Confessions of the Sheep/Beef Cattle/Pig Addicts

[Rich_ard]

OK, not a normal Sunday topic but would like to canvass opinion on SFI. I'm only considering things that have no impact on output. I have put stuff into 4 categories:-

1. Things that I'm doing anyway and would require only minimal admin to claim: 36% of BPS
2. Things that I'm doing but would have to do differently with a bit of faff: another 56% of BPS
3. Things I'm not currently doing, but could do for less than the payment: another 18% of BPS
4. Things that really stretch the rules (AKA taking the mick): another 53% of BPS

In simple terms the main contents are:

1. Clover in grass
2. Herbal Leys on new grass in last couple of years
3. Beans mixed with winter cereals to call it a cover crop
4. Winter Barley/1 year grass rotation on silage ground, masquerading as winter bird food & legume fallow.

I don't have any interest in being paid to be a civil servant. I happily concede that being a lowland mixed farmer gives me more options. Views? I'm currently thinking of doing 1, 2 & maybe 3.

I don't know the rules so can't say what to do but claim as much as you can. Even if your production drops prices might rise, or fall from the highs at present.

 

[Rich_ard]

OK, not a normal Sunday topic but would like to canvass opinion on SFI. I'm only considering things that have no impact on output. I have put stuff into 4 categories:-

1. Things that I'm doing anyway and would require only minimal admin to claim: 36% of BPS
2. Things that I'm doing but would have to do differently with a bit of faff: another 56% of BPS
3. Things I'm not currently doing, but could do for less than the payment: another 18% of BPS
4. Things that really stretch the rules (AKA taking the mick): another 53% of BPS

In simple terms the main contents are:

1. Clover in grass
2. Herbal Leys on new grass in last couple of years
3. Beans mixed with winter cereals to call it a cover crop
4. Winter Barley/1 year grass rotation on silage ground, masquerading as winter bird food & legume fallow.

I don't have any interest in being paid to be a civil servant. I happily concede that being a lowland mixed farmer gives me more options. Views? I'm currently thinking of doing 1, 2 & maybe 3.

Are these long term commitments or annual type things?

 

[e3120]

Are these long term commitments or annual type things?

3 years

 

[DieselRob]

Getting the popcorn ready for @livestock 1 to give his thoughts on sfi

My opinion is maximise the amount you get out the scheme, masquerading wheat/barley as AHL2 is definitely a step too far for me but I’m all in for cereals with a big of beans/clover/buckwheat to be called SAM2, you meet the aims and there is nothing in the rules to say it can’t be taken to harvest, put your grass mix down as SAM3 as I don’t believe you’re allowed to mow/graze NUM3 until termination. If you have any sh!t field corners/edges that are mediocre get them banged in an option, absolutely guaranteed to pay better than a sh!t half cooked crop of grass or grain

 

[Optimus]

Too wet to get the mower out yet...
View attachment 1170389

Hybrid ryegrass & red clover drilled last June. Grazed quite tight by early December but been growing steadily all winter, and dark green from the clover N all that time.

No words !

 

[Rich_ard]

3 years

Not too bad. We get 5 year ones although haven't looked into any new ones.

 

[e3120]

Getting the popcorn ready for @livestock 1 to give his thoughts on sfi

My opinion is maximise the amount you get out the scheme, masquerading wheat/barley as AHL2 is definitely a step too far for me but I’m all in for cereals with a big of beans/clover/buckwheat to be called SAM2, you meet the aims and there is nothing in the rules to say it can’t be taken to harvest, put your grass mix down as SAM3 as I don’t believe you’re allowed to mow/graze NUM3 until termination. If you have any sh!t field corners/edges that are mediocre get them banged in an option, absolutely guaranteed to pay better than a sh!t half cooked crop of grass or grain

I would play the grassweeds card to mow the NUM3 multiple times. Might even concoct a mix to be sowed after WB to do the AHL2 and NUM3 in one and then plough whatever's left under for WB (or w/c wheat) again.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

£500+VAT/day plus expenses. Number in my signature, email [email protected] or DM me here

So that’s why @DieselRob asks my advice… I don’t charge enough!

 

[Rich_ard]

So that’s why @DieselRob asks my advice… I don’t charge enough!

Or scared of the repercussions of late payment!

 

[DieselRob]

So that’s why @DieselRob asks my advice… I don’t charge enough!

Listened to your “advice” in autumn on the store lamb job, didn’t buy enough and now look where the job is

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Listened to your “advice” in autumn on the store lamb job, didn’t buy enough and now look where the job is

My advice is worth what you pay for it…

 

[Optimus]

Getting the popcorn ready for @livestock 1 to give his thoughts on sfi

My opinion is maximise the amount you get out the scheme, masquerading wheat/barley as AHL2 is definitely a step too far for me but I’m all in for cereals with a big of beans/clover/buckwheat to be called SAM2, you meet the aims and there is nothing in the rules to say it can’t be taken to harvest, put your grass mix down as SAM3 as I don’t believe you’re allowed to mow/graze NUM3 until termination. If you have any sh!t field corners/edges that are mediocre get them banged in an option, absolutely guaranteed to pay better than a sh!t half cooked crop of grass or grain

Stop you know he'll bite

 

[livestock 1]

Getting the popcorn ready for @livestock 1 to give his thoughts on sfi

My opinion is maximise the amount you get out the scheme, masquerading wheat/barley as AHL2 is definitely a step too far for me but I’m all in for cereals with a big of beans/clover/buckwheat to be called SAM2, you meet the aims and there is nothing in the rules to say it can’t be taken to harvest, put your grass mix down as SAM3 as I don’t believe you’re allowed to mow/graze NUM3 until termination. If you have any sh!t field corners/edges that are mediocre get them banged in an option, absolutely guaranteed to pay better than a sh!t half cooked crop of grass or grain

What’s the point in joining a flower power thing unless you are a hippy?

 

[Bob the beef]

You will kill poor old livestock1 with that picture.

Dont know about ol’livestock, but definitely gave me palpitations

On another note @neilo myturnips have just about started to bolt probably 3/4 weeks after you

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Before it goes on eBay I thought I’d better give my fwends a chance of the deal of the year.
2010 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2l 202250miles
5 door
Goes like sh!t off a shovel
Never driven more than 25 miles from base
Lovingly washed and polished every sunday
Recently had new alternator belt and front spring
Ex Oban Police vehicle
Bodywork chipped where Police removed decals with what I imagine must have been a chisel and blunt paint scraper.
Towbar
£2000

 

[DieselRob]

What’s the point in joining a flower power thing unless you are a hippy

Don’t knock the hippies, they know how to live life on the good stuff

 

[livestock 1]

Don’t knock the hippies, they know how to live life on the good stuff

For us sfi means we have to farm in a half hearted fashion

 

[livestock 1]

I actually can’t believe how many folk have really good farms and don’t want to farm

 

[livestock 1]

When it dries up I’m going to put these stones back in if I can remember where they went

 

[DieselRob]

For us sfi means we have to farm in a half hearted fashion

By that you mean running understocked rather than full to the gunnels?

If there’s a scheme to pay you not to turn grass in to mud every year and it provides a return then surely it’s worth considering

Too much farming is done with the heart and not with the head in too many cases