Dairy Chit Chat- Please read Mod note in post #1

frogloch

Timmaay wrote: »

Very same thing here freedom with the TBC, random 350 or so TBC fine, immediately onto the milk manager who said he'd look into it, talked to both neighboir

I'll tell you what happened me last year. The milk lorry comes in takes a half load of milk out of tank then he doesn't come back till that night when we're after milking again in it. The milk dries off on the sides of the tank then the fresh milk goes in on top of it. Anyway tbc comes back at 439. I told milk manager about it that it wasn't my fault and he took the fine off. But the bleeden 439 is still there on my milk report for year end. Had a bord bia inspection 2 weeks ago and he had reports for last 2 years and its still on it.:mad:

kowtow

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

The scariest thing for me is the US's shear capacity and potential to flood the rest of the world with milk. With massive cull cow prices, drop calf prices, cheap inputs and the governments new intervention(which is more or less a guaranteed price for any milk produced).
It's puts countries massively reliant on export like ourselves and NZ in a v precarious position.
They will control world milk price for the foreseeable future, and I think that's gonna be somewhere in the v low 30's.

As I said on here a couple of years ago the most relevant benchmark we can use to determine competitiveness in a Global market might well be "how many bushels of soy can be bought in Chicago for the price of an Irish acre"...

I think I was shouted down so I won't suggest it again

kowtow

einn32 wrote: »

Boss man here in oz was talking this morning about farmers selling off heifers to China to generate cash, Chinese investing in a local hay export company, purchasing farms here. Are they going to supply themselves with food?

China has been securing the means to supply themselves with food for a good while now.

I remember a deal about ten years ago in which Chinese technology and manufacturing FDI into one small African nation included unusual terms for concessionary access to a hundred thousand hectares or more of land thousands of miles away on the African mainland - "bread basket" land over which that nation held historical rights.

At the time it was widely thought that the tail of the deal was wagging the dog.

orm0nd

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Yeah, meant to put that in.

There are different types of current problems as well.

When my Scc was around 200, i tested for voltage and nothing showed up. Then last year I lost a lot of sheds in the storm and the lights around the yard were acting up and causing the power to trip. So I had my electrician out every week trying to sort it out and it was ok till late in the year when it started acting up again and Scc rose again to 250.

Then this spring we lost power for a day due to a faulty water pump further down the line but my electrician said that excuse wasn't right. He told me that there was a problem on my transformer and ring and tell them it was dangerous, which I did.

They weren't happy coming out that evening but were very sheepish when they came down the pole after finding a badly installed yokey(technical term) on the transformer.

I've had no problems since and all this year the Scc is under 200, bar one period after starting up milking.

out set up is old , scc used to hovering between 200 to 300 ,

got an "expert in the field" to check all wiring & leak test etc, & he gave everything the all clear... no change in scc

sometime later we built a new shed, my son done most of the wiring but got a local sparkie to connect to the power source in the dairy, while there he done a few tests & found very low voltage readings at 2 points

2 bits of cable & bonded back to earth

immediate change in scc, which in time have come back to well under 100

kowtow

http://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/great-map-of-milk-production-across-the-eu-ireland-is-miles-ahead/

"All rowed fast, but none so fast as stroke"

freedominacup

kowtow wrote: »

China has been securing the means to supply themselves with food for a good while now.

I remember a deal about ten years ago in which Chinese technology and manufacturing FDI into one small African nation included unusual terms for concessionary access to a hundred thousand hectares or more of land thousands of miles away on the African mainland - "bread basket" land over which that nation held historical rights.

At the time it was widely thought that the tail of the deal was wagging the dog.

There have been dozens of similar deals kt. I saw a documentary a couple of years ago which featured one of these farms. One of the happiest Chinese guys I ever saw on camera managing it. One of the things he was happiest about was the freedom and independence he had in his new job. It struck me at the time that a guy with his skillset and obvious drive wasn't going to spend too long running someone else's farm when he was surrounded by millions of acres of the same type of land just waiting for someone to develop it. It will be interesting to see how it pans out over time.

