor who can make a more accurate analysis of the suitability of a location for a turbine.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 23

RENEWABLES install and connect. This would pay back at a rate of about €1300 to €2400 per anumn. So it should pay for itself in about ten years. Tax relief is also available in the form of a VAT refund for wind or solar power systems. There is also the option to sell excess power to the grid which would mean a shorter time frame to become profitable.

Solar Power

Solar panels are now a relatively common sight on roofs in Ireland. There are two types of solar power – ones that take the sun’s energy for heat only, solar thermal, and ones that use it to convert to electricity –solar PV. The solar thermal panels work even on cloudy days and are quicker to deliver a return on investment.

Solar PV panels are more expensive to buy but can provide a source of electricity and are a good long term investment. They can be a good option to provide energy where it is too remote to connect to the grid.

CHP

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units generate

electricity and they store the heat produced in the energy generation by heating water. In this way the energy is usefully employed and less is wasted to the atmosphere or surroundings. They can be powered by fossil fuels or biofuels. Micro-CHP units would be suitable for farms where there is not a larger energy or heat requirement as most CHP units would be developed for large scale operations.

Anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is the breakdown of organic waste material to provide biogas (methane).

This gas then can be used to produce combined heat and power or can be converted into biofuel or potentially sold as natural gas to consumers.

Anaerobic digesters can use specially grown crops or for a more sustainable option, non-food crops and residues such as slurry or household waste. This technology is already proven in Europe and has been available in the UK. Slurry is a good option for anaerobic digestion

where bacteria is used to convert organic matter into methane and nitrous oxide in an oxygen free tank.

The methane produced can be used for heat or power or transport. The technology is for slurry to methane is only at a research phase in Ireland but has been used in Europe. Renewable energy prices may increase as pressure to achieve EU targets intensifies this would make AD a more viable option. There will also be a power plant generating energy from methane from household waste established in Drehid, Co Kildare

by Bord na Mona.

The cost involved in building and maintaining an anaerobic digester plant would only provide a return on investment if it was a central plant taking material from several farms. At the moment it is costly to invest in and a plant that is fed with animal waste from only one farm would take a long time to offer a return on investment. As well as manure other items can produce biogas in an AD plant. The material that would be left after the digestion has taken place would be suitable as a fertilizer and would be ‘cleaner’.

Renewable Energy in Agriculture

R

enewable energy developments over the last number of years have been very visible in many areas of the country with wind farms and electric car charging stations popping up.

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24 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

The agriculture sector is largely untapped apart from some small scale programs and there is still plenty of potential here. There are many different renewable energy technologies that could reap positive commercial benefits for farmers. These include: • Bio energy – energy crops that can be refined to produce oil or gas for transport, heat or electricity • Small scale electricity generation- by wind or solar power • CHP- combined heat and power Growing energy crops-Pros and cons

Energy crops are grown for heat, transport and power.

Like all plants they take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow and store this carbon in the ground. Some crops which do this more efficiently than others. The other reason energy crops are a boom to the environment is that they can be used instead of fossil fuels and are a sustainable source of energy as they can be grown again and again.

However burning energy crops also releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and there is inevitable

production of greenhouse gases while the crops are produced and transported. All potential energy crops need to be assessed to make sure that their overall effect is to reduce emissions when compared with fossil fuels.

Another criticism of biofuels is that they compete with land for food crops however this is not a factor in Ireland.

Biofuels

Biofuels are a cleaner burning fuel than traditional diesel or petrol. There are different types of biofuel some require modified engines others which are a mix of traditional diesel and plant oils can run in a standard diesel engine. Biofuels can be made from a variety of sources, used cooking oils, animal fats or specially grown crops.

At the moment most of the biofuel used here is imported. There is a good opportunity here to produce more biofuels on this island. This would allow for sustainable production and a more secure energy supply as well as an opportunity for jobs in this sector.

The Biofuels Obligation Scheme here aims to increase

RENEWABLES the amount of biofuels used in Ireland. Under this scheme at least 6% the oil delivered to market by oil suppliers must be biofuels.

