Farming and the ageing process

[jellybean]

sounds a good idea but I'd fear minefield of litigation if an injury was to happen due to a burst hose, not having a reversing bleepe r or anything that can fit the ' no such thing as an accident' religion.

I think this is one of the biggest obstacles for older farmers who would like to (in principle) give an opportunity to a younger person. I am in the same situation. But if you have been self employed virtually all your life, not had days off nor holidays and been working in situations that no employee would be allowed to if observing strictly all the H+S recommendations and all for what would be regarded as below min wage income what would it be that we would be offering a younger person? Surely nothing that they would actually want because times and expectations have changed dramatically since we were young. The fact that I have done ok out of that life style and for the most part enjoyed every minute of it does not mean that the next generation would. No way would I take on an employee, everything seems to be stacked against the employer.
I do feel sorry for younger people who would like to farm; I do not know what the answers are.

 

[deere 6600]

Major issue here is the old farmers or farmers won’t hand farm over to youngsters because they are afraid of loosing it after working hard.i know plenty of people well into their 50/60s who are still not in charge and ageing parent got to have a hold of them all the time often when they are well into their 80/90s.i think it’s just a farming thing and if you have had control handed to you at a young age I suspect you may be in the minority.
nick...

This not letting go does my head in I’m 63 and feeling aches and pains more every year luckily?? son very capable to do what’s needed and that’s the way it should be he does the work makes the decisions I give my tuppence worth quite regularly . When I hear about guys in there 40s who have to ask whether to Harrow a field or not mmmmmmm . Most farmers want a son to carry on the farm then treat them like crap for years Rant over

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I wish one off my youngsters would want to take over , would be more than happy to take a back seat , how lucky you are if you have !

 

[manhill]

This not letting go does my head in I’m 63 and feeling aches and pains more every year luckily?? son very capable to do what’s needed and that’s the way it should be he does the work makes the decisions I give my tuppence worth quite regularly . When I hear about guys in there 40s who have to ask whether to Harrow a field or not mmmmmmm . Most farmers want a son to carry on the farm then treat them like crap for years Rant over

Sure the aches and pains will get better if you stop or will you just stiffen up to the point where you can't do much?

 

[Extreme Optimist]

Surely as you get older, you work smarter. You maybe plan things better and look at how to make a job easier - just because something's always been done that way, doesn't mean it is the only way.
People are written off far too early. If you are in the Police, you have to retire after 30 years service, so if you join at 18, then you retire at 48 - just ridiculous! Think of all that experience being wasted! There are plenty of fit 48 year old's that would give young lads a run for the money and equally, I am sure there are plenty of 60 year old farmer's who are not ready for the rocking chair quite yet.
I am coming up 58, first generation farmer. I still have loads of ambition. Each year, I want (and expect) my cows and calves to do better than the last. I want to make the place more efficient and be easier to run. I could sell up and with the price of land being what it is, I probably wouldn't have to work again, but I think I would go steadily mad. OK, I maybe halfway there already but do I really need to accelerate the process?
We don't appreciate how lucky we are, living in wonderful places, having something to get up for every morning and mostly taking immense amounts of pride in what we do. Isn't it ironic that so many celebrities are envied for their lifestyle and finances.........and what do they want to do.......farm. Look at Clarkson. He loves his farm. Yes, he gets frustrated like the rest of us, but I don't think it's a tax dodge; reading his articles, he gets genuine pleasure from it.

 

[Tubbylew]

Three issues:
- taxation system
- the NHS
- modern machinery
Have created the perfect storm for UK ag; those at the helm being able to carry on at the helm for decades longer than they should do, to the detriment of their individual business and the industry.

If I'm to be honest, I disagree that it is a storm as such, being only 36 myself and knowing how hard it is to get a start in ag, I also see that if it's been your lifes work to build a business in ag, or any other sector for that matter, and you wish to keep buggering on and squander or smash what you've built, then you should be free to do so, and no industry should be relying on "dead mens shoes" to thrive, it should be attractive enough for people to want to overcome the many barriers to entry.

 

[Dukes Fit]

why oh why are older folks obsessed with driving tele-handlers when it’s the one machine that can do the most damage I’ll never know!

So mine isn’t the only one then!
I think it’s because there are only two handles to worry about and they can trundle about in them all day.

Had to have an “instructional chat” with my father regarding his operating techniques around me

 

[nxy]

Another difference between France and the UK is that you cannot choose who inherits here.

All direct family are treated equally. So a son who comes home to farm has to buy out any brothers and sisters.

Its one of the main reason farms have remained smaller here than in the UK.

 

[ploughman1963]

58 shortly - had health issues last year which took a while to recover from but now feeling fitter than I did 12 months ago and 15kg lighter - which, if you are carrying a few extra pounds, take it from me, you DO see the benefit of losing them!!
Love my hedgelaying which can be a killer if its hard going, can still manage the tractors fine and managed to match the youngest son shovel-full for shovel-full whilst loading gravel into the wheelbarrow for an hour yesterday without collapsing afterwards

I should add that contrary to the majority of farmers I read about on here - I take great pleasure in trying to let go of the reins for my two sons - one runs the contracting and one looks after the sheep - we all come together to run the arable. I absolutely love working with them - all the fights and arguments included- I was determined that they should get responsibility and their own bank card whilst they were still young enough to have some ‘fire’ in their bellies!

