Farming land miles away from base

[Wobblebox]

An old college friend has approached me about taking on his land as he’s got other commitments taking more of his time. It’s 400 acres, all arable on decent ground. Only problem it’s 40 miles away from my base.
I have got capacity to do the work as I’ve got another agreement coming to an end in 2 years time.
I know some on here have blocks of ground farther afield which they can manage, do you have any tips?
Cropping?
Timing of operations?
Do you get contractors in?
Any other advice?

 

[Chae1]

@ajd132

Was a epic thread on same subject a few years ago!

 

[JCfarmer]

What storage is available? 40 miles never done it but for 400 acres wouldn't do it either! 15 miles would be the limit and not sure if I could stick that. Its a good block but you would be a farm manager not farming it with your kit I think, the opportunity cost as in look after your own first. Its age dependant also and how keen?

 

[ajd132]

@ajd132

Was a epic thread on same subject a few years ago!

Ha, sounds exactly the same scenario as last time. 40 miles is a bloody long way in a sprayer. Madness.

 

[deleted user 837354]

400 acres, one block, contractor to do some of it. Still not sure I would want the grief in all honesty.

 

[Boysground]

20 mile trip for me. I keep everything as simple as possible, up to now that’s been 3 crops. Trying beans and winter barley this year just to see how we can work with less or no osr.

Timing is probably the biggest issue so I tend to do a T0 at the distant farm just incase I get held up at home. Don’t usually T0 at home as it’s easier to get sprayer out. Wheat at home follows maize and grass so I can usually get the distant farm drilled up first.

I try to move the combine as little as possible because a long journey on a very busy road is not fun. Moving tractors these days is easy it’s only a 45 minute journey just takes a little planning if you need multiple machines shifted. I don’t move any products between the 2 farms.

You need a good relationship with the agronomist, They need to understand what you have to cover and I rarely get to see mine at the far farm, it’s that little more complicated to get us both there at the same time. It’s handy to have someone you can call for an actual weather forecast.

45 miles I’d go for it.

Bg

 

[Boysground]

Should add I spend quite a bit of time travelling between farms seeing other guys doing just the same. One chap I know is probably doing 30 miles between farms on substantially more acres than me.

Bg

 

[ewald]

Is it an easy 40 miles or does it involve towns/small roads/holiday traffic etc?
If there is storage it changes things, could leave a sprayer there (or contract).
Plenty travel this distance, largely a mind-set issue. Do you want to do it?

 

[ajd132]

I wouldn’t do it personally I don’t think but I would work out how much you are making taking into account a lot of dead time on the road, and also whether this will affect what you are currently doing. Chasing about could mean standards drop on your own operation. Lots of hidden costs that are hard to account for when going that far, 40 miles is a long way to put slug pellets on a couple of fields. If your going to use contractors in a contract farming agreement you may aswell let them do the whole thing as you won’t be making any money.

 

[masseybreaker]

marching doesnt pay the bills just costs money !!!! a lot of marching in 40 miles £100 per round trip ?

 

[ajd132]

I would do it if I could rent, direct drill, block crop and send all to Camgrain straight off the combine. Would probably get a local agronomist to keep an eye on it as wouldn’t want to travel that far to do it myself. Cfa with three crop rule, land owner to keep happy, perhaps land agents involved Etc would make it difficult i think

 

[Brisel]

An old college friend has approached me about taking on his land as he’s got other commitments taking more of his time. It’s 400 acres, all arable on decent ground. Only problem it’s 40 miles away from my base.
I have got capacity to do the work as I’ve got another agreement coming to an end in 2 years time.
I know some on here have blocks of ground farther afield which they can manage, do you have any tips?
Cropping?
Timing of operations?
Do you get contractors in?
Any other advice?

40 miles is a very long way. Unless you have Fastracs and main roads all the way I wouldn't. It's 2 hours in a 40 kph vehicle and longer in a combine. IMO your friend would be best getting someone more local in to contract farm it. You could always manage it remotely and co-ordinate local contractors.

I used to manage various CFAs over a 25 mile radius & we needed 20% extra capacity to allow for the time spent travelling between blocks. Every farm was a self contained unit with grain storage on site & spent the first 6 months bouncing down roads in a forklift loading 1 lorry here and 2 more there until late evenings until I just told the merchant to do a batch of trucks or I wouldn't play ball. We bought a second forklift in the end. I still did nearly 30,000 miles a year in my pickup. At the very least you're looking at a second sprayer or contractor to take up some of the slack.

 

[T Hectares]

Personally I think it's too far.
What ever way you look at it that's a lot of time and money spent driving, before the wasted trips when the weather catches you out etc.

It can be made to work, no doubt about it, I wouldn't want to though after farming land 20 miles away previously I thought that was the maximum I'd be happy to go to, nowadays I wouldn't even do that!!

Rather than looking at replacing the lost ground in your agreement that's coming to an end, I'd look at restructuring on your existing ground, this approach has paid off here, but I know nothing of your circumstances of course!!

 

[Lowland1]

I run two farms 6680 miles apart. I have found it's better to have kit for both farms.

 

[lloyd]

Is the ground grade 11 or better ?
Is it in a part of the country with favourable weather ?
If its ground that will do half a ton acre more than what your giving
up then go for it ,it will pay for that extra equipment to be left there.
Of course it will depend on what terms your friend is letting it to you at.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Livestock not arable, but furthest points for me are 40miles apart. Minimising travel is the key. Takes a bit of planning but can be done.

 

[7610 super q]

3 crop rule and weather variations make it a non starter.

 

[deleted user 837354]

3 crop rule and weather variations make it a non starter.

3 crop rule going or not?

 

[7610 super q]

3 crop rule going or not?

I dunno. Be nice to know before ordering seed for next season.......

 

[Brisel]

3 crop rule going or not?

Assume it is not until told otherwise.