The Chinese are building a huge port in N Brazil to ship grains and other commodities from various projects they have interests in home. The brazilians are happy enough to let them at it but Brazil is not E.Africa. I wouldn't like to be invested in that particular project if the government in Brazil decides they're no longer happy enough with the situation.

whelan2

Took bull out from cows yesterday evening-straight to factory- was great this morning not watching my back the whole time. Took about 10 minutes off milking time

Timmaay

Maize crops suppose to be well back on previous years, the chap growing it for me said he doesn't expect any more than 16/17tons off it.

just do it

whelan2 wrote: »

Took bull out from cows yesterday evening-straight to factory- was great this morning not watching my back the whole time. Took about 10 minutes off milking time

What did you get for them?

freedominacup

Timmaay wrote: »

Maize crops suppose to be well back on previous years, the chap growing it for me said he doesn't expect any more than 16/17tons off it.

I'd love to know how accurate and these weights are.

Timmaay

freedominacup wrote: »

I'd love to know how accurate and these weights are.

Pure guess, but this chap is growing it with years so would know his stuff, says it's too fair back on previous years to be any more. I'm buying it per ton so makes zero odds, he is going to be hit hard enough though.

Deepsouthwest

Timmaay wrote: »

Pure guess, but this chap is growing it with years so would know his stuff, says it's too fair back on previous years to be any more. I'm buying it per ton so makes zero odds, he is going to be hit hard enough though.

Bought 11 acres last yr, was told v few crops were less than 25t/acre, and this was a fine crop. Weighed a few of the lorries and I'd say it was lucky if it averaged much over 20t/acre. Admittedly it was extremely dry

Timmaay

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

Bought 11 acres last yr, was told v few crops were less than 25t/acre, and this was a fine crop. Weighed a few of the lorries and I'd say it was lucky if it averaged much over 20t/acre. Admittedly it was extremely dry

I'm not going to deny I wouldn't have a clue what weight a load of maize is, all I know is it fed well, and plugged a big enough hole in winter fodder for me ha. Moving forward it isn't really part of the overall plan, at 50e/ton too expensive, high dmd silage bales and whatever other locally sourced fodder, like whole crop, beet etc are better value, alongside reducing or exiting winter milk.

Milked out

Timmaay wrote: »

I'm not going to deny I wouldn't have a clue what weight a load of maize is, all I know is it fed well, and plugged a big enough hole in winter fodder for me ha. Moving forward it isn't really part of the overall plan, at 50e/ton too expensive, high dmd silage bales and whatever other locally sourced fodder, like whole crop, beet etc are better value, alongside reducing or exiting winter milk.

Comparing against other bought in feeds it prob doesn't work out as dear as you think over them depending on the year.. Wouldn't buy silage again unless growing and cutting are within our control

Timmaay

Milked out wrote: »

Comparing against other bought in feeds it prob doesn't work out as dear as you think over them depending on the year.. Wouldn't buy silage again unless growing and cutting are within our control

I'm lucky enough growing and cutting are under my own control for the silage. I've done out the sums, no comparison the grass silage definitely cheaper. Ya get other odd feeds popping up around here also, cheap spuds last year ha, beet the year before. For this winter I'm happy with the maize, but I know it's a huge 7/8/9k cheque I have to write out with questionable returns in a time of poor milk prices.

whelan2

just do it wrote: »

What did you get for them?

wont get cheque until tomorrow

einn32

frazzledhome wrote: »

Are you a milker or assisting the owner?

If you want a few brownie points, suggest putting all the heifers and hi dependence cows in one group. It will mean a bit more work bringing cows to and fro but his solids will increase and his in calf rate will improve.

You may even be able to negotiate a small bonus into it, perhaps a $per every 10kgms extra and $10 per every cow less empty.

