Challenges of farming Farming is a complex business

Challenges of farming

Farming is a complex business which involves many challenges • Like having enough money • Climate change • The crops if they are successful or not

Like any other business farmers need to manage their finances, while caring for the environment and efficiently producing grains and animal produce. • They have to look after their soils, water, pastures, crops and livestock. • Farmers also have the extra challenge of not knowing if they will have enough rainfall, frosts or if the temperature will be ideal.

They face the extra challenge of running their business in a changing climate, where they are at the mercy of the weather.

Farmers need to be able to plan for the future and adjust their practices to allow for variation in the seasons and climatic conditions. This allows them to utilise the water which is available more effectively

They also have to manage their business by timing their operations according to market prices, feed availability

Mixed Farming

What is mixed farming? Mixed farming is when both crops and animals are grown on the same farm and these interact with each other.

How Mixed Farming can help farmers • Sometimes the grain and hay from cereal crops and pastures may be more fed to live stock to reduce input costs for the livestock

• Lower grade grain hay might be of more financial value when fed to your own animals rather than selling cheaply • Mixed farming allows you to work throughout the year • Mixed farming allows for better utilisation of your land other farm resources