Labour costs

AftonShepherd

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Ayrshire
This last 12 months there have been many occasions I have thought “I’d be better selling all the sheep and cattle, and take these short term jobs at brilliant money until they run out.” Unfortunately it’s not just a job you can jump in and out of! 😂😉
Let's face it, when you see what some other jobs are paying, there's not that many totally financial reasons for staying working in agriculture. Obviously farm owners have a slightly different equation but there has to be a vocation element in there before it even remotely makes sense unfortunately.
 

Anymulewilldo

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cheshire
Let's face it, when you see what some other jobs are paying, there's not that many totally financial reasons for staying working in agriculture. Obviously farm owners have a slightly different equation but there has to be a vocation element in there before it even remotely makes sense unfortunately.
I’d be miserable as sin if I wasn’t farming. Although I’d probably have more time too go shooting, which would be nice. The money isn’t terrible really. It’s rearing my family and keeping my wife in the manner too which she is accustomed (every Penny gets spent on sheep unless she gets it first) and I keep the overdraft down until I need a spending spree. 👍 any more and I’d only end up sharing it with the HMRC! 😂
 

AftonShepherd

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Ayrshire
I’d be miserable as sin if I wasn’t farming. Although I’d probably have more time too go shooting, which would be nice. The money isn’t terrible really. It’s rearing my family and keeping my wife in the manner too which she is accustomed (every Penny gets spent on sheep unless she gets it first) and I keep the overdraft down until I need a spending spree. 👍 any more and I’d only end up sharing it with the HMRC! 😂
I can't imagine being as happy doing anything else. I'm salaried though so slightly different. This time of year I'm well rewarded, lambing time never seems just as generous but overall I'm doing (more than) ok. Makes you think sometimes though when you see jobs advertised with similar pay and weekends off!
 

AftonShepherd

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Ayrshire
I can't imagine being as happy doing anything else. I'm salaried though so slightly different. This time of year I'm well rewarded, lambing time never seems just as generous but overall I'm doing (more than) ok. Makes you think sometimes though when you see jobs advertised with similar pay and weekends off!
Obviously the lambing time generosity will appear to increase exponentially as the Swale influence increases in my flock.

And, even though lorry drivers wages/hours can appear appealling, I don't take long to get thrawn when I go any distance with pickup and trailer so full time driving probably isn't for me lol.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Yes, but money buys sheep. And everyone knows that sheep = happiness…

Pft you're such a newb....



Sheep breed more sheep. You don't need money
tenor.gif
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
Let's face it, when you see what some other jobs are paying, there's not that many totally financial reasons for staying working in agriculture. Obviously farm owners have a slightly different equation but there has to be a vocation element in there before it even remotely makes sense unfortunately.
I must be stupid. I'm farming to get rich and buy my own farm.
 

AftonShepherd

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Ayrshire
I must be stupid. I'm farming to get rich and buy my own farm.
I wish you luck, from what I've read of your posts if anyone can you can. I was never brave enough, always been happy to take a salary from someone else 🤔. I still think there's easier money to be made outside agriculture.

Edited to add that I never said (or meant to imply) that any of us are stupid.
 

SteveHants

Member
Livestock Farmer
One of my students told me that I could get £30/hour gutting turkeys. Sadly these jobs were filed not at that rate. I would have taken time off to do that, nice little christmas bonus....... damnit.
 

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
Plenty of days of the year I would be earning more than £30 an hour, shearing, crutching , bellying but its hard work and know matter what most people don't want to do hard work. Even running tack lambs or buying sheep for people wouldn't be far off that amount.
 

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
Also some of my own sheep are earning me a far bit an hour (just worked it out). I have 150 welsh ewes that I pay myself £30 head to look after so £4500/year. In the last 12 months I spent 5 hours handing, 10 hours electric fencing, 52 hours looking (probably on the high side) and 20 extra hours lambing. 87 hours was spent on them so £51.72/hour, I did have to run the quad but still bloody good money for some rough old Welshy ewes.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 65 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.1%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,287
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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