1. Challenges of farming

2. Farming is a complex business which involves many challenges
Like having enough money
Climate change
The crops if they are successful or not

3. Like any other business farmers need to manage their finances, while caring for the environment and efficiently producing grains and animal produce.
They have to look after their soils, water, pastures, crops and livestock.
Farmers also have the extra challenge of not knowing if they will have enough rainfall, frosts or if the temperature will be ideal.

4. They face the extra challenge of running their business in a changing climate, where they are at the mercy of the weather.

5. Farmers need to be able to plan for the future and adjust their practices to allow for variation in the seasons and climatic conditions. This allows them to utilise the water which is available more effectively

6. They also have to manage their business by timing their operations according to market prices, feed availability

7. Mixed Farming

8. What is mixed farming?
Mixed farming is when both crops and animals are grown on the same farm and these interact with each other.

9. How Mixed Farming can help farmers
Sometimes the grain and hay from cereal crops and pastures may be more fed to live stock to reduce input costs for the livestock

10. Lower grade grain hay might be of more financial value when fed to your own animals rather than selling cheaply
Mixed farming allows you to work throughout the year
Mixed farming allows for better utilisation of your land and other farm resources