Are there any opportunities left?

[Bignor Farmer]

Larger digger, saw blade and post bumper. Be the guy who can push the overgrown boundary back, dig the ditch, plant the new hedge and put the fence up.
Plenty of new grant money and arable reversion coming down the line and always plenty of pony paddock work.

 

[Chae1]

Go and drive a lorry.

 

[Sid]

Not knowing what gender the OP is but the website onlyfans has gained a lot of popularity in lockdown with both genders i hear.

 

[Hilly]

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?

I agree , same for farming we now produce more for not very much more , we are all in same boat .

 

[Hilly]

Out of interest, what does he dispose of?

Body’s

 

[toquark]

As others have said, I’d be very tempted to let the other lads scrap it out and drive for them. You call the shots as to much you do or don’t do, your pay is money in the bank, no depreciating machinery, no hassle with customers who don’t cough up. Concentrate on your own place to satisfy your business urge.

 

[kfpben]

Not knowing what gender the OP is but the website onlyfans has gained a lot of popularity in lockdown with both genders i hear.

Yes I’ve seen those big fans in dairy sheds. Great for preventing heat stress

 

[hoff135]

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.?

Yes really, cant move because this is where my land is and i also like it here.

Theres plenty work happening. New houses popping up everywhere.

 

[hoff135]

I dont regret giving the agri contracting a go. Its what i always wanted to do. I have decided to put some of the prices up for this year, if no one wants me in then thats too bad i guess. All my stuffs paid for so all its costing is insurance.

To be fair though id have been better off with a part time job and no hassle. And then you have the neighbour cutting grass for 20 to 25 pounds an hour, really makes no sense running 160hp tractors for 35 which is all youll get here. But i wanted to do it and i did. Life would be boring if we always took the sensible route

 

[Wolds Beef]

Just an idea! Have you a ready market and customers near by? Could you grow or produce for a farmers Market or box delivery. I believe this is going to be a growing market for those that can afford it.
WB

 

[redsloe]

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

Well, I think your answer is right there. Sell the surplus gear for a bigger digger, get the tickets and get back there immediately!
A couple people around here has built massive businesses by getting contracts with the council in the last few years. Parked up most of the time but still get paid!!

 

[Deutzdx3]

Have been agricultural contracting for a number of years. Never in a big way, just a side line. More and more people trying to get into it. Id say there will soon be as many balers as fields round here.

Looking at maybe changing direction and getting into more groundworks. But again theres diggers poping up everywhere. But i get a steady amount of work with my little 3ton machine.

Failing that what else? Im in my mid 30s. No debt, no kids, not to many worries. Will inherit a small farm which i run just now which provides a very modest living which i could easily top up with casual work here and there.

However id really like to start and run a proper business rather than just stay at the same level all the time. Given im not responsible for a family etc and have a good base here youd think someone willing to work and push things would have a chance but its very difficult. Everything is done to death. Local village has gone from 1 to 5 joiners in the past few years. All people setting up on their own.

Whats left to do?

I feel a bit down that ive not actually achieved very much apart from knock my pan in for little reward.

Any inspiration?

Add: farm shops/ touristy things are not really my cup of tea.

What about getting into portal frames and site levelling, making wood chip for biomass. Or set up installing and emptying septic tanks. Good money in that, local chap does very well from it with 6 lorries on the road.

 

[ollie989898]

In this area there is endless demand for a guy who can turn up with a tractor, dump trailer, mini and midi diggers, chainsaw and the like. All jobs that can be done all year round and they work well in hand with farming because most farms have a need for rubble, soil or can dispose of wood chippings and the like. Get your machines, decide how much you want to earn per day yourself, cost in your machinery and put adverts in local shops and local rags.

An 8 tonne digger with a thumb or maybe a grab/tree shear and the like would find a lot of work around me because the tree surgeon I used had to do a big job for a local authority and couldn't find anyone to do it so ended up buying the machinery himself.

 

[Goweresque]

Out of interest, what does he dispose of?

General household and business waste. Nothing toxic, no builders waste. House clearances, businesses having a tidy up, getting rid of pallets etc, people sorting their garages, that sort of thing. He comes and clears all my plastic and cardboard waste every once in a while. It all goes to landfill locally. He's just a skip on wheels basically.

 

[Sid]

As others have said, I’d be very tempted to let the other lads scrap it out and drive for them. You call the shots as to much you do or don’t do, your pay is money in the bank, no depreciating machinery, no hassle with customers who don’t cough up. Concentrate on your own place to satisfy your business urge.

Two scenarios.
Work done for 2 contractors, machine and operator, still waiting for payments.
Work done for different contractor, labour only, paid at end of month on dot.

 

[delilah]

Plant operation on the railway. Very good money, partly because of the anti-social hours, partly as compensation for having to work with a load of numpties.

 

[Highland Mule]

Plant operation on the railway. Very good money, partly because of the anti-social hours, partly as compensation for having to work with a load of numpties.

I think the OP is in East Sutherland, so railway not really an option.

 

[Tomo23]

All these suggestions about 'just go and do for someone else'.
It's not all about the money. What's the point in getting up in the morning if you have nothing to strive for. Get to your last days and you want to have something to look back on and something you've achieved and for your family to be proud of.

Those saying 'just go and do for someone else' I reckon are mostly business owners with something they're proud of.

Where would they be now if their forefathers 'just went and did for someone else'!

 

[fred.950]

Ignore this short sighted advice. There is money in anything as long as you are prepared to work for it and charge the correct rate. I’d say look at jobs people hate! Look at jobs that are very labour intensive that you can somehow mechanise. If you follow ( which you aren’t ) you’ll lose money. If you are happy to drive other peoples kit and make them money ( which you aren’t ) then crack on. To say contractors make no money simply isn’t correct . How. Many have gone bust over the last 10 years

I agree, you also can’t underestimate the value of being your own boss or accumulating assets. I’m cash poor but have stock and machinery that I wouldn’t have if I drove for somebody else.

 

[Will Wilson]

Surprised no one has mentioned training yet - what's stopping you getting tickets for machinery or studying for a business qualification part time. It might not give you the answer but it will help in the future and open your eyes to opportunities outside agriculture?

Just a thought.