What would it take.

Kiwi Pete · Nov 12, 2021

One of the hardest things to overcome is the message that "we aren't wanted/needed/liked", I can see that pervasive racket being played all over the show, it's the same with many things.

Remember that if you use social media and click on that sort of crap, then the algorithms then feed you more and more of the same thing

Thanks @Flatlander - fortunately just a sprained big toe and badly sprained ankle, a possible re-fracture of an old break, so I should be up and running in no time.

Was a complete bear getting up and down off the drill though

I said some very bad words as I ended up under the drill at one stage after slipping off the platform, clonked my head, wondered what kind of fool does this stuff!

Then it was last lap, nice job, thundershower just before and a great sense of completion and gratitude came with it

Roger Perry · Nov 12, 2021

MX7 said:
I find this thread interesting and it prompts me to ask the questions, to TFF members worldwide.
1 Who are the people who are going to buy your farms.
2.Why do those people want to buy your farm.
3. Where does the money come from so those buyers can buy your farm
It would be great if @Roger Perry ,@Flatlander ,@Kiwi Pete , etc and other TFF members around the world could comment on who is keen to buy farmland, despite the media making out livestock farming will be at thing of the past.

In my part of the world its' mostly irrigated, cropland is intensive under center pivot and sells by the quarter section (160 acres)
Decent light soils suitable for potatoes will make in the $1,000,000 to $1,250,000 per qtr, occasionally a bit more.
For farmers in for the long haul picking up a quarter or two is no sweat out of earnings............for people like my friend Casey who is a grain / alfalfa / sheep guy who a few weeks ago closed on 11 quarters at $740k per, a bit of help is required, he has good collateral so fixed a 30 yr deal with Farm Credit at around 4%.
America is still very much the land of opportunity and money can always be found if you have what it takes to make it work.

Tarw Coch · Nov 12, 2021

DrWazzock said:
Reminds me of the time the RT inspector asked me about my emergency plan.
Apparently “put the lot up for sale and move to the South of France with the cleaner” wasn't the right answer.

Ahh yes, they live those questions you can’t answer honestly, another example is what would you do with your cows/milk if you lose your farm assured status?
It won’t be any of your buisness if I ain’t farm assured isn’t the right answer.

czechmate · Nov 12, 2021

Bruce Almighty said:
I should've warned you a few years ago on ffuk, welcome to the livestock farmer's world

Actually, I haven’t had a full day away from this place since October 2016. I thought that was driving me mad. So, this spring, and for another big reason, I decided to do this years RAC rally. I am leaving next Thursday for 13 days. The preparation here to leave this place so my wife can manage on her own and the preparations for the rally are taking me so far out my comfort zone

, I’m starting to think I should just be staying here and continue pottering with cows

Kiwi Pete · Nov 12, 2021

All the best for the RAC, you poor sod

DRC · Nov 12, 2021

Flatlander said:
Longest field is just a fraction under two miles and 857 acres. At 7 mph drilling that a 15 minute nap assuming i wake up.

That’s twice the size of my acreage . Looks like it’s you guys that should be planting trees/hedges to save the planet , not us lot with average field size of 15 acres .

czechmate · Nov 12, 2021

silverfox said:
That’s twice the size of my acreage . Looks like it’s you guys that should be planting trees/hedges to save the planet , not us lot with average field size of 15 acres .

Son wrote me from Aus a few years back, he was combining a 20,000 acre paddock (not on his own

)

Tarw Coch · Nov 12, 2021

czechmate said:
Son wrote me from Aus a few years back, he was combining a 20,000 acre paddock (not on his own)

If that’s the size of their paddock, how bigs their fields?

neilo · Nov 12, 2021

Kiwi Pete said:
All the best for the RAC, you poor sod

+1 I hope you manage to stay away for the full 13 days @czechmate

neilo · Nov 12, 2021

Flatlander said:
My longer fields are river lots. Which when marked out many years ago would have given the owner access to water from the river to water livestock or for the house. Many years gave passed since then. Only ever found a couple of horse shoes. Big fields aren’t all they are cranked up to be. 250 is big enough in my mind

My biggest field is 17ac. I sometimes split that into two crops so that I don’t have to work it all in one go.

On another (grassland) block, I fenced a 9ac field in half as it was too big to be used most efficiently.

