In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, the quest for farm profitability remains constant, regardless of geographical location. For Brian Rushe, a dairy farmer from Ireland, this pursuit is not just about numbers on a ledger; it is the foundation upon which sustainability and longevity are built.
Rushe’s farm is nestled in the luscious countryside of County Kildare, Ireland, a vibrant testament to change, resilience and foresight. The year 2015 marked the beginning of a journey for Rushe and his family, as they transitioned from a long-standing beef and crop operation to dairying. This shift was not a rash decision but a well-considered pivot, recognizing their greatest potential for profitability and optimal land use.
The Shift to Dairy Farming
Before delving into the dairy sector, the Rushe family had been successfully managing a beef and crop farm. However, when evaluating their options for future growth and sustainability, the shift toward dairying became apparent. Rushe explains the decision was partly influenced by their location and land characteristics, ensuring a more promising avenue for their agricultural endeavors.
In Ireland, the topic of quotas is a common discussion among dairy farmers. Rushe mentions even if a producer exceeded their quota, if the processor was under, the balance was maintained. This outlook provided a more flexible approach toward managing dairy production levels.
Rushe’s dairying venture actually began on a neighboring farm in 2013. This farm provided a significant block of land, which allowed him to quickly increase cow numbers.
Brian recalls, “It was a drier farm, as well,” alluding to how drier land is advantageous to get cows to grass quicker, ultimately boosting per-cow income, in a primarily pasture-based system.
As the family eased into dairying, they maintained their beef and tillage operations for a while. However, it soon became evident a tough business decision was necessary. Rushe and his father decided to sell some of their land as the workload of managing both operations became too cumbersome.
“We were not going to continue with the crops because the workload was actually getting too hard,” Rushe shares.
Intensive Grazing Strategy
The Rushe family grazes their dairy cows for nine months each year. Despite the demanding nature of these months, they prefer this schedule over year-round crop management.
By 2020, the Rushe family decided to expand further by building a second dairy. Through fortunate timing and planning, they avoided the supply chain issues many faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, they successfully milk 350 cows across two dairies.
Their cows go dry from mid-December to early January. On their second farm, calving starts in February, but at the home farm, it begins in March, attributed to different levels of soil dryness. Capitalizing on their grazing ability and sensor collars, the farm uses New Zealand genetics and crossbred cows.
Challenges and Opportunities for Irish Dairies
Rushe highlights several challenges dairies in Ireland face, including who will represent the next generation of farmers. With fewer individuals willing to run dairy farms, Rushe says some young people have moved to New Zealand or the U.S. However, the slow pace of life in Ireland is appealing for retaining labor from other countries, and the Rushe farm employs staff from the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
The Irish dairy farmer shares the removal of quotas in 2015 was a relief for producers, including himself.
“For the first time, farmers could see opportunities and grow their herds,” he says.
Manure management regulations impose challenges, with stocking rates limited by nitrogen limits per hectare. If exceeded, Irish producers must apply for a derogation program, taking further environmental protection steps. Rushe explains losing the derogation could impact the number of cows they keep.
Despite this challenge, Rushe believes Irish farmers are invested in their dairy future, with 16,000 dairies in operation and the majority of milk going into powder production.
“I would have said three years ago the limit on growing dairy was going to be a process of capacity because we’ve peaked,” he says. “The processing capacity has gone the other way now because milk production has declined.”
Rushes shares processors worry if farmers lose the derogation their milk supply will further drop, and the co-op will become less efficient.
“This will impact the co-ops’ ability to pay a good milk price,” he says.
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, Rushe shares his wife, Rebecca, is a nurse and their two children, Rhys, 13 and Reese, 9, are too young to know what the future holds. Although he notes that his son shows interest in the farming operation.
“I hope he gets an education,” he shares, and gets the chance to travel to other operations to learn from their mistakes and see what opportunities have worked for them before returning to the family operation.
“Everybody does things a little differently and sometimes by seeing other farms, you can find something that will work for you,” he says.
Rushe says the one thing he has been the most impressed when visiting U.S. dairy farms is their attention to detail.
“Attention to detail pays and their views on pinpointing what is causing problems is pretty amazing,” he says. “Even on some big, complex dairies, they simplify it at a personal level.”
Through strategic transformation and expansion, the Rushe family illustrates the evolving nature of family farming in Ireland. As they navigate the challenges and opportunities of modern dairying, their journey offers insights and lessons for farmers not only in Ireland, but worldwide.
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