Falklands : Falklands Farmers Discuss Basic Questions About Improving Land, Animals and Business
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 19.07.2007 (Article Archived on 02.08.2007)
Farmers in the Falklands have discussed how to make their holdings more profitable.
FARMERS DISCUSS BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPROVING THEIR LAND, ANIMALS AND BUSINESSES.
By J. Brock (FINN)
At a very interesting discussion session during Farmers week farmers had the opportunity to discuss some basic questions amongst themselves and then share their answers to the rest of the farmers assembled. Peter Johnson moderated the session.
Q-1: Is farming a job, business or a hobby?
Farmers present saw their holdings as a business.
Q-2: Are you happy with production and profit and how can you enhance them?
Farmers felt that grazing management, forage cropping, protein supplementation for ewes especially during the winter months, weighing (live weight) and reducing the death rate as being important to helping with production and profit. They also felt that key to making a better profit and having good production was sheep nutrition and protein supplementation in the winter.
Other points farmers made were that they should learn from each other and have dual uses for their sheep in meat as well as wool. Knowing how to market their product was also a key concern.
Q-3: What is the first step for farmers to implement the opportunities open to them?
Farmers felt that flexible planning was key to a good business plan. They felt having a good business plan and budgeting skills were necessary tools to have. There was a small discussion about training sheep to come to feeding centres during the winter.
Q-4: What are the problems that you see in relation to getting started?
Farmers felt that they should ensure there was a full assessment of their land before formulating any kind of plan. They also pin-pointed proper land usage as well as pasture improvement could cause problems if they were not carried out properly. They felt it was necessary to know what they want to achieve and to stick to their plan to achieve it. However, they need to sense if the plan is going wrong and why.
Some of what the farmers recognised as a potential problem centred around their attitude and outlook. I will summarise their comments by alluding to:
- Indecision about what this farmer wants to achieve
- Unwilling or unable to stick to a plan and a budget once they have been decided
- Educational ineptness – headstrong and having problems accepting constructive criticism and advice
- No finances to carry out the farmer’s plan
- A lack of confidence that any plan will work
Farmers felt that the land and location were important if the plan is to work. They see that having a farm that is at least adequate for the goals to be achieved. Time management was also difficult to achieve at the beginning and there are problems learning how to assess risks and labour. Having a bad season experience was also seen as being demoralising yet lessons could be learned from the experience.
Q-5: What information and advice can the Department of Agriculture offer farmers?
Farmers wanted help in planning a business and how to turn a profit from the resources available. They feel it is important to improve production and to get timely technical advice.
Mr. Johnson said that the Agriculture Department was there to advise farmers and not to dictate to them. Funding is available when the advice is followed but they will not fund those who do no follow the advice.
The results of pasture trials will be available in the Wool Press. Farmers agreed that a collective memory was important and using publications was important in keeping records so the weel is not invented over and over again.
Farmers suggested free soil testing for organic status. Meeting together on a regular basis to discuss “hot topics” was also seen as important. All would rather debate than argue.
Q-6: What can farmers do to help each other?
Sharing advice and appropriate socialising were seen as being good for sharing problems and solving them. Farmers felt that jealousy should stop, skills can be shared and communication should be paramount in problem solving.
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