Fencing contracting

ARW

Member
Location
Yorkshire
You do need a decent stock of materials, yes you can have them supplied by the customer but they never ever buy enough or allow for extras, and the extra bit to do while your here.
the main reason we hold the stock is it’s a f#cking waste of your life, time and diesel to go and get that one extra gatepost you needed in the middle of the day, your better off having it in the yard and throwing in the trailer on the way to the job.
 

Grassman

Member
Location
Derbyshire
Fencing is a very satisfying job and far less financial layout than agricultural contracting. Some operate with a team and some one man bands (like me).
I only do it part time when it fits in with my farm work which suits me.
Full time with men to pay may be stressful and from what I've seen somewhat cut throat prices.
And beware of the big new customer with promises of lots of work who only pays when it suits him and your trapped because he owes you a lot.
 

hoff135

Member
Location
scotland
Maybe this is the answer:-

As I was initially going to get an 8 ton machine and do work with it. Buy a 6 ton which are cheaper. Then buy a post chapper for it. I see protech do one with a rockspike. Then I have allterain capabilities.

I have rakes of fencing to do myself which I was going to pay someone to do.

Doing this I could have another digger, and be able to do some contract fencing locally rather than going after big jobs miles away. There are plenty crofters locally with good jobs looking to get grants for fencing, and several new people moved into the area with loads of money whom I've already done work for.

6 ton machine would give me a lot more reach and power for the jobs I often struggle with with my 2.5 ton. Already have a low loader for the tractor so no problem shifting it.

Don't know how good the digger post knockers are though??? Anyone know?
 

ARW

Member
Location
Yorkshire
Knocker on the digger is ok but it can be a two man job
Quickfencer on the digger is great in winter
22797465-E1C1-4FE9-94DF-6D3AF7F3316B.png
 

devonbeef

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon UK
It is, that's why a lot of folk get into fencing thinking they'll make a fortune but 12 months later are doing something else. The allure of air conditioned cabs or just cabs when it's raining is too tempting for some.
I was a fencing contractor in my own right for 10 years, plenty of work, in fact endless, but big but it really knackers your body up.It aged my body more than time should have, was glad to stop it to be honest.I started from scatch basic kit, in the end had good set up but i would not have done it untill old age.
 

S J H

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
You do need a decent stock of materials, yes you can have them supplied by the customer but they never ever buy enough or allow for extras, and the extra bit to do while your here.
the main reason we hold the stock is it’s a f#cking waste of your life, time and diesel to go and get that one extra gatepost you needed in the middle of the day, your better off having it in the yard and throwing in the trailer on the way to the job.

£50k worth is going some though I hold a fair bit, and it wouldn’t be half that.
 

S J H

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
One thing I didn‘t take much notice of when I started was services, we’ve got a lot of mains gas and oil around here, it’s my main worry when I’m doing a job, some are well marked and some are shocking. It would be a massive liability if you survive hitting one.

Was very close to an world war 2 oil line once which wasn’t marked, was only 2’ in the ground.
 
One thing I didn‘t take much notice of when I started was services, we’ve got a lot of mains gas and oil around here, it’s my main worry when I’m doing a job, some are well marked and some are shocking. It would be a massive liability if you survive hitting one.

Was very close to an world war 2 oil line once which wasn’t marked, was only 2’ in the ground.

You can get a hand held detector thing for those, no?
 

tepapa

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Wales
I was a fencing contractor in my own right for 10 years, plenty of work, in fact endless, but big but it really knackers your body up.It aged my body more than time should have, was glad to stop it to be honest.I started from scatch basic kit, in the end had good set up but i would not have done it untill old age.
I'm at 10yr limit now, looking for the next career, don't mind this one but can't be fwcked doing this much longer, I'd rather go back shearing. 😱
 

tepapa

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Wales
One thing I didn‘t take much notice of when I started was services, we’ve got a lot of mains gas and oil around here, it’s my main worry when I’m doing a job, some are well marked and some are shocking. It would be a massive liability if you survive hitting one.

Was very close to an world war 2 oil line once which wasn’t marked, was only 2’ in the ground.
My biggest fear too. If you did hit something too it'll all be on your head, no-one else wants to except the blame.
 
Last edited:

ARW

Member
Location
Yorkshire
£50k worth is going some though I hold a fair bit, and it wouldn’t be half that.
I probably only have 25k in the yard, but then another 25k on jobs recently completed and need paying for.
The price of timber hasn’t helped recently.
I’m still in love with the job, however I’m pretty f#cking sick of some bits of it. People have got used to being able to get materials at the drop of a hat, now you actually need some forward planning and organisation. This isn’t my fault when they ring hoping to have a field fenced next week, your poor organisation is not my problem
A smaller problem that annoys me is how some will have a fence to repair or replace and rather than patch it up for another month until we can come they just keep ringing up to see how we are getting on. They would rather ring me and waste my time than help themselves and claim they are “to busy” you end up working all the hours and doing everything you can to help them and when you get there they are busy cutting there grass or going to market! I haven’t cut my grass for 6 weeks to try to get caught up with jobs!
 

Is the NEC a better venue for LAMMA?

  • Yes

  • No


Results are only viewable after voting.

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,035
  • 1
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/
Top