Part time farming - Time saving techniques

How confident are we in any farming enterprise at the moment?

Our farm has changed enterprises many times and no doubt will change again in the future, nothing stopping a return to sucklers in future if needed.

Personally I've a few reasons to get out of sucklers now. Cost of replacement bulls, I can't see AI being practical on a fragmented farm, safer for the younger farmers with no bulls or cows with calves, yards 2KM from house so not going to miss running over and back at night during calving. When I took over the farm after dad passed we were rearing dairy beef and suckling, I went with just the sucklers while working full time as they more or less look after themselves once let out in spring and because we were in the BDGP scheme.

I have an old JCB 3cx that does all the feeding and shifting/moving here.

A flat wheel is a major ball-ache, as they have a high ply rating and are hard handled to remove a tyre and fix a puncture.

So I've finally got around to having a spare wheel/tyre standing by for both front and back

On the machines and starting. That's a good one.

I have high speed starters now on two machines in the yard. Just after getting another machine and she'll be getting one now too.

Is there a contractor who cuts pits for other farmers locally? You could strip the pit let them put the blocks and you can push with a tractor

Best way to solve calving problems is not to have them. Bought 8-10 suckler weanlings over the last 4-5 weeks R-to+ grade 300-350kgs for about 700euro average.

Why would you keep suckler cows.

Decoupling came in 2003. Reference year's were 2000-2002.

So where do you get those nice weanlings when no one wants to keep the cows?

A tad unfair... suckler weanlings can be bought @ 2-2.2kg if you are willing to spend time doing so....lsl has made this so much easier

I never said anything about people wanting to keep them. I said why keep them when you can buy decent weanling/yearlings at the price I paid.

Just look through LSL you will be surprised

I said they were R-to R+ grade. Mist are heifers but there is a few bulls as well

For a couple of years I have used the card and credit transfer for payments. It helps with the accounts. While emailing of receipt's is handy it's not much of a time saver because you have to print them out.

On emailing receipts I mentioned it to my local vet who posts them out monthly @ is it now 1.1euro for a national stamp. I think not would save them a fortune ( and probably time as well emailing where possible.

Ya I still pay the merchant mainly with a cheque, as I usually get a discount. It’s hard to ring just to look for a discount before paying online!

another timely reminder to people that will help with stress-get your documents off to the accountant asap. It’s fairer on them rather than facing a massive workload just before the deadline plus the earlier in the year the better for us too. You will know the exact tax liability so can budget for it throughout the year , plus I find if the accountant has any queries on anything, it’s usually fresher in your own mind earlier on in the year

Same as that, but I have to scan the other receipts to send on to Accountant, I try to keep everything as electronic as possible.

We put in an electric shower beside the sink in the old dairy about 10 years ago, instant hot water to wash the hands & easy to give the dog a wash down when he needs it.

Two years ago put in an Atlantic water heater on a timer on the other wall for heating the water for feeding the calves. All near the sheds where the calves are reared so less hardship. Used to be bringing buckets of hot water from the house….

scan all receipts to onedrive folder which I share with accountant ,works well

Their screws are useless...once bitten

Great video. where do you pick up those hot posts?