Distance Farming/Investment

[kingtractor]

I am 23 and currently live and work in London. Although I am unlikely to run my own farm anytime soon (it would beat sitting in an office all day), I would like to feel more involved in farming. It's a great passion of mine, but living and working in London, opportunities are limited.

I am wondering whether people think it would be viable for me to purchase, for example, 10-15 ewes and find a farmer with a spare field who could effectively look after them and take a % (obviously >50%) of profits from the enterprise? Obviously, in addition to providing the ewes, ongoing costs would have to be split in a fair manner between myself and the farmer.

What do people think of this idea? Obviously a business plan would be needed.

 

[MRT]

There are various share farming ideas in circulation at present. In practice it is more difficult than you might imagine to successfully draw up a share farming agreement

 

[Al R]

The only share farming agreements I know of is with 500acre plus at a time, landowner supplies land and the other party supplies machinery and labour. They work on this scale etc..

If a farmer was going to have to look after sheep he would look after his own. 10-15 really arnt worth the hassle in my opinion. Costs would be so much higher with 15 compared to 100.

Have you any experience in farming? Especially sheep farming?

 

[kingtractor]

I appreciate economies of scale etc etc. I was more thinking someone who had a small spare field going.

I have no experience in farming, so this would be a good way to learn more.

Moreover, I would not have the time to provide the labour as I work long hours in the City. I appreciate I am probably being naive but it would be great if this could work in some capacity.

What about if I was just to cover costs with the land/labour provider taking all profits?

 

[Al R]

If someone was going to have to go to the hassle of keeping and looking after the sheep, regardless of 10 or 100 they would buy their own if they had the land!

Their not just animals you leave in a field and that's it! They need daily checking, shearing, insecticide put on, wormed, vitamin Drench or bolus, sometimes foot trimming? Then you need a ram which needs to be kept separate all year apart from mating. Then there's the whole problems with lambing etc.

Personally I've got a big grudge against small flocks as the sheep are "left to it" all year on wet ground or poor ground that they won't put their precious horses on or they need the sheep to keep the grass short for the horses so the horses don't get to fat yet the sheep are starving, covered in scab and lice etc and are just bones with long feet!

I know this isn't always the case but it's far more common than you think and they should be banned from keeping all animals and their horses should be beheaded in front of them.

 

[Danllan]

It simply doesn't work like that. A 'spare' field on most efficiently run farms is a non-existent thing, fields for livestock - as well as arable etc. - need to be used in rotation for lots of reasons, not least parasite problems and renewal of the crop. There is also the fact that having someone 'extra' around the farm is often a real pain in the *rse. A lot of us have sheep following cattle to maximise use of the grass and minimise parasite problems.

Your last post is more realistic, if you have the cash to invest you will find someone of a similar age to you who comes from a farming background but is finding it hard to get started. Be careful, there are a lot of wide-boys, but if you go via the YFs or some such group you should be alright.

Some figures, to give you a rough idea - which everyone on here will now dispute... . Depending on breed you could be looking at £100 +/- £20 per head for a ewe lamb, depending on where you are buying and the market. Expect, maybe 1.6 lambs per year from her for six years or more. You can work on keeping five ewes plus their lambs per acre of ground. Do your own research on the other threads regarding price for live and dead sales. On good land in a good climate with good ewes, you can increase all the figures significantly, and the opposite is also true.

Don't be afraid to tap the knowledge available on here, there is a hell of a lot of it and most people are happy to help with genuine queries. But do a decent search before you ask a question, usually the answer is available already.

I came from a farming background and ended up as a Barrister in London, via the Army, I'm back in farming now having realised where things are best . If you are on decent money and you really are keen on the idea of farming, save your cash, spend some time on farms in different seasons, get cold and wet and covered in sh*t and find out if you still like it. Once you know from experience, think about a change of life then.

Think about what return you want per pound or hour invested, plus what you want from a 'farming' life. If you don't want to kick the *rse out of it in public, PM me.

Good luck.

 

[curlietailz]

I applaud your desire to farm, but agree with Danllan.
Get yourself into farms during your holidays.... And find out at grass roots level if you really like it, or wether you are hankering after the Darling Buds of May idyll.

Ask in here if anyone can accommodate you , be specific about what you want to achieve.. And someone might be able to help you
Good Luck

And keep us updated on your progress

 

[kingtractor]

It simply doesn't work like that. A 'spare' field on most efficiently run farms is a non-existent thing, fields for livestock - as well as arable etc. - need to be used in rotation for lots of reasons, not least parasite problems and renewal of the crop. There is also the fact that having someone 'extra' around the farm is often a real pain in the *rse. A lot of us have sheep following cattle to maximise use of the grass and minimise parasite problems.