Biomass

Other energy crops can be grown for heat and power.

Typically wood chip pellets a by-product of wood processing are burned for fuel and for combined heat and power (CHP). At the end of last year the IFA together with CPL fuels announced a joint initiative of a biomass plant. This project will lead to the startup of a biomass plant in Foynes, Co Limerick. This will provide an opportunity in the next three years for farmers to supply the raw material for this home heating fuel. The plant will create a smokeless fuel for homes.

The IFA And CPL Fuels are currently researching the best crops for this solid fuel, it is likely to be a mix of specifically grown crops as well as some crop residues.

Ethanol

Bio ethanol can be produced by a variety of crops, the ones most likely to feature in Ireland would be wheat or sugar beet. Ethanol is a liquid biofuel which like biodiesel is set to increase in importance. Wheat and sugar beet can both be successfully grown in Ireland so this area is open to exploitation by a bio ethanol producer.

Energy Crops

There is a variety of energy crops that can be grown

for biofuel and biomass, the most likely to be grown here are: • Cereal Grain • Oilseed Rape (OSR) • Miscanthus • Willow Other potential options which have been suggested are Hemp, Switchgrass, Paulownia trees and Reed Canary Grass Cereal grain

Cereal grain can be grown for processing as a biomass fuel used for heat. Pellets of cereal can be used in the same way wood chip pellets are used. Grains have a higher ash content than pellets, so there will be more ash to dispose. From research on the most common cereals grown here Oats would be the best option for burning and Barley the least favourable. Grains are already grown here so if a market was developed as an energy crop it would be an easy transition.

Miscanthus

Miscanthus is a tall perennial grass and can be harvested annually with a maize harvester or cut with a conditioner mower and baled. The harvested stems of miscanthus can be burned as a fuel or converted to ethanol for use as a liquid biofuel. It produces relatively high yield and annual harvests.

There are no developed markets for miscanthus but

it is eligible for the Single Farm Payment.

Oilseed Rape (OSR)

Oilseed rape (OSR) is a major worldwide source of vegetable oil and which is also becoming more visible on supermarket shelves in Ireland. OSR is a good option in a rotation as it is suitable break crop. It has been grown here for biofuel processing. There had been a good market for OSR here until recently when the tax exemptions ended. This market could develop again as the skills and infrastructure are there.

Willow

Willow is a fast growing tree species that can be harvested at regular intervals and it coppices well, i.e sprouts from stumps when cut back. Willow is already established as a suitable energy crop in Ireland and is burned for heat energy. There is a Bio-Energy Willow Scheme open for applications until the 30 April 2015.

It provides grants for the establishment of willow to be produced as an energy crop. This grant pays 40% of the approved costs associated with establishing the crop up to a maximum of €1040/ha. 75% of the grant is payable after the establishment of the crop.

The grant covers costs such as ground preparation, fencing, vegetation control, the purchase of planting stock and planting. Areas planted with willow may also qualify for the Basic Payment Scheme, subject to some restrictions on the areas planted. Applications should be submitted to the Department of Agriculture.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 25

SPRAY NEWS

C

rops benefited from the good start to April but may have struggled with the colder spell that followed. Some sowing may have been delayed with the colder wetter weather but the return to a more usual spell of spring weather should boost the growth of crops and also weeds.

Crop Spraying for May 26 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

SPRAY

as break crops to satisfy some of the requirements of the ‘greening’ element of the basic payment and also as good practice. From an application point of view there is a big difference between the crops. Bean canopies are more open and allow for bigger drops to penetrate. Pea canopies are very dense compared to beans so smaller drops are more appropriate to blow under the top leaves. If you spot notches on the leaves then it is probably the Pea & Bean Weevil.

Crops need monitoring for Chocolate Spot and Downy Mildew once flower buds begin to form. Beans may need graminicides. Chocolate spot is the main disease for beans and will need a two spray programme. The first application should be at the first sign of infection, normally around the start of flowering.

