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Join and attend Discussion Groups

Grow and Utilise more grass

Correct soil fertility and nutrients

Correct drainage

Correct stocking rate to growth potential

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Sheep farms in Ireland have an average flock size of 133 ewes, with an average farm size of 51ha. (Agriland Website)

Livestock units per hectare on average is 1.07 on sheep farms in Ireland. (Agriland Website)

Across all Agricultural sector, sheep farms have the lowest average income per hectare at €311/ha. (Agriland Website)

Support payments contribute to 111% of the income of the average sheep farmer in Ireland. (Agriland Website)

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Production system - Mid - season lamb production and purebred rams for sire of other flocks

4.4 ha grazing ground - Split into 5 paddocks

Stocked at 1.09 LU/ha

5 breeding purebred Texel ewes
15 breeding crossbred ewes
4 Hoggets
1 Ram

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Potential to grow and utilise far more grass

Farmer and son are healthy and can carry out all work on farm

Farmer retiring soon so will have far more time to commit to farm

Future owner of farm has green cert and science degree

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Farmer has full-time employment off farm

Time is a severe challenge

Weather huge challenge as there is so much rain

Poor soil

Not in a Discussion Group

Always at the mercy of the factory for lamb prices

Hasn't soil tested in a few years

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Start grass measuring and join Agrinet

Join a Discussion group

Attend farm walks and open days

Cut silage - (Never cut on farm before)

Reseeding - (Never done on farm)

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Act on soil test

Start grass measuring

Sign up and enter grass measuring into Agrinet and continue every year

Drain the land

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Review system:
Increase stocking rate
Amount grass grown
Should we get more into purebreds or more into crossbreds
Potential to start finishing bought in lambs
Amount grass utilised
Can number of days outside be increased
Look for new land to lease/buy as farmer will be retired

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Join local discussion groups and attend

Soil Test

Cut silage for first time and continue to do so every year

Fence off fields into smaller paddocks

Nutrient plan for each new paddock

Drainage plan

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Future of farming here because of weather past few years

Schmallenberg hit around here this year - potential to kill most of your lambs

Dependent on factory price

Brexit

Fodder shortage

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Soil test

Carry out more drainage

New nutrient plan after results of soil test

Increase stocking rate

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Start data analysis of kill out % of lambs

Replace and old gates and posts

Build new lambing shed at home house

Look for potential leasing of new land or buying more land

Assess size of paddocks