Suffolk Serf
Member
- Location
- Bury/Thetford
Isn't relying on the continuation of subsidies also a dangerous business model? (No subsidies for pig farmers!)
Does size matter?
- Thread starter bald on top
- Start date
Isn't relying on the continuation of subsidies also a dangerous business model? (No subsidies for pig farmers!)
multi power
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
Of course 50 acres of grain will pay for a combine, drill etc , just not a new combine
Class senator bought for £850, new belts for it £450, fit to do 50 acres a year no problem. Seed drills 4-500 quid on ebay or throw the seed on with a fert spreader... Or don't bother with either and throw it on by hand. claas square baler from neighbour for a mornings help with his cattle (ten days hobbling after from a kick though) a few thousand for an old 2wd international, few hundred quid for an old tipping trailer, I bought a full built in grain drying set up, drying floor, burner, blower, elevators conveyors and a bin for 600 quid and a couple of days to help strip it out.
- Location
- Bedfordshire
Forever Fendt
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
Rough
- Location
- Fife
You're right, they could still be losing money.
The whole country could do this though, or a variation there of. There's nothing to stop you from trying to direct sell your corn. You can always do more to cut out the middle man.
- Location
- Durham, UK
Sometimes thought that but it seems these threads just go around in circles when a certain poster gets involved. My near neighbour farms 175 owned acres plus 70 rented, sells so much as commodities but a hang of a lot as door trade. spuds, rolled oats, wheat, hay, straw, muck and its major part of his business and he does very well. Also contracting. I think he has most bases covered.Anyone else think boss might be Clive or sleep in disguise, or even old grumpy.
Just here to liven the forum up in quiet times
- Location
- Lincolnshire
It won't pay for big shiny new ones, but it will keep some good old ones in work for years. I only have 65 acres of combinables this year. I'll use the old well maintained machinery to work it. Bet my costs per acre for machinery are some of the lowest in the county. A few knife sections for the combine and away she goes. Out the shed into the field not going for miles before I even get started. No staff to pay.
On that sort of acreage you can let the yellow ball in the sky do the drying for you
But it will pay a contractor
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
Which means a very high cost per acre and therefore a waste of time
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
I could section off 0.2 of an acre and do it all by hand and have the lowest cost in the country but it wouldnt be a full time job
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
These are the sort of machinery costs we had when i was a kid had a few old combines repaired them ourselves, all the tractors and equipment were old too as we were paying up land, but we were doing 300 acres not 50, its a lot if work and time keeping old kit maintained and running not worth it for 50 acres just rent it out
Jonny B88
Member
- Location
- ballykelly. NI
Niche enterprises are still that, farming enterprises! They may not be mainstream but who cares it's adding value to your business! I am hoping to start a deer farming enterprise here and that is definitely not common here. Does this mean I am no longer farming this ground!?
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
Im aware of this but surely something like a shop would be considered a niche enterprise and not farming, deer, turkeys, etc are still farming and if you can make a good living with them good luck to you but the rest of the country wont be doing it as there is very limited demand
Plough /work /drill 30
fert spead 5
spray 5x2=10
combine & cart 33
Total 78 /acre or about £25 /ton including fuel
I really dont think many large cereal growers would be much less with their labour power and machinery costs
Jonny B88
Member
- Location
- ballykelly. NI
You could argue there is limited demand for cereals currently!
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
Do you include your time for fixing the old kit or does it never break down?
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
Compared to deer and turkey?