As we progress into the latter end of the lactation, keeping costs down is crucial, is it is worth while committing to investment, despite the uncertainty around the nitrates derogation?
For anyone planning to put up a new calf shed, expanding the parlour or putting in a new parlour, the question is: is it going to be worth while?
Quite often, it is at this time of year where farmers analyse where they are in terms of housing for the winter and try to act before it is too late.
The reality is however, that it has been such a tight year for farmers in terms of cash flow and there is an uncertainty around the derogation and whether farmers can farm at the same level.
Investment
At this year’s National Ploughing Championships, dairy specialist, Patrick Gowing spoke to Agriland about the ideal farm layout.
Speaking about the importance of proper planning, Gowing said that factors such as improved cow flow and efficient labour “come together to improve your water quality”.
The layout he talked us through had the milking shed beside the cubicle shed, which allowed for easy cow flow in and out of the parlour.
A proper plan should have cows going straight into the collecting yard from the grazing platform, and straight back out after milking finishes.
The design had slatted channels connecting from the milking parlour to the cubicle shed, which allows for proper flow of slurry and parlour washings, as well as hygienic cow flow.
The farm layout was split into three movement sections that are together, but separate and not crossing over each other.
One section is for the milking parlour and cubicles for cow movement, while the second section is for tractor movement where silage is fed and slatted tanks are accessed for emptying. The final section was for the milking lorry to access.
The tower in the plan represents the need for more slurry. Gowing urged farmers to ask themselves: “Do you have enough slurry storage? As we may have to invest to add it on.”
“Slurry is important to reduce your chemical nitrogen (N), as your value of N is important to grow grass and that has to be taken into account when considering to invest in storage,” Gowing added.
The whole design allows for complete expansion as the milking parlour and cubicle shed can just move back into the field, without affecting cow flow.
Gowan emphasised that despite the onset in a potential further change in the derogation, “you are going to need more slurry storage to put it out at the right times and get the use of the nutrients in it”.
Gowan told Agriland that there are various options and tax right offs available to farmers, and so a business plan should be put in place and set up to find out what is necessary before before making any investment.