The quality assurance payment on cattle processed in Ireland has acted as a real incentive. Since the payment of 20c/kg on cattle meeting the age and conformation criteria was introduced, we have tried to ensure we qualified on as high a proportion of cattle as possible by having the facilities around the place in reasonable shape, as well as having the cattle meeting the specifications.

The existence of the scheme has encouraged us to improve the cattle chute and pens and the annual inspection has pinpointed areas we should try and improve, such as having a system to control rats and vermin. I was pleased to receive a recent note that said because of our record, the inspection would be moved from once a year to once every 18 months.

The existence of the scheme has encouraged us to improve the cattle chute and pens

I presume and hope however that the basic concept of the scheme will be retained and that the bonus system which has served the sector well will be retained. Preferably, it will even be enhanced to encourage a steadily increasing quality of beef calves from the dairy sector.

In the most recent note on the scheme from Bord Bia, I was interested to see that the inspection report included details from my most recent farm safety inspection. I had not realised that there was direct transfer of details from one body to another.

I was interested to see that the inspection report included details from my most recent farm safety inspection

Meanwhile, the weekend rain and mild weather have finally stimulated real growth in grass and crops. I now expect an explosion of growth following the rain and promise of heat. The beans are already showing the effects of the rain, with the field now a uniform green. Given the price of oilseed rape, protein and grain, the aim will be to maximise yields of every crop as well as the straw. After last week’s mention of opting for the Straw Incorporation Scheme, I received a helpful text pointing out that I could withdraw from the scheme up until June 9 if I changed my mind and wanted to save the oaten straw that I had planned to chop. It’s a useful option in a year like this, though I have always found oaten straw difficult to get dry enough to bale with its waxy coating.

Meanwhile, the weekend rain and mild weather have finally stimulated real growth in grass and crops

In other news, we are coming to the end of our shed cattle. All the stores are well out, with the last of the beef cattle ready to go in the next fortnight or so. The question we will face once the harvest begins is whether to sell all the grain at harvest or keep some of it for feeding. With the benefit of hindsight, I didn’t keep remotely enough after the 2021 harvest.

A few weeks ago, I received a note from the ESB saying that our power would be cut off from 09:30–16:30 on Tuesday this week. This was the first time I had the opportunity to really test my emergency back-up generator, which I had installed alongside the deep well pump. Happily, it worked perfectly so, at a modest cost, the house, yard and cattle are fully supplied with water.