Dairy experts to discuss ways of maximising profit
Some of Ireland’s most entrepreneurial farmers will tell delegates how they are taking advantage of better prices, as global demand outstrips supply and food reserves vanish.
They include west Cork farmer Micheal McCarthy, explaining how he achieves profits of €1,800 per hectare, and his plans for over 100% expansion to 200 cows by 2010 with one labour unit, aiming for 500kg of milk solids per cow on 100kg of concentrates.
Low investment costs and rising prices are now believed to offer returns from farming overseas of 15% on capital and returns more than 25% on equity. Speakers on this include John Leeson, who has set up a 1,400-cow unit in Britain.
Jim McCarthy will talk about Argentina, where good quality tillage land can be bought for well under €1,000 an acre, and Michael Murphy will describe the potential for grass-based dairying in the US, where land is available at about €1,400 an acre.
Former Irish Farmers Journal editor Paddy O’Keeffe will give his views on what needs to be done to double milk production in Ireland when milk quotas go.
Grassland technology will be a central theme of the conference. Consultant Gary Nolan will describe how grass measurement lifts profits by up to €25,000 per farm. Jim Lanigan will describe how he has used grass measurement to reduce fertiliser costs by €4,000 and feed by 160kg per cow, while milk solids increase from 980 to 1071kg/ha.
To book attendance at the conference, call Lori Fitzgerald on 066-7139541 or 087-6680899.
