organic farming

I think @blue5000 makes a good point in the reason for going to organics, from my perspective one thing that puts me off is the limited ability to buy and sell easily.

I like to be able to pick up stock on short notice, in organics I guess you have to plan around the special sales in the marts or donedeal which would put me off

It'll only get easier as more people get into organic sucklers. There's nothing stopping a person selling organic cattle conventionally other than the fact that it sort of defeats the purpose of it.

I don't really buy the paperwork argument either, at least not in beef farming where there wouldn't be much paperwork really.

Fair enough for a horticultural system where everything planted and harvested has to be all recorded. The inspections aren't too bad either, I was quite nervous for my first one but they've all been fine.

The one thing that's always said, is that it's not for everyone, but for sure it's the answer for a lot of people who just don't realize it yet. Certain systems suit certain farmers. There were times when I got quite frustrated with it (still do) but I don't see myself leaving it any time soon.

Is the 20% price differential still the case with conventional beef prices so high?

How do you winter your cows, are they outside all winter?

Just to add contintental may not suit organic as need meal and meal at 720 a tonne an animal will eat a tonne over its lifetime assume being killed at 30 months or so. Depends on weights you want to get. The fact bulls not allowed in Organic is also BS they have to be squezzed at 5 months but that never seems to be the case in the marts. Heard that going to get hit on the head.

grading is in a while in Organics when I started used to be flat price U to O. Queried this with factory as U grade cattle told O is good enough for organic. Now any O grade is -18 from base and if it is and O and a 5 it is minus 40 c. So O plus 5 heifer is 5.20 get much the same in ordinary factory. 18c bonus flat across all U grade including U plus but no bonus on R plus where I lost out on batch of heifers recentlyie 0.06c of bonus. Also as for me takes 24 hours between cattle collected and killed sure that the slip a grade. Wexford and Tipp where killed at moment for the country.

No you can ouwinter. Herself is in organics and everything is out all year round. Would depend on you're stocking rate though I would imagine.

There’s no requirement to have a shed so? Just certain regulations if you do have one?

Anyone on here running sheep enterprise organically

At it here closed herd,suckler to weaning changed from ch to polled Hereford,perfect animal for the job no anastic easy calving,hardy and no scour problems,agreed no better off price wise but just as much for Hereford organic as ch conventional with less hassle and more calves on the ground

Jesus so much wrong in that post that it's hard to know where to start. Yes stock are to be outdoors for 2/3 of the year but the caveat in the organic standards is "where the weather conditions allow" I know lads in Leitrim housing cows for 5/6 months of the year with no hassle from their inspector, you can't plough the land with stock either as nitrates regs trump Organic regs. There is no one measuring the amount of days cattle are at grass.

Cubicles in any shape or form are allowed either old or new. I bought calves off a guy this year with the new type easyfix cubicles. Once you allow the right amount of space for the animal in the cubicle you're fine and I can't see that changing anytime soon, the lads with Cubicles still have to bed them tho.

Yes sorry doesn't have to be straw, it's the same for lie backs it doesn't have to be straw, I know some lads using woodchip and sawdust. I've heard of lads over Leitrim bedding with dried rushes on the bottom with straw rolled out on top.