Where are all the farm kids eventually working?

Turnip · May 23, 2023

Looking in my family most farmers had 2 or more kids, yes Catholic before anyone starts. But with all the crap the EA, NE, scientists, and others are getting on here why aren't farm kids encouraged to join those organisations or start careers in research that can actually help farming. The way you change organisations is from the inside and usually (in my experience) only one kid takes over the farm so what do the others do?
Full disclosure I don't have kids myself.

wanton dwarf · May 24, 2023

I would like to see Farmers getting more help.

However, the reality is that funding mainly comes from Organisations & Governments with an agenda & bias.

So if people want to get on in their career, create a family and have a reasonable life - they have to tow the line. Further, who is going to publish a White Paper that goes against the grain ? It's taken a very long time to even get to the stage of Water Companies admitting some of the pollution they emit.

I doubt we are seeing the half of pollution by Sewerage farms - most nutrients go out the farm gate not out farm drains. All those nutrients and more (Imported food, detergents, commercial & industrial waste) gets dumped into Rivers by Water Companies.

I bet the pollution is off the scale compared to farming - probably at least an order of magnitude.

Davy_g · May 24, 2023

Most children raised on a farm have a strong work ethic and many transferrable skills non farm kids are not brought up with. Many are smart enough that if they want to, they can get a good education and couple that with the work ethic, when they start in industry they often find they move up / on quickly. I have generalised, but many never come back to farming.
Kids that grow up on a farm and want to farm - do not want to work in the jobs you mention as they know they are in the most part quangos, parasites and in many ways a hinderance to farming rather than a help. So you end up with educated non farming folk in these jobs with at times questionable decision making.
I work offshore - not surprising how many guys were raised on farms or fishing boats. A fair chunk are ex military too and then there is everyone else.

kiwi pom · May 24, 2023

Turnip said:
Looking in my family most farmers had 2 or more kids, yes Catholic before anyone starts. But with all the crap the EA, NE, scientists, and others are getting on here why aren't farm kids encouraged to join those organisations or start careers in research that can actually help farming. The way you change organisations is from the inside and usually (in my experience) only one kid takes over the farm so what do the others do?
Full disclosure I don't have kids myself.

They perhaps are encouraged they just don't want to do it?

Bald Rick · May 24, 2023

I wonder how many kids actually achieve their ambitions and work where they've always wanted to work? Very few I expect.

glasshouse · May 24, 2023

After the things my kids have heard me say about planners, subsidy inspectors, farm assurance people, they wouldnt touch the job

delilah · May 24, 2023

Turnip said:
The way you change organisations is from the inside

Then we need to encourage the kids to run for Parliament. Trouble is, do any of us hate our kids that much ?

Frank-the-Wool · May 24, 2023

I have one who is in London and in a large advertising company, mostly works from home and only goes into the office a couple of times a week, never interested in farming.
Daughter married a Dairy farmer but works off farm as a land and property manager.
Oldest son on the farm and tries, with difficulty not to work 7 days a week!!

Grandchildren may take up farming as they have the ethic but I fear unless there is some magic profit to employ more people at a decent salary then even more will leave for pastures new.

Devil's advocate · May 24, 2023

glasshouse said:
After the things my kids have heard me say about planners, subsidy inspectors, farm assurance people, they wouldnt touch the job

How about land agents

Tim W · May 24, 2023

Turnip said:
Looking in my family most farmers had 2 or more kids, yes Catholic before anyone starts. But with all the crap the EA, NE, scientists, and others are getting on here why aren't farm kids encouraged to join those organisations or start careers in research that can actually help farming. The way you change organisations is from the inside and usually (in my experience) only one kid takes over the farm so what do the others do?
Full disclosure I don't have kids myself.

Why should a child go to work somewhere to help your chosen profession?
Kids are individuals and have a life of their own and this doesn't always mean doing what mum & dad did

My dad sold bearings /seals etc ---why didn't i go into his line of work?
Because i liked wallowing around in cow slurry

Devil's advocate · May 24, 2023

Brother has accountancy practice.

