toquark
Member
I’ve said this before, but the sub 200ac owners have choices to make in coming years; specialise and supply a niche, go part time with lower inputs, or sell up. It’s extremely sad but there you go.
I don’t know what the future will hold but I do firmly believe that fawning over the latest brainwave from DEFRA is a hiding to nothing. Designed to fail? Well, with any luck.
I farm part time largely with skills learned on the job and from friends and colleagues, plus ag college. My father never farmed. I know my limitations, and many experienced stockmen would scoff at my abilities but I get by just fine and I’m happy with my product. I never came into the job even thinking about subsidy and adjusted the system to suit from the outset. It doesn’t make a fortune but even with the small numbers on modest acreage, it turns a profit. In short, I self subsidise and this I think is the future for other new entrants.
@delilah, your post was well thought out and very valid, but I really can’t see any benefit from hobbling a business to suit the political agenda of the day. If you want the tax man’s dollar you have to dance to his tune. If you don’t, you don’t.
I don’t know what the future will hold but I do firmly believe that fawning over the latest brainwave from DEFRA is a hiding to nothing. Designed to fail? Well, with any luck.
I farm part time largely with skills learned on the job and from friends and colleagues, plus ag college. My father never farmed. I know my limitations, and many experienced stockmen would scoff at my abilities but I get by just fine and I’m happy with my product. I never came into the job even thinking about subsidy and adjusted the system to suit from the outset. It doesn’t make a fortune but even with the small numbers on modest acreage, it turns a profit. In short, I self subsidise and this I think is the future for other new entrants.
@delilah, your post was well thought out and very valid, but I really can’t see any benefit from hobbling a business to suit the political agenda of the day. If you want the tax man’s dollar you have to dance to his tune. If you don’t, you don’t.