Collaborative Farming Arrangements

Collaborative farming is two or more farmers working together in a formal arrangement for the mutual benefit of all those involved in the arrangement.

The main benefits of a collaborative arrangement are:

1. Economic – a collaborative arrangement can offer farmers increased returns through the ability to achieve scale at a lower capital cost; the reduction of costs which are duplicated between farmers; and risk sharing.
2. Skills – The possibility of sharing best farming and business management practice.
3. Social – Joint farming ventures can help to address the social challenge of the ‘one man farm’ model making farming a more attractive occupation.

The main collaborative arrangements being encouraged in Ireland are:

• Registered Farm Partnerships
• Contract Rearing of Replacement Heifers
• Share Farming - Dairy
• Share Farming - Crops

Latest Publications

• Guidelines to forming a Farm Partnership (PDF)
• Guidelines for Long-term Land Leasing (PDF)
• Stepping Stones to a Career in Dairy Farming (PDF)

Articles - Today's Farm

• Succession Farm Partnerships (PDF) - May/June 2020
• Heifer rearing under contract - March/April 2018
• Beat the rush - start work on your Family Farm Partnership - September/October 2016
• Contract Rearing - why it is worth considering - May/June 2016
• Taking the 'Con' out of conacre - March/April 2016
• Collaboration? - take the broad view - January/February 2016
• Partnership Preparation - July/August 2015
• What to consider before leasing dairy cows - March/April 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