The key points to consider for crop management at this time of year are:

• • • • •

•

Early application- tackle any problems before they become established Mix chemicals- using multiple modes of action will reduce the risk of resistance Shop around- there is always competition between retailers for products Check the products- an updated list of authorised products is on the Pesticide Control Service (PCS) website Consider other disease control strategies- the shift towards integrated pest management (IPM) looks at good practices such as rotations, variety choices for disease resistance and good growing practices Register for Sustainable Use Directive (SUD)- as a professional user of pesticides you need to act before the November deadline.

Winter Wheat Most Winter wheat will be at flag leaf to head emerging by the end of the month. Diseases to watch out for are septoria, mildew and eyespot. Product choice should be linked to the variety you have planted as different varieties are more or less susceptible to diseases. eyespot, septoria, rusts and mildew will be important to treat for with eyespot it is not always visible so go with previous experience when deciding to treat. For septoria control, a triazole fungicide is needed

and for maximum protection against resistance mix this with another chemical with a different active ingredient such as chlorothalonil. Strobilurin fungicides can increase the protection against rusts.

Fungicide timings are crucial to preventing damage to the crop, the T2 should be applied when flag leaf fully emerged, and T3 mid-way through flowering. For T2 aim to tackle foliar diseases with Triazole plus SDHI plus chlorothalonil and for T3 treat ear and foliar diseases with triazole plus or minus chlorothalonil. SDHIs will provide extra cover for the important T2 flag leaf application.

Winter Barley The key areas to watch for winter barley are wild oat control, growth regulation and disease control. Rhyncho will be a problem if sprays were not early enough. Where Rhyncho is present in your winter barley acting quickly should help to maintain a good yield. Most crops will receive their final fungicide application in the coming fortnight. Use a SDHI with a triazole plus chlorothalonil.

Winter Oats Mildew should be watched for and can be treated in the final fungicide when heads are emerging. Use a combination product and adding a tebuconazole product will help grain colour Winter Oil Seed Rape Look out for leaf spot, and if it is present use a triazole fungicide. Pollen beetles are another potential risk, examine your crops to make sure it has not attacked this year.

Most crops of winter oil seed rape are ready for their final fungicide. This can be a combination of products such as triazole with a pesticide to control seed weevils or pollen beetles if required.

Beans and Peas Peas and beans are likely to be grown more than before

Spring cereals The good growth for spring cereals means that weed control is now top of the agenda if not already tackled. Weed control in spring crops will benefit from early application as this will reduce the amount of product needed to control weeds before they establish.

Use sulfonylurea (SU) (SX products) which can be used in smaller rates if the weeds are small and actively growing.

Use a water softener if you have hard water. To improve the weed control you can add a hormone (CMPP) herbicide to the mix, but this should be used before growth stage 31 (first node). If later than this use fluroxypyr, HBN can be used instead of CMPP up to the second node stage of the crop.

If you are concerned about aphids check the numbers of insects on the plants before deciding to use an aphicide anything up to 20-30 insects per plant is tolerable, above this needs to be treated. Aphids respond to the weather so warmer weather encourages infestations. For Spring barley tackle aphids if there is a history of it and for net blotch use triazoles and include a half rate strobilurin. Spring wheat needs the T1 fungicide at the first node stage and use growth regulator.

Maize Maize can be attacked by pests such as leatherjackets and slugs. Watch for damage and treat with slug pellets and insecticides. Timing of application of pesticides is important as the maize needs to be sprayed before the canopy is higher than the weeds for maximum impact.

Potatoes Blight has not been reported yet but any potato growers should be on alert for warnings. Either spray at first blight warning or when plants meet within drills, whichever comes first. Use a mix of fungicides as blight has been evolving rapidly and will quickly become resistant.

Beet Fodder beet is at risk of ground pests such as leatherjackets and wireworm. The crops will be the stage for their T2 which should consist of a phenmedipham product with metamitron added with a vegetable oil. A graminicide, must be used for wild oats or volunteer cereals control later.

Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) The deadline for registering as a professional user under the SUD is the 26th of November 2015. Before you register it is essential you are trained. Pesticide application equipment must also be tested under this regulation.

Details online at http://www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/sud/

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 27

CLAAS VOLTO

Ballyrichard Carrigtwohill Co. Cork 021 463 1229

Lisavaird Clonakilty Co. Cork 023 883 3198

SPRAY

Stringent Sprayer Tests Drawing Nearer

N

ew sprayer test legislation aimed at minimising the environmental impact of pesticides is drawing nearer, and Irish farmers are gearing up for the new NCT/MOT-style tests.

Under the new laws, boom sprayers larger than three metres have to be tested and certified by a registered inspector at least once before November next year, which will cover the sprayer until 2020. After that, further tests will have to be carried out every three years. The new European Sustainable Use Directive also requires farmers to complete detailed training in the handling, application and storage of sprays.

All the main components of the sprayers will be tested, including the control systems, pump, nozzles, pressure

gauges, hose lines and filters. Any sprayers deemed substandard will have to be decommissioned or repaired to the required standard.

Kilkenny’s John Heatherington, of AIM agricultural machinery, is the latest in Ireland to receive his certificate as a qualified tester. He is now one of 10 Approved Pesticides Equipment Inspectors for the whole of Ireland.

The Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association estimated that there are around 40,000 sprayers currently in use across the country, meaning up to 40,000 farmers will be affected by the new regulations. The majority of those machines are either tractor-mounted or trailed sprayers, with some self-propelled sprayers as well.

Machines with a boom width of more than three metres are subject to the stringent testing, regardless of their output capacity.

The Department of Agriculture said the ‘professional users’ who will have to undergo training include farmers,

crop growers and foresters, and will involve around 25 hours. The aim is to teach farmers how to handle, dilute and mix chemicals before applying them to crops, and how to effectively deal with the remnants of pesticides, in order to prevent the chemicals from being released into the environment.

Spraying testers said the new legislation would ensure that only the correct amount of spray is used, which will reduce waste and save farmers money.

“Testing your sprayer is best practice for the health and safety of individuals affected by the use of your machine, including operators, employees and the public,” a technician stated “Having your sprayer working correctly will reduce the chance of a costly mid-season breakdown. Accurate application of sprays will achieve your desired results, whether you’re spraying a large field of crop or just a small barren area.”

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 29

SPRAY

Hardi NK at Lynch and McCarthy

T

he Hardi NK Is ideal for spraying small to medium farms and for horticultural applications. The variety of tanks available in the model range are from 200 to 800 litre with variable booms of 6 to 12 metre.

30 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

The chassis is the base of a long lasting sprayer and the design of the NK chassis provides for a centre of gravity that is both low and close to the tractor. The chassis is zinc-phosphate treated before being coated with polyester powder, ensuring outstanding weather and chemical resistance on all chassis. The NK design furthermore offers easy service accessibility.

The NK line offers as standard the unique and

reliable Hardi BK-180 control unit. This control unit comes with a long list of standard features including main on/off that diverts all liquid back into the tank, safety valve, pressure filter, pressure gauge, valve for pressure agitation, a minimum of 3 distribution valves with constant pressure system and the Hardi-Matic for constant application rate regardless of RPM variations.

See www.lynchmccarthy.ie for more details.

Full Range of Hardi Sprayers

from Lynch & McCarthy Ltd

www.lynchmccarthy.ie

East Cork Branch Little Island Business Park, Little Island, Cork 021 451 00 50 021 429 75 76

West Cork Branch The Lilac, Enniskeane, Cork 023 88 22 621 023 88 22 652

MACHINERY

NOVACAT S10: The New ‘Fuel Saver’ Mower Combinations

P

öttinger sets new standards in mower technology in terms of performance and efficiency with the new ‘fuel saver’ NOVACAT S10.

With a working width of 9.52 m, this mower combination offers the highest performance at a very low power requirement of only 130 hp. The combinations’ output of 11 hectares per hour is also impressive and show good value for money.

