- Location
- Lincolnshire
Whereas I'm the opposite in almost every way.
Are you planning to jump ship?
- Thread starter beardface
- Start date
Stating the obvious a VERY big decision to make.
Ok talking about it but when the Auction day of the farm sale arrives, and all your machinery etc is lined up to go under the hammer,it’s only that morning you will be thinking, “I’ll be glad to see the back of that lot” or “Oh dear what have I done!”.
Of course if you have sold the farm with a few million coming your way, you’re in a rather different situation to tenant farmer selling ,who I doubt will few million coming his way.
Unfortunately that’s how it is and always will be.
Ok talking about it but when the Auction day of the farm sale arrives, and all your machinery etc is lined up to go under the hammer,it’s only that morning you will be thinking, “I’ll be glad to see the back of that lot” or “Oh dear what have I done!”.
Of course if you have sold the farm with a few million coming your way, you’re in a rather different situation to tenant farmer selling ,who I doubt will few million coming his way.
Unfortunately that’s how it is and always will be.
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
In a nutshell
Amen
- Location
- Essex
Can also rent out the grainstore and/ or save on central storage fees.
Why is it easier to pack in if your arable?
Easy … there is no connection really with a growing crop whereas with dairy cows you are with them as a bare minimum twice a day usually so you build a rapport. I was discussing this very thing with Frank as I scratched her behind the ears the other day.
It would break my heart to disperse our herd whereas at the end of harvest, I would have no compunction with selling off machinery, crops in the barn and the land. Be done within the month
Northeastfarmer
Member
- Location
- Cleveland
Trans gender cows now….I’ve heard it all
spin cycle
Member
- Location
- north norfolk
but you'll put 'frank' on a lorry when she's done milking?
i do know what you mean though...the attachment to the herd/flock overall
All I have to do is walk in to a shed, call out “Frank” and she comes running for a bit of TLC …. She’s a Hojo tag number 2313
She also enjoys licking my head so I’m hopeful of a full head of hair in a few years time
Indeed. All we can do is give them the best of times although I will retire Favourite Cow to a retirement paddock when the time comes
Struggling with the very same problem. One apparently only dairy people undrstand
- Location
- Scottish Borders
Aw well, least they're doing the right thing, folk like that are better out of farming.Why do you need to get it in a ‘tidy row’? We walked a farm last week that still had old dry cow tubes on the milking parlour floor (they stopped milking in 2009) and the yard littered with sh*t and silage wrap. They were still asking good money for it though.
Maybe the key to a good sale is to make any viewers think they can improve it, rather than presenting the place in good order?
It's alright, we will all have to deal with UK labour before long...
I've put maybe, but in no hurry, got 100% stewardship just started this year, and had some rewarding and interesting discussions with both the accountant and new bank/business manager recently. Can't do anything major at the moment as 2 elderly parents/ partners in the business, which has its own issues. Me personally if we did pack up would seriously consider emigration to Canada, got family over there and it's seems full of opportunity! Their is going to be big changes in the direction of uk agriculture in the next few years, and I a weird way quite looking forward to seeing what opportunities a change of government or government policy may bring, especially regarding renewable energy production
Hanspree
Member
- Location
- Lancashire
We’re wondering what to do, to invest in milking cows £300,000 doesn’t go very far and that’s where I am. I’m only 48 and I’ve only couple years left to be debt free so very lucky but do I want to saddle myself with more debt in uncertain times. The kids are 12 and 8 but I’m not encouraging them to farm. The banks are very cautious about lending to farmers at the moment because of the uncertainty out there.
£300k wont get you in to dairy tbh
Thought that a little sad for a moment... but then reminded myself that I can count on three fingers who I can rely on! Myself, the missus and most of the time, the old man.... covid seemed to put pay to socialising.... Don't tend to argue at home, got you lot for that
No, not going to give up, In a seperate thread I pointed out the lack on incentive to farm and the desire to do something different. Currently have a very diverse role, most of it costs money though which is no great incentive, building the house has been an odd experience, saving a large fortune doing it myself but spending a small fortune regardless, pride vs expense concern hasn't made it enjoyable.... bit like farming really. Tenants are a PITA but good non farming income. What to do... not much certainty in farming... SFI isn't farming, doesn't offer returns equal to farming either but might allow time for a more profitable sideline... but I doubt it will free up enough time. 300 acres next door could be up for grabs, maybe up the farming acreage rather than reduce it?
