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Dairy farmer David Murphy from Tallow in Co Waterford has expanded from 80 cows to 120 cows in the past five years.
“I’m not at the point yet where I need a full-time worker,” he explained. “The man working with me part-time is here for the peak spring-calving season and then goes back to his own contracting business. His busy period marries well with my busy season."
“You need flexible, fluid workers for dairy farms because there is very little work at this time of year. I also have two teenage boys who are very interested in farming so they do a lot. I’m almost dreading when they go off to college. But family labour depends on what stage in life you are at.”
Irish Farmers Journal / Red C poll: young farmers bulling to expand
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