 

[Phil P]

So mine isn’t the only one then!
I think it’s because there are only two handles to worry about and they can trundle about in them all day.

Had to have an “instructional chat” with my father regarding his operating techniques around me

And riding round with there foot on the brakes and reving the tits of it to make it move

 

[ollie989898]

Three issues:
- taxation system
- the NHS
- modern machinery
Have created the perfect storm for UK ag; those at the helm being able to carry on at the helm for decades longer than they should do, to the detriment of their individual business and the industry.

I'm afraid I disagree. There is no need for anyone to be forcibly retired from any industry or profession. Farming is dangerous in some areas but not all. There is risk attached to everything, any one of us could fall down the stairs tomorrow, have a bleed on the brain and be dead 2 days later. I do truly believe having more experienced people around is a very important contributor to any situation, and even more so in any kind of technical field.

I've seen a lot more bodies laid waste by inactivity than activity.

My advice to anyone on this thread- keep going. Got a bad hip or knee- get it fixed. You pay your taxes, get it operated on and get back doing what you enjoy. You will live longer and stay fitter.

I've seen a LOT of people who retired or retired early and sat doing nothing but pishing the wife off all day. Don't do it. you physical and mental health might rely on you using your brain or heart at a good rate all day.

And not only that but there has to be a point to life. Without any point, without any occupation, we are just really complicated clocks ticking down to the day it stops.

 

[Dukes Fit]

And riding round with there foot on the brakes and reving the tits of it to make it move

I’d written that in my original reply and then deleted it thinking I was being too hard on the old bugger but it’s absolutely true!

Does yours also prefer to sit with the shuttle in drive, bit of throttle and holding it on the brakes when filling the drill rather than just put the handbrake on? Or just use 3rd gear for everything so he doesn’t have to push the brake so hard?

I’m almost thankful he’s half claimed the old machine as “his” one

 

[PhilipB]

Three issues:
- taxation system
- the NHS
- modern machinery
Have created the perfect storm for UK ag; those at the helm being able to carry on at the helm for decades longer than they should do, to the detriment of their individual business and the industry.

That sounds like farmers should die gracefully without medical attention for the good of their farms and the wider industry!

Most farmers prefer to do things for themselves and their own interests.

And good for them. My father has no intention of retiring, and I fully support him in that.

From my (our) observation it is given to very few people to retire well. Most become fat, lazy and age rapidly. The ones who thrive on retirement are those with a great sense of drive, self discipline and intense interests. The sort of attitude to life that might as well be channelled into farming as into any other activity in old age.

 

[melted welly]

And riding round with there foot on the brakes and reving the tits of it to make it move

what about digging for drains with the telehandler and grain bucket? that’s a big favourite here..

 

[ollie989898]

what about digging for drains with the telehandler and grain bucket? that’s a big favourite here..

For Godsake buy him a 3CX and be quick about it!!

 

[melted welly]

For Godsake buy him a 3CX and be quick about it!!

Sod that.

Often hire an 8t 360, have had to ban him from it after constant damage.

he then hired an alternative mini digger himself for his job and broke that too.

He’s just so rough with things now, always has been, but much worse of late. Everything to be done at 100mph, don’t understand why, if he just took his time he’d get to where he wanted to be a lot quicker and a lot less painfully (for everyone else involved)

 

[Phil P]

I’d written that in my original reply and then deleted it thinking I was being too hard on the old bugger but it’s absolutely true!

Does yours also prefer to sit with the shuttle in drive, bit of throttle and holding it on the brakes when filling the drill rather than just put the handbrake on? Or just use 3rd gear for everything so he doesn’t have to push the brake so hard?

I’m almost thankful he’s half claimed the old machine as “his” one

what about digging for drains with the telehandler and grain bucket? that’s a big favourite here..

You guys must have seen my older man on a handler, got him to a T

 

[delilah]

Have said it before, this isn't the farming forum, it's the retiring landowner forum. Any other industry got a forum where the majority of posters are over 50 ? It's not exactly a sign of a vibrant industry.

 

[yellowbelly]

That sounds like farmers should die gracefully without medical attention for the good of their farms and the wider industry!

Trouble is most of us over 60's have been exposed to that much disease, sh!t, general detritus, been accidentally heptavaced/dosed/dipped, sat in enough spray drift to kill a small town, etc, etc that we're pretty much indestructible so I'm afraid you young guys just might have to wait a bit longer.

 

[Muddyroads]

Have said it before, this isn't the farming forum, it's the retiring landowner forum. Any other industry got a forum where the majority of posters are over 50 ? It's not exactly a sign of a vibrant industry.

Speak for yourself, I’m just a humble tenant, as are many others.