Confessions of a farmer.......BPS payments

[Sonoftheheir]

With all the talk of losing farm subs lately, I was wondering what people use their payment for?

I personally wish we had banked ours away, rather than using it for tractor payment instalments.

 

[Johnnyboxer]

I personally wish we had banked ours away, rather than using it for tractor payment instalments.

I'm sure you will not be alone in those thoughts

 

[David.]

There's no pockets on a shroud.
And you have kept up with the neighbours.

 

[GTB]

We used it to buy more land and convert old farm buildings into holiday cottages. We also used some of it to buy shiny metal.

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

I have used most of it to fence along my stretch of the river Avon.

 

[wasted years]

Buying land with mine.

 

[Old McDonald]

In various countries I have used them to improve the property. I have always also taken advantage of grant schemes that I could finance and then use the sub to further improve the properties.

I have never really seen the need to stash away cash "for a rainy day". I have seen many such days and survived them. Also as David says there are no pockets in shrouds. The legacy of my wife and I to our son will be our property (wherever that might be when we snuff it) and a valuable and extensive cellar, which I know he will take great pleasure in drinking, and when he does so he hopefully thanks us for our foresight in buying such bottles.

 

[7610 super q]

If I'd had any, I'd have used it to keep my farm intact.

 

[Donkey Oaty]

bought clothes and food with mine!

 

[grainboy]

Think we need to be careful who reads this, BPS. Was in my thoughts there to subsidise varying market forces, and to level European markets, Joe public think farmers get enough anyway, the blatant boasting of spending on more land purchases and property defies logic. These thoughts are relative to myself, as even with BPS 120ac rented on FBT doesn't stack up, that's why I got out.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

I was thinking we should have stashed it, so we could have a nice deposit on land or property.

Hats off to those of you that have done so.

But then again we needed the tractor, I guess it didn't have to be a new Fendt though.

 

[David.]

In various countries I have used them to improve the property. I have always also taken advantage of grant schemes that I could finance and then use the sub to further improve the properties.

I have never really seen the need to stash away cash "for a rainy day". I have seen many such days and survived them. Also as David says there are no pockets in shrouds. The legacy of my wife and I to our son will be our property (wherever that might be when we snuff it) and a valuable and extensive cellar, which I know he will take great pleasure in drinking, and when he does so he hopefully thanks us for our foresight in buying such bottles.

I was being a bit flippant, but few people will have utterly wasted the money. I dare say most has been spent on buildings/landpurchase/keeping the place up together etc, ours certainly has; which means a lot of the money has circulated in the economy which was surely it's intention.
I applaud your sentiments, and only wish I could break free of my parsimonious upbringing and live up to them.

 

[Henarar]

Depends on the year, some is in the bank, some is land but we ate some of it
Edit some is keeping the snow off the cattle at the moment

 

[Henarar]

I was being a bit flippant, but few people will have utterly wasted the money. I dare say most has been spent on buildings/landpurchase/keeping the place up together etc, ours certainly has; which means a lot of the money has circulated in the economy which was surely it's intention.
I applaud your sentiments.

I spose even if you put it in the bank they lend it to someone

 

[JohnGalway]

Never had enough of it to cover petrol costs so......

 

[David.]

Think we need to be careful who reads this, BPS. Was in my thoughts there to subsidise varying market forces, and to level European markets, Joe public think farmers get enough anyway, the blatant boasting of spending on more land purchases and property defies logic. These thoughts are relative to myself, as even with BPS 120ac rented on FBT doesn't stack up, that's why I got out.

Yes, dont let it slip that SOME people have had a jolly good run, basically since IACS was introduced. Some big players have been able to buy substantial acreages to add to their already profitable substantial acreage on the back of it.

 

[Campani]

Think we need to be careful who reads this, BPS. Was in my thoughts there to subsidise varying market forces, and to level European markets, Joe public think farmers get enough anyway, the blatant boasting of spending on more land purchases and property defies logic. These thoughts are relative to myself, as even with BPS 120ac rented on FBT doesn't stack up, that's why I got out.

Rightly or wrongly the consensus is that the majority use bps to buy or rent more land. This is why I'm not a fan of subsidies. as I don't get any and I cant afford to compete with those that do, on the amount they can pay for land or rent. I have always thought it is one of the biggest barriers to new entrants having to compete with others who have a guaranteed income.

 

[J 1177]

I use mine to subsidise cheap food production and look after the environment.

 

[J 1177]

I use mine to subsidise cheap food production and look after the environment.

Ie. pay the bills that the price of comodities grown on my farm doesnt cover

 

[Campani]

I use mine to subsidise cheap food production and look after the environment.

Do you think this is being done in the most cost effective way for the taxpayer?