Karl Matuszka has been farming for more than 40 years, but recently traded dairy farming for a “slower pace of life,” which for him means focusing on tillage, beef and mostly forestry.
Farming has been in Matuszka’s family for generations. Carl’s father was a farmer in Germany before the family moved to Ireland.
On his farm in Moone, Co. Kildare, Matushka spoke to Agriland About why he left the dairy farm.
“I think the main reason was because I turned 66 in January and I wanted to live a slower life,” he said.
“Dairy farms are open 24/7. The second reason is that we had a family conversation and the family did not want to be involved in dairy farming.
“Once that was clear, it was time to move on. I was very happy to move forward with this pace of life and take care of the farm in a more environmentally friendly way.”
This meant a move to tillage, where he hired 70ac; Along with 100 acres of beef, which Matuszka personally takes care of; and Forestsover 60ac, which he hopes to expand to 90ac.
He described the forests as something “my son and I will be messing with for the next 30 or 40 years.”
While forest grants have been available for decades, they have become more generous in recent years, according to Matuszka.
“Around 2023, Pippa Hackett “We have organized a new package, a new forest strategy, and it has gone up by 40 to 60 percent,” he said.
He added that this package “made a lot of people think, is it worth going into?”
“It’s worth it to me,” he said.
Retirement plan
“Trees have always been pushed as a retirement plan because they represent a very good pension,” Matuszka said.
“I think it’s working for me. Maybe it won’t work for everyone, but for me there will be good income coming in because we’re in rotation.
“My father farmed and my uncle farmed, so the rotation is constant.
“I benefit from their farming and now my son will benefit from my farming and it will continue.
“So there will always be money coming from it. It won’t be a full pension, but it will help with an integrated agricultural system.”
advice
While the forests are very long-term, Matuszka advised paying constant attention to the trees.
“I think it’s important for forests not to close the gate on them once they’re planted,” he said.
“I was inclined to do it because of the dairy industry. The dairy industry has always taken priority and some of the farms here have suffered from that.
“But it’s nice to actually walk them on the weekends, see what the problems are, see what pests are eating them. I’ve learned a lot over the years.”
Matuszka said it was important to “go out and work with the trees and be an active part of them.”
“It may be an efficient grass-based farm, but with forests, it’s also important to have it there.”
