- Location
- Cheshire
Then when your soil is knackered after a few years they charge you £xxx again too advise you get some livestock too increase soil OM.
Opinions on this farm scenario?
- Thread starter Hagri
- Start date
- Location
- Lincolnshire
I'd not give two hoots about the debt. Let the old man enjoy his sucklers. You come back home and put either sone cash in or some graft in to make it work better.
I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that old farmers need to keep having a reason to get up in the morning, and when they dont they drop dead. A managable number of sucklers if that keeps you old man happy and spending quality time with you is invaluable and you shouldn't resent it if it costs more than it brings in - within reason of course. Cos £50k is going to seem cheap when the old boys not around any more to chat to / take to market to have a bacon roll and a chat to his mates.
I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that old farmers need to keep having a reason to get up in the morning, and when they dont they drop dead. A managable number of sucklers if that keeps you old man happy and spending quality time with you is invaluable and you shouldn't resent it if it costs more than it brings in - within reason of course. Cos £50k is going to seem cheap when the old boys not around any more to chat to / take to market to have a bacon roll and a chat to his mates.
- Location
- N.Lincs
Yeah, there's plenty that do.
But mostly round here the big arable boys have 'itinerent graziers' like me,@unlacedgecko , @Anymulewilldo @Electricfencer , etc to do all the work for them as modern tractor jockeys have no livestock experience (or desire to do it) anymore.
- Location
- East Dartmoor, Devon
Depends what he means by horses. DIY liveries are a piece of cake for example.
How much debt is there? The sale of all the stock alone may clear it. Put everything that is croppable cropped and buy a few stirks in to graze the uncroppable ground.
Pieces_of_Eight
Member
This.
Look at which of the five doesn't pay its way, or is lowest margin and swap resources into the others.
As long as it is not totally saturated locally, DIY livery would be the highest margin per acre once set up for it.
- Location
- Cheshire
I’m not itinerant, my parents were married!!
- Location
- Lincolnshire
I think the cool word for itinerant now is peripatetic.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
That's exactly what I do. The arable is only here to allow me to grow winter forage crops for the sheep. I grow proper forage crops though, not cover crops, which are usually pretty poor feed value unless you have lots of acres and only take the top off it. They still poach it, but at least it is limited to the top couple of inches (as long as you keep off it with tractors, hoppers or ring feeders. You could DD into it on lighter soils, or shallow cultivation to break the cap on heavier ground, like here.
The sheep are wintered cheaply and easily, with very little machinery/fuel needed (just a quad and RAPPA winder). Ewes don't need any bought in feed, spread their own muck, and most of your straw and grain can be sold.
Interesting. What kind of scale are you at? Are you lambing ewes or buying and moving on stores?
Also what sort of drilling do you do? We began min-tilling with a disc harrow (although still a nice bit of cultivation) the last 3 years and moving to direct drill is an interest of mine so establishing a good crop rotation full of diversity would be important.
Bought a new tractor ?
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
320ac altogether, tenanted. 100ac of that are arable & fodder crops and lambing about 700 ewes, 150 of them pedigree Charollais, with rams sold as shearlings (again no concentrates). Rarely buy anything in as all high health status, with all surplus lambs sold finished. Happy to feed if necessary, but I'd rather keep that as a fall back.
I DD where possible, or cultivate if more appropriate, usually with a short disc in recent years. Contrary to what the evangelical DD'ers might tell you, it doesn't work everywhere, or all the time, but a useful establishment method when it does.
- Location
- Lorette Manitoba
You cover many pitfalls with an attitude that’s flexible. Lots get hooked onto thinking that the newest fashion will fit all crops all soil types and everything that comes their way. Dad always said the bow that bends doesn’t break.
- Location
- Lorette Manitoba
Everyone has their own view on situations molded by personal experiences and beliefs. Each very valid and should be taken into consideration when offered. Very few on here aren’t here for the right reasons.Contrary too the evidence sometimes and ignoring what people have been known too say about him… @neilo is usually one too listen too. Won’t tell you a total
Load of
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Contrary too the evidence sometimes and ignoring what people have been known too say about him… @neilo is usually one too listen too. Won’t tell you a total
Load of
That’s very kind, even if completely misguided.
At 70+ that might be an appealing option....
more reason to get home and look after your dadEven better, there's no wife to worry about
Aye.... need to watch out for Carpetbaggers....
They exist... and can cost a lot of money... as I know from personal experience!! Not that anything untoward should be happening with the OP and his family.