Your last post is more realistic, if you have the cash to invest you will find someone of a similar age to you who comes from a farming background but is finding it hard to get started. Be careful, there are a lot of wide-boys, but if you go via the YFs or some such group you should be alright.

Some figures, to give you a rough idea - which everyone on here will now dispute... . Depending on breed you could be looking at £100 +/- £20 per head for a ewe lamb, depending on where you are buying and the market. Expect, maybe 1.6 lambs per year from her for six years or more. You can work on keeping five ewes plus their lambs per acre of ground. Do you own research on the other threads regarding price for live and dead sales. On good land in a good climate with good ewes, you can increase all the figures significantly, and the opposite is also true.

Don't be afraid to tap the knowledge available on here, there is a hell of a lot of it and most people are happy to help with genuine queries. But do a decent search before you ask a question, usually the answer is available already.

I came from a farming background and ended up as a Barrister in London, via the Army, I'm back in farming now having realised where things are best . If you are on decent money and you really are keen on the idea of farming, save your cash, spend some time on farms in different seasons, get cold and wet and covered in sh*t and find out if you still like it. Once you know from experience, think about a change of life then.

Think about what return you want per pound or hour invested, plus what you want from a 'farming' life. If you don't want to kick the *rse out of it in public, PM me.

Good luck.

Hi Danllan, thanks for the reply. I would be interested in PM'ing you but I cant currently due to privacy features. Let me know if there is another way. Thanks!

 

[Old Tip]

We have a fair few people come and volunteer on our farm for a week or so every now and then and some more regular. All have a love of farming but little or no experience so we give them some experience and training in Luke of bed and board and a holiday in a beautiful place. Two of our ex volunteers are now involved in farming in some way others just like to help out and enjoy the experience.
If you want to check out our website it's www.dodgsonwood.co,uk, there. Are plenty of opportunities on sites like Farmex

OT

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

Hi Danllan, thanks for the reply. I would be interested in PM'ing you but I cant currently due to privacy features. Let me know if there is another way. Thanks!

Hi @CityBoy

PM me to discuss please.

Cheers

TSS

 

[Danllan]

Hi @CityBoy

PM me to discuss please.

Cheers

TSS

I don't know of another way, I'm not the most tech-savvy person around (or even in the kitchen where I am writing...)

 

[unlacedgecko]

I am 23 and currently live and work in London. Although I am unlikely to run my own farm anytime soon (it would beat sitting in an office all day), I would like to feel more involved in farming. It's a great passion of mine, but living and working in London, opportunities are limited.

I am wondering whether people think it would be viable for me to purchase, for example, 10-15 ewes and find a farmer with a spare field who could effectively look after them and take a % (obviously >50%) of profits from the enterprise? Obviously, in addition to providing the ewes, ongoing costs would have to be split in a fair manner between myself and the farmer.

What do people think of this idea? Obviously a business plan would be needed.

I have PM'd you.

 

[Banana Bar]

You would be better off having a 15% stake with someone who already has 100 ewes

 

[MRT]

You would be better off having a 15% stake with someone who already has 100 ewes

No you would be better off having a 15oz steak with someone who has no ewes!

 

[unlacedgecko]

No you would be better off having a 15oz steak with someone who has no ewes!

In London I highly recommend the Hawksmoor. http://thehawksmoor.com

A dry aged longhorn tomahawk steak with roast bone marrow and lard fried chips is pretty much the only way my wife can get me within the M25.

 

[beefandsleep]

I must say, you're all being terribly kind. Not at al what I expected when scrolling down from the original post after picking out the words 10-15 ewes, spare field and profit. [emoji23] good for you.

 

[Al R]

I must say, you're all being terribly kind. Not at al what I expected when scrolling down from the original post after picking out the words 10-15 ewes, spare field and profit. [emoji23] good for you.

I think I'm one of the only realist is it?

 

[beefandsleep]

I think I'm one of the only realist is it?

Not at all, I think the replys are a credit to the various posters and show a willingness to engage and educate someone who obviously has little knowledge of the realities or practicalities of our industry. Very impressed actually.

 

[Bill dog]

I think I'm one of the only realist is it?

As a keeper of the odd horse along side my ewes n coos , I did chortle at the beheading comment. Should I require that service , I will give u a call !

 

[Old Tip]

In London I highly recommend the Hawksmoor. http://thehawksmoor.com

A dry aged longhorn tomahawk steak with roast bone marrow and lard fried chips is pretty much the only way my wife can get me within the M25.

Had the roast beef there and it was fantastic