Farmers bounce back

[glasshouse]

I was speaking for all of us. There’s always perks to running your own business, and farming especially so.

Edit: I’m typing this on a work iPhone, whilst having home produced food in front of a log fire (farm chainsaw, time, trees). Some of my power will go through the books, as will the internet costs, etc.

I was not referring to perks
I was referring to you saying that farmers had plenty spare time

 

[glasshouse]

Farmers aren't required now, its a short term increase in demand that the food processors haven't planned for. Give it a week and it'll be back to normal

Negative waves

 

[Highland Mule]

I was not referring to perks
I was referring to you saying that farmers had plenty spare time

Some do, some don’t. Plenty seem to be able to spend time on “research” here. And who would deny it’s a vocation that we love? Time spent on enjoyment is not always work.

 

[Greythundercloudys]

As long as that sfp keeps going, but if that's not there no one will dounce back, how long can you keep going if the market are shut and no body wants livestock. September /October time max. Then run out of money. This is every bit as bad for farmers as everyone else.

 

[steveR]

Meanwhile in America, the 'nut jobs' see Covid19 as an opportunity:
View attachment 866306

That pilot needs a spot of close and personal attention....!

 

[Muddyroads]

Surely the reason for the sudden drop off in prices is because all the processors are shut down to tackle C-19? If they cant slaughter and butcher as much beef and lamb then who in their right mind is going to buy it if they basically have to farm them (without the knowledge or infrastructure to do it) until the staff is back in?

Plus I was told recently that macdonalds closing has meant there is no outlet for the weekly 10k cull cows they usually buy.

So can we expect to see a drop in the price in the shops? I somehow doubt it.

 

[oil barron]

Only words, hogs and cattle at rock bottom ppk despite empty shelves. everyone else at home and getting better wages for doing SFA as usual. Last straw for me, had the talk with folks last year but carried on.

great handle ?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Just seen something on the news from Allison’s flour mill saying they are working around the clock to keep up with demand
Even had some cheeky woman on who worked for them saying “we are working as hard as we can to feed the nation”
Not a single mention to the farmers who grew the fudging stuff...all they do is pay a shite price for it then turn it to flour
The tv nearly went out the window

 

[Greythundercloudys]

I saw that aswell.

 

[Happy]

Give it time fella, once the shock has worn off I’d like to think the price will reflect its demand.

A prime opportunity for the UK Ag sector to show its worth. Maybe people will realise that butterflies, buttercups and newts don’t feed a country.

Would like to think so but just as likely our government will use it as a need to secure a trade deal with the US to provide us with plentiful supplies of beef, chicken etc.

I’m sure the equally as popular supermarkets would be only too pleased to assist with that.

As long as that sfp keeps going, but if that's not there no one will dounce back, how long can you keep going if the market are shut and no body wants livestock. September /October time max. Then run out of money. This is every bit as bad for farmers as everyone else.

SFP will be gone PDQ with all this rescue package stuff to pay for.

 

[Cowabunga]

Plus I was told recently that macdonalds closing has meant there is no outlet for the weekly 10k cull cows they usually buy.

There is apparently quite a demand for cull cows this week. I sold four plain ones after being phoned to look for some in the herd, so I found these four that I thought not mobile enough to last the Summer. Have one more, just calved, that has a loud knock in the hip and again isn't up to longish treks to graze four times daily [twice there and back]. Obviously she will be kept a while longer.

No idea of the price yet though. Could be that I've nearly given them away.

 

[Happy]

There is apparently quite a demand for cull cows this week. I sold four plain ones after being phoned to look for some in the herd, so I found these four that I thought not mobile enough to last the Summer. Have one more, just calved, that has a loud knock in the hip and again isn't up to longish treks to graze four times daily [twice there and back]. Obviously she will be kept a while longer.

No idea of the price yet though. Could be that I've nearly given them away.

Nobody eating out anymore and can’t cook a proper meal.
Mince and tatties about their limit.

 

[Cowabunga]

Nobody eating out anymore and can’t cook a proper meal.
Mince and tatties about their limit.

Mince has to go somewhere. Prime cuts, not so much for the reasons you mention. Hence the reasonable demand for plain and cull cows but not so much for prime beef and lamb I suppose.

Hopefully all those at home will be brewing endless cups of latte coffee and tea.

 

[wanton dwarf]

Only words, hogs and cattle at rock bottom ppk despite empty shelves. everyone else at home and getting better wages for doing SFA as usual. Last straw for me, had the talk with folks last year but carried on.

Hope it all comes good in the end .. what ever you chose keep working hard and look out for opportunities, they will come your way and take them !

 

[mixed breed]

Surely the reason for the sudden drop off in prices is because all the processors are shut down to tackle C-19? If they cant slaughter and butcher as much beef and lamb then who in their right mind is going to buy it if they basically have to farm them (without the knowledge or infrastructure to do it) until the staff is back in?

Plus I was told recently that macdonalds closing has meant there is no outlet for the weekly 10k cull cows they usually buy.

posted this in the price tracker a few days back, my brother works at the local otm abattoir, there was a lot of uncertainty about jobs, but they all had a letter to say business as usual and extra hours for those who want it, despite losing mcds they've got new orders for supermarkets, looking to up kill numbers from 280 a day to 400.

I also see tonight that Muller dairy up the road, are looking for 300 extra staff to help "feed the UK" weather any of this makes any difference to farm gate prices remains to be seen.

 

[Spartacus]

So can we expect to see a drop in the price in the shops? I somehow doubt it.

How would that work? Lack of processors means less demand our side but more demand supermarket/butcher side, if anything it would push the two prices further apart short term.

 

[Muddyroads]

So do you think the wholesale butcher that I directly supply is going to pay me more because the shops will charge more, or pay me less because the market price dropped last Monday? The latter I suspect, therefore the margins for those after me in the chain increase, while mine drops.

 

[Martin Holden]

Supermarkets are thought more of than the farmers who grow the food for them to sell. I swear most people think supermarkets actually make the food.

That’s the problem with the communication by the Ag’ industry towards the market. Products on the shelf are tactile and many very recognisable. Everyone knows what’s inside the packaging but sadly have no idea or even interest where it comes from to get in the packing. Not sure how that perception is changed.

 

[Nithsdale]

Nobody eating out anymore and can’t cook a proper meal.
Mince and tatties about their limit.

There's nowt wrong wi' mince n tatties!
It'd be almost a staple meal in this country not too long ago.

Country needs to go back to basics...

 

[Nithsdale]

Just seen something on the news from Allison’s flour mill saying they are working around the clock to keep up with demand
Even had some cheeky woman on who worked for them saying “we are working as hard as we can to feed the nation”
Not a single mention to the farmers who grew the fudging stuff...all they do is pay a shite price for it then turn it to flour
The tv nearly went out the window

Our problem is... you can hardly have the news roll up on my farm ( I'm the final throws of lambing) and say im flat out this past month doing my best to feed the nation.

Truth is, I am! But the buggers in the cities just see cute lambs. They've no connection to what we are doing now - be it lambing, calving, drilling corn - having an end result as the food they eat in 6,8,18 months time...

It's much easier to go into a flour mill or bakery and see the process happen right infront of them