Decisions decisions....

[davieh3350]

Looks like you could buy a set of big discs, a drill, and grow as much corn per acre at home as you might in Canada.
Parts of Caithness looked every bit as hospitable to me as Manitoba did.
That's the flippant bit out the way, sorry.
From what I know, I would not entertain going to the prarie provinces unless I could sell enough here to go and buy at least 4 sections; and the machinery to farm them, and to finance the first crop and then afford to lose 1/2 of it. It would still be possible to fail even with such a head-start. Quite a lot of the nice farms in Alta and some in Sask have oil revenue helping the farm along.
Land has trebled in price since went in 1998, crop values are similar, and as far as I know the produce still has to travel a hell of a long way to port.
I can call to mind four British families who had all bought farms at earnable money when we were there, within a small radius who have sold up and are doing other stuff.
As has been said, the good land is in very strong hands and does not come available. Incomers will be offered the awkward small slough ridden bits that nobody else wants, for strong money. When British pitch up there, it is regarded as amusing to the locality that we would want to go at all what with the percieved advantages that we enjoy here. But at least you will have plenty of "friends" in Town whilst you are spending your GBP kitting up.
I know somebody who has done well on the oil patch the last few years but he is not doing it now, with oil at near half its previous value, and neither are plenty of others, some of whom thought the music would play forever and spent accordingly.
In short It is a beautiful place to holiday in but not one I'd choose to farm.
And believe me, I really wanted it to all be true, and was quite prepared to sell every stitch I could muster to go. But a miserable wet seeding time, in a place that looked like a throwback to the 1950s road movies; with abandoned American cars and pickup trucks and derelict outdoor movie theatres was enough to shake me to my senses.
If you want to go though, you must, even if you decide it's not for ever at least you will have laid the ghost.

I thought about proper farming out there... But no, I don't think I would. 50-60 acres to keep a few cows and a few pigs on and to make some hay, but not a full time farm.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I thought about proper farming out there... But no, I don't think I would. 50-60 acres to keep a few cows and a few pigs on and to make some hay, but not a full time farm.

Sounds a bit like another TFF member does

 

[davieh3350]

Arable farming is a completely different ball game to get into here than livestock. You’d need a lot of financial backing and luck to even crack arable.

You need $300000 funds for Manitoba, $500000 for Alberta to satisfy immigration.
If I scraped really REALLY hard, sold all my tools, tractors, land rovers and the dog, I may just be about able to get into Nova Scotia $100000 for there.. It would be just like home

Never did a winter. You got that bit wrong.

 

[Blaithin]

You need $300000 funds for Manitoba, $500000 for Alberta to satisfy immigration.
If I scraped really REALLY hard, sold all my tools, tractors, land rovers and the dog, I may just be about able to get into Nova Scotia $100000 for there.. It would be just like home

Never did a winter. You got that bit wrong.

Oh then don’t bother. Winter sucks

 

[Blaithin]

Sounds a bit like another TFF member does

If you’re insinuating me you’re about two provinces, 60 acres and a couple of pigs off

 

[David.]

I thought about proper farming out there... But no, I don't think I would. 50-60 acres to keep a few cows and a few pigs on and to make some hay, but not a full time farm.

Bit of a generalisation, but I doubt you are close enough to a prosperous population to make a go of retailing produce. More usual in Ont or BC perhaps.
When we were there, half the town used to do their best to eat their needs for the week at the smorg in the hotel, on a weekend.
That is to say Deli was not big in the prairies.

 

[deleted user 837354]

This thread still going? Do we need to form a good old fashioned posse and run Davie down a runway or something?

 

[CJ Hall]

Manitoba
I asked the neighbouring farmer if he new any farmers in Canada when I had just turned 19, he put a vague address together of someone he'd drank with in a pub one night, I wrote to them and said I wanted to come out and see their country, can I come work for you... They wrote back and said "sure" their ancestors came from where I live now.

Awesome, I managed to spend 3 months on a 200 cow dairy in Ontario last year, bloody awesome hard fecking work no doubt but I was happy there only for 3 month yes but I'd it wasnt for my dog and cows I would probably not have come back

I know a Scottish man and his son that's milking 400 cows and finishing thousands of cattle just outside of London Ontario really top man.

 

[bigw]

Awesome, I managed to spend 3 months on a 200 cow dairy in Ontario last year, bloody awesome hard fecking work no doubt but I was happy there only for 3 month yes but I'd it wasnt for my dog and cows I would probably not have come back

I know a Scottish man and his son that's milking 400 cows and finishing thousands of cattle just outside of London Ontario really top man.

I worked for them 20 years ago for the summer @CJ Hall they have quite an operation now I believe.

 

[wdah/him]

did the same as u. self employed welding and farming with contracting too for ten years. hasd people employed. had no life as such either. deciced two years ago thins may to get a job, still doing farming and contracting, and a bit of engineering but now don't relay on it and it is a hobby. not much of a life but more socialable in work.

did toy with going to England but couldn't bare to see what I had been part of building up with the old man fall back and be lost, wasn't happy with hid choices either but couldn't keep going the way he wanted as two bosses don't work. do I miss not going to England or somewhere like that, no, y, as has been said if u want to farm no one elses farm will scratch that itch. I didn't think I could stick a factory job but a few good people there make it worthwhile and I average £300 a week home even if I stand about and scatch myself-it makes for a very long day. then at home I can do what I please in work taking on what I like and keeping that itch covered, only think I need to sort out now is a woman.