32 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

The Novacat S10 works brilliantly on corners and provides sufficient overlap between the front and rear mowers whatever the situation. In order to guarantee optimum utilisation of effective working width, the mower unit can be mounted at two different positions on the boom to work with 3m or 3.5m wide front mowers.

One of the key quality criteria at Pöttinger is to provide the best possible ground hugging to protect the sward. This is achieved on this machine using hydraulic weight alleviation. A clearly-visible pressure gauge is fitted to the mower frame and the ground pressure can be adjusted progressively if needed using a double-acting remote valve. One filling sets the right alleviation to guarantee uniform pressure on the ground - the prerequisite for optimum forage and soil conservation.

The proven Novacat cutter bar with quick-change

blade system provided as standard forms the heart of this mower combination. Streamlined mower discs ensure perfect crop flow. An optimised counter-chop zone and overlap of the blade paths ensure first-class cutting quality at the same time as best protection of the sward.

During transport the mower is folded backwards through 90 degrees by a double-acting hydraulic connection. The front guards automatically fold up hydraulically. This provides a low transport width of just 2.2m for compact and safe transport of the mower.

Operating this machine could not be more convenient: only one double-acting connection is needed. Individual mower unit lifting is provided as standard by using a preselect rocker switch. The mower combination is moved into the transport position by pressing a switch and actuating the spool valve. No lanyard is required.

MACHINERY

Rally Master Speeds to Record

A

new world record has been set by multiple World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen. Juha drove a Valtra T234 to a speed of 130.165 km/h (80.88mph) in sub-zero winter conditions on a closed highway in northern Finland making it the fastest tractor in the world.

130.165km/h

New Guinness world record: Fastest tractor.

New world record for fastest tractor was achieved by cooperation of Nokian Tyres and Valtra.

THE MACHINE Valtra T234 With 250 hp and 1000 nM. Record-breaking speeds require a cutting edge machine. The fourth generation of the T-series by Valtra is the culmination of 60 years of experience in making tractors. The Valtra T Series was selected Machine of the Year 2015 by Terre-net. With excellent visibility and control, the T234 was the perfect choice for the world record run.

Boost max. power 250hp

Boost max. torque 1000nM

Weight 7.7tn

THE MAN Juha Kankkunen Four-time Rally World Champion.

THE TYRES The first winter tyre for tractors, Nokian Hakkapeliitta TRI, gives you all the grip you can get.

Featuring all new rubber compound, tread pattern and contact profile, it’s designed for single purpose: to give you all the grip, control and efficiency you need for demanding winter contracting.

34 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

MACHINERY

Contractor Profiles

Garvey Agri Services

G

arvey Agri Services is based in county Clare.

Contractor Tom Garvey talks to Grassroot Farm about his operation that covers most areas of the county.

What machinery is in your yard?

• Claas Axion 830 • Massey Ferguson 6490 • Claas Arion 630 • Abbey 3000 Gallon Tank • Hi-Spec 2000 Gallon Tank • 7.5 Metre Trailing Shoe • 20 Tonne Herron Dump Trailer • Claas 3100 FC Mower x 2 • Claas 3100 Rear Mower • Kane Silage Trailers • Amazon Catroz Disk Harrow • Amazon KG Power Harrow/Stocks Wizard Air Seeder, Spaldings flat lift • Hyundai Lc160-7 Track Machine • Red Rock Megaflow Pump • Rauch Fertilizer Spreader

What contracting activities do you do?

• Slurry Spreading • Dump trailer hire • Digger hire • Reseeding • Sub-soiling • Fertiliser spreading • Pit silage/precision chop • General haulage What was the first tractor you drove?

2 Wheel Drive Massey Ferguson 390 What lead you to become a contractor?

I was always passionate about machinery. I had experience from working with other local contractors and also from working in New Zealand with a contractor. I started out on my own after coming home from New Zealand.

What was the first tractor you bought?

The first tractor I bought was a 05 Massey Ferguson 6480 from Abbey Retail What was your best buy?

