1. A FARMER SPEAKS

2. Pat Ryan, Cappagh, Dungarvan Married, Pauline Five children 18-3 years of age Third level education through to Primary Pauline works full-time in the home

3. FARM Owned109 ha Rented16 ha Total125 ha– all grassland MILK QUOTA 1.015m litres (223,400 gallons) Spring Milk Production – compact calving over a 13-week season from end January/early February to combine with grass growth. Dry off late November

4. LIVESTOCK Dairy:Calve Down250 Milk200 0-1 y.o.80 1-2 y.o.80 Beef:No Beef Enterprise Milk Production per cow:5,550 litres Stocking Density:2.24 l.u.’s/ha (c. 190kgs Org. N/ha)

5. HISTORY/DEVELOPMENT OF FARM 1981Qualified as Farm Apprentice 1996Became a shareholder in Family Partnership Milk Quota has been static for past ten years, with no growth Impact of Inflation/price-cost squeeze partially offset by efficiency gains Capital Invested (1996-2005) –Reseeding/Roadways –Effluent/Slurry Controls€150,000 –Milking Parlour Upgrade New Bulk Tank Requiredc.€30,000 No Investment in Machinery/Buildings

6. FARM EFFICIENCY 2004 Dairy Common Costs12.54 cpl Dairy Common Profit20.54 cpl Excluding: Leasing, Interest, Labour This profit figure is in the top 10% of c. 700 farmers that participated in 2004 Profit Monitor Programme Labour Employed –1½ full-time + self –406,000 litres per labour unit

7. BREEDING, FERTILITY AND MILK SOLIDS (2005) Overall Herd EBI€67 Calving Interval374 Days Start/End Calving28 th. January/28 th. April Six week Calving Rate74% Empty Rate10% Milk Butterfat4.04% Milk Protein3.69% Total Solids Yield426kgs F&P Target Solids Yield500kgs

8. KEY INGREDIENTS OF MY FARMING SYSTEM Grassland Management – Reseeding – Measurement 2005 – 293 days at grass – calved cows go straight to grass AI – EBI Based Milk Recording Fixed Costs Control Labour Saving Practices – Fertiliser, Slurry, Topping, Winter Feeding, Outdoor Calf Rearing Profit Monitor/Cash Flow Budgeting Discussion Groups

9. THE FUTURE Personal Goal –Expand the Dairy Farming Operation either through Joint Ventures/Partnerships. Grow own quota utilising rented tillage land Off-farm investment Quotas – How long will they continue? Partnerships – rules excessively restrictive Age structure is a concern Business must grow to reward effort and labour employed – cost inflation continuing to grow

10. Supplier Information Seminars January 2006 “Maximising Returns from Milk”