Dealing with depression - suicidal thoughts - Join the conversation (including helpline details)

JeepJeep

Member
Trade
It's only your attitude that determines if the job is cràp.
Partly...

There is "Knowing" and "Not knowing" amongst us.

In an Ideal world as an employer, we need "Not Knowing" Someone happily bumbling along doing an excellent job.

As an employee you need to be "Knowing" Someone with a f**k this sh!t I'm off mindset
 

cows sh#t me to tears

Member
Livestock Farmer
I get great satisfaction from making excellent quality hay, I enjoy fencing (strangely), building sheds or "projects " and engineering (as best as a farmer can do). Basically improving the properties on a daily basis.....

And , yes. I dont enjoy the cows so much.....probably because it is relentless..... It can be cathartic at times , just cupping cows. But when things get seriously insane it can be overwhelming....especially with irrigation, sowing, hay making, tmr feeding....only takes one thing to go wrong and your head nearly explodes....
 

Shep

Member
I get great satisfaction from making excellent quality hay, I enjoy fencing (strangely), building sheds or "projects " and engineering (as best as a farmer can do). Basically improving the properties on a daily basis.....

And , yes. I dont enjoy the cows so much.....probably because it is relentless..... It can be cathartic at times , just cupping cows. But when things get seriously insane it can be overwhelming....especially with irrigation, sowing, hay making, tmr feeding....only takes one thing to go wrong and your head nearly explodes....

I like all aspects of dairying, I feel I get to be an arable farmer, contractor, all the field work, drainage and fencing ect. I love the cows too, even milking, trimming feet and fertility work.
It's overwhelming when there is too much at once and you can't get help or a break and when employees can't make simple decisions without ringing you or obvious problems and jobs without having to be told to do it, or won't take responsibility for anything. Basically babysitting workers for me is the worst aspect of the job.
 
I get great satisfaction from making excellent quality hay, I enjoy fencing (strangely), building sheds or "projects " and engineering (as best as a farmer can do). Basically improving the properties on a daily basis.....

Well, I never! Silly me; I always thought that grass for hay just grew and you kept cutting it every year.

Fencing sounds like quite a challenge and from what I have read farmers are always seeking better fence posts and at reasonable costs.

As for sheds, I suppose that you are talking about big ones but have you ever contemplated designing and building a quality garden shed and selling it on; not as a business but as something of a challenge; covering your costs plus a little profit, of course.
 
I like all aspects of dairying, I feel I get to be an arable farmer, contractor, all the field work, drainage and fencing ect. I love the cows too, even milking, trimming feet and fertility work.
It's overwhelming when there is too much at once and you can't get help or a break and when employees can't make simple decisions without ringing you or obvious problems and jobs without having to be told to do it, or won't take responsibility for anything. Basically babysitting workers for me is the worst aspect of the job.

Your worker problem sounds like a lack of confidence on their part; any ideas on how to, perhaps, boost their confidence?
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
It sounds stupid, but I wish I didn't think as much. I'm beginning to think it's not a good trait. Before I go away with a machine I go through every eventuality of what could go wrong. To the point I'm physically sick.

Other people who help us can put them away with not a worry in the world. Highly delighted. A lot to be said for ignorance is bliss.

Remember we had a guy come to help us who was previously manager of a large dairy farm. He was delighted when we put him to pressure wash sheds. Because he didn't have to think.
Yes, it's a vicious circle in many respects?

Things can easily get muddled together after the 7th time past you, I end up with several things stacked together and then have to work back through it all and put them back in their places.

Having a bit of empty space is great, I find. I'm usually the guy at work who just beggars off and sets to cleaning off the washdown area with the big hose - in that space of hosing (not thinking) I can set to creating things, but when I'm doing at home or at work then that empty space is full and it is harder to do

being told what to do for the day is actually the "why" behind going to work in the morning, to do something I don't particularly enjoy doing, earning money we don't need... it's the turning off from my other life that lets me work on that
 

Shep

Member
Your worker problem sounds like a lack of confidence on their part; any ideas on how to, perhaps, boost their confidence?
Admittedly they are all selfemployed and part time and do more work for other people than me, But I've tried encouraging them to branch out and learn new things, one has been here 8 years and he is very good at what he does, but that is quite limited. He has no notion of learning how to Ai or trim a foot, if I'm not in the yard he'll ring 5 times a day to ask what to do next, but what he does do is always done very well and he never breaks or abuses anything.
We work well when we're together and get along well too. I just wish he'd use a bit of initiative and let me get some peace when I'm away, how to achieve this I've no idea.
 
Admittedly they are all selfemployed and part time and do more work for other people than me, But I've tried encouraging them to branch out and learn new things, one has been here 8 years and he is very good at what he does, but that is quite limited. He has no notion of learning how to Ai or trim a foot, if I'm not in the yard he'll ring 5 times a day to ask what to do next, but what he does do is always done very well and he never breaks or abuses anything.
We work well when we're together and get along well too. I just wish he'd use a bit of initiative and let me get some peace when I'm away, how to achieve this I've no idea.

He sounds like a good worker and reliable as well; he also sounds like he respects you and always wishes to do what you would like done and in the way that you would like it done.

I wonder if a day's to-do list could help but then again, maybe not.

I suppose that thigs could be worse and he could be a lazy veterinary student doing farm experience time! ;)
 

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
I suggested knocking eight of the group parish churches down; reclaiming the stone, lead and slate; building a nice warm hall at one of the remaining ones.

Faces were aghast. But fact is these buildings are not fit for purpose. Eight building plots and the dosh in the bank for good purposes.

When we said the church was shutting, all we heard was grumble grumble. Noone considered actually using the church! Costs close to £3k to keep it open with minimal repairs per year. That's nothing given the income of the local villagers - none who lift a finger to help or pay towards it.

Very few religious faiths are enhanced by money grabbing bureaucracy.
Not many people know this, but most of the population of scotland told the church to eff off in 1843 and set up their own free church. That was a reaction to the clearances when the church had sided with the landowners against the people
 

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
Admittedly they are all selfemployed and part time and do more work for other people than me, But I've tried encouraging them to branch out and learn new things, one has been here 8 years and he is very good at what he does, but that is quite limited. He has no notion of learning how to Ai or trim a foot, if I'm not in the yard he'll ring 5 times a day to ask what to do next, but what he does do is always done very well and he never breaks or abuses anything.
We work well when we're together and get along well too. I just wish he'd use a bit of initiative and let me get some peace when I'm away, how to achieve this I've no idea.
Switch phone off!
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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