Yes
I can understand that many will believe that it's not necessary to do so - "never have had to, why start now?"
But by having everyone working against the other, it's the perfect way to not need to pass value back down the line.
So there's two "don't need to's" - and that's the whole reason for paying you to keep the status quo, as a control mechanism.
And, it's not bad enough yet to force that revolution, I'm picking the next decade will be one of the best ever for UK Ag but it won't happen by just doing more of the same.
The rest of the world can play that game far more easily and profitably.
Rare for you to be so downbeat beefandsleep
There was always going to be a day of reckoning with them over priced store cattle
I can see that livestock farming in the U.K. is not financially sustainable in its present form. I can only foresee a slow and steady decline over the rest of my farming career and hope to god my kids don’t want a future in it because there isn’t one.
Bloody hell, I just re read that and it does sound bloody pessimistic but it still stands.
Trouble is farmers lack the national leadership from the likes of the NFU/AHDB to make that happen!
All they are concerned about is keeping themselves in cushy jobs or pushing for more red tape/rules like FA where they can get themselves very well paying jobs regardless of what the rubbish they dream up costs the UK farming industry.
Cattle EID just being one in a long line of examples!
Sub £3.30 a kilo base down here for beef cattle this week.
Waste of time with the cost of inputs/ value of store cattle/ calves etc currently!
Do you actually farm in your own right? and by that I mean your own animals on your own/rented land.
( And whilst there is nothing wrong with it but being a contract shepherd charging people so much a week/ month to look after their sheep is a total different ball game to farming in your own right as for starters a contract shepherd takes no risk by way of for example a bad lambing year/ very poor prices/ losing animals etc etc )
What I don't understand is why if you think its so easy your not buying up and running your own flock on rented/bought land?
Oh and im not having a go at you but its very easy to tell others how they should be doing something when your not actually doing it yourself!
I agree , but my buyers don't give a toss if I'm making a profit .
They aren't overpriced thou because the store/suckler farmers are also facing massively increased costs.
If the store price doesn't leave a sensible profit margin for the above then sooner or later those store cattle wont be around to buy and then what happens?!
The answer? Produce it for less or not at all. When enough have stopped the market price will rise to a sustainable level. The problem is most will carry on until there is nothing left. The only alternative? Gov support of some kind as we have now. I favour the market being allowed to function but that may mean no more red meat production in the U.K.
Short answer, no.
Longer answer;
As ever, access to land is difficult, with lambing/summer land being most challenging.
Recently, I've been offered several share farming arrangements (including one equity transfer to eventually own 100% of the stock). But having done the figures, I'm better off financially doing what I'm doing.
The whole point of contracting initially was to achieve that critical mass as fast as possible. Last winter I had 1200 ewes/ewe lambs on contract (reduced due to the drought and personal issues).
The previous 2 were 2500 and 2000 respectively. Apart from a (mercifully) brief period last winter when I had an apprentice, that's all been single handed, with me finding all the necessary land as well.
I'm not discussing specific details, but my current role means my personal fortunes are very closely tied to the success of the flock I shepherd.
Don't worry about having a go, I've broad shoulders and it's only the internet
You can't compete when french farmers receive headage payments etc .
Precisely, that's why I've always stoutly maintained you need to create "farmer led initiatives" rather than simply complain about what you have.Trouble is farmers lack the national leadership from the likes of the NFU/AHDB to make that happen!
All they are concerned about is keeping themselves in cushy jobs or pushing for more red tape/rules like FA where they can get themselves very well paying jobs regardless of what the rubbish they dream up costs the UK farming industry.
Cattle EID just being one in a long line of examples!
That is why UK farmers need to get into retailing our produce ( and I don't mean everyone going out and selling their own produce at a farmers market )