After a “treble whammy’’ of low milk prices, high interest rates and challenging weather, the last year has been one of the more difficult ones in Richard Rogers’ farming career but for him it is still one of the best occupations in the world.

“I can do what I want, when I want and how I want, at least most of the time!’’ he says.

“The challenging times make you appreciate the good times and when things are good it’s the most rewarding industry you can be in, bar none. I regard myself to be very lucky.’’

Richard produces milk on three farms on Anglesey, former beef and sheep units that he converted to dairying, and is a partner in a fourth farm off the island.

Milking was first produced at Tre Ifan in 2015, and was rolled out at Bodrida Farm in 2018, and then at Cefn Dderwen in 2020.

His family has been farming in the south west corner of Anglesey for nearly a century, since 1927 when his grandfather purchased Bodrida Farm.

They were originally beef and sheep farmers, fattening around 2,000 lambs and 400 cattle a year.

In 2012 an intensive rotational grazing system was introduced for the purpose of finishing dairy-bred males using a high proportion of grazed grass.

Three years later, to further enhance production from grass, Richard entered into a joint venture to provide an opportunity for employee, Gethin Roberts.

Gethin had worked for the family since he left college in 2006 and by converting Tre Ifan to a dairy farm it provided an opportunity for him to become a partner in the enterprise on that farm.

They established a 360-cow spring calving dairy unit on the 90-hectare farm, which had been purchased in 2010.

Richard, who farms in partnership with his mother, Margaret, then set up the other two milking units and now produces milk from around 900 spring calving cows on a grass-based system.

All are individual businesses in their own right and are managed by individuals who have an equity share in the businesses they manage.

“We are exceptionally fortunate to have a settled team of dedicated and skilled people to drive the business forward, I couldn’t do without them,’’ says Richard.

Drawing in talented young people and offering them opportunities has been instrumental in driving the business forward.

“I consider it very important to provide opportunities that give young people a chance to get a foothold in the industry,’’ says Richard, NFU Cymru’s county chairman for Anglesey.

“Dairy farming in general faces a major challenge in attracting good quality people who want to work in it. We have a duty to make farming an attractive proposition for young people.’’

With labour shortages in the dairy industry well documented, he believes joint ventures will become more commonplace.

“Dairy farming is in an enviable position to be able to offer equity to individuals within the team, allowing them to grow personal wealth as the business in which they work also grows.

“We expect a high level of commitment from the people who choose to make dairy farming their career, is only right that they get a share.’’

Richard describes the ability for staff to grow equity, experience management, even move on to farming in their own right, as a “win win for all concerned’’.

“I’m not a socialist but somewhere in me is a little bit of socialism, to get the best from people and for our businesses you have got to share it around a bit.’’

Excellent grassland management is key to the system with emphasis placed on prolonging the grazing season for as long as possible, on reducing feed costs and on increasing animal performance as a means of increasing output and profitability.

Pasture is the farm’s most valuable asset and Richard therefore has no intention of sacrificing his productive land to meet the proposed 10% tree cover and 10% habitat target in the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme.

“I just won’t do it, I can’t afford to do it. We have structured our business according to the land base we have, the financial implications of taking out 10% are just ridiculous, and I don’t think HSBC would be best pleased either!’’

At 48 he has no plans for further expansion, instead consolidating what he has created to ensure that there is a strong structure in place for the next generation.

Richard’s three sons, Deio, Tomos and Jack, are almost certainly destined to follow in their father’s footsteps.

“There are so many opportunities for them to get a career outside farming, so many different avenues they could take, but they seem set on farming so over the next few years my aim is to pay off some debt and to give them a solid base to get started.’’