My Beeswax Dyson Farming and Bailey trailers trip.

[kiwi pom]

I want people to tell me now, honestly. Do you believe any of this constitutes progress in any respect? Ignore the trailer manufacturing part but when I read in the press about the decline of family farms and industrial sized units replacing them, I can't help but thing we are on a hiding to nothing.

But enough of that. Who were the ones complaining the UK doesn't manufacture anything these days? There you have it, a family business manufacturing high spec trailers.

He's employing people though, either directly on his farms on indirectly with all the outside contractors/suppliers he uses. Ok so its not small farming families but its still families (are farming families more important?) that can make a living because of what he's investing into the business.
I think he's doing a great job and should be encouraged, a sight better than some 'family farms' that employ no one and invest nothing, while the place gets more run down and unproductive.

 

[Phil P]

Bailey look very impressive and I’m fery surprised you were allowed to take photos. Most factories we visit ask us not to take or share any photos. If any one is into metal work and cutting and welding etc then the IAE plant can’t be beaten. Standen Engineering are very impressive with their gear cutting machines etc aswell.

The Manheim assembly plant was very good but there was more variation on the Forager and Combine line in Zweibrucken. The Josking factory and assembly line is very interesting aswell.

We did ask for permission to take photos, but let’s look at the big picture. They haven’t implemented any sort of automated production line that the competition could copy, it’s still very much an old school setup with a lot of manual labour. And let’s face it anyone can knock a jig together to hold a couple of lengths of steel in place it’s not exactly a trade secret.
As you say though if you compare it to the Mannheim factory that’s just in a different league all together when it comes to automation, but try and take photos in there

 

[Phil P]

He's employing people though, either directly on his farms on indirectly with all the outside contractors/suppliers he uses. Ok so its not small farming families but its still families (are farming families more important?) that can make a living because of what he's investing into the business.
I think he's doing a great job and should be encouraged, a sight better than some 'family farms' that employ no one and invest nothing, while the place gets more run down and unproductive.

One thing to note is the estate manager at Carrington was the estate manager before Dyson bought it, he didn’t just buy it to move his own people in, he retained the original staff along with creating more jobs. Good on him I say.

 

[sawdust]

The service which takes a full week to complete comes to a staggering £137,000 However you do get a full set of pistons and con rods for that, and the 457L of engine oil it takes to fill it.

Hopefully a complete toolkit to carry out the job too?

 

[sawdust]

One thing to note is the estate manager at Carrington was the estate manager before Dyson bought it, he didn’t just buy it to move his own people in, he retained the original staff along with creating more jobs. Good on him I say.

Excellent thread and pictures

 

[David.]

Is it my imagination or has that little-end bearing overheated and elongated?

 

[Phil P]

Hopefully a complete toolkit to carry out the job too?

Think the only Sylvaner they got was the scrap! I’m sure he said it took two men a week for each engine.

Is it my imagination or has that little-end bearing overheated and elongated?

I thought that also, I had a close look and there was no signs of scoring on it but there is a lot of heat in the top of the piston. It must be one of the reasons they see the need to replace them at those hours.

 

[nick...]

Thank you for posting the above details on your trip.ive really enjoyed looking and reading about it all
Nick...

 

[Barleymow]

@Magnum Man how about a day out

 

[JP1]

Great picture thread. Thanks for posting

 

[Jim75]

How much have the estates evolved in terms of infrastructure since being taken over @Phil P i know it would have had money thrown at it but how were they run beforehand?

 

[solo]

Very interesting insight into a different style of farming .I’ve had a tour of the Bailey factory too, when looking at purchasing trailers. Thank you for taking the time to share.

 

[Phil P]

How much have the estates evolved in terms of infrastructure since being taken over @Phil P i know it would have had money thrown at it but how were they run beforehand?

We passed the original site coming up the driveway, all the buildings and infrastructure pictured are new since the estate was purchased.
The manager who was there under the old management said before Dyson took over the estate was farmed purely with profits in mind. Now the main focus is environmental and improving soil structure and wildlife habitat, a lot of fields have margins even though they aren’t in a scheme. There’s also a massive drainage and ditch management scheme been implemented, and you’ve probably heard about the dry stone wall and hedge programs that are running.

 

[David.]

So did the core estate originally belong to the now deceased Lord Carrington? I understood he had place up in Lincs as well as the one in Bucks.

 

[Phil P]

So did the core estate originally belong to the now deceased Lord Carrington? I understood he had place up in Lincs as well as the one in Bucks.

I could be wrong as there was a lot of info to take in (wish I’d took notes) but I’m sure they said the Lincolnshire estates where all purchased from Danish investors. I’m certain the two at Nocton which are now one estate (they were originally one estate before been sold of, Dyson has joined them back up) where purchased from overseas investors. Carrington I’m not 100%, I’m sure it will at some point have belonged to lord Carrington hence the name on the quadtrac roof

 

[Hilly]

The sad part is, this bloke has sunk millions of pounds into agriculture as a tax dodge and show piece to tell his mates about, yet all he is doing is shoving more production into a marketplace that is already oversupplied. He is literally racing to the bottom and it won't matter a jot to him that is never wipes its own face.

That is the reality of the industry people now find themselves in. It's pretty sad in reality.

Hundreds like him , i have three in my neighbourhood , just a fact of life, we have more competition at home than abroad.

 

[Magnum Man]

@Magnum Man how about a day out

Would make a good visit. Will see what I can find out...

 

[PSQ]

Phil, fascinating photos, very interesting thread

The sad part is, this bloke has sunk millions of pounds into agriculture as a tax dodge and show piece to tell his mates about, yet all he is doing is shoving more production into a marketplace that is already oversupplied. He is literally racing to the bottom and it won't matter a jot to him that is never wipes its own face.

That is the reality of the industry people now find themselves in. It's pretty sad in reality.

Ollie, are Beeswax contributing to oversupply? Just because they have a massive economy of scale and big kit doesn't automatically mean they are yielding any higher than their neighbours, or what their land produced historicaly.
Looking back to what farming was like when I was a nipper in the 70's, it's clear that the only consistent thing about farming is change.
And while I have no interest in defending Mr Dyson, his tax 'efficiency' and his farms are no different to the way that every other farmer runs their business. It's just the scale thats very different

 

[Suffolk Serf]

I could be wrong as there was a lot of info to take in (wish I’d took notes) but I’m sure they said the Lincolnshire estates where all purchased from Danish investors. I’m certain the two at Nocton which are now one estate (they were originally one estate before been sold of, Dyson has joined them back up) where purchased from overseas investors. Carrington I’m not 100%, I’m sure it will at some point have belonged to lord Carrington hence the name on the quadtrac roof

That would be Nocton as in the infamous and never built Nocton Dairy.
Now got a massive concrete cow instead.
Dyson is only doing what most of us would do if we had the money.

 

[Phil P]

That would be Nocton as in the infamous and never built Nocton Dairy.
Now got a massive concrete cow instead.
Dyson is only doing what most of us would do if we had the money.

That’s the one, think that may be our next trip