The second stage of the Kepak Young Farmer Forum, in partnership with Musgrave Marketplace and SuperValu, took place on Thursday (May 21).

The first part of this year's forum took place last month at Mountbellew Agricultural College in Co. Galway.

This week's event started with participants travelling to Cappagh, Co. Tipperary, where Dara Walton operates a mixed suckler and dairy calf-to-beef enterprise, producing approximately 120 head of cattle annually.

Walton runs 60 spring-calving suckler cows alongside 60 dairy-bred calves, achieving an impressive average daily liveweight gain of 1kg/day across the system.

A key focus of the discussion on the day was the importance of grassland management and reseeding.

Walton emphasised to the forum members that growing and managing grass effectively is central to profitability.

The young farmers in attendance were encouraged to evaluate their own on-farm input costs and were advised to ensure that expensive concentrate feed is not being used to substitute underperformance in grass production.

The importance of soil fertility was stressed at the event with emphasis on regular soil sampling and targeted applications of slurry, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) to maximise grass output while controlling fertiliser costs.

Walton also highlighted the importance of maintaining performance regardless of breed, stating that achieving a 1kg daily liveweight gain is the benchmark that ultimately converts into profit.

The farm walk also showcased practical insights into animal health and management, including:

Maintaining close oversight of stock to minimise veterinary intervention;
Regular weighing and dung sampling to identify issues early;
Investing in infrastructure such as water access and paddock systems;
Strategic use of back fencing and paddock mapping.

The discussion on cattle breeds reflected a flexible approach.

Walton uses an Angus bull for heifers and 'mopping up' on the main herd.

The farmer is trained to artificially inseminate (AI) cows meaning he does not need to call a technician to AI his cows.

He places particular emphasis on picking the best genetics for each cow, considering confirmation, functionality, milk, fertility and strong feet in breeding decisions, rather than focusing on a single breed type.

Cashflow

A key talking point was the seasonal cashflow pressure in suckler systems, especially in early summer.

“June can be a pinch month,” the host farmer said and emphasised the importance of planning cashflow ahead of time and ensuring animals are progressing efficiently towards sale weight.

The advice Dara passed on, which his father gave to him, was: “Grow cattle into weight, and you grow them into money.”

Session on farm finance

Following the farm walk, participants returned to the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny for a finance workshop led by accountant and beef farmer, Trevor Boland.

Boland emphasised that profit monitoring is the single most important financial tool on farm, encouraging all farmers to actively track costs and outputs.

“Know your numbers, know your tax position, and plan early,” he advised, pointing to the importance of having accounts up to date at this time of year.

Some of the key information from the discussion was that on suckler farms, fertiliser investment and growing as much good grass as possible should be prioritised over excessive meal feeding.

Boland also pointed to emerging tools such as the Commercial Beef Value (CBV) as useful indicators for improving overall herd performance.

Future structures and generational renewal

The forum also addressed broader structural challenges facing young farmers.

Boland highlighted the benefits of farm partnership structures and potential tax planning initiatives, such as farm family wages.

He also emphasised some of the policy issues regarding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and generational renewal including:

The need to finalise CAP supports during Ireland’s EU presidency;
Concerns around defining “active farmers”;
The growing disconnect between agricultural policy and rural realities;
The importance of political engagement from younger and part-time farmers;
Creating space for knowledge sharing.

A key issue emerging from the day was the need for more knowledge-sharing platforms for beef farmers.

Attendees highlighted that discussion groups are less common in beef systems compared to dairy, despite the complexity of beef enterprises.

Kepak Young Farmer Forum

The Kepak Young Farmer Forum is made up of a group of 17 young beef and sheep farmers from across the country.

The programme focuses on key areas including production efficiency, financial planning, sustainability and knowledge transfer.

Participants will take part in a mix of workshops and on-farm sessions, with exposure to best practice in beef and sheep systems, grassland management, animal health and emerging technologies.