First Time Farmers Ch4

[Philip Watkins]

Judging by the number of posts on TFF daily it's a wonder that any farm work gets done by the members.

 

[RDL]

Judging by the number of posts on TFF daily it's a wonder that any farm work gets done by the members.

Even the donkeys on Blackpool beach are aloud a lunch break.

 

[WillFTF]

Even the donkeys on Blackpool beach are aloud a lunch break.

According to some people on here you're not

 

[davedb]

Yeah us guys trying to take on the family farm aren't real workers, just play at it, everything is given to us on a plate.
Piece of cake really, just pee about and inherit millions

not what I ment, I didn't say that everyone taking on a family farm didnt have to work, what I'm saying is some of the lads on the program didn't seem to get on and work when it was needed, maybe they were shown in a bad light its hard to know, but taking over from the older generation dosnt involve begging your dad for a go on the combine, if you want to do the combining beat the old man out in the morning and prove you can do it, and there's nothing wrong with going out and having a pee up but you have to accept you can't bugger off in the middle of harvest

 

[M-J-G]

Well said FarmGeek.

It's a 'Part' documentary Martin, please take the show with a pinch of salt, but then again now you mention it maybe it would be an interesting show if we all just stood in a shed talked sheep and cows and grain yields and drove tractors around a field all day. The show was put back to a later slot not because of audience figures but because Channel 4 felt this was a good way of targeting a younger audience. I don't agree with that one bit, however that's their view on things (that information came from the top).
Saying all that maybe they should have just re-scripted the series to show a very labour intensive lifestyle with no rest bite what so ever and constant stress, doom and gloom, the way as you're describing the show should look like. I'm sure that Channel 4 then will have successfully reached their targeted younger audience and got new, young people interested and engaged in the industry as it would look very appealing from an outsiders prospective.
I agree there could've been more farming in parts, a lot unfortunately got cut and left on the editors floor, however there's a reason there's partying and socialising within the show and I am sure the guys that make these programmes as a profession would appreciate you telling them how to do their job, just like you would appreciate them telling you how to farm.

If farming is a life doom and gloom, constant stress and hard labour then I would consider a career change, because I find farming a great way of life. But to portray the industry as one of drinkin, socialising and shooting, with a bit of work in between, is going to leave newcomers to farming a little disappointed if the show is all they have to go on.

We have a farm near the city, and it's part of a country Park. We get a lot of walkers and we have quite a large horse livery, nearly all of which live in the city, these folks can't get enough of finding out about what goes on in farms.

I think as farmers we dismiss how interesting our industry is, and many farmers think it is boring to others, as is suggested buy your comment about a script of standing about talking about sheep, cattle and grain as opposed to one of partying.

Lambing live was a huge success, yet there was great devotion to agriculture demonstrated and very little sign of nights out or farmers working hungover the next day.

Not having a pop at individuals on FTF , just how things were put across by C4.

 

[Gulli]

Try getting what you've got starting from nothing and see how hard it is!!

Nah ill just wait til the old fella dies and rent the place out. Who wants to work for a living.

As an aside is it just parts of the farming community who dislike anyone who has money? Whats the problem with it? Jealousy? Plenty of people much better off financially than me but I dont begrudge them a penny its not up to me what they choose to do with it!

 

[Gulli]

not what I ment, I didn't say that everyone taking on a family farm didnt have to work, what I'm saying is some of the lads on the program didn't seem to get on and work when it was needed, maybe they were shown in a bad light its hard to know, but taking over from the older generation dosnt involve begging your dad for a go on the combine, if you want to do the combining beat the old man out in the morning and prove you can do it, and there's nothing wrong with going out and having a pee up but you have to accept you can't bugger off in the middle of harvest

Sorry, late night bite...
Personally I would say they were shown in a bad light with regards to farming. The guy on the combine had obviously driven it before and that bit was just set up for the programme.

 

[Baling Hay]

Nah ill just wait til the old fella dies and rent the place out. Who wants to work for a living.

As an aside is it just parts of the farming community who dislike anyone who has money? Whats the problem with it? Jealousy? Plenty of people much better off financially than me but I dont begrudge them a penny its not up to me what they choose to do with it!

No jealousy here at all, I couldn't care how much you have. What I do hate though is the fact that people who inherit land sometimes look down on others trying to get started and don't appreciate the battle they have in front of them. I also hate others who inherit land and buildings and seem to let it all get run down and don't give a toss.

 

[Gulli]

No jealousy here at all, I couldn't care how much you have. What I do hate though is the fact that people who inherit land sometimes look down on others trying to get started and don't appreciate the battle they have in front of them. I also hate others who inherit land and buildings and seem to let it all get run down and don't give a toss.

Why? Not up to you what they do. If people spent less time worrying about what others think of them or what others are doing. They might have a bit more time to get on with their own lives...

All that before was firmly tongue in cheek. I work bloody hard for everything I have. Not appreciating the hard work that goes into starting on your own is no different to not appreciating the difficulties of inheritance.

