Tenanted Stock Farm - Ideas Please

Norfolk Itch-Ants · May 25, 2020

Hi,

In the 6 years we've been farming we've been producing beef on a contract for a restaurant chain with a (decent-ish) fixed price. Its been a nice gig until Covid 19 did its thing and the scheme has abruptly ended.

So we are looking for ideas for something new. Diversification is discouraged by L/lord's agent. We had a 22 year FBT when we moved here nearly 2 years ago so 20 years remaining.

The farm consists of 105 acres grassland with 1600m2 cattle housing, muck store, hard standing for up to 1000 silage bales plus house etc
Some grass reseeding is underway and infrastructure is going in for paddock grazing. We don't tend to get involved in growing crops as we are in a mixed farming area with plenty of grain / maize available locally if required.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

Frank-the-Wool · May 25, 2020

Norfolk Itch-Ants said:
Hi,

In the 6 years we've been farming we've been producing beef on a contract for a restaurant chain with a (decent-ish) fixed price. Its been a nice gig until Covid 19 did its thing and the scheme has abruptly ended.

So we are looking for ideas for something new. Diversification is discouraged by L/lord's agent. We had a 22 year FBT when we moved here nearly 2 years ago so 20 years remaining.

The farm consists of 105 acres grassland with 1600m2 cattle housing, muck store, hard standing for up to 1000 silage bales plus house etc
Some grass reseeding is underway and infrastructure is going in for paddock grazing. We don't tend to get involved in growing crops as we are in a mixed farming area with plenty of grain / maize available locally if required.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

Why not just find another market. You were very vulnerable with only the one outlet anyway.
Presumably you are finishing something over 100 cattle a year if you are growing your own forage etc.

There are a number of high value outlets looking for direct supplies. Quality butchers are looking for more beef as are outlets like Farmdrop.
What was the specialty you were using to sell to this high end chain? Presumably you were just selling whole carcasses and not cutting.

The present price of beef looks as if you have a few options. The commercial market for the right cattle look to be giving a fair return if you are able to obtain stores at a sensible rate.

Werzle · May 25, 2020

Norfolk Itch-Ants said:
Hi,

In the 6 years we've been farming we've been producing beef on a contract for a restaurant chain with a (decent-ish) fixed price. Its been a nice gig until Covid 19 did its thing and the scheme has abruptly ended.

So we are looking for ideas for something new. Diversification is discouraged by L/lord's agent. We had a 22 year FBT when we moved here nearly 2 years ago so 20 years remaining.

The farm consists of 105 acres grassland with 1600m2 cattle housing, muck store, hard standing for up to 1000 silage bales plus house etc
Some grass reseeding is underway and infrastructure is going in for paddock grazing. We don't tend to get involved in growing crops as we are in a mixed farming area with plenty of grain / maize available locally if required.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

Rear a big bunch of calves every autumn and finish them or sell store at around two years old, that way they only really have one winter on your farm as adult cattle. OR like the girl from S4C buy in quality bullers every year £1000-£1300 and sell with calves by there side 12-14 mths later (if they pass the tbt) for £2000-3000.

Norfolk Itch-Ants · May 25, 2020

Hi Frank,

We were taking 150 reared calves annually through to finish at 600 kg LWT selling whole carcasses.

Grazing was a key component of the scheme along with participating in the customers marketing, particularly on social media.

What sort of 'high value outlets' did you have in mind?

Humble Village Farmer · May 25, 2020

If you can retail the eggs, free range hens are a nice little sideline.

Frank-the-Wool · May 26, 2020

Norfolk Itch-Ants said:
Hi Frank,

We were taking 150 reared calves annually through to finish at 600 kg LWT selling whole carcasses.

Grazing was a key component of the scheme along with participating in the customers marketing, particularly on social media.

What sort of 'high value outlets' did you have in mind?

What did you have that made your previous outlet pay a premium price for?
Presumably these are only dairy beef crosses?

If you can finish these cheaply enough (and buy them for a low price) then a commercial outlet is not the end of the world as they are likely to net well over £1k each.
If they were natives, pasture fed etc then you would be able to find local butchers or high end wholesalers for that type of product.

betweenthelines · May 27, 2020

I'd be offering the beef to farm shops. You already tick a few boxes, grazing, marketing through social media, etc.

And do a butchery course or take on a butcher, and go for the farmers markets and meat box (and meat pie) business.

Jimmy (of Jimmy's Farm) seems to do OK and he looks a right idiot.

Better to stick with what you know and are good at that try something different

glasshouse · Jun 7, 2020

Norfolk Itch-Ants said:
Hi,

In the 6 years we've been farming we've been producing beef on a contract for a restaurant chain with a (decent-ish) fixed price. Its been a nice gig until Covid 19 did its thing and the scheme has abruptly ended.

So we are looking for ideas for something new. Diversification is discouraged by L/lord's agent. We had a 22 year FBT when we moved here nearly 2 years ago so 20 years remaining.

The farm consists of 105 acres grassland with 1600m2 cattle housing, muck store, hard standing for up to 1000 silage bales plus house etc
Some grass reseeding is underway and infrastructure is going in for paddock grazing. We don't tend to get involved in growing crops as we are in a mixed farming area with plenty of grain / maize available locally if required.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

The restauraunt will surely reopen?

caveman · Jun 8, 2020

glasshouse said:
The restauraunt will surely reopen?

And if it doesn't.......
Take it over.

Tenanted Stock Farm - Ideas Please

Norfolk Itch-Ants

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Frank-the-Wool

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Werzle

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Norfolk Itch-Ants

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Humble Village Farmer

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Frank-the-Wool

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betweenthelines

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glasshouse

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caveman

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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

May Event: The most profitable farm diversification strategy 2024 - Mobile Data Centres

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