Is their a future in farming?

[Chasingmytail]

My boys have accepted if they want to stay here then there isnt enough income from farming alone. So either they have to get into construction or learn a trade. We have a solar farm so there is an income from that but there will never be enough income to cover machinery purchases at the way they are going, if you cant afford decent reliable kit, systems and tools its not worth it.

 

[Hilly]

My lads both have apprenticeships, the packages on offer make farming look stupid quite frankly .

 

[Matthew Britton]

My boys have accepted if they want to stay here then there isnt enough income from farming alone. So either they have to get into construction or learn a trade. We have a solar farm so there is an income from that but there will never be enough income to cover machinery purchases at the way they are going, if you cant afford decent reliable kit, systems and tools its not worth it.

I understand your opinion but I can’t agree with it. I find I derive more pleasure than I should from running older gear and looking after it and repairing it as necessary. I have learned a lot through this system, not only about engineering and repair work but also about my self. Having said that if there are not people about with your machinery mind set there will not be the secondhand equipment for me to buy!

 

[Estate fencing.]

My answer to the op is yes there is a future in farming. But you have to work with the people that have bought 4 million pound farms and not compete with them. I’m running 1000 head of sheep myself as well as looking after another 800 for people that have bought land and don’t know what to do with. Iv never borrowed a penny just got here through hard work (and a lot of shearing). I’m never going to own land because it’s far to expensive but I can see there being a future in more ewes that “rich” people own for tax reasons and for something to take about at dinner party’s.

 

[Chae1]

My answer to the op is yes there is a future in farming. But you have to work with the people that have bought 4 million pound farms and not compete with them. I’m running 1000 head of sheep myself as well as looking after another 800 for people that have bought land and don’t know what to do with. Iv never borrowed a penny just got here through hard work (and a lot of shearing). I’m never going to own land because it’s far to expensive but I can see there being a future in more ewes that “rich” people own for tax reasons and for something to take about at dinner party’s.

They take sheep to dinner partys?

Takes all sorts!

 

[Estate fencing.]

Sorry talk. It’s only the welsh that take a ewe to the party!

 

[czechmate]

My lads both have apprenticeships, the packages on offer make farming look stupid quite frankly .

May I ask, in what?

 

[Hilly]

May I ask, in what?

Accountancy and engineering.

 

[D14]

I’m a young person who’s interested in farming but not sure if there’s a future for me in farming and wondering if there’s money to be made as I enjoy farming but there’s no point getting into it as a main profession if it’s not going to make me a living?

In all honesty I would say don't bother. The whole uk ag industry and allied industries are going to go through massive upheaval between now and 2030. Without significant subsidy there is no industry. I can see the workforce dropping by 70%. marginal land will be in a scheme and productive land will be farmed by large co-ops where you'll have a manager having to farm 20,000 acres of combinable crops. If you want to be that manager your going to have to be s**t hot. If you want to be a machine driver on that unit then you'll have work but expect a large corporate set up and not a family farm. You only have to take a look at the current marketing from the likes of John Deere where multiple machines are monitored from a central location. The drivers turn up dressed in smart casuals and any repairs are carried out by the dealers because they know the machines broken before you do.

If you want to go on your own then think more along the lines of selling meat and veg direct to the public from a small holding. It'll be very labour intensive but your cutting out the supply chains margin so will be more profitable overall. A 50 acre organic market garden holding just outside a large town/city will do very well moving forward because people want healthier foods. They want to see where its from and in some instances go and pick it themselves.

 

[nick...]

I’m sure you are not far off with the above post.having said that small farms are largely better run and more profitable per acre than these huge farms.i know of plenty of largish farmerS who never work or drill the corners of fieldswhich must add up to lots of acres over a large area.ill fetch my tin hat now and take cover
nick...

 

[czechmate]

In all honesty I would say don't bother. The whole uk ag industry and allied industries are going to go through massive upheaval between now and 2030. Without significant subsidy there is no industry. I can see the workforce dropping by 70%. marginal land will be in a scheme and productive land will be farmed by large co-ops where you'll have a manager having to farm 20,000 acres of combinable crops. If you want to be that manager your going to have to be s**t hot. If you want to be a machine driver on that unit then you'll have work but expect a large corporate set up and not a family farm. You only have to take a look at the current marketing from the likes of John Deere where multiple machines are monitored from a central location. The drivers turn up dressed in smart casuals and any repairs are carried out by the dealers because they know the machines broken before you do.

If you want to go on your own then think more along the lines of selling meat and veg direct to the public from a small holding. It'll be very labour intensive but your cutting out the supply chains margin so will be more profitable overall. A 50 acre organic market garden holding just outside a large town/city will do very well moving forward because people want healthier foods. They want to see where its from and in some instances go and pick it themselves.

Depressing