Is it time to cut production ?

[DrWazzock]

Ok if the option of schemes didnt exist - what would your thoughts on your own personal future policy be ?
You will have to have the roof repaired or knock it down what ever business direction you take .

What’s happened locally is the farmer has often got a job off farm, let the land and the non viable farm buildings have simply fallen down. I don’t want to live next to a derelict farmyard so I’ll repair it as it’s a useful shed. If the farming isn’t viable I’ll do something else in the shed or let the farm/shed and work off farm.
Most likely though I’ll just carry on farming till the money runs out as that’s the easiest option short term.

 

[Hindsight]

Think I’ll get the lot in with heathland regeneration for £607 / ha for 10 years. Scrat in some weedseed harvested off the local reserve and let the drains and ditches go. Move to South of France, trouser the annual cheque, sit back and light pipe.

Well you won’t asyou enjoy your hobby of farming Dr W. On a more serious note would you be able to move to France post visa financial status requirement. No free movement now DrW thanks to Leave voters of which I seem to recall you were one?

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Machinery men might just be seeing the wood for the trees

Do you really think so though ?
Lamma show might point it out sooner
I think there are more private machinery selling going on at moment, if any

 

[Farmer Roy]

Cut production, or cut inputs while still producing something to sell ?

 

[Hilly]

Cut production, or cut inputs while still producing something to sell ?

Probably best option for many .

 

[le bon paysan]

Well you won’t asyou enjoy your hobby of farming Dr W. On a more serious note would you be able to move to France post visa financial status requirement. No free movement now DrW thanks to Leave voters of which I seem to recall you were one?

Not going to say anything !!

 

[Widgetone]

Do they realise yet though. ?

I think they're seeing the direction of travel...

 

[le bon paysan]

Ok you feather bedded farmers, sfi looks more attractive than expected. Is cropping looking less interesting. Does this mean levy payers will pay less, so ahdb will have less income or will they put up prices. Downward spiral?
Moving on to machinery manufacturers,how hard is it going hit them?
Input suppliers the same question?
Farmers be ready to fight your corner when the public and government say it's your fault that inflation spikes!!
Be prepared!!

 

[Devil's advocate]

Just look at the complete intransigence even from the NFU over RT and the competitive disadvantage we face against imports. With friends like that who needs enemies. And I can’t see them listening ever. It’s a shame as I enjoy farming but I’ll be damned if I’ll do it for nothing or even at my own expense rather than profit while everybody eise from AHDB to the BRC just hikes up their rake offs. No, the party’s over. My father farmed well but he didn’t do it for nothing. There were grants aplenty to build production. There’s practically nothing now. Message received loud and clear. They don’t really want U.K. food production. So we will take the enviro shilling.

The government have a plan for you.

The SFI budget cannot exceed BPS (for the country) & the budget is not going to be increased.

As an industry we can only have the old BPS money.

Its going to be a pittance from schemes or a gamble on markets.

 

[Nitrams]

I think they're seeing the direction of travel...

Whats to say they arnt intentionally encouraging it?

 

[DrWazzock]

Well you won’t asyou enjoy your hobby of farming Dr W. On a more serious note would you be able to move to France post visa financial status requirement. No free movement now DrW thanks to Leave voters of which I seem to recall you were one?

Lowland Heath creation now £287 / acre.
I’ve no idea what the costs of recreating Heath would be or what the assessment criteria would be to permit payment. No doubt a fair amount would have to be paid to advisers, stakeholders and such like and the works required to encourage heathland plants and animals would be considerable. And I dare say I could wave goodbye to it ever returning to agricultural use but instead would see its value reduced as it would now have many conditions attached to ownership. I really don’t think any of this the goldmine that it might first appear save for a few simple SFI options on awkward corners or as breakcrop replacement.
I’ll probably just carry on farming. It’s what I know. I’ll leave the big changes to whoever takes over.

 

[Hindsight]

Lowland Heath creation now £287 / acre.
I’ve no idea what the costs of recreating Heath would be or what the assessment criteria would be to permit payment. No doubt a fair amount would have to be paid to advisers, stakeholders and such like and the works required to encourage heathland plants and animals would be considerable. And I dare say I could wave goodbye to it ever returning to agricultural use but instead would see its value reduced as it would now have many conditions attached to ownership. I really don’t think any of this the goldmine that it might first appear save for a few simple SFI options on awkward corners or as breakcrop replacement.
I’ll probably just carry on farming. It’s what I know. I’ll leave the big changes to whoever takes over.

Course you will carry on farming Dr W. Its your hobby. And why do Lowland Heath Creation for £717 hectare with as you point out attendant risks. That option is for Wildlife Trusts who have no intention of wanting to farm it again. No, your option is IPM2 Flower Rich Grass for £673 hectare. Can even graze that in the Autumn through to early Spring, I reckon reading the SFI blurb. Add a few management plans.

If you insist on farming some livestock then maybe have a field of herbal ley (SAM3 £383 hectare) to give some summer grazing and there you that with the rest of farm in IPM3 and a sheep enterprise with some £550 hectare average year base payment.