The farm: “There’s 30ac and it’s as good as in one block. It’s relatively mixed land but good enough and I run a dairy calf to beef system.”

Calves: “I buy 30 mainly Angus calves and some continentals from dairy farmers in March and April and try to finish them before their second winter. Usually, I finish the Angus off grass before their second winter with the continentals sold in mid-winter. I find that mix good for cashflow. I use a leader-follower system with them at grass, with them going ahead of the weanlings. I find the Thrive programme and the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 very useful. It’s good to have something to benchmark myself against.”

Andrew McMenamin began a beekeeping course as a Covid-19 lockdown project and this autumn harvested his first honey. \ Clive Wasson

All cattle have been housed on Andrew McMenamin's farm at Castlefinn, Co Donegal. \ Clive Wasson

Grass: “I began measuring grass a few years ago. A local dairy farmer let me use their plate meter and I’ve got one of my own now. This year I grew just under 11t/ha.”

Bees: “It began as a lockdown project, I read they were important for biodiversity and there’s the added benefit of getting your own honey. I joined the Three Rivers beekeepers’ association as they’re local. I did a beginner’s beekeeping course, bought a hive and they helped set it up. I harvested the first honey in August and got 50 jars. It’s important to have the hives sheltered from the wind and facing the sun in the morning to warm them up. The bees can forage out to three miles. I’d be conscious of the bees when it comes to hedgerow management, so I only cut them every three or four years. Whenever I plant trees, I make sure they’re ones that blossom like whitethorn and blackthorn.”

Cold spell: “I’m currently lagging any water pipes above ground and checking tractors for anti-freeze – it’s better to double check these things to be sure.”

This year Andrew planted 4.5 acres of multispecies sward. \ Clive Wasson

Off farm: “I’m a ruminant nutrition adviser for United Feeds. I’m covering Donegal, Derry and Tyrone, so my mum and my brother help out if I’m away. I’m county secretary of Donegal IFA too and I still play football for junior club, Robert Emmets.”

Andrew has a preference for whitethorn and blackthorn hedges as they blossom and provide pollen for his bees. \ Clive Wasson