On Tuesday 10 September, James Flaherty and his father John will host a BETTER farm autumn walk on their suckler to beef farm in Castleisland, Co Kerry.

This is the first walk in a two-part autumn series.

On Thursday 12 September, Tommy Holmes opens up the gates of his suckler and store-to-beef holding in Ballina, Co Mayo, for the second event.

Both walks take place at 5pm and will cover a range of topics to make this a successful autumn and winter.

The Flahertys

John and James are running a 45-cow suckler herd on 41ha in Castleisland, Co Kerry. The ultimate target for the farm is to reach 55 to 60 suckler cows by 2021.

Breeding is very strong on the farm. Since joining the programme, the father and son duo have moved towards 100% AI. This has resulted in a shift towards under 16-month bull beef and to breeding all replacements on farm.

Grassland management is also strong on the farm and James places a huge emphasis on grass measuring with his Grasshopper platemeter.

Recently, the Irish Farmers Journal caught up with James on his farm, along with local Teagasc adviser Eugene O’Doherty and BETTER farm adviser John Greaney.

In conversation with James Flaherty ahead of his BETTER farm autumn walk.

For more information, read the article inside this week’s Irish Farmers Journal.