On 450 cows that could become $12/1400 at the seasons end. You'd get a week in a hoor house before you come home out of it :)

Just a milker. How does it lead to better solids and in calf rate? Seems like a no brainer if they are the results but I guess you would have to weigh it up against the cost of the extra work involved. That would mean another herd of about 120 cows, with a seperate rotation, at least another hour of bringing them in during grazing season, running them through AI seperately, extra wages per hour to name a few.

What does the $12/1400 mean?

Probably get a month in one if I went to Thailand!

Greengrass1

Sprayed last Wednesday.
Baled today.
awful matt of grass on it still and had mower down at 2cm.
Direct drill was the plan. Should I wait a week?

frogloch

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Sprayed last Wednesday.
Baled today.
awful matt of grass on it still and had mower down at 2cm.
Direct drill was the plan. Should I wait a week?

Wait a few days to make sure that green dies out of it. Otherwise whats the point in reseeding especially if direct drilling.:)

Greengrass1

frogloch wrote: »

Wait a few days to make sure that green dies out of it. Otherwise whats the point in reseeding especially if direct drilling.:)

The Green bits are just were cow pats were. All was brown when mower went in yesterday

frogloch

Greengrass1 wrote: »

The Green bits are just were cow pats were. All was brown when mower went in yesterday

Where's the cow pats now?:P No just wait 2 or 3 days to see how it goes.

Blackgrass

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Sprayed last Wednesday.
Baled today.
awful matt of grass on it still and had mower down at 2cm.
Direct drill was the plan. Should I wait a week?

DD away, still have 3/4 days before seeds maybe a week .
If a firebrigade runs needed

Greengrass1

Blackgrass wrote: »

DD away, still have 3/4 days before seeds maybe a week .
If a firebrigade runs needed

Been told can still spray 5 days after sowing with no affect too seed.
The matt of grass wouldn't bother you?

Blackgrass

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Been told can still spray 5 days after sowing with no affect too seed.
The matt of grass wouldn't bother you?

Whats the drill, discs should slice through grand. Spray right up the day new seeds poke through, just need giant brass b^^^s to risk it at last minute and then you run out of time .

Greengrass1

Blackgrass wrote: »

Whats the drill, discs should slice through grand. Spray right up the day new seeds poke through, just need giant brass b^^^s to risk it at last minute and then you run out of time .

3m horsch pronto I think it is.
may rub harrow around under the trees where there is that creeping grass

Blackgrass

Greengrass1 wrote: »

3m horsch pronto I think it is.
may rub harrow around under the trees where there is that creeping grass

Just the straight coulter or mixing it up with discs also? just curious vs any issue. Can get 120kg pressure to coulter in theory atleast!

Greengrass1

Blackgrass wrote: »

Just the straight coulter or mixing it up with discs also? just curious vs any issue. Can get 120kg pressure to coulter in theory atleast!

Last time he just cut the slot with discs and dropped in seed.
would discs do much chopping?

Markcheese

Blackgrass wrote: »

Whats the drill, discs should slice through grand. Spray right up the day new seeds poke through, just need giant brass b^^^s to risk it at last minute and then you run out of time .

Put a sheet of glass down and check it at least twice a day- the seed under the glass should germinate a day or so earlier-( to be fair,I've only seen that Done spring and autumn - not sure if the heat of our fantastic summer would make a difference

Deepsouthwest

Markcheese wrote: »

Put a sheet of glass down and check it at least twice a day- the seed under the glass should germinate a day or so earlier-( to be fair,I've only seen that Done spring and autumn - not sure if the heat of our fantastic summer would make a difference

That's a great idea

just do it

You've rain coming and you're in a dry area so seed asap. Don't give the weeds any opportunity to get a head start. If the green is actively growing can't you spray again in a few days.

Greengrass1

just do it wrote: »

You've rain coming and you're in a dry area so seed asap. Don't give the weeds any opportunity to get a head start. If the green is actively growing can't you spray again in a few days.

