New Farm??

[proo]

Hey all, I would just like a few views on a farm I'm looking to buy, I'm originally from a farming back ground (dairy) but havnt been in the industry for over 30 years other than helping my uncle out occasionally on his small dairy farm, the farm I'm looking at is a 240 acre stock rearing and arable, my plan would be to have a beef herd, possibly some breeding sows along with the arable side of the farm, my questions are,

1. what size herd would I need to make a profit
2. with my limited knowlage on cattle breeding would I be better employing a herds person or farm manager
3. how many staff in total would I need to run the farm

I know it must seem a little strange to want to come back into the farming world after been out of it so long but when it's in you blood it never goes and no matter what job or work I'm doing I'm always drawn back and thinking what if.

 

[teslacoils]

240ac? You *need* precisely zero staff.

 

[Formatted]

Do you have between 2 and 3 million pounds?

 

[Roger Perry]

Is this to be a commercial venture aimed at making a profit or some form of entity aimed at reducing your taxation liability......?
Serious question.

 

[ImLost]

Hey all, I would just like a few views on a farm I'm looking to buy, I'm originally from a farming back ground (dairy) but havnt been in the industry for over 30 years other than helping my uncle out occasionally on his small dairy farm, the farm I'm looking at is a 240 acre stock rearing and arable, my plan would be to have a beef herd, possibly some breeding sows along with the arable side of the farm, my questions are,

1. what size herd would I need to make a profit
2. with my limited knowlage on cattle breeding would I be better employing a herds person or farm manager
3. how many staff in total would I need to run the farm

I know it must seem a little strange to want to come back into the farming world after been out of it so long but when it's in you blood it never goes and no matter what job or work I'm doing I'm always drawn back and thinking what if.

1. You can make a profit from 1 cow or a loss from 1000, it's not about numbers, it's about what stock you have and how you market your produce/reduce inputs and costs, just like any other business.

2. With the greatest respect, If your knowledge is that limited, would it not be better to start smaller or get some experience first?

3. It depends on how much you want to do yourself, what crops you grow etc. You can make it as complex or simple as you like. I know I could own and run 240 acres single handedly, but would probably employ someone to do the paperwork out of choice. I may also bring in contractors to do certain tasks. If I was running a shoot as part of the farm business, I may have a dedicated gamekeeper etc. Hopefully you get the idea!?

Good luck if you are new to this. Hours spent reading previous threads in this forum would not be wasted hours.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Hey all, I would just like a few views on a farm I'm looking to buy, I'm originally from a farming back ground (dairy) but havnt been in the industry for over 30 years other than helping my uncle out occasionally on his small dairy farm, the farm I'm looking at is a 240 acre stock rearing and arable, my plan would be to have a beef herd, possibly some breeding sows along with the arable side of the farm, my questions are,

1. what size herd would I need to make a profit
2. with my limited knowlage on cattle breeding would I be better employing a herds person or farm manager
3. how many staff in total would I need to run the farm

I know it must seem a little strange to want to come back into the farming world after been out of it so long but when it's in you blood it never goes and no matter what job or work I'm doing I'm always drawn back and thinking what if.

you may be in for a reality check with this post

I wouldn’t give up the day job, unless you can diversify big time or grow things using bricks instead this sort of acerage will do well to provide you with a decent income.

if you have any staff then you will have to fund their salary from non farming income if you want to draw an income yourself.

what are you aspirations though?I can relate to it being in your blood but you need to maintain a level head going into this And do it for the love, not income

 

[Chae1]

240ac? You *need* precisely zero staff.

Plus a fulltime job.

 

[teslacoils]

Plus a fulltime job.

Or a wife with one.

 

[Muddyroads]

Whereabouts in the country, and how close to any sort of habitation?

 

[dudders]

If:
1. you can buy the farm outright, plus the stock, machinery, feed, seed, etc to at least get started, and
2. you don't have any serious commitments, like a family or debts to service, and
3. you don't employ anyone, but still have some capital to pay the occasional contractor, and
4. the land, buildings and fences are already in fair condition, and
5. you're very modest in your own needs

then I'd say, yes, you could make a modest living for yourself. It's been done. But just a little alteration to any of the above could make a big difference.

I'd be looking at the buildings first, see what I could get rented out. Steady income is really useful, even if small. Storage is worth doing, and dead easy.

The size of herd is more down to what you can afford and the land can take. As @ImLost says, you can make a profit from 1. All depends on how you run things.

