It’s that time of year – the cows are finally on their holidays.

I was a bit mean this year, as I only dried off the early-calvers at our usual time around the beginning of December. The rest of the herd were still milking well, so we kept on going for a few extra weeks. I would normally have the whole herd dried off by 1 December, but with the milk price drop and a fair bit of doom predicted for 2026, I thought I would make a bit of hay while the sun was still shining.

Hopefully, I can pad out the bank account for any potential cash flow problems next year. I’m optimistic, but that said – it’s much easier to be an optimist when there is money in the bank.

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We were lucky with the weather this past November – it was dry enough to keep the cows outdoors for most of the month. Having them out on grass at a time of year when they’d normally be housed took pressure off of jobs around the yard and while they’re on grass, they milk so well.

Butterfat and protein levels were very high – one morning, I had nearly a foot of cream sitting at the bottom of the tank after the milk had been collected.

At this time of year, I always have a bit of time to think about and plan for the following year. Unfortunately, no matter how quickly you want to get moving on your plans, you almost always end up depending on outside help.

I’m currently waiting on the Department of Food, Agriculture and the Marine (DAFM). I have had a TAMS grant application in since February of 2025. I need to upgrade my bulk tank. The Department, for whatever reason, have needed to think it over for most of the year and I’m still waiting for their decision.

I mean, I’m not surprised – I have been through this before. It’s remarkable how things haven’t really improved over the years.

But regardless of wait times, I will continue to make my plans. In 2026, I have decided to become an energy baron and take on those big oil sheikhs and gas-seekers. Yes. I am harnessing the power of the sun. The Egyptian god, Ra, is probably frowning down on me. I got in some solar experts to have a look at the potential of the farm and, as it turns out, the sun does indeed shine out of the farm’s backside – the backside of the roofing, I should say. We have plenty of sheds for solar mirrors.

I think this must be what it feels like when you strike oil. I hope I don’t turn into that Daniel Day Lewis’ character from the film There Will Be Blood.

Before you go thinking I’ll be making millions, just remember I have to make another TAMS grant application, so nothing will be happening any time soon. And also, I won’t be allowed to go nuts with the panels if I want to qualify for the grant.

If it was a tractor with a dodgy gearbox, it would be fixed straight away. I still have many, many years of farming ahead of me, so I’ve got to keep the body tuned-up.

I do figure, though, since I’m going to be harnessing the power of the sun, I might as well put in a water harvesting system to collect rain from the shed and recycle for use elsewhere on the farm. No drop of rain is going to go to waste. It’s going to be useful during the hot months (if that ever happens in Ireland). Duncan Stewart would be proud of me.

But before any of this happens, I need to sort myself out. I need to get a bit of work done on the aul’ knee. As much as I like to think I’m progressive, I’m just an old fashioned farmer at heart. I have been struggling for months. I think the damage was done from my many years of bad dancing.

Anyway, I have given into the GP and my wife and I will get the operation. I should have done it ages ago, but couldn’t bring myself to the thought of leaving the farm for my father and wife to manage while I recover. I’m a fool, though, because I was just putting off the inevitable.

If it was a tractor with a dodgy gearbox, it would be fixed straight away. I still have many, many years of farming ahead of me, so I’ve got to keep the body tuned-up.

Having my feet up for the next while won’t be so bad, anyway. I wonder if I should get a bell?