I live on a beef and tillage farm in Roscrea, Co Tipperary. We purchase store cattle from the west of Ireland and raise them for 10-11 months. The main focus of the farm is to produce top-quality beef in the most sustainable way possible. This particularly interests me, as it combines my interests of agriculture and environmental geography, which I study in school.
We constantly strive to lower our carbon footprint through practices such as introducing white clover within grassland to reduce the need for chemical nitrogen.
My role on the farm is ever-changing based on the time of year. During the winter, I am given the job of looking after lame and ill cattle. This is something that I really enjoy, as I find it really rewarding to watch them recover and return to full health after receiving some TLC.
At the moment, I work with my dad to rotate cattle through our paddock system. We move them every two to three days. This ensures that all grassland is used to maximum efficiency without becoming exhausted.
IFJ Junior Editor Abbie Meagher.
I engage in routine weigh-ins of each animal on the farm. This allows us to assess each individual animal’s fat score, which gives us a better understanding of their potential grade and current performance on the EUROP grid.
Monitoring these figures makes it easier to determine which cattle are required by the market and identify the types of cattle which perform best. Another job I have on the farm is looking after my two horses. I ride every day and during the summer I take part in One Day Events on my main horse, B Vallette.
This year, I am entering Transition Year. I would love to build an enterprise in rearing a rare breed of calves, lambs or piglets.
Unfortunately, based on the current legislation, there is no possible way for me to purchase stock in my own name. I am ineligible to apply for a herd number because I am under 18. I feel that this acts as a barrier for young people who are interested in farming and disregards the Government’s claims of “encouraging young farmers”.
IFJ Junior editor Abbie Meagher outlines the difficulties faced by farmers under 18 and how small legislative changes from Government could properly encourage young farmers.
Fortunately, I will be able to purchase livestock under my father’s name, but not all young people are lucky enough to have a family member with an existing herd number.
I propose that the Department of Agriculture facilitates young farmers to purchase a small herd without being made ineligible for young farmer grants in years to come.
As well as this, I believe that minors should receive a reduced tax rate when selling their stock. This would encourage more young people to engage with and fall in love with the agricultural industry, ensuring a safe and secure future for the industry which we heavily rely on and will continue to rely on for years to come.
Read more
Editorial: a David Brown 995 - a lesser spotted tractor brand in Cavan
Editorial: Back to school and missing the farm
I live on a beef and tillage farm in Roscrea, Co Tipperary. We purchase store cattle from the west of Ireland and raise them for 10-11 months. The main focus of the farm is to produce top-quality beef in the most sustainable way possible. This particularly interests me, as it combines my interests of agriculture and environmental geography, which I study in school.
We constantly strive to lower our carbon footprint through practices such as introducing white clover within grassland to reduce the need for chemical nitrogen.
My role on the farm is ever-changing based on the time of year. During the winter, I am given the job of looking after lame and ill cattle. This is something that I really enjoy, as I find it really rewarding to watch them recover and return to full health after receiving some TLC.
At the moment, I work with my dad to rotate cattle through our paddock system. We move them every two to three days. This ensures that all grassland is used to maximum efficiency without becoming exhausted.
IFJ Junior Editor Abbie Meagher.
I engage in routine weigh-ins of each animal on the farm. This allows us to assess each individual animal’s fat score, which gives us a better understanding of their potential grade and current performance on the EUROP grid.
Monitoring these figures makes it easier to determine which cattle are required by the market and identify the types of cattle which perform best. Another job I have on the farm is looking after my two horses. I ride every day and during the summer I take part in One Day Events on my main horse, B Vallette.
This year, I am entering Transition Year. I would love to build an enterprise in rearing a rare breed of calves, lambs or piglets.
Unfortunately, based on the current legislation, there is no possible way for me to purchase stock in my own name. I am ineligible to apply for a herd number because I am under 18. I feel that this acts as a barrier for young people who are interested in farming and disregards the Government’s claims of “encouraging young farmers”.
IFJ Junior editor Abbie Meagher outlines the difficulties faced by farmers under 18 and how small legislative changes from Government could properly encourage young farmers.
Fortunately, I will be able to purchase livestock under my father’s name, but not all young people are lucky enough to have a family member with an existing herd number.
I propose that the Department of Agriculture facilitates young farmers to purchase a small herd without being made ineligible for young farmer grants in years to come.
As well as this, I believe that minors should receive a reduced tax rate when selling their stock. This would encourage more young people to engage with and fall in love with the agricultural industry, ensuring a safe and secure future for the industry which we heavily rely on and will continue to rely on for years to come.
Read more
Editorial: a David Brown 995 - a lesser spotted tractor brand in Cavan
Editorial: Back to school and missing the farm
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