The much anticipated and hugely popular Irish Grassland Associations’ Dairy Summer Tour for 2010 will take place in south county Limerick on Tuesday 27th July. The Charleville Park Hotel will act as the event centre, as it is easy accessed from all routes and provides ample car parking. All those attending should check in at the hotel from where they will be bussed to the host farms.

Once again we have lined up two excellent farms for this event. Pat and Olive Weeks farm near the village of Kilfinane where they are currently milking 120 cows. The herd consists of approx 75% Jersey cross cows. Come and see for yourself these tremendously capacious cows and where to next for this for this commercial herd. At the moment this farm is in an aggressive expansion phase and on the day we will evaluate the different options that were available to pat and Olive.

The second farm is that of Aidan, Mary and Fichara Liston from Croom in County Limerick. This family team milk 180 cows on their attractive, well laid out farm, focusing on a simple labour efficient system. Unlike the Weeks this farm is coming to the end of an expansion phase and we hope to answer questions such as how far can you push stocking rate without negatively affecting profit? Both farms are herd health conscious and take a proactive approach to same.

And if that wasn’t enough you’ll get to see profit data from their profit monitors, as well as their current management issues such as breeding and grassland performance. All in all a great day is promised.