Family farms.

[Beef farmer]

I'm very fortunate that my father's got interests out side of farming, and when he got divorced, handed over control of the farm and the day to day running and future decisions. I farm in partnership with my brother, who has no interest in cows or what happens to them, but with out doubt works harder than me, so it's a fair bit of give and take, he had little stress, but clocks some hours, and supports my decisions without question. He is taking more of an interest in the cows all the time, which makes our position stronger. But make no mistake we have some bustups. But it's always forgotten in the morning. If we had the same personalitys it would be carnage.

 

[7610 super q]

Family partnership That old chestnut Should have a government health warning.
Where's WalterP ?

 

[pappuller]

Me brother and father here me and brother know where we are heading and take charge of different things and get on well (and wives get on well too which is great as find they generally turn family farming partnerships sour fast when they don't). But old fella is hard work to work with and if there is an Irish/difficult way to do a job that's the way it has to be done!

You'll find that is old man syndrome, it comes to us all eventually

 

[Kevtherev]

Paddle your own canoe is my motto.
Families on farms is a recipe for disaster

 

[ColinV6]

I'm thankful my remaining family member doesn't get too involved in the farm. The worry is that whilst he's not costing any money at the moment, one day will want his half and it will be very hard to justify that level of investment.

This needs to be planned for well in advance, chances are it's already too late but it's worth asking your soliciters about it ASAP. You should already have been putting money aside for that situation.

Also... Why should it be 50/50? He's had nothing to do with the farm, if you take on the farm, run it for 60 years and hand it on to the next generation, you've had nothing but an asset, he gets a payout of possibly seven figure sum?

 

[Bruce Almighty]

I am finding that the things I try to avoid saying to my 16 year old are the same things Dad said to me in my early 20s.

It's not pleasant, Dad knocked confidence out of me, as a result I have given my son an easy ride. Now the tail is trying to wag the dog.

 

[dairyrow]

I'm afraid ours isn't working. Brother and father work hard. But old habits die hard and the worlds changed. I've asked for a split. Consultant gone away to work out a proposal. I'm fed up of the low wages and lack of planning. We just go from one disaster after another with nobody knowing their roles. Its become more apparent after I've hit 40. I need to make my own waves. I'm quite resentful of my brother who's 50 not starting this process himself.

 

[Clay52]

We just have arguments over anything that's different to the way it's always been done. Even if the way it's always been done clearly wasn't working.

Mastitis mangment for example. I'll get push back from stuff as simple as keeping cows clean, teat spray or a standard treatment protocol. Even though when I took over we were treating over 10% of the herd per month for mastitis and some cows had been treated 15 times in the one lactation. Haha. Now treating 1-2% per month but it could be better.

And then simple wastes of money. Like driving any machinery without any sort maintenance until it dies. Like driving atvs or tractors until they run out of oil and then need an engine rebuild.

I can go on and on.

 

[two-cylinder]

One word: Politics.

 

[TomB]

And then simple wastes of money. Like driving any machinery without any sort maintenance until it dies. Like driving atvs or tractors until they run out of oil and then need an engine rebuild.

I can go on and on.

That's just stockman through and through

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Family partnership That old chestnut Should have a government health warning.
Where's WalterP ?

Is he not just up the road from you???

 

[Clay52]

That's just stockman through and through

It's just idiotic. I'm a stock person as well, Not a machinery person at all but it's just a simple waste of money. My dad can't be bothered spending 30 seconds checking the oil, destroy the ATV and have to replace it then complain about how hard it is to make money.

He will also complain when they can't fix a seized enigine overnight. Haha.

 

[7610 super q]

Is he not just up the road from you???

About 20 miles away, as the crow flies

 

[7610 super q]

It's just idiotic. I'm a stock person as well, Not a machinery person at all but it's just a simple waste of money. My dad can't be bothered spending 30 seconds checking the oil, destroy the ATV and have to replace it then complain about how hard it is to make money.

He will also complain when they can't fix a seized enigine overnight. Haha.

That used to bug me too. Work your rubbish off to afford nice tractors.....only for them to get wrecked.
I don't know why I bothered.

 

[Ducati899]

For all my fathers hatred of sitting on any tractor and just loving his cows the one thing be drummed into me was that oil & grease is cheap,and if anything broke down due to neglect he would of clipped me round the ear,which for a cowman is a rare trait

 

[Clay52]

That used to bug me too. Work your rubbish off to afford nice tractors.....only for them to get wrecked.
I don't know why I bothered.

Just yesterday he was using the old ford tractor. I said make sure you check the oil, (it uses a bit of oil but runs fine). The reply I get is " I don't have time for that".

 

[Clay52]

For all my fathers hatred of sitting on any tractor and just loving his cows the one thing be drummed into me was that oil & grease is cheap,and if anything broke down due to neglect he would of clipped me round the ear,which for a cowman is a rare trait

When I first come back on the farm we didn't even have a drum of oil or a grease gun. It's that bad it's funny.

 

[7610 super q]

That used to bug me too. Work your rubbish off to afford nice tractors.....only for them to get wrecked.
I don't know why I bothered.

Used to employ duckeggs too. Some days it seemed like a competition as to who could do the most damage.
I've knocked down 3 gateposts, overturned the harvester, run round all day with a spool valve in gear, buggered up the forklift, and demolished the end of a shed.

Woop de doo.

 

[kp_n_plghng]

Just yesterday he was using the old ford tractor. I said make sure you check the oil, (it uses a bit of oil but runs fine). The reply I get is " I don't have time for that".

If i told the old man to "make sure he did something" I don't think it would be very respectful. I just wouldn't dream of telling him to do anything or at least not in that way. You have to be more tactful than that. Say things like "we should probably remember to top up the oil on this one, hang on i'll just check it now". I mean if you've got time to tell him to do it you've got time to do it yourself. You showing enthusiasm should enthuse him to some extent. If following this he still doesn't bother then he never will, just accept you can't change his ways now he's too old.

Alternatively if the tractor uses oil and you're aware of it just make it one of your jobs to top it up once a month. You will have to accept that your family don't have the standards you have, it can be really frustrating and i've been there myself but you've just got to bite your tongue and think of the right words and the right approach which wont insult or patronise anyone, especially if you're talking to your father. Sorry for the essay but just thought I would offer my thoughts.....

 

[jimmer]

Just yesterday he was using the old ford tractor. I said make sure you check the oil, (it uses a bit of oil but runs fine). The reply I get is " I don't have time for that".

how old is he? , i find the over 70s are better than the 50-70s