Claas Axion 830

What was your worst buy?

Sulky Power Harrow If money was no object, what would you buy?

If money was no object I’d buy a Moore Unidrill and New Herron 25 Tonne Low Loader What has been your favourite machine that you have owned?

I have two favourites - Class Axion 830 and Hyundai LC160/7 track machine What is the worst or most embarrassing incident that occurred while you have been involved in contracting?

It was forgetting to close gate valve on slurry tank after getting blocked.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 35

MACRA NEWS / YOUTH

Freemount Drive to Successful Fundraiser

F

reemount Macra ran a very successful spring fundraiser which included a tractor run and a Shave, Dye or Oh My fundraiser campaign.

The tractor run started from Freemount Community Centre and over 140 tractors took part. The long procession of tractors drove the 35km route with lights shining and beacons flashing on the spotless machines.

For the Shave, Dye or Oh My fundraiser ,16 brave volunteers took to the stage to let hairdressers Catriona Shine and Karen Fitzgerald have their wicked way with their manes.

In total nearly €8,000 was raised for The Irish Cancer Society.

Speaking about why they wanted to organise such an event, Freemount Macra Club Chair Mary Anne Murphy told

Grassroots farm that they wanted to do something practical to raise money for cancer research.

She continued “It is something which affects most people at some time and they also wanted to run an event which many people of all ages, and from across the community, could get involved in.”

If anyone wishes to support the campaign and make a donation, please visit the following website www.justgiving. com/Michael-Curtin1/, visit the Freemount Macra Na Feirme Facebook page or contact any club member.

35th Macra na Feirme National President

S

eán Finan from Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, a founding member of Castlerea Macra since 2007 and is currently National Treasurer and North West Vice-President, has been elected the 35th Macra na Feirme National President.

Seán’s presidential term will run from his inauguration at the Macra na Feirme national AGM held on May 9th in Loughrea, Co. Galway, until May 2017.

Following his election, Seán said, “I’m honoured and delighted to have been elected the 35th President of Macra na Feirme. I have enjoyed every minute of the campaign over the last few months, travelling around the country, meeting members and listening to their views and opinions of our great organisation. I look forward to serving the members of Macra na Feirme as president over the next 2 years.”

Mr. Finan said, “I’m passionate about farming and about the future for young farmers. Macra na Feirme as the only representative body for young farmers and rural youth in

36 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

this country should be proud of its achievements especially in the context of the recent CAP young farmer measures. I will fight for all young farmers and rural youth to ensure that they can grow and develop their businesses, making a vital contribution to agriculture and the rural economy.”

Seán continued, “My focus over the next two years will be to lobby on the issues that affect young farmers and rural youth.

I will work hard as president to enable the continued growth and development of all aspects of the Macra na Feirme organisation. I will ensure, through social interaction and participation, that the personal development of members remains at the core of the organisation and that we continue to produce leaders who will make a huge contribution to all aspects of society in the future.”

SHOWS

The Cork Summer Show

O

rganised by the Munster Agricultural Show, The Cork Summer Show has been a summer highlight in Cork for over 200 years. This year’s show will take place on 20 and 21 June 2015 and includes a new event schedule that is set to attract over 40,000 visitors to the Showgrounds at Curraheen in Cork. The two-day show offers an incredible programme of activities including farm to fork food and craft beer, home and garden show, vintage rally, farm machinery, retail trade stands as well as crafts and a stellar line up of musical entertainment. The Cork Summer Show guarantees to always be a great day out for all the family.

As one of the oldest agricultural shows in Ireland, the Cork Summer Show will feature over 1,000 animals with showing classes for cattle, sheep, poultry, horses and goats. Sheep Dog Trials will feature on Saturday, 20 June and the All Ireland Aberdeen Angus Championship, will be judged by renowned cattle breeder Albert Cogan, who won the world Silver, and European Gold and the RDS Aberdeen Angus Champions of Champions in 2015. The Cork Summer Pet Dog Show will run throughout the show, and the kiddies pet farm always proves very popular with our younger show visitors! There will also be the Best Dressed Lady at the Cork Summer Show, which is sponsored by Mahon Point. Prizes for all the competitions promise not to disappoint!

