Are there any opportunities left?

[haybob]

A one man band business can ride the storms better . Your in a good position mate.

 

[Hilly]

Already been contracting for 6 or 7 years.

My best customer retired. Another changed what the were doing and not ploughing anymore.

Im not losing money and im not doing big acreages. But by the time the bills are paid theres not much in it and it wont ever expand given how many are at the same thing.

I keep my eyes open all the time for opportunity but like you I always feel it’s done to death and blokes I know who do lots of contracting all struggle to get good operator’s and often moan about what they end up paying them , it often crossed my mind that the new opportunity is being the opperator not the owner and as I say if you have you own land it would make that side of life easier for you rather than have everything tied up in gear, just a different approach but only your self knows what you really want to do and be happy doing.

 

[M-J-G]

Forget buying machines , just drive for them that have do a good job and charge a fair price you will be better off less hassle and can concentrate on your own stuff as much as you like.

⬆
What he said

 

[kill]

I have a 3 ton digger, and it does quite a bit of work. I lose a lot of work because its too small.

I want to buy a 8 ton with breaker/grab etc and go from there.

But i need to get away from agri and more into construction side of things.

I once tidied up behind network rail after they did a job on my land. I charged what i thought was a pretty hefty bill. He told me after the other contractors would have been double that. I was offered more work but i didnt have the right tickets

Get the tickets then?????? Council work is similar as the tickets put a lot off but it gives a far easier ride for the few that have them????

 

[Goweresque]

Surely its all down to location? Round these parts getting anyone to do anything for less than a King's Ransom is nigh on impossible. All the trades are booked up months in advance. I know a bloke who runs a little waste disposal business, 6 cubic meter cage on the back of a transit van, all legit, waste management licence etc, £190 per load, he's run off his feet, drives a new Jag changed every few years and pre-covid was off on foreign holidays every 2 months or so............

 

[Spud]

Hedgetrimming/laying/planting/fencing?
Little bale hay & straw?
Lgp spraying?

 

[berisford]

Shortage of people to put sheet on clamp after finishing.

 

[bobajob]

Will it limit your opportunities where you are located (it's right in the north of Scotland is it not?)
Is there much going on locally?
Would you need to move/ consider moving to get more customers.?

 

[Skintagain]

Get your tickets. Without them these days you are limiting yourself to low paid work with your Digger.

Sell one of the tractors and buy an 8 tonner.

Keep the agri contracting as a hobby.

I see a lot of excuses rolling out and I think you need to be more positive you are in an excellent position in life if you are healthy.

 

[Hilly]

Get your tickets. Without them these days you are limiting yourself to low paid work with your Digger.

Sell one of the tractors and buy an 8 tonner.

Keep the agri contracting as a hobby.

I see a lot of excuses rolling out and I think you need to be more positive you are in an excellent position in life if you are healthy.

Then their is the dreaded hse and insurance when you step away from agg , the dreaded method statements etc etc etc , some opt for the lesser agg rate for less bull poo.

 

[Skintagain]

Then their is the dreaded hse and insurance when you step away from agg , the dreaded method statements etc etc etc , some opt for the lesser agg rate for less bull poo.

I know what you are saying but he doesn’t seem happy with the ag side. 13 tonner might be better for ditching/draining/pulling all these trees out in 10 years lol

 

[Fendt516profi]

Stonepickers | Elho

ELHO Scorpio stone pickers collect stones efficiently! ELHO Scorpio stone pickers are designed and manufactured on the west coast of Finland, where large amounts of rocks and stones of all sizes were deposited during the Ice Age. Our ancestors have fought with stones for centuries, and to this...

www.elho.fi

 

[Hilly]

Dont know. 30k?
I have all the stuff to reseed fields, plough, cultivate sow etc.

95hp and 160hp tractor

3ton digger

Plus a few other things.

Never went the baler route cos everyone is at it

My calculator said no to baling when a good new baler was 12k and tractor to pull it was the same , the rate has only went up 50p a bale since.

 

[Hilly]

I know what you are saying but he doesn’t seem happy with the ag side. 13 tonner might be better for ditching/draining/pulling all these trees out in 10 years lol

Just depends on weather or not happy doing that stuff eh .

 

[Nithsdale]

Shortage of people to put sheet on clamp after finishing.

The young lads with twin beacons and grassmen shirts are like rats from a sinking ship as soon the last trailer load gets pushed up the pit

 

[Pasty]

Surely its all down to location? Round these parts getting anyone to do anything for less than a King's Ransom is nigh on impossible. All the trades are booked up months in advance. I know a bloke who runs a little waste disposal business, 6 cubic meter cage on the back of a transit van, all legit, waste management licence etc, £190 per load, he's run off his feet, drives a new Jag changed every few years and pre-covid was off on foreign holidays every 2 months or so............

Out of interest, what does he dispose of?

 

[40 series]

Get the tickets
Get the right public liability insurance
Get an 8t possibly 10 zero tail swing
Look for conservation work or if you want to become an employer look into the construction utilities sectors.
I personally wouldn't want to be an employer.
All the best with what you decide

 

[Sid]

My calculator said no to baling when a good new baler was 12k and tractor to pull it was the same , the rate has only went up 50p a bale since.

Its not just about the rate but about output as well.

How many bales an hour would a 80hp tractor with a narrow pick up string tying complete per hour compared to 140hp with net wrap and a wide pickup?
20 v 60?

 

[icanshootwell]

Farmers don’t spend money, so if you want to make a lot per hour, look outside of agriculture.

Window cleaning
Chimney sweep
Flat pack furniture assembly

 

[Henery]

Someone I know has taken on a part time gardener, cut grass , weeding £27 per hour, look after fruit and veg also £27 per hour and half the produce ! I have a cousin doing similar work on the Wirrall and he said was a bout right, and mostly paid in cash