Cousin Proffesor of Geolgy

His daughter works in Rishi's office compiling stats.

Another of extended family Solicitor.

Plus the usual warehouse workers, fork truck drivers

Usual mix.

Boysground · May 24, 2023

After my son left uni he tried a very good agriculture related desk job. He didn’t last 6 months, just wanted to be actually farming. So he came and worked for me before spending time dairy farming in Canada. He’s been back working properly for me for a while now. He is a real asset to the business.

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Boysground · May 24, 2023

Devil's advocate said:
Brother has accountancy practice.

Cousin Proffesor of Geolgy

His daughter works in Rishi's office compiling stats.

Another of extended family Solicitor.

Plus the usual warehouse workers, fork truck drivers

Usual mix.

I have a cousin who is a professor of oncology. All she really wants to do is farm, that part of her genetics has never left. Her dad is still farming at 80

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wrenbird · May 24, 2023

Turnip said:
Looking in my family most farmers had 2 or more kids, yes Catholic before anyone starts. But with all the crap the EA, NE, scientists, and others are getting on here why aren't farm kids encouraged to join those organisations or start careers in research that can actually help farming. The way you change organisations is from the inside and usually (in my experience) only one kid takes over the farm so what do the others do?
Full disclosure I don't have kids myself.

Looking at some of the government quangos you have listed, from what I know of the experiences of others, you are unlikely to be considered for a job with them if you are coming from a farming background with a farming mindset.
As for science and research, so much of that nowadays appears to show the outcome that whoever funded the research expected it to find. He who pays the piper calls the tune.

toquark · May 24, 2023

I work in forestry alongside the farm. A lot of folk in that gig with a farming background - similar lifestyle, similar environment, lower risk and higher reward.

B'o'B · May 24, 2023

wrenbird said:
Looking at some of the government quangos you have listed, from what I know of the experiences of others, you are unlikely to be considered for a job with them if you are coming from a farming background with a farming mindset.
As for science and research, so much of that nowadays appears to show the outcome that whoever funded the research expected it to find. He who pays the piper calls the tune.

People with pragmatic get the job done attitudes rarely last long in these areas, simply due to frustration at not being able to cut through the bureaucracy and culture within the organizations. So they leave if the even get a foot in the door. There are several very practical posters on TTF who have worked for the EA and the often state their frustration.
I am currently working on a project with a university and more than once I have just got on and dealt with a problem while they are all still trying to decide which day to hold a meeting to discuss what to do!

Tonka · May 24, 2023

Farming is like a closed shop. A very general comment - but I'd say not welcoming at all to those not involved in the industry. Such a massive divide between urbanites and those brought up in rural situations.
The world is so much smaller today. Basically you can go do anything, anywhere.....if that's what you want.
Why is the offer of farming at home more attractive than what's on offer around the world?
.

Exfarmer · May 24, 2023

When I retired I applied for a job in the EA for which by nature of my life I copnsaidered I was well qualified for. Filled in all the forms supplied the references etc. never heard a word since. I suspect apart from my knowledge, being white British male did not help as the form seemed particularly concerned on that front

Ffermer Bach · May 24, 2023

son is a computer programmer

B'o'B · May 24, 2023

Tonka said:
Farming is like a closed shop. A very general comment - but I'd say not welcoming at all to those not involved in the industry. Such a massive divide between urbanites and those brought up in rural situations.
The world is so much smaller today. Basically you can go do anything, anywhere.....if that's what you want.
Why is the offer of farming at home more attractive than what's on offer around the world?
.

I’ve had a few people from a non Ag background work for me/with over the years, some have been excellent some less so. Some have amazing work ethics. One guy used to run 8 miles to work from town and then run home, I can’t think we ever managed to wear him out beyond him needing a quick breather!

Where are all the farm kids eventually working?

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Up to 25%

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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