So I've been thinking of returning home to farm with my 70 yr old father who's struggling to find good full time labour and is naturally slowing down. I'm working off farm full time but really have an urge to leave the office job and come home (option of career break). If I'm going to do this and go into partnership with my father I will need a good farm plan going forward. There are outstanding liabilities, loans etc to be paid off to the tune of 6 figures, clearing these is something I want to prioritise
The farm itself is currently running 90 sucklers, spring & autumn calving finishing all between 24-30 months, 200+ lambing ewes, 150 acres tillage + horses. We do all the machinery work ourselves apart from pitting silage and ploughing. Machinery would be ageing.
The setup
200 acres surrounding farmhouse and central farm yard with 3 farm roadways spanning different directions. Approx 1km down the road is another 160 acre block. Land is good free draining, would scorch easily.
I want to reduce the current workload while making a decent income. I'm most interested in tillage enterprise so will be hoping to maintain this but open to changing other enterprises.
To me Dairy seems to be the best option for cash flow and with the farm setup, however I am not interested in putting in a very intensive system. I would want to be getting in as cheap as I can too. Robots while not cheap (unless secondhand?) do seem appealing to me and with the current sheds there wouldn't be alot to build except cubicles.
With that set I'm interested in hearing some ideas or tips on what others might do with such a scenario?
EDIT - I am aware that there would be investment costs getting into dairy and this contradicts my goal of easing debt, however, if I am coming home to farm I would like to have a farm business plan in place and explore the best options long term for generating a consistent income.
Also on reducing current workload, perhaps I should have phrased it as focusing the work efforts and increasing efficiency, as current workload seems to be stretched with different irons in the fire. I am aware that any fulltime farm will be demanding and I am prepared to work hard for it.
The farm itself is currently running 90 sucklers, spring & autumn calving finishing all between 24-30 months, 200+ lambing ewes, 150 acres tillage + horses. We do all the machinery work ourselves apart from pitting silage and ploughing. Machinery would be ageing.
The setup
200 acres surrounding farmhouse and central farm yard with 3 farm roadways spanning different directions. Approx 1km down the road is another 160 acre block. Land is good free draining, would scorch easily.
I want to reduce the current workload while making a decent income. I'm most interested in tillage enterprise so will be hoping to maintain this but open to changing other enterprises.
To me Dairy seems to be the best option for cash flow and with the farm setup, however I am not interested in putting in a very intensive system. I would want to be getting in as cheap as I can too. Robots while not cheap (unless secondhand?) do seem appealing to me and with the current sheds there wouldn't be alot to build except cubicles.
With that set I'm interested in hearing some ideas or tips on what others might do with such a scenario?
EDIT - I am aware that there would be investment costs getting into dairy and this contradicts my goal of easing debt, however, if I am coming home to farm I would like to have a farm business plan in place and explore the best options long term for generating a consistent income.
Also on reducing current workload, perhaps I should have phrased it as focusing the work efforts and increasing efficiency, as current workload seems to be stretched with different irons in the fire. I am aware that any fulltime farm will be demanding and I am prepared to work hard for it.
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