Anyone thinking of seizing the day?

[kfpben]

Following on from the fairly depressing ‘Anyone thinking of calling it a day’ thread, is anyone looking to grab their farm business by the scruff of the neck and expand/intensify/stack enterprises?

Around me we have plenty of guys in their 20s, 30s and 40s looking to expand. Dairies adding numbers and improving yields, and a couple of small ones starting up. Sheep farmers going up in ewe numbers and grazing herbal leys/SFI grass.

A friend of mine has started a large new laying hen business. Arable farmers going into direct drilling, strip tillage and other new techniques.

Some vineyards are still going in, a high input, high value crop requiring a skilled workforce to grow it.

I appreciate this is in the Lowland south of England, but we aren’t all just on the wind down, are we!?

 

[kfpben]

Lambs currently fattening on this herbal ley …hopefully going for near record prices for the time of year if the market stays as it is plus the SFI/ha payment.

 

[warksfarmer]

The problem is not people in the industry. The problem is the governments of recent times who want to import food. You can invest and expand but ultimately if they want the industry shrunk, they’ll get it.

 

[muleman]

No, the jobs in a bad way

 

[kfpben]

The problem is not people in the industry. The problem is the governments of recent times who want to import food. You can invest and expand but ultimately if they want the industry shrunk, they’ll get it.

I get what you mean, but from this farm we export a lot- lamb, spring barley and wine.

It wouldn’t surprise me if a third of what we produce goes abroad. It’s not all imports.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Love it as I always have done from my/ our point of view its no harder now to get on tbanwhen we started decades ago.
Not sure about expanding but no intention of cutting back either.

Good thread too much whinging going on Imo, certain amount t of letting it out is necessary and healthy normal, but constant misery on every subject all. The time won't help anyone.on the contrary.

 

[warksfarmer]

I get what you mean, but from this farm we export a lot- lamb, spring barley and wine.

It wouldn’t surprise me if a third of what we produce goes abroad. It’s not all imports.

As import agreements come to an end and get adjusted then our food exports will be swapped for uk technology in exchange for food imports. Same goes for new agreements occuring now.

 

[Green oak]

This farming industry is led by government. Just do as your told.

 

[milkloss]

Seize the day eh?

carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero translates as "Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow".

It's tomorrow that's the problem.

 

[Henarar]

We have more sheep than we have had before [still not that many] and putting more than ever to the tup this year.
Cattle will stay about the same for now

 

[David.]

A sheep processor I spoke to last week is not banking on much increased numbers.

 

[Exfarmer]

Following on from the fairly depressing ‘Anyone thinking of calling it a day’ thread, is anyone looking to grab their farm business by the scruff of the neck and expand/intensify/stack enterprises?

Around me we have plenty of guys in their 20s, 30s and 40s looking to expand. Dairies adding numbers and improving yields, and a couple of small ones starting up. Sheep farmers going up in ewe numbers and grazing herbal leys/SFI grass.

A friend of mine has started a large new laying hen business. Arable farmers going into direct drilling, strip tillage and other new techniques.

Some vineyards are still going in, a high input, high value crop requiring a skilled workforce to grow it.

I appreciate this is in the Lowland south of England, but we aren’t all just on the wind down, are we!?

It has always been thus, take your chance, see a market and do not be afraid to change track

 

[CORK]

If things get bad/worse, costs will come down and opportunities will arise.

Nothing ever stays the same, to think they do is foolish.

 

[warksfarmer]

If things get bad/worse, costs will come down and opportunities will arise.

Nothing ever stays the same, to think they do is foolish.

These are unprecedented times though. We live in a world that believes climate comes before food and everybody is equal. As the global population explodes land becomes more valuable and those that hold it, have all the power.

 

[CORK]

These are unprecedented times though. We live in a world that believes climate comes before food and everybody is equal. As the global population explodes land becomes more valuable and those that hold it, have all the power.

If it doesn’t pay to produce food, it soon will.

If climate change does get serious, it will likely cause price spikes which may provide nice profit opportunities if you’re lucky to be the one with the grain.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Following on from the fairly depressing ‘Anyone thinking of calling it a day’ thread, is anyone looking to grab their farm business by the scruff of the neck and expand/intensify/stack enterprises?

Around me we have plenty of guys in their 20s, 30s and 40s looking to expand. Dairies adding numbers and improving yields, and a couple of small ones starting up. Sheep farmers going up in ewe numbers and grazing herbal leys/SFI grass.

A friend of mine has started a large new laying hen business. Arable farmers going into direct drilling, strip tillage and other new techniques.

Some vineyards are still going in, a high input, high value crop requiring a skilled workforce to grow it.

I appreciate this is in the Lowland south of England, but we aren’t all just on the wind down, are we!?

Vineyards, incredibly high cost and high risk, nearly as risky as betting on horses or dogs at the racetrack!!!

 

[kfpben]

Vineyards, incredibly high cost and high risk, nearly as risky as betting on horses or dogs at the racetrack!!!

Tell me about it! Big appetite for risk needed and an understanding bank manager!

 

[Exfarmer]

Vineyards, incredibly high cost and high risk, nearly as risky as betting on horses or dogs at the racetrack!!!

Vineyards are easy money like much of farming if you want to make a million, start with 10

 

[Pan mixer]

If I was 20 years younger I would look upon this 'crisis' in Ag like the Chinese

'Crisis is danger together with opportunity'

As it is I am looking at it as a grumpy old bloke with no successors.

 

[warksfarmer]

If it doesn’t pay to produce food, it soon will.

If climate change does get serious, it will likely cause price spikes which may provide nice profit opportunities if you’re lucky to be the one with the grain.

How are you going to compete with africa when they start producing food? They are investing (with our foreign aid budget) in irrigation systems so they can grow food in the desert.
Can you compete with russia as they bring more land into production?
And then theres south america and so on.

The uk is a tiny little island with a standard of living thats to high meaning we cant reduce costs any further so farmers diversify to subsidise their farming operation.

Our future is selling carbon credits I’m afraid.