What To Expect When Transferring Farm To A Company & Dealing With Mental Burnout

25th May 2016 by Lorna
One comment
Cow_poo

I’m stressed – I’m usually a very matter of fact and relaxed person.We tend to put minor disasters behind us. As long as the four of us are healthy and happy, most stresses rolls off me like water off a duck’s back.

I’m mentally burnt out – I’ve just discovered that’s what it is called when you’re overworked and stressed to the extent that these symptoms are showing.  I’m sleeping more than usual, I went for a nap on Sunday instead [...]

A New IFA or More Of The Old

27th April 2016 by Lorna
2 comments
IFA

I haven’t written a post on the IFA (Irish Farmers Association) since January, I had intended writing one before the election last week but April is turning out to be one of those ridiculously busy months (throw transferring to a company, visitors, bad weather and a double confirmation into an already busy time and you get the picture – just don’t mention book number 3 for a few days!). That post would have wished the candidates well and [...]

Where Does Winter Milk Come From and Other Answers

18th March 2016 by Lorna
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Black and white calves

Where Does Milk Come From In Winter?

A friend recently asked me “Where does our milk come from in winter if most of the cows in the country are dry?” so I thought I’d use it as a starting point to explain a few things about dairy farming. Cows supply milk for ten months of the year, with their supply being greatest in the months after calving. The majority of dairy farmers have a ‘dry’ period where they don’t milk for [...]

Interesting times for IFA next week

2nd January 2016 by Lorna
2 comments
rp_2014-06-17-21.23.17-1024x768.jpg

It’s going to be an interesting week in Irish farming politics this week. Before I write about upcoming events, perhaps some reflections on what has (or hasn’t) happened since the Con Lucey report was published.

What seems to be infuriating most farmers is that the report only went back to 2009 and there doesn’t seem to be any signs to reveal any key information before that date. Berkery (former General Secretary) and others are warning the IFA that they [...]

Will The IFA Survive?

28th November 2015 by Lorna
4 comments
Lorna on Prime Time

Last Thursday, farmers heard that Pat Smith, the Executive Secretary to the IFA received almost €1million as income in two years. As I pointed out in my post last Friday, these funds were taken from the annual income of the IFA, about €13 million. Farmers paid membership subscriptions and levies to fund this.

It appears that he was removed from his post on the same day. Last Friday, he was still being described as a brilliant strategist. But was [...]