Paula Hynes: Irish farmers shouldn't need to rely on hardship funds

Our processor has lost over 100 suppliers this spring, I’ve heard of another Cork processor who has lost 60 suppliers, writes Irish Examiner Farming columnist Paula Hynes.

Nicole Keohane of Datamars Livestock with Becky on the Hynes farm

It feels like Mother Nature has been at war with farmers since last September when the weather turned for the worst. She has held the upper hand ever since delivering six months of extremely wet weather. However, now Mother Nature seems to be battling herself, undecided if the weather should settle and give respite to waterlogged land. 

The fishermen might be the saviours as they are convinced the new moon will settle the weather next week, and I truly hope and pray they are right. I hear much talk of dairy farmers needing a hardship bonus when milk prices for March are announced in a week's time, and I would actually be nothing short of insulted if I was paid a hardship bonus because the reality is dairy processors have ample time to calculate the high cost of producing milk in February and March and need to set a base price that reflects those costs instead of just announcing another pitiful bonus idea.

Why should the farmer be the only one in the food supply chain to make a loss? We already work ridiculous hours at times and have worked ourselves to the bone this spring with the weather playing havoc. The reality is dairy processor senior management needs to deliver on milk prices to help protect what our industry is globally known for: the family farm. 

Every week, I see dispersal sales as dairy farmers exit the industry; many are just fed up with ever-increasing regulation combined with poor prices. Our processor has lost over 100 suppliers this spring, I’ve heard of another Cork processor who has lost 60 suppliers.

I wonder if our industry is content to let the family farm disappear, the golden years of dairy expansion are over, and milk supplies are decreasing, but one thing clearly seems to have been missed, Irish dairy farmers generate nearly €18bn of economic contribution to the Irish economy with 80,000 jobs in the dairy sector.

These farmers have invested heavily in their own farms whilst also investing in their processors to allow them to expand, so it is imperative the processors don’t discard the farmer for the sake of themselves. 

If dairy processors really want to give farmers a bonus this month, give them all a well-earned holiday, as many haven’t had a day off in six months and, at the very least, pay an adequate milk price so farmers will have a few quid spending money on the holiday.

I can’t believe we are still liming cubicles and feeding silage in April. The only saving grace is that cows are content and in fantastic condition for the breeding season. Cows seem to be cycling well, and SCC is the lowest we have seen in years. 

Calving sheds have now been power washed and disinfected as we switch from calving season to show season. Heifers are being walked daily, and pretty soon, the daily hum of the automatic calf feeder will be replaced by the hum of clipping machines as the team of heifers receive regular haircuts to ensure they are in top condition.

Generating data

The team from Datamars Livestock visited again this week monitoring cows as they go over the weighing system, it's something I will go into detail about at a later stage, but every cow is being weighed twice daily on our farm. Nicole Keohane of Datamars also went through the heat detection and health monitoring collars which we have been using for a few months now, and also gave Becky an insight into the newly designed weight on the collars as they fitted more collars to cows. 

It is of huge benefit to us being able to monitor cows 24 hours a day and even more so when we are not on farm. There are many systems available but the standout for us has been the backup from the Datamars team, they are global leaders in livestock monitoring and place a huge emphasis on research and development and we have built up a fantastic relationship with them which will grow even further as we work towards greater efficiency on the farm. 

They are also partnered with Semex UK, with whom we already have a fantastic relationship. Semex have a huge focus on breeding healthy, fertile, profitable cows, so it is imperative to be able to monitor those cows.

Data is key with cows, and we can have access to so much now on our phones. Genetic data has made a huge difference to our herd, so I feel that also being able to look at how cows are ruminating, grazing, and even lying down is going to be of huge benefit.

We are still getting lovely messages about our piece on RTÉ's latest series of 'Raised By The Village'. Everywhere we go someone will stop to say how much they enjoyed the show and it's nice to stop and chat about it and give everyone an update on Karl. It's actually refreshing to stop and chat, as when I'm out and about, I'm running around like a headless chicken trying to get back to the farm as quickly as possible.

There was a lovely handwritten letter dropped into our local shop in the village, and the loveliest surprise of all was a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and a box of chocolates left at the house, with a lovely note from a lady from Kerry. 

Mairead had gone out of her way to drop off the lovely surprise, and I was delighted she left a note and her phone number. As soon as I got the jobs done, I rang her, and we had a fierce chat, which included an invitation to call for a cuppa the next time she is in Cork. 

I always appreciate every message and note from people, and I do my best to reply to everyone who has taken the time out of their day to do so.  I remember back in 2018, when 'The Hardest Harvest' aired, I got thousands of messages and letters, and it took weeks to get back to everyone. The best part about doing these things, which are totally outside our comfort zone, is meeting new people and making lasting friendships.