 

[Farmer Roy]

240ac? You *need* precisely zero staff.

Plus a fulltime job.

Or a wife with one.

haha
I farm 800 ha ( 2000 acre ) arable, no staff but do use contractors for spraying & harvesting, & both my wife & I work full time elsewhere . . .

 

[Generally01]

Hey all, I would just like a few views on a farm I'm looking to buy, I'm originally from a farming back ground (dairy) but havnt been in the industry for over 30 years other than helping my uncle out occasionally on his small dairy farm, the farm I'm looking at is a 240 acre stock rearing and arable, my plan would be to have a beef herd, possibly some breeding sows along with the arable side of the farm, my questions are,

1. what size herd would I need to make a profit
2. with my limited knowlage on cattle breeding would I be better employing a herds person or farm manager
3. how many staff in total would I need to run the farm

I know it must seem a little strange to want to come back into the farming world after been out of it so long but when it's in you blood it never goes and no matter what job or work I'm doing I'm always drawn back and thinking what if.

Check out Greg Judy on Youtube, you will not regret!

 

[spin cycle]

i think we're being a bit unfair on op...they've come on here looking for advice.....yes it may be a bit naive bit thats why they're asking

SO what is the point in working fulltime off farm then producing food in your spare time?....ok if you're starting up....buying the farm and have a mortage or turning it around with a view to returning to full time farming but otherwise why not ditch the farm

the other reason could be that the farm is to small...like ours.....we are diversified.....wife is self employed work as well.....i have worked off farm in past...but now i question the point in producing food if it needs propping up by off farm work/diversification.....the only reason i can see is iht relief and/or hobby....in my case as i farm though i am about to care for my elderly mother

i'm far from alone in this scenario i know other members in similar

 

[Farmer Roy]

i think we're being a bit unfair on op...they've come on here looking for advice.....yes it may be a bit naive bit thats why they're asking

SO what is the point in working fulltime off farm then producing food in your spare time?....ok if you're starting up....buying the farm and have a mortage or turning it around with a view to returning to full time farming but otherwise why not ditch the farm

the other reason could be that the farm is to small...like ours.....we are diversified.....wife is self employed work as well.....i have worked off farm in past...but now i question the point in producing food if it needs propping up by off farm work/diversification.....the only reason i can see is iht relief and/or hobby....in my case as i farm though i am about to care for my elderly mother

i'm far from alone in this scenario i know other members in similar

I work off farm because 800 ha is only a part time job . . .

 

[spin cycle]

I work off farm because 800 ha is only a part time job . . .

so why do it?..just work fulltime and forget farm?

 

[Farmer Roy]

so why do it?..just work fulltime and forget farm?

because full time work covers living expenses & beer money
800 ha is where the real money is, but it is only part time.
The “farm” & “personal” money are seperate & not cross subsidised.
the farm survives in its own, & I don’t draw any money from it
At my peak, I was farming 1300 ha, but that was still realistically only a part time job, which is why I was also a part time zero till planting contractor, planting up to 10,000 ha a year on other farms.
However, the last 3 or more years of severely reduced rainfall ( & contracting income ) & the fact I’m getting old & tired & security becoming more important than big dollars, I have gone down the road of permanent employment & have ditched the contracting.

yeah, if you want to make a part time job full time & invent ways to keep busy - fine. Personally, I’d rather spend all my time on profit driven enterprises. My “full time” job is a 9 day, 76 hour fortnight, with sick leave & holiday pay. Leaves plenty of time for “farming”. Many of the hero’s on here would think you need to work that many hours in a week to qualify as a “real” farmer . . . Even when I was a “full time farmer”, I only ever worked a 5 day week & about 9 or so hour days, apart from busy times of harvesting & planting

the question could be turned around, why do so many work such huge hours for so little return or quality of life ? Surely they should chuck it in & get a job ?
I think I’ve got a pretty good balance mysrlf

 

[proo]

Is this to be a commercial venture aimed at making a profit or some form of entity aimed at reducing your taxation liability......?
Serious question.

Hey seriously it needs to make a profit

 

[Boydvalley]

The OP problem will be trying to be small scale livestock AND small scale arable. The overheads are too high run both. Choose the the one your most interested in and you’ll more likely to make a profit

 

[Boydvalley]

Hey seriously it needs to make a profit

Can you get your uncle to do you some basic gross margins as a starting point.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I suppose 30 years ago the change had already started so no quite such a shock