1. Introduction We are farming in the foothills of Slievenaman close to Carrick On Suir, Co. Tippperary 80 feet above sea level I am married to Sinead and we have 3 children My parents also live on the home farm Started farming in 2000

2. In 2009 – We were lucky to be selected to be part of the Greenfield Dairy farm Programme. Expanded from 80 cows & a beef enterprise to 280 dairy cows. Rainfall in 2012 was 961mm Borrowed €510k to fund the development. Why? To provide a more sustainable business.

3. Summary of Development 2007 80 cows + beef enterprise 2008 120 cows + phased out beef, started development plan 2009 130 cows + planning permission, gathered prices, purchased heifers, started development work 2010 210 cows + new milking parlour, new paddock layout 2011 230 cows + system ‘bedding in’ 2012 275 cows + improving efficiencies, improved heifer rearing, financial skills

4. Leased Farm(2) 28ha (2 miles) Leased farm(1) 12.5ha (1 mile) Owned Out farm(3) 20ha(12 miles) Proposed Underpass Dairy Milking Area(74Ha) Farmyard

5. Soil Fertility Status - 2010 P Status K Status Average ph 5.5

6. Farmyard

7. Stock Numbers & Stocking Rate Stocking Rate Cow No.0-1yrs (Heifers) 1-2yrs (Heifers) 20123.682729680 20113.122309973 20102.84210104113

8. Grass Production Grew 14 T Dm /Ha in 2012 13.7 Tonnes DM/ha(91%) utilised in 2012 254 Kgs Concentrate fed/cow

9. Grass Growth Rates 2012 Insert the graph

11. Milk Solids Production (kgs Milk solids produced/Ha)

12. Fertility 6% Not In Calf after 12 weeks of breeding Start date of calving 9 th February 2012 (Start date of calving 3 rd February 2013) 80% calved in 6 weeks 2012 89% Submission rate(24days)2012 Herd EBI €131

13. Things we got right √ Making the change Mentors Planning Mindset

14. Willingness to Change Labour Contractors Procedures Things we got right √

15. Contingency Prioritise spending Stock Price inflation Loan Structure

16. Things we got wrong Timing & weather Work organisation Monitoring Expansion Costs Things we got wrong X

17. Things we got wrong Farm Operational budget Extra jobs / add on’s Finance in place Things we got wrong X

18. Lessons learned along the way Things take longer Looks ≠ profit Continuous learning & improvement Family help Family support & understanding Know your business & targets

19. Jan – Complete profit monitor & compare against other Kildalton group members. Jan – Prepare monthly Cash Flow Budget/quick books) Each month – Input my expenditure & receipts. Each quarter – Financial review. Dec – Annual financial review. Cash flow & Financial Management

20. In Summary Phase 1  Planning Phase 2  Development Phase 3  Settling In (Improving farm performance e.g. soil fertility, heifer rearing, cash flow)