The farm: “We have a herd of 10 suckler cows running with a Salers stock bull. We have always kept Charolais cows. They are a great breed.”
Farming tradition: “Patrick is 82 and has been farming since he left national school. We have 18 grandchildren who love to help out on the farm and eat all the brown bread while they are here.”
Land: “We farm 100ac in west Clare. Over 60ac is good grazing ground but the remainder is quite rough and mountainous.”
Weanlings: “We castrate all our bull calves in order to allow the weanlings to run in one bunch. We sell all our stock at Ennis Mart and last week we sold five heifers and two cows. We were very pleased with the prices.”
This week: “We are doing a bit of digger work on the farm, raising boundary walls and clearing out trenches for drainage. The summer is fairly quiet. Our day-to-day tasks include checking up on the stock and making sure everything is well.”
Community spirit: “We are both over 80 years old so a little help with some of the jobs is needed. Everyone lends a hand and the neighbours are a great support.”
Storm Ellen: “Luckily, there was no damage done to our farm during the storm. The worst of it seemed to have passed Clare. The electricity went out during the night but came back a few hours later.”
Distraction: “As soon as I heard of this virus travelling rapidly across the world I knew we were all going to have to lay low for the rest of the year. We are lucky to have the few cattle and are able to get out around the land for a walk. They are a great distraction.”
Quotable quote: “The main thing is to mind the people around you. I don’t really like wearing a mask, but I wear one anyway to keep myself and everyone else safe.”
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My Farming Week: Leonard Blanchfield, Ballyogan, Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny
My Farming Week: Joe Garry, Clonreddan, Cooraclare, Co Clare
My Farming Week: Colin Tyner, Minmore, Shillelagh, Co Wicklow
The farm: “We have a herd of 10 suckler cows running with a Salers stock bull. We have always kept Charolais cows. They are a great breed.”
Farming tradition: “Patrick is 82 and has been farming since he left national school. We have 18 grandchildren who love to help out on the farm and eat all the brown bread while they are here.”
Land: “We farm 100ac in west Clare. Over 60ac is good grazing ground but the remainder is quite rough and mountainous.”
Weanlings: “We castrate all our bull calves in order to allow the weanlings to run in one bunch. We sell all our stock at Ennis Mart and last week we sold five heifers and two cows. We were very pleased with the prices.”
This week: “We are doing a bit of digger work on the farm, raising boundary walls and clearing out trenches for drainage. The summer is fairly quiet. Our day-to-day tasks include checking up on the stock and making sure everything is well.”
Community spirit: “We are both over 80 years old so a little help with some of the jobs is needed. Everyone lends a hand and the neighbours are a great support.”
Storm Ellen: “Luckily, there was no damage done to our farm during the storm. The worst of it seemed to have passed Clare. The electricity went out during the night but came back a few hours later.”
Distraction: “As soon as I heard of this virus travelling rapidly across the world I knew we were all going to have to lay low for the rest of the year. We are lucky to have the few cattle and are able to get out around the land for a walk. They are a great distraction.”
Quotable quote: “The main thing is to mind the people around you. I don’t really like wearing a mask, but I wear one anyway to keep myself and everyone else safe.”
Read more
My Farming Week: Leonard Blanchfield, Ballyogan, Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny
My Farming Week: Joe Garry, Clonreddan, Cooraclare, Co Clare
My Farming Week: Colin Tyner, Minmore, Shillelagh, Co Wicklow
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