Are us "Normal Farmers" getting left behind??

[Bossfarmer]

Speaking to a friend from aberdeen yesterday its the same in his area as it is in mine the big guys are not looking back its one thing after another expansion at a scary rate turbines and AD plants into the MWs guys farming 6000 acres of cereals, a guy growing 1800 acres of tatties guys milking 2000 cows and then i look at the normal farmers and its clear to see most are struggling, being forced to sell cows, being forced to sell kit for cashflow and get the big guy to contract farm the place im worried that current prices and being a traditional mixed family farm mean i havent progressed much lately and cant see how i can compete in the future guys like this

It seems there are a few successful farmers in each area and heaps of unprogressive ones which will after this generation no longer exist

 

[Grassman]

Is there such a thing as a normal farmer?

 

[Courier]

This is the current norm for the Dynamic Industry which is "Agriculture".

 

[ARW]

There isn't much opportunity for the next generation around here, small tenanted farms are swallowing up by larger farms while the house and yard is either sold or let to some sandal wearing tree hugger.
I also see landlords not investing in farm buildings and farm properties, I think this shows the huge gap between the building trade rates and ag trade.
If ag was better paying, rent would be higher and improvements for the future is affordable.
There will always be smaller farms but getting a start is nearly impossible unless you have money to burn.

 

[Sussex Martin]

Well you've explained the problem near the end of your post, 'cant see how i can compete in the future guys like this'. Are they your competition? If you think they are then you certainly have a problem .
Not back at school yet then?

 

[Bossfarmer]

Is there such a thing as a normal farmer?

yes just your standard family farm that farms their own place and does most of the work themselves

 

[Bossfarmer]

Well you've explained the problem near the end of your post, 'cant see how i can compete in the future guys like this'. Are they your competition? If you think they are then you certainly have a problem .
Not back at school yet then?

of course they are, all farmers are competing on price for everything they sell and everything they buy, the margins continue to get smaller and these big guys are so big now that they can make money on 15,000 tonnes at £10/t profit a guy only selling 500t is in trouble going forward

 

[Henarar]

they will all peg it one day same as the rest, it won't save the greedy buggers

 

[Bossfarmer]

befo

they will all peg it one day same as the rest, it won't save the greedy buggers

Ive been waiting years on some of the big tattie guys to go bang, next thing u know theyve spent 4m on a farm its not happening

 

[Grassman]

So the beloved subsidy isn't actually stopping this happening as you have repeatedly told us it was doing.
In reality the subsidy and farm business tenancy have made this happen quicker.

 

[Bossfarmer]

The subsidy keeps them going but its not enough to actually progress much, take it away now and the big guys will take everything

 

[worker]

yes just your standard family farm that farms their own place and does most of the work themselves

well if guys that inherit most of their farm for free still can't make a profit perhaps they should not be farming?

 

[Bossfarmer]

well if guys that inherit most of their farm for free still can't make a profit perhaps they should not be farming?

If your referring to me you are mistaken weve been building the place up since i was a kid but im still small compared to these big outfits

 

[Henarar]

well the bigger they are...................















































.........the harder it is to find a hole to fit

 

[Whitepeak]

Speaking to a friend from aberdeen yesterday its the same in his area as it is in mine the big guys are not looking back its one thing after another expansion at a scary rate turbines and AD plants into the MWs guys farming 6000 acres of cereals, a guy growing 1800 acres of tatties guys milking 2000 cows and then i look at the normal farmers and its clear to see most are struggling, being forced to sell cows, being forced to sell kit for cashflow and get the big guy to contract farm the place im worried that current prices and being a traditional mixed family farm mean i havent progressed much lately and cant see how i can compete in the future guys like this

It seems there are a few successful farmers in each area and heaps of unprogressive ones which will after this generation no longer exist

You can't judge a farm business by how much land they are buying/renting, how many cows they're buying or how many big shiny tractors they have flying about. For all you know they are probably all on finance and they are making no more or even less profit than yourself, and it's all owned by the bank.
Just concentrate on your own business and stop "farming next door"!

 

[Bossfarmer]

You can't judge a farm business by how much land they are buying/renting, how many cows they're buying or how many big shiny tractors they have flying about. For all you know they are probably all on finance and they are making no more or even less profit than yourself, and it's all owned by the bank.
Just concentrate on your own business and stop "farming next door"!

Its the scale that gives them strength though they buy tractors etc in fleets bulk buy, afford the best of technology many of these guys even own their own factories and potato companies

 

[Clive]

Speaking to a friend from aberdeen yesterday its the same in his area as it is in mine the big guys are not looking back its one thing after another expansion at a scary rate turbines and AD plants into the MWs guys farming 6000 acres of cereals, a guy growing 1800 acres of tatties guys milking 2000 cows and then i look at the normal farmers and its clear to see most are struggling, being forced to sell cows, being forced to sell kit for cashflow and get the big guy to contract farm the place im worried that current prices and being a traditional mixed family farm mean i havent progressed much lately and cant see how i can compete in the future guys like this

It seems there are a few successful farmers in each area and heaps of unprogressive ones which will after this generation no longer exist

you need to really stop worrying about other peoples business and focus on your own ! trust me, you will sleep much better !

 

[Clive]

Its the scale that gives them strength though they buy tractors etc in fleets bulk buy, afford the best of technology many of these guys even own their own factories and potato companies

no, it usually just gives them bigger overdrafts !

 

[Sonoftheheir]

@Bossfarmer, What @Clive says ^

Here is one of my neighbours -

https://www.allee-farms.co.uk/about_us.html#

Will I ever be like him? No, and I gave up thinking about it years ago.

Concentrate on what you have, who knows what the future will bring.

 

[onthehoof]

A fair lot of these big firms will be right on the edge of a big cliff , it only takes a small trip and it'll be a long way down. They have to have the big kit just to get round doesn't mean it's all paid for, I'd rather have no finance, no overdraft and no depreciation, that's 3 less things to worry about if it all goes titsup