Times are Tough - Talk to Teagasc at the Ploughing Championships

Farmers are experiencing a difficult year with farm gate prices for most products down, squeezing incomes on farms. A farm business planning service to assist farmers experiencing financial difficulties is available from Teagasc and is being highlighted at the National Ploughing Championships in Athy. Farmers will have an opportunity to seek assistance with cash flow planning, profit monitoring and business planning to help them through the current difficulties. ‘Times are Tough - Talk to Teagasc’ is the theme of this year’s exhibit at the ploughing, Teagasc welcomes all farmers to come and discuss any aspect of their farming business.

Teagasc advisers, specialists and researchers are available to offer specific advice in the areas of dairy, beef, sheep, tillage, environment, education, forestry, diversification, farm management and Teagasc research. Each area is focusing on thought-provoking questions. In dairying, find out how to aim for a 40-hour week, become a 300-day grazing farmer, and eliminate the stock bull from the breeding plan. Teagasc dairy advisers will discuss exactly how to achieve these.

Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle said: “Management steps which can help to offset the decline in profit margins due to low milk and cereal prices and the higher input costs will be outlined by Teagasc experts. It is clear that market volatility has created enormous cash flow problems for individuals, but help is available to devise strategies to manage this level of volatility.”

Take the ‘Teagasc Challenge’ at one of the interactive terminals on the stand. The state-of-the-art touch screen terminals offer timely advice on different enterprises for farmers in an innovative way. Advice on the proposed changes to schemes such as REPS and the suckler welfare scheme is available from Teagasc experts at the three-day event.

The renewed interest in agricultural education courses is a welcome development and Teagasc’s education staff are available to outline the benefits of pursuing a career in agriculture, horticulture, equine and other outdoor careers. Full details on the opportunities in education, both for school leavers and in adult education are available at the event in Athy.

Many livestock farmers face fodder shortages this winter as a result of the poor summer weather. Teagasc nutritionist, Dr Siobhan Kavanagh, will weigh up the options and offer advice on the nutritional value of the different feeds available.

This year’s grain harvest has been saved, but what margins are growers left with? Teagasc crops specialist Jim O Mahony has up-to-date detailed budgets available to help growers plan next years cropping programme on individual farms.

Teagasc and the Health and Safety Authority have teamed up as part of the Farm Safety Partnership to highlight the dangers on farms and to promote safe and healthy work practices on Irish farms.

Teagasc researchers at the exhibit will discuss some of their latest research, along with details of collaborative projects undertaken with other agriculture research organisations.