Collaborative Farming Arrangements

Collaborative a farming involves two or more farmers working together in a formal arrangement for the mutual benefit of all those involved in the agreement.  Successful agreements require co-operation, compromise and trust.  The main benefits of Collaborative farming arrangements are;

Economic

• Increase profitability and competitiveness
• Create efficiencies of scale
• Improved use of skills

Social

• Create a better work/life balance
• Reduce stress and workload
• Improve health and safety

Other

• Improve environmental sustainability
• Assist in delivering of new technologies
• Facilitate expansion, succession planning and progression

The main Collaborative arrangements represented in Ireland are;

• Registered farm partnerships
• Succession Farm Partnerships
• Contract Rearing
• Land Leasing
• Share Farming
• Cow leasing
• Machinery Sharing Arrangements
• Contract Cropping

Latest Publications

• Guidelines to forming a registered farm partnership
• Guidelines to long term land leasing
• Guidelines to contract rearing

Articles – Today’s Farm

• Making contract rearing a ‘win-win’ for all involved (PDF) – July/August 2024
• Succession Farm Partnerships (PDF) – May/Jun 2020
• Heifer rearing under contract (PDF) – Mar/Apr 2018
• Beat the rush – start work on your Family Farm Partnership (PDF) – Sep/Oct 2016
• Contract Rearing – why it is worth considering (PDF) – May/Jun 2016
• Taking the ‘Con’ out of conacre (PDF) – Mar/Apr 2016
• Collaboration? – take the broad view (PDF) – Jan/Feb 2016
• Partnership Preparation (PDF) – Jul/Aug 2015
• What to consider before leasing dairy cows (PDF) – Mar/Apr 2015

• Collaborative Farming: The Options

• Neighbours in a Farm Partnership

• Contract Rearing Part 1: The Benefits

• Contract Rearing Part 2: Making it Work

• Contract Rearing Part 3: Weighing the Heifers

• Contract Rearing Part 4: Breeding Management

• Farm Succession in Action - 1

• Farm Succession in Action - 2

• Farm Succession in Action - 3