To view the full programme of events, please visit www.corksummershow.com

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 37

SHOWS Organised by the Munster Agricultural Show, The Cork Summer Show has been a summer highlight in Cork for over 200 years. This year’s show will take place on 20 and 21 June 2015 and includes a new event schedule that is set to attract over 40,000 visitors to the Showgrounds at Curraheen in Cork. The twoday show offers an incredible programme of activities including farm to fork food and craft beer, home and garden show, vintage rally, farm machinery, retail trade stands as well as crafts and a stellar line up of musical entertainment. The Cork Summer Show guarantees to always be a great day out for all the family.

As one of the oldest agricultural shows in Ireland, the Cork Summer Show will feature over 1,000 animals with showing classes for cattle, sheep, poultry, horses and goats. Sheep Dog Trials will feature on Saturday, 20 June and the All Ireland Aberdeen Angus Championship, will be judged by renowned cattle breeder Albert Cogan, who won the world Silver, and European Gold and the RDS Aberdeen Angus Champions of Champions in 2015. The Cork Summer Pet Dog Show will run throughout the show, and the kiddies pet farm always proves very popular with our younger show visitors! There will also be the Best Dressed Lady at the Cork Summer Show, which is sponsored by Mahon Point. Prizes for all the competitions promise not to disappoint!

To view the full programme of events, please visit www.corksummershow.com

SUMMER SHOW CALENDAR FOR MAY & JUNE

TRALEE KINGDOM COUNTY FAIR 10 May 2015 kingdomcountyfair@eircom.net www.kingdomcountyfair.ie

CLONAKILTY AGRICULTURAL SHOW 07 Jun 2015 donalmacc@eircom.net www.clonakiltyagrishow.com

LISBURN & SAINTFIELD DISTRICT SHOW 20 Jun 2015 secretary@saintfieldshow.co.uk www.saintfieldshow.co.uk

BANDON AGRICULTURAL SHOW 17 May 2015 thebandonshow@eircom .net www.bandonshow.com

ARMAGH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SHOW 13 Jun 2015 info@armaghshow.com www.armaghshow.com

CHARLEVILLE AGRICULTURAL SHOW 27 & 28 June 2015 info@charlevilleshow.com www.charlevilleshow.com

CONNACHT SPRING SHOW 17 May 2015 connachtspringshow@gmail.com www.connachtspringshow.com

BALLINALEE CONNEMARA PONY SHOW 14 Jun 2015 ballinalee@gmail.com

MIDLETON AGRICULTURAL SHOW 24 May 2015 phylislynch07@eircom.net www.midletonshow.com

BALLIVOR HORSE SHOW 14 Jun 2015 hazel@hazel bye.com www.ballivorhorseshow.com

ENNISCORTHY WEXFORD COUNTY SHOW 27 Jun 2015 countywexforwagriculturalshow@ gmail.com www. countywexfordagriculturalshow. com

BELGOOLY & DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SHOW 30 May 2015 belgoolyshow@gmail.com www.belgoolyshow.com

ROUNDFORT AGRICULTURAL SHOW 14 Jun 2015 jknally84@gmail.com

NORTH WEST CLARE SHOW, ENNISTYMON 31 May 2015 josephineblackwell@eircom.net WESTPORT HORSE & PONY SHOW 31 May & 01 Jun 2015 info@drummindoo.com LEAP HORSE & PONY SHOW 01 May 2015 eleanorcalnan@eircom.net BALLYMONEY AGRICULTURAL SHOW 05 & 06 June 2015 secretary@ballymoneyshow.org www.ballymoneyshow.org LURGAN SHOW 06 June 2015 lurganshow@hotmail.com www.lurganshow.co.uk

FINN VALLEY AGRICULTURAL SHOW 27 Jun 2015 finnvalleyshow@gmail.com FLAVOURS OF FINGAL SHOW 27 & 28 June 2015 sales@ffhg.ie

