Step inside the real world of Irish beef farming with Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Galway Chair, Micheal Haverty.
Farming in North Galway, Micheal runs a mixed system of suckler cows and dairy beef, balancing a demanding workload with the realities of part-time farming- something that has become the norm for many in the sector today.
From early starts around 6:30am to late evenings checking stock, feeding, bedding, and monitoring calving cows (often through cameras when he’s off-farm), Micheal shares what day-to-day life truly looks like.
At the heart of his system:
• Suckler herd split between spring and autumn calving
• Dairy beef calves bought in annually and reared to store stage
• A focus on efficiency, cashflow, and making the most of limited margins
Micheal also discusses recent performance, including strong prices for yearlings but warns that the bigger picture is far more uncertain.
📉 Key issues facing farmers right now:
• Beef prices dropping significantly in recent months
• Input costs (fuel, feed, fertiliser) rising sharply
• Expensive store cattle leaving little to no margin
• Farmers increasingly operating as “price takers”
“Last year we made a margin — but those are the prices we actually need just to be viable.”
He highlights the frustration many farmers feel — meeting high standards for quality assurance, traceability, and environmental schemes, yet not being properly rewarded by the market.
Micheal also shares how buying and rearing calves has helped improve cashflow by filling the financial gap between selling homebred stock and receiving farm payments — making the system more sustainable and easier to manage.
Beyond the farm gate, he reflects on his long involvement with the IFA, from local roles to national representation. While acknowledging that no organisation can deliver everything for every farmer, he is clear in his belief:
“Without the IFA, farmers would be in a far worse position.”
Looking ahead, major concerns include:
• The future of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy)
• Potential EU budget cuts
• Definition and protection of the “active farmer”
• Maintaining Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 supports
• Ireland’s EU presidency and its potential impact
With ongoing global pressures — including fuel volatility and geopolitical uncertainty — the cost of farming continues to rise at a pace that is difficult to sustain.
Despite everything, Micheal remains cautiously optimistic:
There will always be demand for high-quality Irish beef — but the challenge is ensuring farmers are paid fairly for the work they do.
Credit to : IFA