 

[Baling Hay]

Why? Not up to you what they do. If people spent less time worrying about what others think of them or what others are doing. They might have a bit more time to get on with their own lives...

All that before was firmly tongue in cheek. I work bloody hard for everything I have. Not appreciating the hard work that goes into starting on your own is no different to not appreciating the difficulties of inheritance.

Because it is such a waste, similarly to how I hate people wasting other things also.

For example, I have seen some amazing traditional courtyards which have been allowed to fall into utter disrepair simply due to laziness. Those are pieces of history and iconic parts of the past British countryside just falling to rubble. A man who worked to buy those buildings would rarely allow such things to happen.

 

[Red Fred]

If someone lets his old farmyard fall into disrepair, isn't this also a good thing, as it enables someone with a bit of go to come along and turn it into something profitable with some hard work. Every cloud has a silver lining, and all that. I'm thinking here of a local couple who were able to afford an old neglected yard and turn it into first class holiday lets, which help support the farm.
I'm the opposite way, everyone can do what they like with their property as it often gives a start to someone else. I get really hacked off when I'm reading a classic car magazine or yuppie sunday supplement, and it says "We discovered "X" in an old barn and rescued it from its uncaring owner." It's his property, he can neglect it if he wants, just as they can buy and restore it and make a few bob.

 

[Notquiteretired]

If farming is a life doom and gloom, constant stress and hard labour then I would consider a career change, because I find farming a great way of life. But to portray the industry as one of drinkin, socialising and shooting, with a bit of work in between, is going to leave newcomers to farming a little disappointed if the show is all they have to go on.

We have a farm near the city, and it's part of a country Park. We get a lot of walkers and we have quite a large horse livery, nearly all of which live in the city, these folks can't get enough of finding out about what goes on in farms.

I think as farmers we dismiss how interesting our industry is, and many farmers think it is boring to others, as is suggested buy your comment about a script of standing about talking about sheep, cattle and grain as opposed to one of partying.

Lambing live was a huge success, yet there was great devotion to agriculture demonstrated and very little sign of nights out or farmers working hungover the next day.

Not having a pop at individuals on FTF , just how things were put across by C4.

I take it you were young once and enjoyed letting your hair down with friends before you had family and/or work responsibilities?

 

[Notquiteretired]

and how they guffawed at the dizzy lass who could not even use a needle and syringe, who is laughing now

That's right she vaccinated straight through a kitten scruff if i remember correctly

 

[M-J-G]

I take it you were young once and enjoyed letting your hair down with friends before you had family and/or work responsibilities?

Yes I was, and I still am as much a participant in a good night out as anyone. However anyone who's anyone goes out and does the same.

Considering that pretty much anyone is capable having a night out, why make a programme to celebrate the fact that a person who might become a farmer one day can go out on the pee and struggle to check and feed stock the following day.

We've all done it, why C4 found a need to have it on the telly is beyond me, and has taken what was a great opportunity for the characters and for farming and done a half assed job of it. Bit of a shame for all.

 

[Notquiteretired]

We've all done it, why C4 found a need to have it on the telly is beyond me, and has taken what was a great opportunity for the characters and for farming and done a half assed job of it. Bit of a shame for all.

I guess it shows it's no different from any other career that you can go out on a "school night" and you can struggle through with a hangover the next day and not pull a sicky as with most industries. I'm not sure I see what the problem is.

 

[M-J-G]

I guess it shows it's no different from any other career that you can go out on a "school night" and you can struggle through with a hangover the next day and not pull a sicky as with most industries. I'm not sure I see what the problem is.

Or maybe get sacked for being unprofessional in turning up whilst still under the influence!

Not a great picture for farmers! Thats the problem.

 

[Notquiteretired]

Or maybe get sacked for being unprofessional in turning up whilst still under the influence!

Not a great picture for farmers! Thats the problem.

I think you are getting farmers and pilots mixed up

 

[M-J-G]

I know. I'm not whiter than white and I don't want to sound like an old man, but there's doing things, and there's putting them on the telly. Are we not wanting to be recognised as professionals?

I'm quite sure it wouldn't go down well if a young Estate Agent were to turn up half pee'd for a viewing, or a Vet turn up still half gone to do a cesarean let alone it be put on telly.

Why would farming be any different?

 

[Notquiteretired]

I know. I'm not whiter than white and I don't want to sound like an old man, but there's doing things, and there's putting them on the telly. Are we not wanting to be recognised as professionals?

I'm quite sure it wouldn't go down well if a young Estate Agent were to turn up half pee'd for a viewing, or a Vet turn up still half gone to do a cesarean let alone it be put on telly.

Why would farming be any different?

Maybe you're speaking from personal experience and a bigger drinker than everyone else and still 1/2 cut when others are just suffering from dehydration(hangover) in the morning

 

[M-J-G]

Not a major drinker, but I wouldnt like to be breathalised at 8am!