Dairygold supplier Michael Bateman operates a share-milking arrangement on his dairy farm to provide greater resilience and security for his business and at the same time provide real opportunity for two progressive young farmers.
Diarmuid O’Scanaill and Briege Corkery started share-milking with Michael this year. Michael supplies the land, infrastructure and family labour. Diarmuid and Briege are responsible for all labour management and supply. Most of the cows are owned by Michael, with some owned by Diarmuid and Briege. A clear path exists whereby Diarmuid and Briege can increase their cow numbers.
Farm revenues and operating costs are split on an agreed basis, with a mechanism in place to provide Diarmuid and Briege a guaranteed minimum return in a very bad year. All this is documented in a straightforward share-milking agreement, the basis of which is the annual farm plan.
The farm plan is key. The plan is fully agreed and it is all about growing everyone’s business. The farm plan states how many cows, how much available land, how much grass, milk volume and solids, and meal usage. Performance is easily benchmarked off this and everyone is clear.
This arrangement is working very well and, even in a difficult year like 2016, all parties have grown their businesses.
Some of the factors that are making this arrangement work include:
Good communication and relationships.Flexibility and a “win win” mentality.The mindset to take an opportunity.Realistic expectations and a step-by-step approach to growth.The Irish Farm Managers Association held an informative farm walk on the Bateman Farm last week.
The Land Mobility Service would encourage all young people interested in developing their farming careers to get involved with The Farm Managers Association.
Land mobility opportunities
A key element of the Land Mobility Service is matching people to opportunities. This is a brokerage service to find the ideal farmer match for you. Call 01-4199555 to speak with our specialist team and provide your details and preferred option. Confidentiality is assured. Qualified leads will be passed to you for further consideration.
Farms for Lease
80 ACRE FARM between Monastervin and Portarlington. All one block. Separate Water and ESB supply. This land has No Entitlements attaching. The farm is presently in grass but would be suitable for multiple uses. Owner is no longer in a position to farm and is looking to enter a lease with the right person. The owner would like a fair return and wants to see the farm properly cared for and enhanced, the owner is prepared to contribute towards agreed improvements. | REFERENCE OH03110 ACRES OF land available for contact grazing across two different holdings. 60 & 50 acres each. Would suit grazing for livestock. North Co. Monaghan area. | REFERENCE UT01LOOKING TO RENT
SOUTH TIPPERARY DAIRY farmer looking to lease 100 to 200+ acres around the Cahir, Cashel & Golden areas. Will undertake to maintain and enhance farm to the highest standard. | REFERENCE OK04LONG TERM LEASE sought by experienced farm manager on existing dairy farm or drystock farm that can be converted. Own herd of 50 pedigree Jersey heifers due to calve in February 2017. Parcel of land must be large enough to accommodate 70 cows initially with room for expansion. Preferably in the Munster area but other areas considered. |REFERENCE OK07 100 HECTARE PLUS farm wanted to lease. Location not important. Land should be of reasonable quality at least and would be maintained to the highest standard. Intention is to put a progressive beef/suckler enterprise in place on the farm and there would be a requirement for winter housing facilities. | REFERENCE ID01 TILLAGE LAND WANTED in southeast Galway, north Tipperary, south Offaly or Laois areas. Any size greater than 30 acres considered. Would maintain lands to the very highest standard and be willing to carry out upgrading work. Open to different types of arrangements & references available. | REFERENCE OK06 Contract Heifer
Rearing
CALF CONTRACT REARER available to house and rear stock to an age where animals are ready for grass turn-out. Purpose built sheds available and feed supplied. | REFERENCE CO01 CONTRACT REARER WITH 3 years experience looking to rear sixty 0-1 and sixty 1-2 year olds. No other stock on farm so sole focus will be on heifers. All targets for A.I., breeding and weights met over the last 3 years. Good south facing early grass farm in south Leinster/east Munster area with winter accommodation available. Regular weighing’s taken and owner informed of all progress i.e. weights/breeding/health etc. Can A.I. and/or use stock bull. Open to different types of arrangements. | REFERENCE TN01 CONTRACT HEIFER REARING available on 130 acre grassland farm in Co. Roscommon. Former dairy farmer with good animal