Focusing on your Business Challenges

The need to focus on the costs of production in the dairy sector has always been important.  However, with the current challenges facing local dairy farms the need for a better understanding of the businesses financial performance has never been more crucial.

CAFRE Dairy Development Advisers are currently delivering a series of training meetings and visits entitled Business Challenge for Dairy Farmers, in various locations throughout Northern Ireland.  The aim of this programme is to develop the individual producer’s understanding of the financial performance of their farm business.  Topics covered are CAFRE Benchmarking, Financing the Business, Business Planning, Effective Labour Use and Taxation.  The sessions are delivered by CAFRE Dairy Advisers, local accountants, agricultural bank managers and also include a number of relevant farm visits.

One group of farmers from Counties Antrim and Down have recently started the Business Challenge programme in the Lisburn area.  As part of the Benchmarking session they visited the Focus Farm of Gary and Michael McHenry, Lurgan.  During this visit the group focused on the financial performance of the McHenry’s farm and how this compared to their own farm.  This generated an informative discussion, focusing on practical management issues regarding cost control and the importance of monitoring performance throughout the year.

If you would like further information about the Business Challenge for Dairy Farmers, please contact CAFRE – Greenmount Campus, Technology Administration on 028 9442 6756.

From Left, Gary and Michael McHenry with Paul Nelson, Ballinderry Upper and Basil Magill, Hilltown during the CAFRE - Business Challenge visit to Gary and Michael’s Focus Farm, Lurgan

A section of the group who attended the Benchmarking visit, as part for the CAFRE - Business Challenge for Dairy Farmers programme being held in Lisburn.