Hit me with the truth.

[Dream of farming]

My long story short. I Grew up on a dairy farm that belonged to my grandad. He retired when I was early teens and I consider them the best days of my life. I have 2 children of my own now and I would love for them to have a sense of freedom I had. I'm thinking of renting land and making a start on my dream with a handful of sheep. I'm from the east Midlands, Leicester area.
Does anyone have any advice, no matter how harsh ?.

 

[Woolless]

You haven't mentioned your employment situation but assuming that you've had little contact with agriculture since you were young, I would think it would be best to get some experience before you jump in with two feet.

 

[Dream of farming]

Thankyou for your reply. I have little experience, I would happily volunteer on a farm in exchange for experience. I work full time as a shunt class 1 driver. I feel I have strayed off on the wrong path completely. Rather then jump in with two feet I'd take more of a five year self plan to get on board, gain experience and work out what is best for me.

 

[JP1]

My long story short. I Grew up on a dairy farm that belonged to my grandad. He retired when I was early teens and I consider them the best days of my life. I have 2 children of my own now and I would love for them to have a sense of freedom I had. I'm thinking of renting land and making a start on my dream with a handful of sheep. I'm from the east Midlands, Leicester area.
Does anyone have any advice, no matter how harsh ?.

You made a good start asking here

Plenty of folks starting with a flying flock of sheep, often keeping their existing or regular or full time employment

I don't have many sheep, I do have cattle and a full time job

If you can deal with the strains of farming after hours with the missus and young children etc, I'd go for it

Hopefully there will be a few sheep keepers along in a minute

Like I told my Daughter at her graduation "Don't let your dreams be dreams"

 

[Ukjay]

As you are in full time employment, would it not be better to buy your own land then slowly create a kind of small holding, allowing a sheep farmer to graze your land for free, with some form of knowledge building on their part. Just need to have grazing license etc drawn up to protect your interests?

 

[Fendt65]

If you can help a farmer out and gain some experience with out getting paid then this should stand you in good stead for when you go it alone. (No money).good luck though farming needs new blood.

 

[Dream of farming]

I agree, thankyou. ?

 

[Dream of farming]

You made a good start asking here

Plenty of folks starting with a flying flock of sheep, often keeping their existing or regular or full time employment

I don't have many sheep, I do have cattle and a full time job

If you can deal with the strains of farming after hours with the missus and young children etc, I'd go for it

Hopefully there will be a few sheep keepers along in a minute

Like I told my Daughter at her graduation "Don't let your dreams be dreams"

 

[Dream of farming]

Thankyou for your reply.
How many cattle do you own? And what breed. I assumed sheep would be an easier start due to grazing space/cost.

 

[JP1]

Thankyou for your reply.
How many cattle do you own? And what breed. I assumed sheep would be an easier start due to grazing space/cost.

I have only a few acres but a base for bales, cattle overwintering, tractor etc

I conservation graze HLS for other landholders

I have 40 native suckler cows

I used to keep sheep (Lleyns) with just temporary grazing licences until I moved to East Anglia

 

[Dream of farming]

That's great. It's good to know having a full time job and starting up what I would enjoy most is doable. Do you plan to go full time farming in the future?

 

[milkloss]

I will only add that farming isn't what it used to be. I look at the farm now and think how few workers there are, big machines rushing around etc. Not sure children nowadays get the freedom to explore I used to.

 

[Dream of farming]

I suppose no manual job is what it use to be. But the passion and interaction with animals. Being proud of what you achieve, and the produce you supply will always remain.

 

[Tim W]

file:///C:/Users/jules/Downloads/1319960983Michael_Blanche_edited_report3%20(2).pdf

Read this for inspiration/ideas
Do your sums
Don't listen to the gloom merchants

Good luck !

 

[Dream of farming]

Thankyou Tim.

All positive so far to be fair.
I was expecting to be bombarded with a load of negative comments but people are very helpful.
Just a few single comments can make a difference.

Unfortunately the link you sent me comes up with an error. ?

 

[Bury the Trash]

file:///C:/Users/jules/Downloads/1319960983Michael_Blanche_edited_report3%20(2).pdf

Read this for inspiration/ideas
Do your sums
Don't listen to the gloom merchants

Good luck !

The link doesnt work..

 

[unlacedgecko]

Thankyou Tim.

All positive so far to be fair.
I was expecting to be bombarded with a load of negative comments but people are very helpful.
Just a few single comments can make a difference.

Unfortunately the link you sent me comes up with an error. ?

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjruZPhs5fnAhXUiFwKHeG_CTIQFjAAegQIBBAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nuffieldinternational.org%2Frep_pdf%2F1319960983Michael_Blanche_edited_report3.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0_953odJk87E_SmJ7PqcNV

Try that one.

I read the report monthly for inspiration.

 

[farmerm]

file:///C:/Users/jules/Downloads/1319960983Michael_Blanche_edited_report3%20(2).pdf

Read this for inspiration/ideas
Do your sums
Don't listen to the gloom merchants

Good luck !

No need to listen to the gloom merchants, you can see the gloom yourself when you do the sums

 

[unlacedgecko]

As you are in full time employment, would it not be better to buy your own land then slowly create a kind of small holding, allowing a sheep farmer to graze your land for free, with some form of knowledge building on their part. Just need to have grazing license etc drawn up to protect your interests?

Unless he wins the lottery his current employment won’t allow the purchase of anything worth stocking.

 

[Dream of farming]

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjruZPhs5fnAhXUiFwKHeG_CTIQFjAAegQIBBAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nuffieldinternational.org%2Frep_pdf%2F1319960983Michael_Blanche_edited_report3.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0_953odJk87E_SmJ7PqcNV

Try that one.

I read the report monthly for inspiration.

Unless he wins the lottery his current employment won’t allow the purchase of anything worth stocking.