i am not sure if i should repeat what elderly farmer told me

[opininionated]

I can't remember ever being taught to spend money

Did it come naturally....,?

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Obviously not everyone has failed that went to school for agriculture, nor has everyone succeeded. Now days though if a young individual wants to farm, actual production agriculture, ag college is the last place they should be going.

If going to college is a must then go for business management, accounting, finance or something along those lines. Take communications classes, leadership, public speaking, acting, drama, marketing etc. Those that can communicate well will lead, the rest will be left in their wake.

There is no longer a place in agriculture for those that can drive a machine the best or grow the best crop. A farm is a system that is part of many larger systems, those that can understand and capitalize on that will be the farmers of the future.

 

[glasshouse]

Obviously not everyone has failed that went to school for agriculture, nor has everyone succeeded. Now days though if a young individual wants to farm, actual production agriculture, ag college is the last place they should be going.

If going to college is a must then go for business management, accounting, finance or something along those lines. Take communications classes, leadership, public speaking, acting, drama, marketing etc. Those that can communicate well will lead, the rest will be left in their wake.

There is no longer a place in agriculture for those that can drive a machine the best or grow the best crop. A farm is a system that is part of many larger systems, those that can understand and capitalize on that will be the farmers of the future.

Sadly you just described politics there.
Those that can talk the best get on, not those with best ideas.
Whats to bevome of farming if the best farmers are driven out ,? Which is happening.

 

[JP1]

Did it come naturally....,?

Feels like it at the moment

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Sadly you just described politics there.
Those that can talk the best get on, not those with best ideas.
Whats to bevome of farming if the best farmers are driven out ,? Which is happening.

I think I described a skill set and a mindset that historically farmers have lacked. The margin is thinning in production agriculture, no secret there. There are those that seem happy to carry on, and those that are looking to the horizon and adapting.

What is a best farmer?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Steve Jobs is a good example of how vision and a winning mindset is a basic requirement to succeed, his company may not build the best devices in each category but his company was built on great and simple values, and had a clear concise mission statement which he never went back on.
Hence the $16 Apple shares I bought in 2006 are worth $180 odd now, and I have never owned anything Apple, I own Samsung stuff mainly.
But I don't believe in Samsung as a company in the same way I recognised Apple was built on principles.

Why should an industry that supposedly safeguards the worlds land resources be exempt from following principles, to save themselves?

 

[DRC]

Obviously not everyone has failed that went to school for agriculture, nor has everyone succeeded. Now days though if a young individual wants to farm, actual production agriculture, ag college is the last place they should be going.

If going to college is a must then go for business management, accounting, finance or something along those lines. Take communications classes, leadership, public speaking, acting, drama, marketing etc. Those that can communicate well will lead, the rest will be left in their wake.

There is no longer a place in agriculture for those that can drive a machine the best or grow the best crop. A farm is a system that is part of many larger systems, those that can understand and capitalize on that will be the farmers of the future.

You will always need good practical people that can grow a good crop, and with the price of land, the need to produce as much as possible and deep pockets are required from any youngster entering the industry.
All this evangelical stuff is sounding more and more like the management speak you’d expect in these big organisations like BBC or NHS, where mission statements and endless meetings are the norm.
Youngsters still need to learn good stockmanship, how to grow good, high yielding crops and operate machinery , alongside business skills .

 

[Dead Rabbits]

You will always need good practical people that can grow a good crop, and with the price of land, the need to produce as much as possible and deep pockets are required from any youngster entering the industry.
All this evangelical stuff is sounding more and more like the management speak you’d expect in these big organisations like BBC or NHS, where mission statements and endless meetings are the norm.
Youngsters still need to learn good stockmanship, how to grow good, high yielding crops and operate machinery , alongside business skills .

I was assuming basic practical skills and knowledge would already be learned before someone went to college. You get a job on one or several farms and learn how to do things. College must be very different in the U.K.? I would be pretty pee'd if I was paying 20000+ to get taught some basic agronomy and how to drive a tractor.

 

[DRC]

I was assuming basic practical skills and knowledge would already be learned before someone went to college. You get a job on one or several farms and learn how to do things. College must be very different in the U.K.? I would be pretty pee'd if I was paying 20000+ to get taught some basic agronomy and how to drive a tractor.

I think we’re getting crossed wires on college and university . You did say there’d be no role for people to drive machinery or grow crops

 

[Dead Rabbits]

I think we’re getting crossed wires on college and university . You did say there’d be no role for people to drive machinery or grow crops

Yeah slightly different terminology I guess. What I have in my mind is a bachelors degree from a four year university. There are also junior colleges, that's typically two years for an associates degree. But college and university are kinda used interchangeably here. What's the difference there?

 

[DRC]

Yeah slightly different terminology I guess. What I have in my mind is a bachelors degree from a four year university. There are also junior colleges, that's typically two years for an associates degree. But college and university are kinda used interchangeably here. What's the difference there?