husbandry skills and grassland management skills available to take in heifer calves from time of weaning and keep to point of calving. Farm has slatted shed accommodation available and fields divided into paddocks with reseeding carried out on a rotational basis. Can cater for up to 200 head, 100 weanlings & 100 yearlings. Willing to take stock from anywhere in Ireland and open to different types of contract arrangements. | REFERENCE IL02REARING SERVICE AVAILABLE near Bandon, Co. Cork on 50 acre south facing, dry, sheltered farm. Individual is former dairy farmer who has 3 years experience of contract rearing consistently achieving above target weights at critical times. Reference may be obtained from previous client. | REFERENCE TX21ANYWHERE IN MUNSTER Area, a contract heifer rearer is sought by a dairy farmer to rear sixty 0-1 year olds & sixty 1-2 year old heifers. Calves would be sent out at 3 weeks of age to be returned in calf at 20 months old. Open to different types of contract rearing arrangements. |REFERENCE TX20 Dairy Opportunity
NEAR LIMERICK CITY 165 acre ready to go Bord Bia approved Dairy Farm to Lease, all in one block. Modern slatted dairy unit with Milking Parlour, Dairy, Cubicles, Calving and calf rearing facilities. System all under one roof includes 170 cubicles. The farm is dry with good fertility and has good grazing infrastructure with a central roadway and water to all paddocks. This is a turn key ready to go dairy farm but could also be used for beef. Owner is retiring. | REFERENCE NV03 EXCITING COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITY available in the North West of Ireland. 250+ cow operation, excellent land base with huge potential. Opportunity available for a young person to get involved and have a share in this dairy operation. Also opportunities for existing operators to invest in the business through capital, management, and/or cows. | REFERENCE WY03 120 ACRE WORKING dairy farm between Bandon and Macroom. Good fertile dry grass farm adjusted to 110 grass acres all in one block with roadways, water and paddocks. Infrastructure includes 60 cubicles plus loose and slatted houses, 8 unit milking parlour with meal feeders. The farm would make an ideal stand alone dairy unit (well capable of carrying in excess of 100 cows) or a heifer rearing block. Owner is looking to step back would like to enter into a shared arrangement or lease with the right person. | REFERENCE TX22 SKILLED YOUNG
FARMERS LOOKING
FOR AN OPPORTUNITY YOUNG TRAINED AMBITIOUS farmer looking to lease a farm or enter a share farming agreement with a view to developing a profitable dairy business for all parties. | REFERENCE NE03
Dairygold supplier Michael Bateman operates a share-milking arrangement on his dairy farm to provide greater resilience and security for his business and at the same time provide real opportunity for two progressive young farmers.
Diarmuid O’Scanaill and Briege Corkery started share-milking with Michael this year. Michael supplies the land, infrastructure and family labour. Diarmuid and Briege are responsible for all labour management and supply. Most of the cows are owned by Michael, with some owned by Diarmuid and Briege. A clear path exists whereby Diarmuid and Briege can increase their cow numbers.
Farm revenues and operating costs are split on an agreed basis, with a mechanism in place to provide Diarmuid and Briege a guaranteed minimum return in a very bad year. All this is documented in a straightforward share-milking agreement, the basis of which is the annual farm plan.
The farm plan is key. The plan is fully agreed and it is all about growing everyone’s business. The farm plan states how many cows, how much available land, how much grass, milk volume and solids, and meal usage. Performance is easily benchmarked off this and everyone is clear.
This arrangement is working very well and, even in a difficult year like 2016, all parties have grown their businesses.
Some of the factors that are making this arrangement work include:
Good communication and relationships.Flexibility and a “win win” mentality.The mindset to take an opportunity.Realistic expectations and a step-by-step approach to growth.The Irish Farm Managers Association held an informative farm walk on the Bateman Farm last week.
The Land Mobility Service would encourage all young people interested in developing their farming careers to get involved with The Farm Managers Association.
Land mobility opportunities
A key element of the Land Mobility Service is matching people to opportunities. This is a brokerage service to find the ideal farmer match for you. Call 01-4199555 to speak with our specialist team and provide your details and preferred option. Confidentiality is assured. Qualified leads will be passed to you for further consideration.
