How will you adapt to survive post subsidies?

[Brisel]

After reading all the negative threads about what Farmageddon we're heading for when Gove and Whitehall get their way, what will you do about it to remain in the job you love the most?

Discuss!

Edit: No moaning about it please - just posts that look forwards, not backwards.

 

[bobk]

They won't finish anytime soon .

 

[Brisel]

They won't finish anytime soon .

True, but they will change in nature and reduce, will they not?

 

[bobk]

True, but they will change in nature and reduce, will they not?

Just looked at the choices in your poll and already do most of them

 

[Pilgrimmick]

I have voted, but to be honest, I am not sure that many small farms here can survive without some form of external income. Will have to m ove into high value niche products, probably catering for rich tourists.
That of course needs some one to be rich and have an urge to be cold and wet on holiday!

 

[willy]

I think it's a good time to really look at your business with a fresh set of eyes (I.e consultant) and a micronscope. The way I look at it is to make up the potential shortfall with new farm income stream.

 

[DRC]

Grow more crops for the big boys that need the feed for cows, feedstock for AD or land for spuds etc.

 

[bobk]

The key is to be adaptable if possible , there's always a market for something .

 

[Clive]

No real charge other than continue to expand contract farming and drop fbt land when rents don’t leave enough margin to be worth the bother

I still have some areas where fixed cost savings can be made I guess but it’s detail now rather that the big fundamental stuff

Look for value added opertunities to increase gross output - maybe even by feeding what we grow to something possibly !

 

[two-cylinder]

The driver for change about here are the Bio energy plants offering high rents to grow energy crops.
I reckon many would substitute low income in house break crops for higher income from short term lets?

 

[GTB]

Until I know what's happening I'm not going to make any plans.

 

[two-cylinder]

The key is to be adaptable if possible , there's always a market for something .

Yes, can you please tell me what will be wanted in 2020?
(PM reply only!)

 

[Hampton]

Until I know what's happening I'm not going to make any plans.

I agree although I would add the caveat that I'm not going to make any BIG plans as I am trying to make changes already, but only to continue developing the business.

 

[bobk]

Yes, can you please tell me what will be wanted in 2020?
(PM reply only!)

No idea , and I won't be losing any sleep over it .

 

[GTB]

I agree although I would add the caveat that I'm not going to make any BIG plans as I am trying to make changes already.

Was talking to someone the other day who said he was going to reduce his stock drastically before brexit. I asked him (half jokingly) what he would do if they brought back headage payments.

 

[Walterp]

It's been plain all along that the UK could not realistically expect to exit the EU and re-design itself as something else other than what we have developed into over the last 40 years. It'd be like Claudia Shieffer trying to turn into Julie - just not going to happen, is it? She can't lamb, for a start...

And thus it has proved, thank goodness.

So we shall continue with intensive environmental schemes (which remain the direction of travel for policy, even though I can't really see why), and carry on expanding both sheep and cattle enterprises now that the UK remains within the orbit of the Customs Union and Internal Market. I'm fairly sure that that cannot now alter, despite the posturing of various (Tory) politicians.

Figures? The flock will be taken from 250 to 500 ewes, the cattle from 65 to 120, and then Julie and I shall see whether our son wants to take over, or whether we cash in.

The BPS? On 350 acres it was projected to fall to £19,000 by 2020, and given the above (plus Brussel's plans to reform the CAP for more greening and, perhaps, some repatriation of policy) it was always likely to fall again; we guess £15,000.

At its peak it was £40,000, so we've already been in adjustment mode for some years.

 

[spin cycle]

Until I know what's happening I'm not going to make any plans.

exactly

spoke to a rep today who said ,unprompted, 'things are tough out there'.....thats the second supplier who's said that to me in two weeks....if it's tough now how on earth are the vast majority going to manage with no subs

 

[bobk]

It's been plain all along that the UK could not realistically expect to exit the EU and re-design itself as something else other than what we have developed into over the last 40 years. It'd be like Claudia Shieffer trying to turn into Julie - just not going to happen, is it? She can't lamb, for a start...

And thus it has proved, thank goodness.

So we shall continue with intensive environmental schemes (which remain the direction of travel for policy, even though I can't really see why), and carry on expanding both sheep and cattle enterprises now that the UK remains within the orbit of the Customs Union and Internal Market. I'm fairly sure that that cannot now alter, despite the posturing of various (Tory) politicians.

Figures? The flock will be taken from 250 to 500 ewes, the cattle from 65 to 120, and then Julie and I shall see whether our son wants to take over, or whether we cash in.

The BPS? On 350 acres it was projected to fall to £19,000 by 2020, and given the above (plus Brussel's plans to reform the CAP for more greening and, perhaps, some repatriation of policy) it was always likely to fall again; we guess £15,000.

If you're farming for subs Walt you're in the wrong game .

 

[digger64]

After reading all the negative threads about what Farmageddon we're heading for when Gove and Whitehall get their way, what will you do about it to remain in the job you love the most?

Discuss!

Edit: No moaning about it please - just posts that look forwards, not backwards.

Given the recent news on friday what is the actual position / likely outcome with the info availiable in practical terms ?

 

[Bury the Trash]

i dont get much anyway .never have ,had to battle to gt a modest sheep quota when i started my own in '86 and its always been a struggle so whats new? .............no one gave us a house to live in or a viable farm and big sub claim attached as cream on the cake
Actually, things are a bit better here now and .....and actually..... getting less sub.(when it eventually comes ),,, this year ...........

Stopping them completely would not stop us .........