Dad wants to leave a few days now I'm unsure.
pulled up roots we cut 5 yrs ago. Shingle sitting right under that field. No more than 10 inches down

leg wax

i sprayed 3 paddocks last wed, stopped after the first round as i saw a shower coming ,it passed not a drop fell so started again after a cup of coffee ,had it finished 2 hours and the heavens opened for 30 mins, i had the sprayer washed out and ready for the reseed spray underclear ,was going mad, it still worked seemed to get a good kill,ploughed ,leveled and set yesterday, now thats 6 paddocks done so far this year, if i can get 3 more done in early sept it will set me up nice for next year.

Greengrass1

leg wax wrote: »

i sprayed 3 paddocks last wed, stopped after the first round as i saw a shower coming ,it passed not a drop fell so started again after a cup of coffee ,had it finished 2 hours and the heavens opened for 30 mins, i had the sprayer washed out and ready for the reseed spray underclear ,was going mad, it still worked seemed to get a good kill,ploughed ,leveled and set yesterday, now thats 6 paddocks done so far this year, if i can get 3 more done in early sept it will set me up nice for next year.

This field brings us to 50%reseeded In 3 yrs
about 80% of farm reseeded over all ij last 8 yrs..
have milkers stocked at 4 most if the summer and reckon now when whole farm.is reseeded and p and k are right I could stock it that high yr round.
Might not do any reseeding next yr and put that money into p and k

mahoney_j

Sr of 4 a bit ambitious gg this has been an exceptional year grass wise .3.3 /3.5 is about the outside you could go as a permanent sr for cows and then bump it up through periods of rapid growth

Greengrass1

mahoney_j wrote: »

Sr of 4 a bit ambitious gg this has been an exceptional year grass wise .3.3 /3.5 is about the outside you could go as a permanent sr for cows and then bump it up through periods of rapid growth

Nothing wrong with being ambitious mj
Isn't jim delahunty and noel o toole doing it.
If I can grow the grass no reason why I can't stock at that

Brown Podzol

Stocked at 3.7 and I have taken 300kg dm per cow as bales. All indexes at 4 and 20% reseeded over the last ten years. One paddock last reseeded over 40 years and still grew more than the average. I can see no need to reseed unless I'm convinced new varieties will deliver more quality grass and more importantly more grass on the shoulders. 8.5 tons grown since the 16th April. I agree with Mahoney, it's been an exceptional year but if the milk price had been forecasted stronger I would have stocked at 4 or slightly higher.

browned

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Nothing wrong with being ambitious mj
Isn't jim delahunty and noel o toole doing it.
If I can grow the grass no reason why I can't stock at that

Would advocate caution as well. You've listed 2 of the very top farmers out there who didn't get to where they are over night. It wasn't the hare that won the race. Was once told Running at a high Sr is like driving a car down narrow country roads at 100mph you need to know where every corner is very early or it could get messy.

Greengrass1

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Stocked at 3.7 and I have taken 300kg dm per cow as bales. All indexes at 4 and 20% reseeded over the last ten years. One paddock last reseeded over 40 years and still grew more than the average. I can see no need to reseed unless I'm convinced new varieties will deliver more quality grass and more importantly more grass on the shoulders. 8.5 tons grown since the 16th April. I agree with Mahoney, it's been an exceptional year but if the milk price had been forecasted stronger I would have stocked at 4 or slightly higher.

Fully agree with you BP.
We had too much scutch here thiugh and wasn't producing
what's left now is producing great grass and is growing as good as any.
I'll be using tonnes grown on paddocks from now on to decide what to reseed

Greengrass1

browned wrote: »

Would advocate caution as well. You've listed 2 of the very top farmers out there who didn't get to where they are over night. It wasn't the hare that won the race. Was once told Running at a high Sr is like driving a car down narrow country roads at 100mph you need to know where every corner is very early or it could get messy.

