Anonymous...
Member
Don’t forget you also need to be bloody rude to anyone who may disagree with you
Do Scottish suckler farmers need support??? Here are the figures
- Thread starter Bossfarmer
- Start date
Don’t forget you also need to be bloody rude to anyone who may disagree with you
There will be an hourly figure at the back or the report for unpaid labour. It was about £15/hr last year I think.
It' the housing and associated costs that are the biggest killer IMO. Keep the stock outside all the time and it can be profitable even with all paid labour.
It' the housing and associated costs that are the biggest killer IMO. Keep the stock outside all the time and it can be profitable even with all paid labour.
two things I notice is that 1, there is only 26 farms in the sample, are you really telling me that there are only 26 lowland suckler farms in scotland ? If not then thats hardly representative sample is it and 2 there looks to be plenty of scope to improve things there, such as increasing income by finishing stock, not sure why it makes sense to take the risky birth period produce a good calf then sell it for someone else to finish it, if they can buy stock and make a profit then surely the calf producer can have that profit for himself
Red Fred
Member
- Location
- Hants/Dorset border
The majority of dog and stick farmers probably have their figures in their heads or on a fag packet so don't care to take part in the survey as it isn't all to hand. This isn't a criticism, just an observation. There's more than one way to skin a cat and every farm is different.
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
Get your facts straight before making such claims the english farmer gets the payment too its just in the form of a higher basic payment
- Location
- Fife
I need to pay the tax man, as I need to make a profit to draw from the business and live.
We are soon moving to a new house on a housing estate/cul de sac. I will have a drive and a double garage, but will still need to pay the mortgage from my net pay.
I don't want a pickup. It would not match the van for load capacity, meaning I'd need a trailer to move the quad. This would dramatically increase fuel consumption and tie up the tow bar, requiring two trips if I need the handling system and quad at the same time. As far as is possible, I don't take the van off road - that is what the quad is for!
I have a 12ft stock box, but bought it second hand 3 years ago.
The quad and Rappa winder are my only bits of agricultural plant. I don't need a tractor as my handling system is fully UK road legal, and I can lift a dead sheep on my own. If I couldn't, I'd use the quad to tow it to the van, then load it with the pulley.
I know your post was tongue in cheek, but I thought I'd explain my thought process a little.
Regardless, all of the above is irrelevant, as I'm not a real farmer, but a lowly contract shepherd.
Edit: dog and stick farming doesn't necessarily mean low output or low profit.
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I will take the grants and headage any day.
- Location
- North Somerset.
My dog and stick farming operation is now so refined and efficient that I have been able to let the dog go. ( sacked rather than letting it run off!)
Stevethemeat
Member
Fixed costs are where savings can be made, anyone who doesn’t employ anyone, doesn’t use contractors, can grow their own straw, owns most of their land, can manage with older kit, no borrowings and does their own books would make a tidy profiteven without subs.
If they did all the work they still wouldent make a profit as there doing there own books and no requirement to borrow so I would guess at a profit around the top of the tax allowance lol
- Location
- North Wales
Ye it was tongue and cheek. What you are @unlacedgecko is an example of why UK farming won't drop off the cliff if sub's were to stop. You haven't been brought up with a traditional system of farming and are prepared to do/try something different to make it work. Your skills and drive may be valuable one day to pick the pieces up If UK ag was to hit the wall in a post subsidy era.
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- Location
- Limousin/Charentes toad land
Trouble is, I've been there, done that, got the T shirt. It's ok when your young and keen but the novelty wears thin
- Location
- North Wales
Me too, moved on to warmer Clime's.Trouble is, I've been there, done that, got the T shirt. It's ok when your young and keen but the novelty wears thin
- Location
- North Antrim
The day of the contract shepherd may be just around the corner.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
My Scottish uncle suckler farmer finds that a telecoms mast is an essential part of a suckler enterprise. It's enabled him to carry on well into his eighties with his hobby.
- Location
- Limousin/Charentes toad land
- Location
- Lincolnshire
£5k pa. Wish we had one.
- Location
- Fife
Thank you for the kind words.
I recognise that in it's current format my business is indirectly depended on subs - my hill farming customers use them to pay me for wintering their stock. However, if/when subs end I hope to be well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities for livestock returning to arable farms.
- Location
- Fife
Trouble is, I've been there, done that, got the T shirt. It's ok when your young and keen but the novelty wears thin
Fingers crossed I will be as successful as you. If/when I am I hope to be a lot more content that you appear to be. Hopefully the future improves and you find some happiness.
Do you need a payment to motivate you to keep a calf alive?
looks like a good idea, I just thought it was a strange farmer outfit