Fewer workers, greater efficiency on dairy farms in New Zealand
He is involved in a 1,750 cow dairy farm in the US, where the total equipment is one loader, two tractors, one feeder, two skid-steers and one sand-shooter. The farm is producing 4.5 million gallons of milk, or 275,000 gals per labour unit.
Macra na Feirme members hoping to follow in these very successful footsteps got an appropriate piece of advice, during their typically lively annual conference weekend in Sligo. “It is not how much you enjoy yourself, at night or otherwise, it is your ability to get up early and function effectively the following morning that counts”, said Clinton.
He also referred to his five or 10 year plan study what you want to do in life, expand on farm or outside it, what are your strengths, what are your weaknesses. Make sure that whatever you build will not hinder further expansion.
“Understand the tax code and what it means to you. There are methods within the code that encourage and allow you to save on taxes, make use of them”, he advised. “Give some of your time. I gave a lot at local level and to IFA. I have not regretted a minute of it. It has made me what I am.”
“Look across the gate”, he said, by visiting farms doing well in your line of business; joining a discussion group; studying how other sectors make money; reading and keeping abreast of farming and business news; and going to meetings and courses with Teagasc, IFA etc.
