Is the “Heyday” period of contract farming coming to an end.

[Pilatus]

Do any other TFF members think the above is correct , due to the new payment schemes that are being put in place for farmers/ estate owners.
Will it mean less “contract farming opportunities”, which may lead to greater competition between those applying to contract farm those “fewer contract farming opportunities”.

 

[Flatland guy]

Yes. SFI has altered what the landowning partner can get with not a lot of risk or investment. Now if the landowning partner has not been getting a great share /dividend, along with poor weather in recent years, expensive inputs etc easier to see where to go to next. Especially with Gov. policy seemingly quite happy to forego actual farming. Perhaps not all contracted farmed land is going into SFI but i am hearing reports of up to 50% on large farms etc.

The longer term problem for contract farming is what would happen if labour get in at the next election and reduce the allowances currently given on vacant land( as supposedly some are only in it for this reason).

 

[B'o'B]

It does seem to be having an effect. Alongside average yields grown on high input costs, lower output prices, fuel and machinery costs and a very questionable start to this year’s cropping season, it is likely that effect will be growing at pace.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

I think it will also be negative for so called grazier agreements

 

[No wot]

It's laughable that these new Ag schemes were rolled out on the buzz words of " public money for public goods " and landowners wouldn't be paid for just owning land , then a scheme is put in place that does just that and worse , as it discriminates against the CFA farmers who just want to farm and get on ( SFI discriminates against livestock farming full stop) ) , there's going to be some good s/h Lexions coming on the market if this gathers pace and some increase sales of batwing toppers

 

[Billboy1]

this is the stupidity of it ! hmg paying out 2.4 billion in old bps money to help produce no food .it won't help with balance of payments because it will suck in even more imports, the public will perceive that we are receiving something for nothing we can all eat south american hormone beef thats produced on land that once had trees on it then we can plant trees on our land all in the name of net zero . and yes ill be putting flowers in. ps the heyday is over

 

[Chae1]

I don't think so. Large estates up here aren't renewing tenancies up here and instead going for contract farming agreements instead.

Think claiming/selling carbon credits themselves is a catalyst for this change.

Also the fear of SNP enforcing right to buy for tenant farmers, with long term tenancies.

Think there becoming less of a threat though.

 

[Clive]

Do any other TFF members think the above is correct , due to the new payment schemes that are being put in place for farmers/ estate owners.
Will it mean less “contract farming opportunities”, which may lead to greater competition between those applying to contract farm those “fewer contract farming opportunities”.

where was this heyday ? reckon i missed it !

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

It's laughable that these new Ag schemes were rolled out on the buzz words of " public money for public goods " and landowners wouldn't be paid for just owning land , then a scheme is put in place that does just that and worse , as it discriminates against the CFA farmers who just want to farm and get on ( SFI discriminates against livestock farming full stop) ) , there's going to be some good s/h Lexions coming on the market if this gathers pace and some increase sales of batwing toppers

There are no schemes that pay for just owning land.

 

[Clive]

what’s clear now .................

government are not bothered about UK food production, it’s easier to meet environmental commitments if we import food and it’s cheaper for tax payer

what food is produced in the uk will be completely controlled by supermarkets and our representatives like nfu / ahdb think this is a good think as farmers can not be trusted to know what’s best for them

climate has changed making fighting against either of the above futile as eve if you beat them you will never beat mother nature

machinery purchase is unviable as price rises and interest rates vs stagnant output price make no sense

growing flowers and covercrops is lower risk, higher paid and more rewarding

i think i can see where this is all going !

 

[L P]

where was this heyday ? reckon i missed it !

Been on the way out for 10 years and became fools money with competition. I would imagine there will be more opportunity to pick up contracts in the coming years where in hand farms who enter SFI release staff and machinery and contract the remaining work out.

 

[Pilatus]

I don't think so. Large estates up here aren't renewing tenancies up here and instead going for contract farming agreements instead.

Think claiming/selling carbon credits themselves is a catalyst for this change.

Also the fear of SNP enforcing right to buy for tenant farmers, with long term tenancies.

Think there becoming less of a threat though.

Interesting first paragraph.
Are most of those estates on good land capable of 10tonne ha+ wheat crops etc without much fertiliser?

 

[gone up the hill]

what’s clear now

government are not bothered about UK food production, it’s easier to meet environmental commitments if we import food and it’s cheaper for tax payer

what food is produced in the uk will be completely controlled by supermarkets and our representatives like nfu / ahdb think this is a good think as farmers can not be trusted to know what’s best for them

climate has changed making fighting against either of the above futile as eve if you beat them you will never beat mother nature

machinery purchase is unviable as price rises and interest rates vs stagnant output price make no sense

growing flowers and covercrops is lower risk, higher paid and more rewarding

i think i can see where this is all going !

The Government have just shut down UK steel and now we will be reliant on imported steel for anything other than making baked bean cans in the name of net zero.

And now it seems it will be farming's turn to be shut down in favour of imported food in the name of net zero!

This country is heading to third world status

 

[DrWazzock]

1 divided by 2 equals a half.
Except on land agents calculators.

 

[tjhooker]

Been on the way out for 10 years and became fools money with competition. I would imagine there will be more opportunity to pick up contracts in the coming years where in hand farms who enter SFI release staff and machinery and contract the remaining work out.

So are you saying here that yes, they've been on the way out, but hang on - they look like they'll probably be on the way back in.........?!

 

[B'o'B]

Interesting first paragraph.
Are most of those estates on good land capable of 10tonne ha+ wheat crops etc without much fertiliser?

They haven’t got SFI available north of the border. It’s a different set of issues.

 

[Pilatus]

They haven’t got SFI available north of the border. It’s a different set of issues.

Many thanks for that

 

[B'o'B]

So are you saying here that yes, they've been on the way out, but hang on - they look like they'll probably be on the way back in.........?!

I can’t see SFI being a long term scheme, but it’s going to upset the status quo pretty comprehensively while it’s here and goodness only knows what it will leave in its wake.

 

[tjhooker]

I can’t see SFI being a long term scheme, but it’s going to upset the status quo pretty comprehensively while it’s here and goodness only knows what it will leave in its wake.

Totally agree - The uptake will be too large, the budget will be blown and the Labour government will reign the spend in heavily. CFAs will live on with Estates and landowners that don't 100% trust the Government with their business affairs and will use it to simply manage the risk of their business and its diversity - production agriculture on productive land will continue, even if it's just by landowners who don't want to be 100% tied to Government policy and income.

 

[Optimus]

Interesting first paragraph.
Are most of those estates on good land capable of 10tonne ha+ wheat crops etc without much fertiliser?

My mate contract farms 5 places.all hill farms.