Quite a sorry state is agriculture, locally, very locally I know two farmers of my generation that will almost certainly keep going, and 20,000 arable acres on a number of farms that has likelihood of being let out, re tenanted or sold. Perhaps its time to jump ship or expand at every opportunity possible. Time to be the lion, rather than be eaten by one methinks....
Quite a sorry state is agriculture, locally, very locally I know two farmers of my generation that will almost certainly keep going, and 20,000 arable acres on a number of farms that has likelihood of being let out, re tenanted or sold. Perhaps its time to jump ship or expand at every opportunity possible. Time to be the lion, rather than be eaten by one methinks....
word of warning if you get to the warehousing or housing bit don't trust the agent even if he's your brother or best mate, your a one off he will be looking for the next deal!
Red Fred
Member
- Location
- Hants/Dorset border
I found this year was the first year I didn't really enjoy the annual battle to get the grass home, which has always been my main driving force since I left college 40 years ago. I didn't do any hay in June as I had a random whole farm inspection which caused major stress, although everything turned out OK and I received my compliance form. After that, the weather and breakdowns conspired against me.
It coincided with my 60th birthday which put a damper on things, My sisters kindly gave us a few days in Devon as a birthday present, but it was hard to switch off as it was one of the few periods of decent weather. However as someone remarked on here at the time, "go away- you'll soon forget the hay making but you'll always remember your time away" and so it has proved.
I'm now at the point where I am starting to suffer physically, needing a day off after a couple of days of one-man tractoring. With no children to carry on, I'm seriously counting the days down now until I downsize. I have no intention of sitting around doing nothing, but think I will be better off phasing out the cows and giving up the tenancy, keeping our little flock of Dartie sheep on our own 50 acres and doing jobs with my old tractors on a small scale. We have managed to rent out our own barns which has eased things, and I enjoy helping Mrs Fred with her RDA youngsters at the stables. As has been said, the only real obstacle is untangling the spider's web that seems to bind a stock farm togetherbut I think it is partly imaginary.
My plan has always been to get to 63, then spend a couple of years tidying up and getting rid of un-needed stuff before being gone at 65, but suddenly 63 is just a couple of years away and 65 is less time from now than I spent as a student.
It coincided with my 60th birthday which put a damper on things, My sisters kindly gave us a few days in Devon as a birthday present, but it was hard to switch off as it was one of the few periods of decent weather. However as someone remarked on here at the time, "go away- you'll soon forget the hay making but you'll always remember your time away" and so it has proved.
I'm now at the point where I am starting to suffer physically, needing a day off after a couple of days of one-man tractoring. With no children to carry on, I'm seriously counting the days down now until I downsize. I have no intention of sitting around doing nothing, but think I will be better off phasing out the cows and giving up the tenancy, keeping our little flock of Dartie sheep on our own 50 acres and doing jobs with my old tractors on a small scale. We have managed to rent out our own barns which has eased things, and I enjoy helping Mrs Fred with her RDA youngsters at the stables. As has been said, the only real obstacle is untangling the spider's web that seems to bind a stock farm togetherbut I think it is partly imaginary.
My plan has always been to get to 63, then spend a couple of years tidying up and getting rid of un-needed stuff before being gone at 65, but suddenly 63 is just a couple of years away and 65 is less time from now than I spent as a student.
serf
Member
- Location
- warwickshire
Long way to go yet and a lot of events could happen between now and then , I recon at "best" labour could be in hung parliament territory .
serf
Member
- Location
- warwickshire
I pressume he meant 300k in upgrading existing milking setup and if it was worth as opposed to startup , but I could be wrong .