Herdsperson wage??

[LDaisy]

I'm trying to grasp what my worth is as a herdsperson, going from a self employed acting herdsperson. I was finally presented a contract at 24K with a 3 bed house, day off a week and every other weekend off, 230 cows, NZ system. Would of said I was worth a minimum 26K but they insist the advice was from a farm consultan to be 24K. Would like some thoughts before I have to fight my corner.

 

[tepapa]

Going rate for herdsperson family farm

Hi. I am looking at herdsperson jobs and few mention salary. What would be the expected current rate for herdsperson on small dairy farm in Devon?

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[kiwi pom]

I'm trying to grasp what my worth is as a herdsperson, going from a self employed acting herdsperson. I was finally presented a contract at 24K with a 3 bed house, day off a week and every other weekend off, 230 cows, NZ system. Would of said I was worth a minimum 26K but they insist the advice was from a farm consultan to be 24K. Would like some thoughts before I have to fight my corner.

I think a lot depends on what your role as 'Herdsperson' is, as its a position that seems to have a varying range of duties depending on the farm.
You need to see what the job description says (and if there isn't one their consultant isn't doing their job) is it sole charge, does it have set targets, AI, foot trimming etc?
Once you've seen a contract, and only when you've seen it, can you decide if its worth it. If you think you can get more elsewhere or there's something else you don't like about it either negotiate the salary/terms or say no thank you and move on.

It seems a bit low for me, especially if you're effectively running the place but if you only have to look after the cows and its a good set up and you're not doing mega hours it might be ok. You can always renegotiate once you've been in the role for a year.

 

[multi power]

I'm trying to grasp what my worth is as a herdsperson, going from a self employed acting herdsperson. I was finally presented a contract at 24K with a 3 bed house, day off a week and every other weekend off, 230 cows, NZ system. Would of said I was worth a minimum 26K but they insist the advice was from a farm consultan to be 24K. Would like some thoughts before I have to fight my corner.

Perhaps one way to do it is the 24k with some bounses, £500 for calving 50% in 3 weeks, £500 for 80% in 6 weeks and£5 for every replacement hefier calve born alive, that is what I used to get
Or, they pay your water, electric and heating

 

[Beef farmer]

No need to fight your corner. Just go somewhere else

 

[vantage]

I'm trying to grasp what my worth is as a herdsperson, going from a self employed acting herdsperson. I was finally presented a contract at 24K with a 3 bed house, day off a week and every other weekend off, 230 cows, NZ system. Would of said I was worth a minimum 26K but they insist the advice was from a farm consultan to be 24K. Would like some thoughts before I have to fight my corner.

Does your house include council tax paid? All bills paid?

 

[dinderleat]

Do you get any paid holiday as well as the 1 day a week off? On average you would be doing 10 milking a week with your house and 24k that’s £60 per milking. Will depend a lot on what responsibilities and other work you do.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

The thing about a 3 bed house in Devon is that if it's a nice house it has a potential to be rented out for £1000/m.

I have had to buy houses for my staff because I'm a tenant and the farm came with no houses. I think I pay my staff fairly but I also charge them rent. I show them what the market value is and then charge 50% of that.

 

[dinderleat]

The thing about a 3 bed house in Devon is that if it's a nice house it has a potential to be rented out for £1000/m.

I have had to buy houses for my staff because I'm a tenant and the farm came with no houses. I think I pay my staff fairly but I also charge them rent. I show them what the market value is and then charge 50% of that.

Is there any way you can get around letting them have a house with out it affecting their tax liabilities and yours.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Is there any way you can get around letting them have a house with out it affecting their tax liabilities and yours.

Its not written down anywhere apart from scraps of paper when salary negotiations are happening. The deduction is then built into their salary.

I think putting a figure in for 'rent' makes than appreciate it more. Having to house staff is a massive draw on cash in an area where house prices are high. There are 9 houses in our hamlet, none of which would be worth under 750k apart from the one I bought for a bit under because it was semi derelict . I have spent a lot doing it up and splitting it in two and there are some outbuildings I plan to convert. It's basically knocked back my plans on buying any land by a decade

 

[unlacedgecko]

The thing about a 3 bed house in Devon is that if it's a nice house it has a potential to be rented out for £1000/m.

I have had to buy houses for my staff because I'm a tenant and the farm came with no houses. I think I pay my staff fairly but I also charge them rent. I show them what the market value is and then charge 50% of that.

that’s seems very fair.

If I were an employed person I’d rather live in a static caravan and be paid more than offset someone else’s property investment.

 

[multi power]

Do you get any paid holiday as well as the 1 day a week off? On average you would be doing 10 milking a week with your house and 24k that’s £60 per milking. Will depend a lot on what responsibilities and other work you do.

I make it 12 milkings a week, but there is a lot more to the job than just milking, unless someone else is going to do the record keeping, foot trimming, grassland management, calving, vet work etc,etc etc

 

[farmboy]

I class my house as a retainer for being on call 24/7 for calvings, bulling checks, heifers getting out in the middle of the night etc

 

[multi power]

I class my house as a retainer for being on call 24/7 for calvings, bulling checks, heifers getting out in the middle of the night etc

Exactly, the house is of very little value, 6k a year would be far more useful as it would pretty much pay a mortgage

 

[Cows 'n grass]

that’s seems very fair.

If I were an employed person I’d rather live in a static caravan and be paid more than offset someone else’s property investment.

So would I. It wasn't an investment I'd chose to make. It has a negative ROI.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I class my house as a retainer for being on call 24/7 for calvings, bulling checks, heifers getting out in the middle of the night etc

That's understandable but I don't ask anyone to do and night checks or bulling checks.

 

[unlacedgecko]

So would I. It wasn't an investment I'd chose to make. It has a negative ROI.

Have you tried offering a caravan?

 

[farmboy]

That's understandable but I don't ask anyone to do and night checks or bulling checks.

Exactly, which goes back to the point I made earlier to the OP that there isn’t a one size fits all answer, every job is different and only you can decide what you will do it for

 

[dinderleat]

Exactly, the house is of very little value, 6k a year would be far more useful as it would pretty much pay a mortgage

I would agree with that but most don’t think like that and expect a house.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

I'm trying to grasp what my worth is as a herdsperson, going from a self employed acting herdsperson. I was finally presented a contract at 24K with a 3 bed house, day off a week and every other weekend off, 230 cows, NZ system. Would of said I was worth a minimum 26K but they insist the advice was from a farm consultan to be 24K. Would like some thoughts before I have to fight my corner.

Not sure what your “herdsman” job entails but the starting pay here for someone with zero experience is £24k. It also includes housing or a housing subsidy and 7 on 2 off schedule.