Anyone else getting disincentivsed with farming?

[L P]

Went organic 8 years ago, that got rid of fertiliser spreading and spraying, which I enjoyed, but the figures work. Now looking at sfi which will likely fill in more gaps again... soon I won't much be needed for 3/4 of the year, ultimate streamlining maybe, and probably offensive to stock farmers... I can't sit idle for a day and I miss farming conventionally for the early starts spraying etc. Organic isn't easy to get right either... the middle bits I get rather bored quite quickly, no onus, no incentive...
I'm becoming frustrated that I should do more with myself, the farm is close to maximised IMHO, do I brave another incentivised job or is it too much?

 

[kit1023]

We all need a reason to go to work, we all have bad days how we deal with those bad days defines us. If you now have more time and are still "hungary" look for new opportunities, a farm offers a fantastic base for new ventures.

 

[Bokey]

Went organic 8 years ago, that got rid of fertiliser spreading and spraying, which I enjoyed, but the figures work. Now looking at sfi which will likely fill in more gaps again... soon I won't much be needed for 3/4 of the year, ultimate streamlining maybe, and probably offensive to stock farmers... I can't sit idle for a day and I miss farming conventionally for the early starts spraying etc. Organic isn't easy to get right either... the middle bits I get rather bored quite quickly, no onus, no incentive...
I'm becoming frustrated that I should do more with myself, the farm is close to maximised IMHO, do I brave another incentivised job or is it too much?

Do you regret going organic then?

 

[L P]

We all need a reason to go to work, we all have bad days how we deal with those bad days defines us. If you now have more time and are still "hungary" look for new opportunities, a farm offers a fantastic base for new ventures.

Used to contract farm 2500 acres, which I enjoyed but in our area is now cut throat, had a stint at groundworks which paid well but inconsistent work. Considering becoming a commercial pilot but uncertain it will end up fitting in with the busy period...

 

[L P]

Do you regret going organic then?

Not at all, financially at least. I do miss being busy farming all year, and I desperately miss immaculate crops... which is daft because we are better off

 

[lloyd]

Used to contract farm 2500 acres, which I enjoyed but in our area is now cut throat, had a stint at groundworks which paid well but inconsistent work. Considering becoming a commercial pilot but uncertain it will end up fitting in with the busy period...

Have you considered the priesthood?

 

[L P]

Have you considered the priesthood?

Not even briefly! Not many priests here being Christian not Catholic Church... couldn't do worse than our vicar though

 

[Bokey]

Not at all, financially at least. I do miss being busy farming all year, and I desperately miss immaculate crops... which is daft because we are better off

I thought being organic would be more labour intensive? It must be very liberating not being tied down with all the inputs

 

[teslacoils]

Used to contract farm 2500 acres, which I enjoyed but in our area is now cut throat, had a stint at groundworks which paid well but inconsistent work. Considering becoming a commercial pilot but uncertain it will end up fitting in with the busy period...

We used to contract farm 2500ac. Now I farm my own 250ac and work off farm. I am both richer and happier. If I could go down the SFI route and be a) richer, b) happier and c) less busy then I would without even a second thought.

 

[L P]

I thought being organic would be more labour intensive? It must be very liberating not being tied down with all the inputs

It's hugely intensive preparing ground for planting. Liberating I'm not sure, it's quite demoralising having time to watch crops struggle and grow away knowing there is a way to help them flourish... one chance for a whole season and its all in establishment

 

[L P]

We used to contract farm 2500ac. Now I farm my own 250ac and work off farm. I am both richer and happier. If I could go down the SFI route and be a) richer, b) happier and c) less busy then I would without even a second thought.

I'm a bit of a grumpy shite if I'm not busy... that has a price to pay

 

[Bokey]

It's hugely intensive preparing ground for planting. Liberating I'm not sure, it's quite demoralising having time to watch crops struggle and grow away knowing there is a way to help them flourish... one chance for a whole season and its all in establishment

You should start a thread an put some pics up throughout the year I'd be very interested in following it

 

[BuskhillFarm]

you should video the house your building and put on the YouTube! It would be worth the watch

 

[Bald Rick]

Damn tootin' right I am disincentivised with farming.

It appears that "profit" is a dirty word these days so instead we look for ways to reduce expenditure - either from environmental schemes or by cutting inputs/making do & mend

No way to run a business. Just pee!ng in the wind - which is blowing it straight back in to our faces bigly.

 

[PSQ]

Went organic 8 years ago, that got rid of fertiliser spreading and spraying, which I enjoyed, but the figures work. Now looking at sfi which will likely fill in more gaps again... soon I won't much be needed for 3/4 of the year, ultimate streamlining maybe, and probably offensive to stock farmers... I can't sit idle for a day and I miss farming conventionally for the early starts spraying etc. Organic isn't easy to get right either... the middle bits I get rather bored quite quickly, no onus, no incentive...
I'm becoming frustrated that I should do more with myself, the farm is close to maximised IMHO, do I brave another incentivised job or is it too much?

You could get a job with ‘Soil Association Exchange’, and tell everyone else they’re going to hell in a handcart.

It would appear that in partnership with Lloyds Bank and promoted by Farmers Weekly, they’re now going to be pushing the carbon farming agenda from their pulpit.

 

[teslacoils]

I'm a bit of a grumpy shite if I'm not busy... that has a price to pay

Oh I'm busy. Just different busy. Volunteering, social life, hobbies, travel, housework, children. All stuff that was put on the back burner when really they should come first.

 

[L P]

You could get a job with ‘Soil Association Exchange’, and tell everyone else they’re going to hell in a handcart.

It would appear that in partnership with Lloyds Bank and promoted by Farmers Weekly, they’re now going to be pushing the carbon farming agenda from their pulpit.

No thank you! I find it quite baffling what they are up to.

 

[SilliamWhale]

You could get a job with ‘Soil Association Exchange’, and tell everyone else they’re going to hell in a handcart.

It would appear that in partnership with Lloyds Bank and promoted by Farmers Weekly, they’re now going to be pushing the carbon farming agenda from their pulpit.

I don't understand what this is all about? Who's funding it etc?

All they are really doing is window dressing anyway. If they want farming to use no carbon we have two simple choices - eliminate diesel and fertiliser. Its that simple. All this playing around with methane and calcs for cover crops etc are just playing about

 

[lloyd]

Damn tootin' right I am disincentivised with farming.

It appears that "profit" is a dirty word these days so instead we look for ways to reduce expenditure - either from environmental schemes or by cutting inputs/making do & mend

No way to run a business. Just pee!ng in the wind - which is blowing it straight back in to our faces bigly.

Never mind you must have made a sh*t load last year.

 

[Bald Rick]

Never mind you must have made a sh*t load last year.

Not really as we reinvested in to cows and infrastructure as businesses that make a profit do.