Are farmers rowing back?

[Bald Rick]

Been noticing a lot of land on the Sainted Isle that previously had been farmed well (talking grassland here in the main) that this year is looking rank with thistles and other weeds common and the sward allowed to seed and go yellow.

As far as I am aware, it’s being farmed by the same people so I‘m guessing both a reduction in inputs and livestock

Is this similar in your area(s)?

 

[lloyd]

No but in other news i've seen one of those rare Deutz 6.81coming to auction.

 

[DrWazzock]

Been noticing a lot of land on the Sainted Isle that previously had been farmed well (talking grassland here in the main) that this year is looking rank with thistles and other weeds common and the sward allowed to seed and go yellow.

As far as I am aware, it’s being farmed by the same people so I‘m guessing both a reduction in inputs and livestock

Is this similar in your area(s)?

Yes. The number and size of “awkward corners” left to rewilding/schemes seem noticeably larger.
With the way commodity prices are I’m tempted to designate this whole farm as an “awkward corner” and just claim the grants but not quite yet. No, not this year. We will try growing something just one more time but the returns and hassle for the work are getting stupidly low especially as you get older. When I was young and enthusiastic low returns didn’t seem to matter as much. But somehow now they do.

 

[Bald Rick]

No but in other news i've seen one of those rare Deutz 6.81coming to auction.

Do tell

 

[Suffolksucklers]

I saw a beloved deutz for sale on Facebook

 

[Yale]

Our local tarmac farmer sees to any rough parcel bigger than a handkerchief.

 

[kfpben]

Farming harder than ever here. Rightly or wrongly!

 

[lloyd]

Do tell

Howard Pugh auctions.

 

[Bury the Trash]

noticed it for a year or 2 ,since the effects of expensive fuel / fert / machinery etc has kicked in i guess, natural, sensible reaction really .

 

[Bald Rick]

noticed it for a year or 2 ,since the effects of expensive fuel / fert / machinery etc has kicked in i guess, natural, sensible reaction really .

Makes me cry …. (Not really but I don’t like to see it as it’s symptomatic of the decline in U.K. agriculture)

 

[Bury the Trash]

Makes me cry …. (Not really but I don’t like to see it as it’s symptomatic of the decline in U.K. agriculture)

i don't see it like that. i see it that * people are thinking harder about what they do instead of just doing what they've always done.


*maybe


like just spending on lime instead of as much artificial n sort of thing, or saving grass for grazing in winter instead of mowing and scraping and putting so much under plastic like little round 'gifts'



note... incredible thunder storm here atm, the weather will have stopped /tempered some action this season as well i should think.... or will do if seasons alter anymore ,bound to.

 

[Bald Rick]

Which gladdens the heart more?

This …

Or this ..

 

[Bury the Trash]

Which gladdens the heart more?

This …

View attachment 1132662

Or this ..

View attachment 1132664

well the top is fit is just to cut great , but if i had mowed it and had the rain on it weve just had i would be just as happy with the bottom

not the ragwort tho. thats a different matter than what i mean. generally. deferred doesnt have to mean weedy .
but then its all about context ,horses for courses all our livestock are out doors 98% of the time,

 

[jimred]

Been noticing a lot of land on the Sainted Isle that previously had been farmed well (talking grassland here in the main) that this year is looking rank with thistles and other weeds common and the sward allowed to seed and go yellow.

As far as I am aware, it’s being farmed by the same people so I‘m guessing both a reduction in inputs and livestock

Is this similar in your area(s)?

You think it's bad there? Look on the fringes of most northern towns. Land going to waste increases every year. Urban vandalism, horseyculture, recent trend to rewild and land held due to speculation that planning will be obtained are all creating a swathe of abandonned land which is a complete eyesore to an agricultural minded person.

 

[Bald Rick]

well the top is fit is just to cut great , but if i had mowed it and had the rain on it weve just had i would be just as happy with the bottom

not the ragwort tho. thats a different matter than what i mean. generally.

But that’s the problem. Once you take the foot off, invasive weeds take hold.

Under McSharry, I took permanent Set aside on one field and by the time it was scrapped (& because I didn’t bother spending money on topping), it was growing buddleia and pussy willow amongst other assorted weeds.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Which gladdens the heart more?

This …

View attachment 1132662

Or this ..

View attachment 1132664

My local busy body would love the last one & would run with her smart phone in camera mode if she heard a chain saw.

Give her a change from taking pictures of any fallen walls of mine & putting them on face book.

 

[Devil's advocate]

You think it's bad there? Look on the fringes of most northern towns. Land going to waste increases every year. Urban vandalism, horseyculture, recent trend to rewild and land held due to speculation that planning will be obtained are all creating a swathe of abandonned land which is a complete eyesore to an agricultural minded person.

Outskirts of Leeds & Wakefield been like that for at least 50 years, full of coloured horses. When you think some of that is grade two former market garden land, you cry.

Not quite as bad around Sheffield & Barnsley.

 

[jimred]

Outskirts of Leeds & Wakefield been like that for at least 50 years, full of coloured horses. When you think some of that is grade two former market garden land, you cry.

Not quite as bad around Sheffield & Barnsley.

Go nearer Pennines and it's even worse, Bradford, Halifax, Burnley etc. Lot of land I can remember carrying dairy cattle now ragwort, thistles and tumbled down stone walls.

 

[puppet]

Lot of fields round here just been cut 6 weeks later than normal with dead grass because of the wet July. Made it look wild so will be interesting to see next year

 

[Tamar]

Which gladdens the heart more?

This …

View attachment 1132662

Or this ..

View attachment 1132664

The top picture takes expensive fertilizer and will only last a couple of years.

Second pic will probably produce the most profit.