Farms for Lease
80 ACRE FARM between Monastervin and Portarlington. All one block. Separate Water and ESB supply. This land has No Entitlements attaching. The farm is presently in grass but would be suitable for multiple uses. Owner is no longer in a position to farm and is looking to enter a lease with the right person. The owner would like a fair return and wants to see the farm properly cared for and enhanced, the owner is prepared to contribute towards agreed improvements. | REFERENCE OH03110 ACRES OF land available for contact grazing across two different holdings. 60 & 50 acres each. Would suit grazing for livestock. North Co. Monaghan area. | REFERENCE UT01LOOKING TO RENT
SOUTH TIPPERARY DAIRY farmer looking to lease 100 to 200+ acres around the Cahir, Cashel & Golden areas. Will undertake to maintain and enhance farm to the highest standard. | REFERENCE OK04LONG TERM LEASE sought by experienced farm manager on existing dairy farm or drystock farm that can be converted. Own herd of 50 pedigree Jersey heifers due to calve in February 2017. Parcel of land must be large enough to accommodate 70 cows initially with room for expansion. Preferably in the Munster area but other areas considered. |REFERENCE OK07 100 HECTARE PLUS farm wanted to lease. Location not important. Land should be of reasonable quality at least and would be maintained to the highest standard. Intention is to put a progressive beef/suckler enterprise in place on the farm and there would be a requirement for winter housing facilities. | REFERENCE ID01 TILLAGE LAND WANTED in southeast Galway, north Tipperary, south Offaly or Laois areas. Any size greater than 30 acres considered. Would maintain lands to the very highest standard and be willing to carry out upgrading work. Open to different types of arrangements & references available. | REFERENCE OK06 Contract Heifer
Rearing
CALF CONTRACT REARER available to house and rear stock to an age where animals are ready for grass turn-out. Purpose built sheds available and feed supplied. | REFERENCE CO01 CONTRACT REARER WITH 3 years experience looking to rear sixty 0-1 and sixty 1-2 year olds. No other stock on farm so sole focus will be on heifers. All targets for A.I., breeding and weights met over the last 3 years. Good south facing early grass farm in south Leinster/east Munster area with winter accommodation available. Regular weighing’s taken and owner informed of all progress i.e. weights/breeding/health etc. Can A.I. and/or use stock bull. Open to different types of arrangements. | REFERENCE TN01 CONTRACT HEIFER REARING available on 130 acre grassland farm in Co. Roscommon. Former dairy farmer with good animal husbandry skills and grassland management skills available to take in heifer calves from time of weaning and keep to point of calving. Farm has slatted shed accommodation available and fields divided into paddocks with reseeding carried out on a rotational basis. Can cater for up to 200 head, 100 weanlings & 100 yearlings. Willing to take stock from anywhere in Ireland and open to different types of contract arrangements. | REFERENCE IL02REARING SERVICE AVAILABLE near Bandon, Co. Cork on 50 acre south facing, dry, sheltered farm. Individual is former dairy farmer who has 3 years experience of contract rearing consistently achieving above target weights at critical times. Reference may be obtained from previous client. | REFERENCE TX21ANYWHERE IN MUNSTER Area, a contract heifer rearer is sought by a dairy farmer to rear sixty 0-1 year olds & sixty 1-2 year old heifers. Calves would be sent out at 3 weeks of age to be returned in calf at 20 months old. Open to different types of contract rearing arrangements. |REFERENCE TX20 Dairy Opportunity
NEAR LIMERICK CITY 165 acre ready to go Bord Bia approved Dairy Farm to Lease, all in one block. Modern slatted dairy unit with Milking Parlour, Dairy, Cubicles, Calving and calf rearing facilities. System all under one roof includes 170 cubicles. The farm is dry with good fertility and has good grazing infrastructure with a central roadway and water to all paddocks. This is a turn key ready to go dairy farm but could also be used for beef. Owner is retiring. | REFERENCE NV03 EXCITING COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITY available in the North West of Ireland. 250+ cow operation, excellent land base with huge potential. Opportunity available for a young person to get involved and have a share in this dairy operation. Also opportunities for existing operators to invest in the business through capital, management, and/or cows. | REFERENCE WY03 120 ACRE WORKING dairy farm between Bandon and Macroom. Good fertile dry grass farm adjusted to 110 grass acres all in one block with roadways, water and paddocks. Infrastructure includes 60 cubicles plus loose and slatted houses, 8 unit milking parlour with meal feeders. The farm would make an ideal stand alone dairy unit (well capable of carrying in excess of 100 cows) or a heifer rearing block. Owner is looking to step back would like to enter into a shared arrangement or lease with the right person. | REFERENCE TX22 SKILLED YOUNG
FARMERS LOOKING
FOR AN OPPORTUNITY YOUNG TRAINED AMBITIOUS farmer looking to lease a farm or enter a share farming agreement with a view to developing a profitable dairy business for all parties. | REFERENCE NE03 
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