400 acres, 40 miles away.

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
We don’t go that far but do have blocks of land at distance, its really not a problem if you set up logos is to suit, biggest issue of course being harvest. If there is grain storage there then it’s doable, if not I wouldn’t bother unless it was REALLY cheap
What size would you travel for? Like Tim said earlier if it was 1500 acres it would be much easier to consider!
 

lloyd

Member
Location
Herefordshire
The big risk is losing your economy of scale by adding another layer of labour, machinery and management on a small area. You’ll end up subsiding the new block with your efficient current one. If it were 1500ac it would merit more serious consideration IMO.

Yes but it could be a starting base to create a bigger more efficient model which stands on its own feet!
As for management he already states he has spare capacity as others are involved in the existing
business by the sound of it.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
I think if I did it I would use contractor for spraying and all liquid fert. Drilling would be ok. Combining might be a bit tricky, I’m cutting about 2900 acres now with one machine, but again there are plenty of contractors about who could do a bit here and there.

I am more worried about the general management of it because inevitably I won’t see as much of this land as I do land next door.

Efficiency is multiples of combine capacity - if you go beyond what 1 machine can cut you will not be better off
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
Yes but it could be a starting base to create a bigger more efficient model which stands on its own feet!
As for management he already states he has spare capacity as others are involved in the existing
business by the sound of it.
This is the hamster wheel!
The OP said a big part of his thinking is because he likes farming lots of land which isn’t really a sound business plan.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
What size would you travel for? Like Tim said earlier if it was 1500 acres it would be much easier to consider!

Furthest we go at the moment is 22miles for a very nice (good soils, big fields) 850ac ring fenced easate - takes 45mins in a tractor and we put good logistics in (fert tanks, spray store etc). It’s not a big problem

I think it depends on the individual case and logistics

But adding acres for the sake of it is stupidity that has got many farmers in trouble - we are here to make money and not to fuel ego. I would just as happily farm 100ac if it made more money than 100,000 !
 
Last edited:

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
The Australian farm I worked on based output on the area worked by a Quadtrac. We did 90,000 acres+ of broadacre with 6 Quads plus some on the more intensive irrigated cotton land. All cultivators were designed for 350hp machines.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
This is the hamster wheel!
The OP said a big part of his thinking is because he likes farming lots of land which isn’t really a sound business plan.

It’s a recipie for a farm sale in fact !

This is everything that’s wrong with Uk farming - too many people like doing it too much and are happy to pay to play at big farmers !

That’s not helpful for those of us that need to make a living from it
 

lloyd

Member
Location
Herefordshire
This is the hamster wheel!
The OP said a big part of his thinking is because he likes farming lots of land which isn’t really a sound business plan.

One persons idea of efficiency is different to anothers.
Unless all the land you farm is equal in return of profits
then lots of farmers renting land should be ditching the poor
areas farmed ,concentrating on the better land and reducing their machinery spend.
Some will say it depends on the price of a commodity on given year but its
not hard to average the prices of the last decade then index link them to inflation.
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
One persons idea of efficiency is different to anothers.
Unless all the land you farm is equal in return of profits
then lots of farmers renting land should be ditching the poor
areas farmed ,concentrating on the better land and reducing their machinery spend.
Some will say it depends on the price of a commodity on given year but its
not hard to average the prices of the last decade then index link them to inflation.
That’s obvious
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
Furthest we go at the moment is 22miles for a very nice (good soils, big fields) 850ac ring fenced easate - takes 45mins in a tractor and we put good logistics in (fert tanks, spray store etc). It’s not a big problem

I think it depends on the individual case and logistics

But adding acres for the sake of it is stupidity that has gone many farmers in trouble - we are here to make money and not to fuel ego. I would just as happily farm 100ac if it made more money than 100,000 !
As usual, you are spot on.
 

lloyd

Member
Location
Herefordshire
It’s a recipie for a farm sale in fact !

This is everything that’s wrong with Uk farming - too many people like doing it too much and are happy to pay to play at big farmers !

That’s not helpful for those of us that need to make a living from it

Most on here enjoy farming so don't see why it should be an exclusive club for a few.
In fact you could argue those who have diversified into far more profitable enterprises
don't need to farm thus giving others a chance:)
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
Most on here enjoy farming so don't see why it should be an exclusive club for a few.
In fact you could argue those who have diversified into far more profitable enterprises
don't need to farm thus giving others a chance:)
This is a ridiculous attitude you can’t play at large scale farming when you are looking after other people’s assets. If a contract farmer is losing control of his costs by expansion at any cost then this will have a knock on effect to the customers.
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
Whats that to do with what i posted.
Anyway goodluck Lexion 1000 hope it works out well.
It does.
Anyway, best of luck and hope it works if it can be kept simple. The best way to do it would be fbt and block it out, 3 crops and CFA could be a real hassle!
 
Furthest we go at the moment is 22miles for a very nice (good soils, big fields) 850ac ring fenced easate - takes 45mins in a tractor and we put good logistics in (fert tanks, spray store etc). It’s not a big problem

I think it depends on the individual case and logistics

But adding acres for the sake of it is stupidity that has gone many farmers in trouble - we are here to make money and not to fuel ego. I would just as happily farm 100ac if it made more money than 100,000 !
Good logistics are fert tanks and a spray store? Well I’m glad you reminded me because I was going to store the fert in buckets and just leave the sprays on pallets.
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
Who knows, sometimes these opportunities only arise once in a lifetime, but I once had a client who was offered some land way, took it on, farmed it like it was own and then out of the blue the guy neighbouring it ended up offering 300 acres right next door to it as well...(y)
As long as he doesn’t lose the 500 acres next door to home because he’s spending far too much time 40 miles away!
 

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