Totally disagree with everything you have said. A low input system is not necessarily always more profitable than a high input system. How can a beef/ sheep farmerset his own output price?
Any livestock farmers making any money
- Thread starter cattleman123
- Start date
No but a high input or low input system its a case of lower COP is better - As long as it doesn't effect cashflow.
Value added produce would be a start, or even, since as everyone says the supermarkets are absolutely creaming it, why not sell direct? I've seen several companies selling meat and dairy successfully online.
Niche market though trying disposing of 20 million lambs that way but I get your point
No depends how much capital,casflow and labour you have -profit per acre on secure land and profit per production unit (cow/ewe/ton ) on other land
I sell some as meat packaged etc tbh its not woth the hassle but it helps the other things(marketing story etc) in the shop , the processing charges kill it , but would need to sell alot of meat to take that side on (staff & facilities etc ) beef is ok but don't sell much lamb - perceived as to dear .
The best farmers I know aren't full time farmers. They had enough sense to realise that they wouldn't be able to make a living off the land so they went and got a job. They are much more efficient with their time and they make the farm work for them. They dont spend time pricking around the mart or the merchant or whatever like a lot of farmers I know.
There is a serious problem with agriculture in that people think that they should be able to do what they always did and they should entitled to make a living. In no other industry would a business lose money every year and still keep doing the same thing and be able to stay in business.
A lot of people need to take a step back and realise how lucky they are to be farming. I'd love to be able to farm full time but unfortunately on 70 acres it isnt realistic so I work as well. And I'm making a few euro from the farm too. And I wouldn't count myself as a top class farmer
livestock 1
Member
I think you have answered it yourself
livestock 1
Member
I can see opportunities coming for you when the subsidy comes off. At the moment the sub system in a way makes a fool out many things. I did have a lot of land rented on short term lets mainly for sheep with some for crop. I could get it easily when the sheep trade was bad for sensible money but when things lifted maybe around 2010 /2011 the rents became steeper and a combined issue with people taking sheep off for schemes then throwing the money at keep. Also there is an element who don’t rent ground on its ability to service the rent but as an added bonus to aid the management of the farm with the rent paid out of some of the sub/scheme money from their own ground, something I’m not willing to do. As this happened I cut the short term rented land back as the main thing it was making was work and not so much cash. I have discussed this with many people and the general thought is that rents will get less. So with the lack of people wanting to work with sheep and less sub/scheme money I think opportunities will arise for you and me. Hang tight best of luck.
don't need to wait for subs to go if indeed they do their are opportunities now, just have find them and take them
livestock 1
Member
There are plenty of my freinds who farm and have jobs working elsewhere. Most of them use their wages to plough into the farm to keep the farm running. I take my hat off to these folks as I couldn’t see myself sitting comfortable with this situation. I rarely go to a farmers merchant for anything as I get them to deliver otherwise I send my 75 year old mother. I don’t have time to spend at marts even when I sell stock I just drop them off and go home sometimes I’m back home before 7.30 am or earlier in fact it will be years ago when I waited to sell sheep at a mart. I’ve had borrowed money since 15 years old so loosing money has never been an option for me it has always had to show a profit. I don’t think I’m entitled to anything and realised this soon in business. I have had to change constantly to do what makes a profit and I am still changing all the time. I wouldn’t class myself as a top class farmer either. I do think however to make a living from farming entirely is an achievement
livestock 1
Member
True rents are generally too high in my opinion
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
And for me hopefully! Things could all happen pretty quickly over the next couple of years.
livestock 1
Member
Be nice to see the work rewarded
As someone who buys stock to feed that is the most important job, you have no control over feed, fuel, fat price, etc. but you have control over the price you pay so the day you buy them is the day that makes or loses your money.Pricking around the Mart
I always think the few hours spent in market when we are selling stock are some of the most profitable few hours we spend in the year, always go to market to see the stock sold, if folk want to call it pricking around that's up to them
livestock 1
Member
Time well spent. I can spend it better having a day at home. There’s a job around every corner here so standing at the mart isn’t for me. Been called brave or stupid nevertheless waiting isnt great and it’s harder than a days work
- Location
- Ardrossan Ayrshire
I think that the op may have been referring to the folk who go to 2 or 3 different markets every week but neither buy or selll............
depends if @unlacedgecko expects a nice big ring fence farm dumped in his lap at a cheap rent or if he is up for taking opportunity where he finds it
sheep eat grass and there is grass to be had for the right price just have to find it then find the sheep at the right price to eat it
when selling I go to market to market our stock not for anything else
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