There are few things that make the heart of a dairy farmer sink more than the sight of a swollen quarter on a springing heifer or dry cow.
In an effort to overcome incidences of summer mastitis, three years ago we started a programme of applying Stockholm tar to heifers and dry cows every seven to 10 days in conjunction with our normal application of Spot On every four to five weeks.
To begin with, the application of tar was rather arduous, with it applied using a cloth secured to a piece of stiff alkathene pipe.
It was difficult to get the tar to give a good even coverage of the udder and teats.
The solution came via a dairy farming discussion group on Facebook, where it was suggested that a small paint roller (about four inches wide) on the end of a stick might work.
This suggestion was very simple and may not revolutionise agriculture in the same way as artificial fertiliser or the Ferguson tractor, but it made a very awkward and messy task a much more pleasant one, and thus more likely to be done on a regular basis.
Since we implemented this no heifers or dry cows have suffered from summer mastitis.
Supportive
This small example of working together on social media shows how supportive farmers can be towards each other when faced with similar challenges in their daily work life. There can be few industries where people get so much enjoyment helping others to succeed in their business.
However, I have also noticed the rise of another less constructive aspect of social media – the “agri Victor Meldrew” types who use the catchphrase “what’s the Union doing for the beef/sheep/arable/vegetable/dairy (delete as appropriate) sector?”
They will post this comment under seemingly every news item that relates in any way to the work of the UFU.
I really am interested to know if these people attend UFU branch meetings, where they can air their concerns and raise issues they think that the union should be dealing with. Such meetings are an appropriate medium for debate.
Having sat on the UFU executive for three years as a YFCU County Antrim representative, and having been on the UFU Next Generation Forum for two years, I have gained a much greater appreciation for their work, and the commitment that those in office have to NI agriculture.
To those that criticise the work of the union I would like to highlight four victories gained for members within the last six months:
Through working with Minister Poots, the UFU has helped to ensure that NI is the only region of the UK to secure a meaningful COVID-19 support package, worth £25m to our industry.The UFU lobbied DAERA to ensure that farmers who had any health concerns did not have to carry out a TB test during the COVID-19 pandemic.The UFU campaigned to ensure that agriculture retained the relief on red diesel.And possibly the biggest win so far this year was the judicial review on Shared Environmental Services (SES) guidance on assessing the impact of ammonia from agricultural planning applications on designated sites. The vast majority of local farmers, regardless of sector, have benefited from these successes.
Fear
I fear that unjust criticism of the union may become a self-fulfilling prophecy, as those with talents will be discouraged from taking up leadership roles.
In order for the UFU to continue to deliver for members, it is important that it attracts the best and brightest of the local farming community. I would encourage you, when branch meetings recommence, that you attend, participate, and help ensure our UFU has a successful future.
Read more
Keeping tuned-in to costs this season
An idle mind is a dangerous thing
There are few things that make the heart of a dairy farmer sink more than the sight of a swollen quarter on a springing heifer or dry cow.
In an effort to overcome incidences of summer mastitis, three years ago we started a programme of applying Stockholm tar to heifers and dry cows every seven to 10 days in conjunction with our normal application of Spot On every four to five weeks.
To begin with, the application of tar was rather arduous, with it applied using a cloth secured to a piece of stiff alkathene pipe.
It was difficult to get the tar to give a good even coverage of the udder and teats.
The solution came via a dairy farming discussion group on Facebook, where it was suggested that a small paint roller (about four inches wide) on the end of a stick might work.
This suggestion was very simple and may not revolutionise agriculture in the same way as artificial fertiliser or the Ferguson tractor, but it made a very awkward and messy task a much more pleasant one, and thus more likely to be done on a regular basis.
Since we implemented this no heifers or dry cows have suffered from summer mastitis.
Supportive
This small example of working together on social media shows how supportive farmers can be towards each other when faced with similar challenges in their daily work life. There can be few industries where people get so much enjoyment helping others to succeed in their business.
However, I have also noticed the rise of another less constructive aspect of social media – the “agri Victor Meldrew” types who use the catchphrase “what’s the Union doing for the beef/sheep/arable/vegetable/dairy (delete as appropriate) sector?”
They will post this comment under seemingly every news item that relates in any way to the work of the UFU.
I really am interested to know if these people attend UFU branch meetings, where they can air their concerns and raise issues they think that the union should be dealing with. Such meetings are an appropriate medium for debate.
Having sat on the UFU executive for three years as a YFCU County Antrim representative, and having been on the UFU Next Generation Forum for two years, I have gained a much greater appreciation for their work, and the commitment that those in office have to NI agriculture.
To those that criticise the work of the union I would like to highlight four victories gained for members within the last six months:
Through working with Minister Poots, the UFU has helped to ensure that NI is the only region of the UK to secure a meaningful COVID-19 support package, worth £25m to our industry.The UFU lobbied DAERA to ensure that farmers who had any health concerns did not have to carry out a TB test during the COVID-19 pandemic.The UFU campaigned to ensure that agriculture retained the relief on red diesel.And possibly the biggest win so far this year was the judicial review on Shared Environmental Services (SES) guidance on assessing the impact of ammonia from agricultural planning applications on designated sites. The vast majority of local farmers, regardless of sector, have benefited from these successes.
Fear
I fear that unjust criticism of the union may become a self-fulfilling prophecy, as those with talents will be discouraged from taking up leadership roles.
In order for the UFU to continue to deliver for members, it is important that it attracts the best and brightest of the local farming community. I would encourage you, when branch meetings recommence, that you attend, participate, and help ensure our UFU has a successful future.
Read more
Keeping tuned-in to costs this season
An idle mind is a dangerous thing
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