Opinions on this farm scenario?

DRC

Member
not wanting to be a dick but it’s a common theme that the son that’s been away from home earning a decent living want to return home during fathers final years but is hell bent on changing everything,better cash flow,diversification Modernizing up grading and a slew of other big ideas. The OP said he wants to farm with his father but what I read is your wanting to change everything. As said milking cows is a 24/7 365 days a year commitment with or without a robot. Do you have experience in dairy, you mention tillage as you main interest and reducing the workload and make a good living. is it possible to crop every acre or are the cows there to graze unploughable/crop able acres. I sincerely wish you the best in farming with your father but I’d expect there to be some major power struggles if your trying to change everything that he’s achieved.
If there’s a six figure debt , it sounds like things do need changing , especially if it’s an owned farm .
 

onesiedale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Derbyshire
joint venture for your father with a young progressive farmer looking to make the next step.
They can bring capital, energy and enthusiasm to the farm.
You can stay at work yet still know that the farm is being managed .
Dad can step back and enjoy life whilst still having an interest there
 

teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Seems odd that a 70yr old with a mixed farm would be in debt for six figures. Silly season on tff
Six figures debt could be a seasons inputs for 200ac this year, or the hp on a second hand tractor.

Why not let the old man sell up, and enjoy his twilight years cruising the Mediterranean off the back of his hard work? Or buy the farm off him?

Have you asked what he wants? Given its his farm.
 

puppet

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
sw scotland
Growing own cereals and finishing everything you should be making a profit with just 2 of you to pay. Your numbers are similar to ours but on fewer acres so I wonder about high inputs of feed and fertiliser and cattle should be finished earlier than 24-30 months.
Robotic dairy will be a much bigger debt and neither of you getting a day off together.
Checking sucklers calving 3 times a day and a lambing will keep you busy for 6 months of the year so you can have a rest feeding them every day for the other 6 months of winter :) :)
 
As aside from the original thread , I do often find it that young chaps tent to be keen on changing up the system , to an extent I did as a young lad but after about 10 years you start to realise that you are farming the land you have and not the super ground you see on tv or magazines - that are full of high production adds he’ll bent on you buying to increase profits :) yeah right ... Again I’m not relating thing to the original thread but I’m sure that the old boy had reasons why he was farming what he was. It really isn’t the life many see it as, it’s hard graft and a fair amount of stress. I know a young man who bought a farm with no previous and he said it’s a money pit and driving him round the bend :
 

Boysground

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
@HLagri the first things to do are

Get power of attorney for your father, if his health deteriorates as he ages it will make life much much easier. Do yourself at the same time. Health and welfare and financial

Get a partnership agreement sorted

Sort Wills particularly if you have siblings not involved in the farm. Especially if farm is owned. Are you tenants Aha or Fbt?

Speak with your bank manager and accountant to see what they think of the business viability as it stands now

Concentrate on the enterprises that you enjoy most.

Cows expensive to set up, but there is potential if you do it right. Don’t discount horses, I have a friend who probably earns more from livery than his 200 cows BUT he has a perfect farm for it just outside a large city and has spent a significant amount on facilities.

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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 34.6%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.2%

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

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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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