Uncertainty looms large

Stand in the Gap

Kathleen Duffy

We know the shorter days and longer nights are part of nature taking its course but, this is one time of year that I, for one, wish would pass quickly. How can it rain so much?

When we look at the seas and coastal erosion, global warming is blamed. Then there’s the incessant heavy rainfall flooded parts of the country that has taken its toll on fodder, slurry, farmers and all those who work outside. There are great sales on hankies and cold remedies. Some folk prefer to use old remedies, like oranges, lemons and honey. Hot sweets do help soothe the discomfort. Thank God older and vulnerable people can get the anti-flu injection for free.

Farming

We are waiting to hear what happens at EU level on December 9 on the big ‘D’ word, Derogation. We will be badly affected as we are in derogation from the very start, and we don’t know what the consequences will be. We have done everything to keep the rules and follow the science but they are shifting again.

As Ireland has the fourth best ground water quality in Europe, derogation farmers have taken steps, but non-derogation farmers do not have to fence off waterways unless they are in the Acres scheme or were in GLAS. Even if it is kept, the additional requirements and reductions may make it unworkable as they have to comply with the restrictive Habitats Directive.

The land is going dormant at this time of year, animals have been housed now, cubicle sheds are ready, many with mats under the cows for comfort. Some farmers will measure grass cover now to have an end of year total farm cover, so they can start again next spring at calving time to try and turn out cows.

Our cows are happy as Larry inside as they keep visiting the robots hoping to get their feed of dairy nuts. They are free to move around the shed and can go out to a paddock that will be reseeded in the Spring time, but if they are not away from milking at least eight hours, the Robot will kick them out. The robots work away day and night, it records yield and quality of every teat from every cow, and if they show any sign of mastitis etc, it sends a warning. If the error is more urgent the robot rings you and give you details of the problem. It tells heat times and it proved invaluable this year as we only had 5% empty rate when we did our scanning, so we are in for a very busy February March and April. We will start drying off the early calvers shortly.

We have used up a lot of bales and have opened the first pit. We got the maize in the pit in October without any bother but it will not be opened until the spring. In the meantime the old Keenan Diet Feeder is working away, though it looks as if it has seen better days.

Farmers are fearing the volatility with the price of milk dropping drastically. Teagasc have put the cost of production as 42c/litre while the co-ops have dropped the price below 40.

How can farmers plan for the future, especially young farmers? Many need to set up new infrastructure and maybe buy or lease land - how can they afford to get into dairy in any meaningful way? Even the suggestion that full time dairy farmers need to have 100 cows, or manage easily as a single labour unit, seems out of reach when costs exceed price.

Christmas Fair

In the Show Centre we are getting ready for our Annual Christmas Fair on December 6. We have around 70 stalls including community groups, colleges and fundraisers also taking part, and by the way the elves will be entertaining for the children.

I am spending this weekend taking the last of our apples off the trees and making apple jelly and apple sauce which I hope to sell at the fair along with other stall favourites from members of our ICA guild, the money goes to charity.

This time last year we were celebrating the Relics of St Kilian coming back to Mullagh. This year we hope to see Cuchulainn’s crowned the Ulster Intermediate Club Champions. They played a very exciting match on Saturday. Cuchulainn’s is my old club and the only medals I ever got was playing for Cuchulainn’s Camogie Club in the 1970s.

Remembering the dead

This month is when we remember those gone before us, some were lucky enough to see family live till ripe old age, but unfortunately so many will spend a long time grieving for family members taken far too young, through sickness or sudden death, never getting a chance to plough their own furrow. We should all think about people who have these crosses and make an effort to help them in any way we can.