DRC · Nov 12, 2021

Biggest field here is 32 acres, but most are 12-16. Three lanes with double hedges as well, so annual hedge cutting bill of £2.5-3k yr

daveydiesel1 · Nov 12, 2021

When i come 50 if i make it that long and the weins arent interested in farmin as a full time thing il certainly cut back alot but cant decide which bit il cut back on as the poultry would be more financialy attractive and let the ground out l but i like workin way the milk cows more

Whitewalker · Nov 12, 2021

czechmate said:
Actually, I haven’t had a full day away from this place since October 2016. I thought that was driving me mad. So, this spring, and for another big reason, I decided to do this years RAC rally. I am leaving next Thursday for 13 days. The preparation here to leave this place so my wife can manage on her own and the preparations for the rally are taking me so far out my comfort zone , I’m starting to think I should just be staying here and continue pottering with cows

Can u do a thread for your journey. That’s probably a dream for many petrol heads . Enjoy it , few weeks time it will only be a memory and u will be back with the cows .

yours sincerely
Truly jealous

czechmate · Nov 12, 2021

Whitewalker said:
Can u do a thread for your journey. That’s probably a dream for many petrol heads . Enjoy it , few weeks time it will only be a memory and u will be back with the cows .

yours sincerely
Truly jealous

i have wondered that and may well do - in off topic

Whitewalker · Nov 12, 2021

czechmate said:
i have wondered that and may well do - in off topic

I’d campaign for an @czechmate category just for that

.

czechmate · Nov 12, 2021

Whitewalker said:
I’d campaign for an @czechmate category just for that .

ill start the thread

. Later. I think I will be in my own category anyway, as the only one nuts enough to be doing it without pace notes

Dman2 · Nov 12, 2021

I am just glad I`m nearing the end of my farming career and not just starting out.
Probably looking at another 3-5 years before we start making life easier for ourselves and enjoying things a bit more.
Lost the drive I used to have for the job a few years back

Cowabunga · Nov 12, 2021

Mr Mackay said:
Any really knee jerk reaction in legislation that makes the job virtually unworkable !!

You are dead lucky if you own the farm and have a black bank account .
If I was in the same position as 30 yr ago with 2 large mortgages and quota to buy etc,and this lot had popped up!!
Uncertainty like never before and the prospect of interest rises v soon .

So ,so lucky we dont owe anything any more and we can dive out of our small way ,whilst using the asset for other things plus a bit of dog and sticking !
In the meantime I still like to see the dairy cows ,but hellif I am going to let people push me into a corner !

So , rather than watching the canal pass us by for the last 50 years ,time to make the most of it

TB is a massive risk to cattle farmers and especially ones on the cusp of retiring. Cowfarmer Dan has just lost about 45 cows to it I think. He's also under movement restriction until tests are clear of course. I know of farmers that have been locked down for over a decade.

Whitewalker · Nov 12, 2021

I know it doesn’t suit everyone but since we started selling direct to customers it has been a more fulfilling job and I’m starting to enjoy farming again .

Cowabunga · Nov 12, 2021

MX7 said:
I find this thread interesting and it prompts me to ask the questions, to TFF members worldwide.
1 Who are the people who are going to buy your farms.
2.Why do those people want to buy your farm.
3. Where does the money come from so those buyers can buy your farm
It would be great if @Roger Perry ,@Flatlander ,@Kiwi Pete , etc and other TFF members around the world could comment on who is keen to buy farmland, despite the media making out livestock farming will be at thing of the past.

1. People with City property and cash

2. who want a paradise in the country.

3. See 1.

It helps if the farm is by the coast with leisure and development potential, has a council road with great access not a mile from a main trunk route. Has stunning views across the bay. Not too many acres and not too few. Ultra fast broadband. Nicely maintained hedges. Nice big, but not too big [four bedroom, two bathrooms, living room, parlour, dining room, utility room, cellar, modern kitchen, fire escape from upstairs, central heating, insulated loft. Garage for a nice BMW and Range Rover. Nicely maintained hedges. Room for helipad.
Great potential to rent some land out and hold events and parties on really idillic pastures with bay views. Quiet beach with access to launch a fair size boat.

By shear coincidence, that sounds remarkably like my farm.

Any takers? Sell with or without stock and machinery. Make a sensible offer.

If I was serious, and I really could be tempted, the time is probably right for me. I have no intention of investing huge amounts of money into expanding cattle facilities as 1. I am too old now. 2. I have no successor that is interested.

What would it take.

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0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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