Is the Public really bothered about farming....

[Weasel]

If there’s more money to be made by planting them, then it sounds like the farms are not viable...

They are viable!

 

[Beowulf]

Ok lets be gentle here - there are plenty of cases where the letter of the law is less than naturally just, there is a balance to strike between tenants and landlords and the balance is a little different between the two countries.

Nobody likes losing thier job - its happened to me several times and it was not much fun at all.

In this case we are possibly looking at a significant re-organisation and its not to be wondered if that is a hard pill to swallo, although his arguments could be better expressed.

I accept that it seems unfair to those affected, but one of the most important lessons I learned, at a young age no less, was that the world isn't fair.

It's full of fat cats and starving dogs, and always will be.

 

[Beowulf]

They are viable!

Only if you completely ignore the opportunity cost of the capital, obviously. In fairness that's true of all farms I'll bet.

 

[unlacedgecko]

I accept that it seems unfair to those affected, but one of the most important lessons I learned, at a young age no less, was that the world isn't fair.

It's full of fat cats and starving dogs, and always will be.

The marvel of capitalism is that it allows starving dogs to become fat cats.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Only if you completely ignore the opportunity cost of the capital, obviously. In fairness that's true of all farms I'll bet.

I’ve read articles which state some well managed Southern Hemisphere farms are achieving over 5% on all assets managed, excluding capital gain.

Michael Murphy claims to exceed 30% with grass based dairying for cheese production in the states.

 

[Beowulf]

The marvel of capitalism is that it allows starving dogs to become fat cats.

Exactly.

 

[Weasel]

All you lot of bandits that like the idea of farms getting planted, why don't you plant your own places????

 

[Ukjay]

Wow, what a thread....

It is not with the public that the issue lies, it is obviously more local than that from reading this thread...

 

[Osca]

The effects you dscribe occur because farming is uneconomic, rural depopulation has been happening throughout centuries.

Because of forestry!!!!!!

See, I was always told that depopulation occurred when wealthy landlords threw out their tenants so they could clear the hills and run sheep...

Isn't that what the Clearances were about?

And I can't help thinking that up here in Scotland this isn't so much a matter of forest v. farming, but a land ownership problem; too much in too few hands...

 

[Beowulf]

All you lot of bandits that like the idea of farms getting planted, why don't you plant your own places????

I will, almost certainly. When I bought this place I bought it safe in the knowledge that I could recover the entire purchase price by developing a fairly small proportion of it for housing.

Planting houses is the best return for my money on that acreage, the rest of it will become a big garden full of fruit trees, hardwoods and deer.

 

[unlacedgecko]

See, I was always told that depopulation occirred when wealthy landlords threw out their tenants so they could clear the hills and run sheep...

Isn't that what the Clearances were about?

And I can't help thinking that up here in Scotland this isn't so much a matter of forest v. farming, but a land ownership problem; too much in too few hands...

Don’t start any of that socialist rubbish here

 

[Weasel]

I will, almost certainly. When I bought this place I bought it safe in the knowledge that I could recover the entire purchase price by developing a fairly small proportion of it for housing.

Planting houses is the best return for my money on that acreage, the rest of it will become a big garden full of fruit trees, hardwoods and deer.

So your a money grabber

 

[Beowulf]

So your a money grabber

You mean capitalist? Yes, absolutely.

 

[unlacedgecko]

You mean capitalist? Yes, absolutely.

Ooh what a coincidence, me too! I prefer the term “aspiring fat cat” personally. It sounds so much better than “starving dog”.

 

[Weasel]

You mean capitalist? Yes, absolutely.

Who do you think you are?

 

[brigadoon]

See, I was always told that depopulation occurred when wealthy landlords threw out their tenants so they could clear the hills and run sheep...

Isn't that what the Clearances were about?

And I can't help thinking that up here in Scotland this isn't so much a matter of forest v. farming, but a land ownership problem; too much in too few hands...

Depends which era you want to discuss - significant depopulation took place in the highlands as you describe, a very similar set of events took place in the lowlands but somewhat earlier and over a slightly longer timescale.

If memory serves correct I recently read that farming employment has decreased by 90% in the last century.

I am familiar with my little corner of Galloway and the farm my old man worked on as ploughman had 4 full time men when he was alive - the farmers sons now run 7 farms with 4 full time men.

Of the class went through secondary school with (30 ish) I think 2 live and work in the area - all the rest are gone.

Loads of village schools, pubs, shops etc etc closed - new forestry in the last 25 years - couple of hundred acres. Rural depopulation is an ongoing process which has naff all to do with forestry.

On your last point I think our thoughts are aligned - lots of legal stuff took place - not all of it was justice.

 

[Beowulf]

Who do you think you are?

I'm just me. Son of a shelf-stacker, Grandson of two miners, husband of a public-sector worker. Yet still inherently a believer in the free market, and no fan of socialism.

 

[Weasel]

Depends which era you want to discuss - significant depopulation took place in the highlands as you describe, a very similar set of events took place in the lowlands but somewhat earlier and over a slightly longer timescale.

If memory serves correct I recently read that farming employment has decreased by 90% in the last century.

I am familiar with my little corner of Galloway and the farm my old man worked on as ploughman had 4 full time men when he was alive - the farmers sons now run 7 farms with 4 full time men.

Of the class went through secondary school with (30 ish) I think 2 live and work in the area - all the rest are gone.

Loads of village schools, pubs, shops etc etc closed - new forestry in the last 25 years - couple of hundred acres. Rural depopulation is an ongoing process which has naff all to do with forestry.

On your last point I think our thoughts are aligned - lots of legal stuff took place - not all of it was justice.

Eh rural depopulation is to do with forestry!!! Get it in to your head planting farms ruins communitys that's why schools pubs ect close because there's no fuker there except some hippys that home school there kids and come out of the trees like feral dogs!

 

[brigadoon]

I think you have the cart in front of the horse young fellow

 

[Weasel]

I think you have the cart in front of the horse young fellow

Is that meant for me?