Sue and Nigel Evans Welsh Dairy Farmers
UK Situation 80% UK Dairy Farmers Losing Money Dairy Farmers In UK Set to Fall From 22,000 To 10,000 Irish Situation Could Be Even Worse Many Of Us Will Be Leaving Farming
4 Questions Each Of Us Need To Answer What Effects are the Fischler Reforms going to have on us? What Changes are we going to have to make?
What are the other Options open to us? When are we going to take Action ?
NEED TO:
Face Up To The Coming Difficulties Adopt The Right Attitude To Change
Lessons We Learnt About Change
“If there is more Change taking place Outside your Farm gate Than there is within, Then you are heading for Trouble.�
Our Experiences Headless Chickens Typical UK System Poor Business Progress Being Made Poor Decisions on Capital Allocation Too Pressurised With No Thinking Time “Rowing harder doesn’t help if your boat is headed in the wrong direction”
PLANNED CHANGE Our Thinking Ability was Expanded
Inspiration and Confidence The Importance of Planning Network of Positive Role Models
“the best way to predict the future is to create it”
PLANNING Spreading our Wings Planning – The Difference Between Success and Failure Made Time to Plan Brainstormed Ideas with Others A Written Plan
SIMPLE SYSTEM High Cost Systems Under Pressure Simplicity + Low Cost = Sustainable Future Grass Based System Fitted the Bill Establish as Quickly as Possible
COW TYPE Wrong Type of Cow
Cow Must Suit The System NZ Genetics Could Provide What We Needed Crossbreeding
INFRASTRUCTURE Improved Infrastructure Existing Management System was Limiting Paddocks, Tracks and New Milking Shed
Massive Improvement in Grass Grown and Utilisation.
BUDGETING Top Operators are Constantly Measuring and Monitoring Feed Budgeting – the Key to Maximising Grass Utilisation Financial Budgeting Leads to Better Results Better Decision Making 50% Reduction in Cost of Production
RESULTS A Simple, Profitable Farming System Improved Quality of Life Making much Better Business Progress Creating new Opportunities for ourselves Developing new Interests
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do”
Lessons Learnt • Ask for Help • Learn From The Best • Build a Good Support Group • Be Clear About What You Wish To Achieve
ADVICE Take Action Be Careful Not to Limit Yourself The Greatest Influence on Your Business
Don’t be Afraid of Making Mistakes Peace of Mind When You Take Control
CHANGES WE MADE Gathered the Knowledge we needed Developed a Clear Plan for ourselves
Created a Simple System Bred the Cow to Suit the System Improved the Farm Infrastructure Measure and Monitor Constantly
“One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his greatest surprises, is to find that he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do”
Henry Ford