F**k business

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
But another way of looking at. It, and it’s the same in the ag contracting business, is that by going out undercutting other businesses just to get the work is not competition at all. If it’s done by other contractors out to get the work for whatever price they can get, it is greed and desperation. But not only that, it encourages all farmers to forget about that very important word “loyalty”.
I have experienced this myself in the last couple of years. A contractor nearby went out and bought loads of kit and has gone round cheaper than everyone else just to get the work to justify the kit he now has. Figures such as £15/ac for a sp forager, £28/hr for a 200hp tractor and 16T trailer etc etc. Yes you can argue he will only last so long, but in the meantime, how many other good genuine businesses will say balls to this and get out. The farmer in the meantime is happy, and prices will creep up without him noticing too much, but at some point the next guy with a point to prove and inherited money to burn will come along and undercut the first chap. And the farmer naturally will go to the new guy as he’s cheaper. Meanwhile the guy that originally did the work who charged a realistic rate and did a good job, has folded altogether. At some point it will all come to an abrupt halt for the genuine contractors, and all that will be left will be those that have built and are building businesses on money from elsewhere and vast amounts of credit. This isn’t competition at all. This is the slow demise of the industry.
Slightly wandered off topic there. Apologies to the OP!!

It has always been the case, who do you blame, the young contractor who is trying to carve a niche for himself, working the machine 24/7 to try and get a living, or the farmer trying to save himself a few bob.
To blame the contractor for undercharging is as silly as blaming the farmer who has got a vast mortgage from buying land which will never make a return at the price he paid
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
It has always been the case, who do you blame, the young contractor who is trying to carve a niche for himself, working the machine 24/7 to try and get a living, or the farmer trying to save himself a few bob.
To blame the contractor for undercharging is as silly as blaming the farmer who has got a vast mortgage from buying land which will never make a return at the price he paid
Grandfather always told me you can never compete with someone who doesn't yet realise they're going out of business ; sustainable business is the motto. I think I actively favour some small businesses to keep them there for me
 

Walterp

Member
Location
Pembrokeshire
For those who aren't Welsh, it's of note that Andrew Davies (who farms in the Vale of Glamorgan and supported 'leave') has been obliged today to resign from his leadership of the Welsh Conservatives.

He had more or less repeated Boris Johnson's remark, but applied to Airbus which is a huge Welsh employer (and who had pointed out some of the 'short term pain' they may endure, and upon which many farmers, including Mr Davies, seem rather keen).

This position is, it seems to me, unsustainable.
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
For those who aren't Welsh, it's of note that Andrew Davies (who farms in the Vale of Glamorgan and supported 'leave') has been obliged today to resign from his leadership of the Welsh Conservatives.

He had more or less repeated Boris Johnson's remark, but applied to Airbus which is a huge Welsh employer (and who had pointed out some of the 'short term pain' they may endure, and upon which many farmers, including Mr Davies, seem rather keen).

This position is, it seems to me, unsustainable.
Liz Truss next Walter especially as she's crossed the Arch Brexiteer Saint Gove last night in her speech
 
One of the main problems for national wealth creation in the UK is the reliance on the 'service' industries. They only circulate money and don't create it.
This wasn't such a problem until the digital age developed where money now passes through less hands and will reduce money in circulation.
The future has been brought to my attention by the hugely popular game Fortnite.
Instead of kids spending their pocket money in a shop, helping them, delivery drivers, manufacturers etc, they buy costumes and accessories for a character in a game with all revenues going straight to the developers.
Modern business is really going to f^ck up the way economies have been traditionally run.

The UK makes a great deal of money from services. I disagree with the core assumptions of your post. Just because someone does not create something physical does not mean it is worthless to the economy.

The UK sells services abroad in all directions.
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
The UK makes a great deal of money from services. I disagree with the core assumptions of your post. Just because someone does not create something physical does not mean it is worthless to the economy.

The UK sells services abroad in all directions.

And all you need is a desk and computer and a phone line. How long will it be before the Indians and Chinese cotton on to this? I am sure they could already sell me insurance, convey my house and do my tax return now if it wasn't for the fact that it's a closed shop here.

Setting up an aluminium smelting works isn't quite so quick and easy though.
 
And all you need is a desk and computer and a phone line. How long will it be before the Indians and Chinese cotton on to this? I am sure they could already sell me insurance, convey my house and do my tax return now if it wasn't for the fact that it's a closed shop here.

Setting up an aluminium smelting works isn't quite so quick and easy though.

Setting up an aluminium production facility is a darn sight quicker and easier for the Chinese government than trying to convince western consumes they should bank or insure with them. There is no mystery to producing aluminium- the Russians at one time used convict labour virtually setup in the open air to do it.
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
And all you need is a desk and computer and a phone line. How long will it be before the Indians and Chinese cotton on to this? I am sure they could already sell me insurance, convey my house and do my tax return now if it wasn't for the fact that it's a closed shop here.

Setting up an aluminium smelting works isn't quite so quick and easy though.

Have you never heard of HSBC, Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, been around a long time
 

turbo

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
lincs
Setting up an aluminium production facility is a darn sight quicker and easier for the Chinese government than trying to convince western consumes they should bank or insure with them. There is no mystery to producing aluminium- the Russians at one time used convict labour virtually setup in the open air to do it.
If they are cheaper for insurance they will get the business and as for banking all you need is money and they have loads of it
 

Robt

Member
Location
Suffolk
My take on this is that Boris has become an admirer of Trump lately and probably seen that the the more controversial, the more the support.
Prepare to see a rampant Boris letting rip, speaking his mind, winning over the electorate, becoming PM and getting us over the finishing line.
F**k The EU.
If you really think that Boris takes inspiration from Trump then you are very wrong. Boris is a wally... or so he lets you think. Trump is a Wally or so he let’s you think.. neither are but Bojo is sadly much smarter!
 

Walterp

Member
Location
Pembrokeshire
My take on this is that Boris has become an admirer of Trump lately and probably seen that the the more controversial, the more the support.
Prepare to see a rampant Boris letting rip, speaking his mind, winning over the electorate, becoming PM and getting us over the finishing line.
F**k The EU.
Why would anyone wish to fudge an institution dedicated to improving the lot of its citizens?

Or support a politician dedicated only to improving his own lot?
 

gone

Member
Location
Carlow Ireland
There is another thread on here about the difference between Germany and the UK, this is the difference between Germany and the UK.
If a German minister said this he/she would no longer be a politician.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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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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