DUNDALK AGRICULTURAL SHOW NEWRY SHOW 14 Jun 2014 27 Jun 2015 info@thedundalkshow.com www.colouthagriculturalshow.com newryshow@hotmail.co.uk www.newryshow.co.uk CORK SUMMER CORRANDULLA SHOW AGRICULTURAL SHOW 20 & 21 June 2015 barbara@corksummershow.com 28 Jun 2015 sinead@corrandullashow.com www.corksummershow.com www.corrandullashow.com GALWAY COUNTY ATHLONE AGRICULTURAL SHOW AGRICULTURAL SHOW 20 & 21 June 2015 28 Jun 2015 galwaycountyshowltd@yahoo.ie info@athloneshow.ie www.galwaycountyshow.com www.athloneshow.ie GOREY AGRICULTURAL STRANDHILL SHOW SHOW 28 Jun 2015 20 Jun 2015 info@goreyagriculturalshow.com wallypeacock@hotmail.com www.strandhillshow.com www.goreyagriculturalshow.com

38 GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015

GLENCAR SHOW 28 Jun 2015

FARM Competitive and Effective Marketing Right at Your Target Market Print and Online

A PUBLICATION FOR THE MODERN MARKET WITH TRADITIONAL VALUES CONTACT US TODAY Sales 086 468 4411

William Wills 086 466 4488 advertgrassroots@gmail.com

PROPERTY

Farming - 30 years of change

T

he agricultural land market continues to be quite active although in my opinion land prices are back somewhat from spring/early summer prices of last year. There is no doubt that peak demand during that period came from dairy farmers wanting to expand their holdings with a view to increasing milk production with the abolition of quotas being imminent from April 2015.

Joe McCarthy

Land prices today for top quality holdings can vary from €12,000-€14,000 per acre particularly if there was good yard and entitlements. Secondary holdings are running in about €9,000-€11,000 per acre with marginal land back to €7,000-€9,000 per acre in places.

The number of good holdings coming to the market this year are scarce but there are still buyers for viable agricultural holdings. There is no doubt but that the abolition of milk quota has changed the farming landscape for the progressive dairy farmer.

Quotas were first introduced in 1983 and were at that time tied to the land. This subsequently changed and quotas became tradable. Very few people realised that back in 1983 that their milk quota allocation would emerge as a new valuable asset. In 83 and 84 it was difficult to value quotas as a separate entity however, it was late 86-87 that the public perception valued quotas at about £1 (€1.27) per gallon. This valuation quickly arose to £2 (€2.54) per gallon and as time went on went to £3 (€3.82) per gallon.

If the 80’s can be remembered for a definite trend it was the new wealth that milk quotas had conferred on their lucky owners. There is no doubt but that the abolition of milk quotas will benefit Irish farmers and the Agricultural Industry as a whole.

The mid 90’s saw the movement away from the smaller holdings to the larger and more viable enterprises. Economies of scale forced this change in the farming community. In the mid 80’s there were 60,000-65,000 milk suppliers in Ireland, today that is less than 20,000. With the abolition of quotas it is expected that approximately 2/3 of those farmers expect to increase milk output over the next couple of years.

Another noticeable change over the last 30 years is that the younger generation of farmers are taking over at an earlier age. These are highly qualified young farmers not only with a keen eye on increased production but also on increased profitability. Good cost control and farm management and increased yield per cow are now the order of the day for our younger generation of farmers.

The increased in milk production and dairy products are being marketed in the world market particularly Africa, Asia and a lot of emphasis on China in particular.

Farming is now a highly organised way of business with the emphasis very much on efficiency and quality. The vibrancy of our agricultural industry is still important to the economy as a whole.

We are very much a grass based production system. We are one of the very few countries that can still boast of a top product from a green and clean environment and whilst numbers in farming may decline somewhat further, we in Irish & European would still have a lot of confidence in the future of Irish Farming.

GRASS ROOTS May / June 2015 39