Teagasc seminars on the benefits of collaborative farming well received

Farmers have responded favourably to a nationwide series of Teagasc seminars on the benefits of entering into formal collaborative farming arrangements over the ‘one-man farm’.

Attendees recognised the economic and social benefits and improving skills sets resulting from collaborations. The main collaborative arrangements being encouraged in Ireland are milk production partnerships, share farming and contract rearing of replacement heifers.

Teagasc this week launched new Dairy Heifer Rearing Agreement templates. Contract rearing could be attractive to dairy farmers as it releases land for milk production and frees up labour to specialise more on dairying.

It could be attractive to rearers as it provides a steady monthly cash flow and the business risks associated with drystock production are reduced.

Two templates are available from Teagasc, one based on a flat rate contract and the other based on a weight bonus agreement.