 

[CJ Hall]

I worked for them 20 years ago for the summer @CJ Hall they have quite an operation now I believe.

Yes it is 30 point rotary I believe and two massive bright span beef sheds, i think he said they work 2000 acres all work done themselves too

 

[bigw]

Yes it is 30 point rotary I believe and two massive bright span beef sheds, i think he said they work 2000 acres all work done themselves too

I had a great time there I would of happily stayed longer but I was 17 and on a 6 month holiday visa so didn't have an option. Craig had a great eye for beef cattle and they did an excellent job at turning them out mainly on waste cereal from the local kellogs plant. He was a bugger to go drawing cattle with though as he worked a whip and more often than not I landed up getting a crack or two by accident or so he said!

 

[CornishRanger]

A thread similar to holwellcourtfarms I'm needing to make a choice about staying here and muddling along farming and welding, or packing up and going and doing something somewhere else.
The basics... 8 days away from 38. Not married and no kids. No debts and a small amount of cash and a bit off stuff to sell off.

The farm is 3 separate units (all rented) next to each other but split up by hills, a river and trees. I'm not going to say it's a terrible, awkward place and I want better because this isn't the case, but it isn't a very efficient place to have. Most of it I have till I retire, one 30 acre block for another 13 years.
I don't live on the farm, I stay a few miles up the road (only 4 miles, but takes 15 minutes to drive) where I've got sheds I weld and make stuff in. Father who's 70 this year, still stays in the farm house with step mother who's a fair bit younger and who's damned sure she's not moving (to be fair though, the garden is lovely and I'd waste it which would be a shame)


My welding business is ok, mostly smaller jobs which suits me fine, as I can't be farming and concentrating on a big job at the same time.
Handling the steel is a pain as I reload the deliveries onto a hay trailer and take it the last 3 miles by tractor. No decent power supply, a generator powers the bigger machines.
Moving down the glen to another house closer to the farm would mean still having to drive up to the workshop, and I'm not even going to start thinking about building a shed on someone elses ground, done plenty of work on previous places just to end up walking away from it.

All in all... It's a bloody mess of a life. A constant grind without much fun. Always thinking.. I've got to do this.. Got to do that... And at the end of the day not very much to show for it.

I travelled when I was younger and and always wanted to stay for longer in Canada but never did it.
I've been self employed since 16 (with only a few spells working longer term with someone, year and a half at the most) I'm thinking a full time job would be good, it would leave the evenings and weekends for my own projects.

How the hell do you decide what to do

Some views from those who've chucked in businesses, who've gone and never looked back, from those who've stayed and regretted it and the other way round too please.

Not read any other replies to avoid being influenced by others opinions, so sorry if this has been said before.

I get the impression from your wording you feel a bit stuck in a rut maybe, everything is just fine, but not really great? Is it that you looking for something more from life? Maybe you have gone as far down your current road as can be done?

I left a family farm partnership and deciding to leave a farm isn't easy when that's all you've known, its in the blood I guess, but I found making the decision to leave the hardest part, once made it didn't seem so big a deal.

Best wishes with whatever you decide to do anyway, remember it's up to you to choose what path is right for you

 

[Paul E]

only think I need to sort out now is a woman.

I've been trying to get that one sorted for years.
No success.
PMs from eligible ladies very wecome!

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

If you’re insinuating me you’re about two provinces, 60 acres and a couple of pigs off

Couldn't possibly comment

Close enough though

 

[kfpben]

Pitlochry has a fair bit of tourism and adventure sports going on. Would a part time job in that scene be of interest?
You’d get to meet a load of people from all over the place and perhaps liven up life a bit?

 

[Bill dog]

For what it’s worth Davie, I would say go and have a go ! Doing something will always be better than doing nothing ! Good luck either way !

 

[Iben]

If only @country_gal didn't play so hard to get, this thread probably wouldn't have been started and the mental stress on the poor boy over the last year would have been greatly reduced!

 

[country_gal]

If only @country_gal didn't play so hard to get, this thread probably wouldn't have been started and the mental stress on the poor boy over the last year would have been greatly reduced!

It's all my fault haha seriously though....there is a balance between "the grass is always greener" and "you only live once so you gotta give things a go" Everyone else's lives always look better, more exciting, more peaceful etc to our own but everyone has their problems.

I think it sounds like you need a wee break and a bit breathing space....get some clarity before making any big decisions. It's usually times like this that something comes along and makes the decision for you almost. As I always say, have a little faith.

 

[davieh3350]

Pitlochry has a fair bit of tourism and adventure sports going on. Would a part time job in that scene be of interest?
You’d get to meet a load of people from all over the place and perhaps liven up life a bit?

Nah. The tourists are one of the reasons I want to head away. Tourism and rich folks from the city have ruined the place.