The sun was shining on Monday when the Irish Farmers Journal made its way to Aghamore near Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo. It gave a false sense of spring because stepping out of the car the first thing to hit you was the snaring wind. Gary Shaw is in his third year of a share-milking arrangement with farm owner Tomás Murphy. He is milking 120 cows on a free-draining but very exposed farm. Gary Shaw, Aghamore, Co Mayo. While the altitude is not overly high at around 300ft above sea level, it’s very exposed to the elements, which Gary says is both a help and a hindrance. It helps to dry the soil after rain but it’s hard on stock.