Farmer writes: Flying the beef colours at Ploughing shed talk

When Tommy Moyles found himself alongside dairy and poultry farmers at a panel discussion, he felt the need to rise above the usual image of drystock farming being seen as the poor relation.

Tommy Moyles

21 September 2016

Farmer writes: Flying the beef colours at Ploughing shed talk

File photo: Tommy Moyles on his farm in Ardfield, Clonakilty, Co Cork. Photo: Donal O'Leary

This morning I took a break from the farm to take part in the AIB shed talk at the Ploughing. Alongside me were Derek MacMahon, a poultry farmer from Monaghan, and Kevin Moran, winner of Young Farmer of the year 2016. This was my second time sharing a stage with Kevin in less than 12 months, and our stories collide in some ways. Kevin, in trying to get finance for his dairy business plan, was turned down nine times, but it didn’t stop him and he eventually succeeded. He is now at the point where he is milking over 200 cows.

Kevin, in trying to get finance for his dairy business plan, was turned down nine times, but it didn’t stop him and he eventually succeeded. He is now at the point where he is milking over 200 cows.

.@finan_sean opens @AIBBiz shed talk on young farmers with @morankevin797 @taselyom and Derek Mcmahon #backedbyAIB pic.twitter.com/5ldCgGniJ8
— Tadhg Buckley (@buckleytadhg) September 21, 2016

My father was in a similar position in the mid-’70s, trying to get finance to access land. He arrived in west Cork to complete his farm apprenticeship and ended up trying to get a foothold on the farm ownership ladder. He was turned down numerous times but eventually succeeded in buying less than an acre to build a pig unit. Over time and through leasing, the farm has been built up to 46ha.

I used this as an example of what can be achieved by hard work and perseverance. Taking over from my parents puts a positive pressure on me to succeed. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a case of don’t mess up the business and kick it on at the same time.

Macra president Sean Finan was MC and kept discussion flowing throughout. While there was a touch of nerves beforehand, it settled as we got underway. Most of the crowd stayed on for the duration of the talk. Clarity of purpose, financial awareness and being influenced by our parents was what all three of us had in common.

It’s up to us as beef farmers to place more emphasis on the accounts than the emotional side of our sector

Speaking on a panel with a dairy farmer and a poultry farmer puts a little bit of pressure on me as a beef farmer. Poultry folk have to be on top of their figures even more so than dairy, but it’s up to us as beef farmers to place more emphasis on the accounts than the emotional side of our sector.

Drystock is seen as the poor relation in agri circles, but in terms of exports it’s one of our top performers. A small bit more confidence and skills adaption would go a long way.

Live coverage: Ploughing 2016