In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, the quest for farm profitability remains constant, regardless of geographical location.
For Brian Rushe, a dairy farmer from Ireland, this pursuit is not just about numbers on a ledger; it is the foundation upon which sustainability and longevity are built.
Rushe’s farm is nestled in the luscious countryside of County Kildare, Ireland, and is a vibrant testament to change, resilience and foresight. The year 2015 marked the beginning of a transformative journey for Rushe and his family, as they transitioned from a long-standing beef and crop operation to dairying. This pivotal shift was not a rash decision but a well-considered pivot, recognizing their greatest potential for profitability and optimal land utilization.
The Shift to Dairy Farming
Before delving into the dairy sector, the Rushe family had been successfully managing a beef and crop farm. However, when evaluating their options for future growth and sustainability, the shift towards dairying became apparent. Rushe explains that the decision was partly influenced by their location and land characteristics, ensuring a more promising avenue for their agricultural endeavors.
In Ireland, the topic of quotas is a common discussion among dairy farmers. Rushe mentions that even if a producer exceeded their quota, if the processor was under, the balance was maintained. This outlook provided a more flexible approach towards managing dairy production levels.
Rushe’s dairying venture actually began on a neighboring farm back in 2013. This farm provided a significant block of land, which allowed an increase in cow numbers quickly. Brian recalls, “It was a drier farm, as well,” alluding to how, within a primarily pasture-based system, having drier land gives the advantage of getting cows to grass quicker, ultimately boosting per-cow income.
As the family eased into dairying, they maintained their beef and tillage operations for a while. However, it soon became evident that a tough business decision was necessary. Rushe and his father decided to sell some of their land as the workload of managing both operations became too cumbersome.
“We were not going to continue with the crops because the workload was actually getting too hard,” Rushe shares.
Intensive Grazing Strategy
The Rushe family grazes their dairy cows for nine months each year, focusing intensely during this period. Despite the demanding nature of these months, they preferred this schedule over year-round crop management.
By 2020, the Rushe family decided to expand further by building a second dairy. Through fortunate timing and planning, they avoided the supply chain issues many faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, they successfully milk 350 cows across two dairies.
Rushe explains that their cows go dry from mid-December to early January. On their second farm, calving starts in February, but at the home farm, it begins in March, attributed to different soil dryness levels. Capitalizing on their grazing ability, the farm uses New Zealand genetics and crossbred cows. Rushe shares that using sensor collars works effectively in pasture-based systems.
Challenges and Opportunities
Rushe highlighted several challenges dairies in Ireland face, including who will represent the next generation of farmers. With fewer individuals willing to run dairy farms in Ireland, Rushe shared that some young people decided to become dairy managers or moved to New Zealand and the U.S.
“We don’t have a conveyor belt of good young people that want to come back to dairy,” Rushe notes.
The Irish dairy farmer shares that the removal of quotas in 2015 was a relief for producers, including himself.
“For the first time, farmers could see opportunities and grow their herds,” he says.
The slow pace of life in Ireland is appealing for retaining labor from other countries, and the Rushe farm employs staff from the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
Manure management regulations impose challenges, with stocking rates limited by nitrogen limits per hectare. If exceeded, Irish producers must apply for a derogation program, taking further environmental protection steps. Rushe explains that losing the derogation could impact the number of cows they keep.
Despite this challenge, Rushe believes Irish farmers are invested in their dairy future, with 16,000 dairies in operation, with the majority dairy’s milk going into powder production.
“I would have said three years ago that the limit on growing dairy is going to be a process of capacity, because we’ve peaked,” he says. “The processing capacity has gone the other way now, because milk production has declined.”
Rushes shares that processors worry if farmers lose the derogation, that their milk supply will further drop, and the co-op will become less efficient.
“This will impact the co-ops’ ability to pay a good milk price,” he says.
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, Rushe shares that his wife, Rebecca, is a nurse and their two children, Rhys, 13 and Reese, 9, are too young to know what the future holds. Although he notes that his son shows interest in the farming operation.
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“I hope he gets an education,” he shares, also sharing that he hopes his son gets to travel to other operations to learn from their mistakes and see what opportunities have worked for them before returning to the family operation.
“Everybody does things a little differently and sometimes by seeing other farms, you can find something that will work for you,” he says.
Rushe shares that the one thing he has been the most impressed when visiting U.S. dairy farms was their attention to detail.
“Attention to detail pays and their views on pinpointing what is causing problems is pretty amazing,” he says. “And, even on some big, complex dairies, they simplify it at a personal level.”
Through strategic transformation and expansion, the Rushe family illustrates the evolving nature of family farming in Ireland. As they navigate the challenges and opportunities of modern dairying, their journey offers insights and lessons for farmers not only in Ireland, but worldwide.
