I started my year attending the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC). It was the first time I have ever attended an agricultural conference.
The launch of the event was at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
It was a spectacular location.
Over the three days I felt some sessions were a little airy fairy and not that applicable to actual working farmers. At one point I wondered if I attended the correct conference when a speaker was talking about NASA and criminal law.
The highlights were the OFC debate, meeting people and some truly inspirational stories of succeeding against adversity.
Depend
What was apparent to me, however, was how many people, careers and businesses depend upon farmers.
And without farmers these are all surplus. We, the farmers, are their greatest asset.
With the nights drawing out and the pleasant sight of snowdrops, spring feels like it is only around the corner.
Winter has been okay here and, apart from a few frozen pipes, cold hands and an invasion of starlings, we have survived it.
We will have enough forage to see us through to first cut. However, some of it is 35 miles away, but at least we have got it.
We have had a change in system for our calves. Previously we have always sold beef calves under 42 days.
But with calf prices at rock bottom, we had a rethink of what we should do. We concluded that we would have enough space (just) to accommodate the extra calves and will turn them out to grass and most likely sell as stores.
We saw our friend turn out their cows yesterday (early February) and I definitely got system envy.
My husband and I often look at the block calving herds and can see the driving factors for this style of farming. But we both know we would not be able to keep such a tight ship as they do
Talking to a dairy expert from AHDB at the OFC, I asked the question which is the best type of system?.
He answered: The top 25% are a mix of systems. If the farmer is doing the job properly, they will make money. Otherwise, an autumn block is financially the best system.
I joked: We have Holsteins calving all year round on a low-input, high-output system.
What is clear is that there is a huge amount of volatility in dairy farming. The dairy industry has already received dramatic price reductions and is probably going to incur more. You start thinking how low will it go?
We are hoping not to see another year like 2016.
Interest
And interest rates increasing again just to put more pressure on.
Last year we bought our fertiliser forward for this year. At the time we thought it was the right decision. Hindsight says not. In farming we will all make some good decisions and some bad decisions, but sometimes you just need a bit of luck or a crystal ball.
In January we managed to get away for a week skiing in France, leaving three students in charge. We were just getting our skis sorted and we had a phone call.
All the dry cows had got mixed up with the milkers after the gate which had never been knocked off in six years was off.
Several WhatsApp videos later the issue was resolved. The students did well and we had a fabulous break.
