My Farming Week – Viola Mc Sharry – July 2012

My Farming Week – Viola Mc Sharry – July 2012

 Viola is a busy mother of three young children, who farms at Upperwood, near Grange Co. Sligo on a typical family farm. She has the help of her husband, Aidan, and her father in law Paddy Mc Sharry. Paddy is a great help both for his knowledge, advice and assistance with everyday tasks. Viola keeps 15 cows, which are mainly Limousin/ Simmental cross and 4 replacement heifers this year. Viola operates a strict culling system and strives for autumn calving, but the replacement heifers will calve in August. Her goal is to produce quality weanlings for sale and sufficient heifer replacements to help maintain a closed herd.

She uses all AI and is very pleased with the results of this system. She consistently receives top prices for her weanlings at the MED Annual Autumn Sale, which is held in October each year.

It has been a difficult grass year, and Viola likes to save her 25 acres of silage over 2 days, but due to the wet weather the silage was ensiled in one (very long) day and the silage had  less time for wilting than she would like. However despite the adverse weather conditions she has the first cut round baled and only marginally behind schedule.

It has been a difficult grazing year, but the wet humid conditions mean grass growth is now good. Accordingly, Viola is now using an electric fence paddock grazing system to prevent poaching and stemming.

She planted broadleaf trees on the farm this year and is just completing the associated fencing, while also doing other fence repairs at the same time.

She is also occupied with general farm maintenance tasks and preparation of calves for weaning.

Viola also keeps 4 sport horses, mainly for the enjoyment of the family.