The option of contract heifer rearing to increase cow numbers and milk sales is being considered by a number of farmers in Northern Ireland. It is working very well for Jim, simplifying his system and given a cash injection by selling the heifers to the beef farmer. The beef farmer in return has a guaranteed market and a set price that can outweigh traditional 24-month beef finishing systems. Farming in a nitrate vulnerable zone, Jim believes that the biggest issue in the future for him will be slurry. That's the challenge in 2001 being set out for dairy farmers in the Business Challenge.
Farmers have to consider their steps very carefully.
The business challenge is about giving farmers the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and allowing them to make up their own picture. A series of courses break it down into key areas of understanding the business, planning for profit within the business, understanding the balance sheet, planning for growth, financing growth and taxation. As part of this they have put resources into benchmarking to encourage farmers to keep accurate financial records and compare them with farms in similar systems. Over 200 farmers are using the system through the internet. Indicators show where the farmers are strong and weak compared to other farmers.