Uni is the batchelor degree, ie- Harper Adams, which my son went too. as you said 4 years, where as college can be anything from diplomas to foundation courses for people without the required A levels to get straight onto degree courses.
I went to an agricultural college called Walford, back in the 80's, and did an OND in ag, which was a3 year course with the middle year out on a farm other than your own. some people did a 1 year NCA. These type of colleges were thriving then, and over subscribed, but many have either closed or had to become broader, doing equestrian, floristry, small animal courses etc.

 

[Av Gorritt]

"Old Macdonald" hasn't done too badly for himself since he gave up farming

 

[Muddyroads]

Uni is the batchelor degree, ie- Harper Adams, which my son went too. as you said 4 years, where as college can be anything from diplomas to foundation courses for people without the required A levels to get straight onto degree courses.
I went to an agricultural college called Walford, back in the 80's, and did an OND in ag, which was a3 year course with the middle year out on a farm other than your own. some people did a 1 year NCA. These type of colleges were thriving then, and over subscribed, but many have either closed or had to become broader, doing equestrian, floristry, small animal courses etc.

Snap! 84-87
Following this thread has been interesting. It's noticeable how many contributors refer to college as one of the big three (big 2 since Seale Hayne went). Perhaps an indicator to many contributors here.
In my view there is a place for both higher level degree style courses and for more practical "technical" colleges. Few employers are going to be willing to train up youngsters on big and expensive kit without knowing that they already have the basic skills and knowledge required, and not all youngsters have the benefit of being farmers sons or daughters. One thing that concerns me is the quality of what youngsters who do go to college are now getting. Hopefully the awful provision (IMHO) at what is now my local college isn't typical of national provision. Our time at county colleges in the 80's, through to the 90's were the last in the heyday of practical training for a number of reasons.

 

[Hilly]

Snap! 84-87
Following this thread has been interesting. It's noticeable how many contributors refer to college as one of the big three (big 2 since Seale Hayne went). Perhaps an indicator to many contributors here.
In my view there is a place for both higher level degree style courses and for more practical "technical" colleges. Few employers are going to be willing to train up youngsters on big and expensive kit without knowing that they already have the basic skills and knowledge required, and not all youngsters have the benefit of being farmers sons or daughters. One thing that concerns me is the quality of what youngsters who do go to college are now getting. Hopefully the awful provision (IMHO) at what is now my local college isn't typical of national provision. Our time at county colleges in the 80's, through to the 90's were the last in the heyday of practical training for a number of reasons.

I think the awful provision at what is now your local college is wide spread sadly, our local one is poor to put it politely.

 

[JP1]

Snap! 84-87
Following this thread has been interesting. It's noticeable how many contributors refer to college as one of the big three (big 2 since Seale Hayne went). Perhaps an indicator to many contributors here.
In my view there is a place for both higher level degree style courses and for more practical "technical" colleges. Few employers are going to be willing to train up youngsters on big and expensive kit without knowing that they already have the basic skills and knowledge required, and not all youngsters have the benefit of being farmers sons or daughters. One thing that concerns me is the quality of what youngsters who do go to college are now getting. Hopefully the awful provision (IMHO) at what is now my local college isn't typical of national provision. Our time at county colleges in the 80's, through to the 90's were the last in the heyday of practical training for a number of reasons.

Er hum in that period there were 6 "National" colleges; Harper, Seale Hayne, Writtle (that's the "big 3 taken care of), Shuttleworth, Sparsholt and ?? (sorry can't remember if they counted RAC in the 6 National or Askham Bryan)

 

[glasshouse]

The Highland Clearances was a good example, but not too dissimilar situations have happened elsewhere, not just in the UK.

The highland clearances was simply the final chapter of the clearances of britain and ireland, and we only know about it because of the Times.

 

[glasshouse]

When did going to college become the norm ?
Post WW2 ?
Did Jethro Tull go to college ? Charles Townshend ?
Some pretty switched on farming went on in the Victorian era too.
Seems to be a lot of vitriol directed at the old guy on this thread.

These model farms had to be paid for by the tenant in capital and interest on the loan, as well as carting all the stone, around a third of the cost.
They were follies which ruined many a tenant , and as the man said incapable of alteration to changing times.
They are still ruining farmers today with their inefficiency, or spoiling the farm with unwanted townies when turned into houses.

 

[7610 super q]

These model farms had to be paid for by the tenant in capital and interest on the loan, as well as carting all the stone, around a third of the cost.
They were follies which ruined many a tenant , and as the man said incapable of alteration to changing times.
They are still ruining farmers today with their inefficiency, or spoiling the farm with unwanted townies when turned into houses.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about those pesky landlords...........

 

[glasshouse]

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about those pesky landlords...........

A timely reminder then.

 

[Hilly]

Obviously not everyone has failed that went to school for agriculture, nor has everyone succeeded. Now days though if a young individual wants to farm, actual production agriculture, ag college is the last place they should be going.

If going to college is a must then go for business management, accounting, finance or something along those lines. Take communications classes, leadership, public speaking, acting, drama, marketing etc. Those that can communicate well will lead, the rest will be left in their wake.

There is no longer a place in agriculture for those that can drive a machine the best or grow the best crop. A farm is a system that is part of many larger systems, those that can understand and capitalize on that will be the farmers of the future.

Unfortunately i think your correct. Strong int arm tthick in head is na gid nower days.