Agree won't do it in one yr will rise it up over a few yrs and see how it goes and find that 'sweet spot'
We'll be stocked at 3.6 next yr on what we always graze and silage ground to fall back on if it's too high

rangler1

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Nothing wrong with being ambitious mj
Isn't jim delahunty and noel o toole doing it.
If I can grow the grass no reason why I can't stock at that

Very different regime now with quotas gone.....was it you that claimed you were milking 35% more cows for the same amount of money.
It gets to the stage where it's no longer worth the bother

browned

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Agree won't do it in one yr will rise it up over a few yrs and see how it goes and find that 'sweet spot'
We'll be stocked at 3.6 next yr on what we always graze and silage ground to fall back on if it's too high

3.6 is mp and not whole farm sr? would be slow to push overall past the 2.5-2.8 but you'd know better how far you can take your farm.

Greengrass1

rangler1 wrote: »

Very different regime now with quotas gone.....was it you that claimed you were milking 35% more cows for the same amount of money.
It gets to the stage where it's no longer worth the bother

35% more milk.
Won't make that decision on one yr.
We all knew what we were heading into but still have faith we'll get back to a stable market paying 34c base

Greengrass1

browned wrote: »

3.6 is mp and not whole farm sr? would be slow to push overall past the 2.5-2.8 but you'd know better how far you can take your farm.

Just MP be about 2.5 overs next yr I think.
have a bank of silage atm that will help us out
were not using our full N Allowance either. Will next yr though

Milked out

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Agree won't do it in one yr will rise it up over a few yrs and see how it goes and find that 'sweet spot'
We'll be stocked at 3.6 next yr on what we always graze and silage ground to fall back on if it's too high

Standard stocking rate here with 2 cut silage ground closed is 4.4 . autumn and spring silage ground is grazed then. Have only made 60 bales off grazing ground this summer. Will be getting ground ready now to join milking block but have dropped leased ground which means heifers at home for a year or two anyway so ill have to see how things aee going as I progress. Things to watch out for would be I am supplementing more with ration than others would be and also if weather goes against you stock may have to be housed earlier to drop stocking rate which means having enuv feed on board over and above standard winter. We.re also buying in a fair chunk of winter feed requirement

browned

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Just MP be about 2.5 overs next yr I think.
have a bank of silage atm that will help us out
were not using our full N Allowance either. Will next yr though

If you can do it with the result of more money per hour worked for you, I cant see an issue.

mahoney_j

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Nothing wrong with being ambitious mj
Isn't jim delahunty and noel o toole doing it.
If I can grow the grass no reason why I can't stock at that

Fully agree but just urge caution going over 3.4/3.5 permanent on mp is going to leave you on a fine line. Between feast and famine in an average year ,at shoulders etc
Basing decisions on an exceptional year like this and on guys at very top of game def needs caution .delahunty at 3.7 is on a very fine line with very high demand all year even he will admit a St of 3.5 would suit him better and O toole imports massive amounts of bought in bales

rangler1

Greengrass1 wrote: »

35% more milk.
Won't make that decision on one yr.
We all knew what we were heading into but still have faith we'll get back to a stable market paying 34c base

Will a 34c base not just drive expansion and more new entrants with the usual result, most people based their decision to expand/enter dairying on 30c

mahoney_j

rangler1 wrote: »

Will a 34c base not just drive expansion and more new entrants with the usual result, most people based their decision to expand/enter dairying on 30c

Banks stress testing at 26/27 .recently whilst applying for a loan banks told me my cop at 27 cent not inc labour was high compared to other apicants .scratching my head I asked what sort of figures other lads have .answer was between 18/24 .dont know who lads are trying to kid quoting figures that low

browned

mahoney_j wrote: »

Banks stress testing at 26/27 .recently whilst applying for a loan banks told me my cop at 27 cent not inc labour was high compared to other apicants .scratching my head I asked what sort of figures other lads have .answer was between 18/24 .dont know who lads are trying to kid quoting figures that low

There were common costs of 18.76c/l quoted on a farm walk in Tipperary recently. Not the same as cop but could the bank manager have been mixing them up?

whelan2

Most people have no clue what it costs them to produce a litre of milk