Opportunity options on family farm

[dairyrow]

Hi all.

After our last farm meeting and accounts published. We've never done it before. Its quite obvious what we are doing isn't working. After countless arguments before this the farm adviser started a process of what each person wanted out of life and farm. With e founder member being +70 and my brother being 10 years older than me. We did have a general discussion about it 3 months ago. But he never really started the process I wanted or the others really.
I broached the subject again of share farming the dairy side of the business off them. So I could run it without interference of the others. Just be judged on the profitability of it. So I could build my own capital in cows and have that share on top of the share holding I already have. I don't really want a complicated model. Just want a lifestyle and some money. But this does just leave my brother with the sheep side of the business. He works hard and likes his sheep. But is rather clueless with cows and just won't leave them alone for me to do. I don't have an interest in sheep and don't really think there's a future in them. Especially with the brexit thing going on. For the old one just abit of tractor work and fetching stuff.

Am I being mean? Is the share farming thing too much and maybe a cow leasing thing be better and run the herd? I dont have a lot of money my wages are crap. I need to start along money gf wants kids and we are moving in together. I need to change mine and the others circumstances for the better. We are just drudging along ATM.

 

[multi power]

How many cow's
How much land
So many questions

 

[dairyrow]

+200 cows. We actually need more to reduce cop
+1000 sheep
Lots of ground under utilized.

 

[Durry cows]

Who do you supply milk to? Should be ok at 200 cows re cop you can be as good as anybody IMO you and another good bloke as staff etc?

 

[Beef farmer]

How many acres? Rented?

 

[coomoo]

Jeez a lot of us go through this crap. All I'll say is obviously Dairy will kick the arse out of the sheep....

 

[dairyrow]

+1000 and some owned of that
I know that but my brother just chucks land and machinery at the sheep. That by itself it couldn't afford. Not to mention the opportunity cost of grass keep on the silage ground.

 

[Beef farmer]

You have 1k acres with 200 cows and a few sheep?

 

[Wobblebox]

I'd be ripping half that up and sticking some wheat in it!

 

[Still Farming]

Mediation - is it !

 

[beefandsleep]

Jeez a lot of us go through this crap. All I'll say is obviously Dairy will kick the arse out of the sheep....

I was told this for years, "nothing will compete with dairy for profit". I can tell you it's not true, every penny goes back in and there is a massive industry sucking of 3/4 of your cows tits. Here the dairy side went its own way a few years ago, the beef kick the arse out of dairy and I consider that the dairy was very well run. The investment needed for sheep is pittance, all you need for 1k ewes is a dog, quad, rappa and a truck & ifor.

 

[Clay52]

I was told this for years, "nothing will compete with dairy for profit". I can tell you it's not true, every penny goes back in and there is a massive industry sucking of 3/4 of your cows tits. Here the dairy side went its own way a few years ago, the beef kick the arse out of dairy and I consider that the dairy was very well run. The investment needed for sheep is pittance, all you need for 1k ewes is a dog, quad, rappa and a truck & ifor.

Yeah. Since I've been looking at other options I'm not sold on dairy being the only way either. So much capital needed and so limited on your options year to year. Unless a flying herd you can't downsize a heap in terrible years and you can't ramp up a heap in good years.

 

[Clay52]

Hi all.

After our last farm meeting and accounts published. We've never done it before. Its quite obvious what we are doing isn't working. After countless arguments before this the farm adviser started a process of what each person wanted out of life and farm. With e founder member being +70 and my brother being 10 years older than me. We did have a general discussion about it 3 months ago. But he never really started the process I wanted or the others really.
I broached the subject again of share farming the dairy side of the business off them. So I could run it without interference of the others. Just be judged on the profitability of it. So I could build my own capital in cows and have that share on top of the share holding I already have. I don't really want a complicated model. Just want a lifestyle and some money. But this does just leave my brother with the sheep side of the business. He works hard and likes his sheep. But is rather clueless with cows and just won't leave them alone for me to do. I don't have an interest in sheep and don't really think there's a future in them. Especially with the brexit thing going on. For the old one just abit of tractor work and fetching stuff.

Am I being mean? Is the share farming thing too much and maybe a cow leasing thing be better and run the herd? I dont have a lot of money my wages are crap. I need to start along money gf wants kids and we are moving in together. I need to change mine and the others circumstances for the better. We are just drudging along ATM.

I feel you. In similar sort of situation. Work hasn't been enjoyable at all of late. Not getting anywhere with succession discussions so I avoid talking to my parents as much as possible because its just same old crap.

I'm ready to tell them to jam it up their arse and move on with my life. So I can't really offer any advise.

 

[dairyrow]

No mediation. Half the farm steep banks and pretty wet. Got a potential platform for 400 cows grazing. Febuary til end of november. I'm afraid the sheep have use of tractors, load all the works. Lambed inside, while the cows are out grazing. Silaged 2 weeks ago and the sheep have just been pulled the rest of it this week. You end with 2 cuts instead of one good one. have neighbours pulling bales from some where still. So god knows what they're housing at this time of year.
Just wondering what people have done and is there any simple solutions. Where everybody can have a piece of the pie. But not interfere with the baking process of it.

 

[beefandsleep]

Sounds like you and your brother have different interests, he may be of the opinion that the dairy side just eats up the cash and is a huge amount of work for little reward. You possibly resent that he prats about with sheep making little money while you work like a slave to build up the dairy. Your farm is big enough to split into two viable units, if your not both pulling in the same direction resentments will just build to bursting point. Best you sort it out soon and keep a good relationship.

 

[newholland]

Sian Bushell Associates - book a day's meeting with Sian - it will be the best money you have ever spent in your life and you will get the job sorted out by the end of a day. - she gets results.... which is very different when compared to the average family farm advisor who is paid to pat you on the back, eat biscuits and get home smoothly for 5pm

Don't waste anymore time

 

[Beef farmer]

I was told this for years, "nothing will compete with dairy for profit". I can tell you it's not true, every penny goes back in and there is a massive industry sucking of 3/4 of your cows tits. Here the dairy side went its own way a few years ago, the beef kick the arse out of dairy and I consider that the dairy was very well run. The investment needed for sheep is pittance, all you need for 1k ewes is a dog, quad, rappa and a truck & ifor.

Surly there is only a "massive industry sucking 3/4 of your cows tits" of you let them?

 

[Kingofgrass]

For me it's dairy farming or nothing the returns are far better than any other farming method, more work but more profit! Depends if you want to work hard or not!you have good years and not so good years in any business!

 

[Iron150]

Its intresting that people say that beef can return beter proffit than a well run dairy, i would be very intrested in seeing some numbers!

 

[dairyrow]

We got rid of our beef we were losing huge amounts of money on them. Buitelaar on calves has added quite Bit of money to the job instead of taking them to market. Sheep are huge amount of work here. Ran badly and grassland bit is horrendous. Admittedly we've had a lot of sheep off the hill pinched over the years which hasn't helped. Dairy side has been through a huge 2 years and if it wasn't for last years poor prices in autumn and shocking silage quality. I would of been in a different position this year. We are now just a grass based dairy and the hangers are few these days. Simplified life a lot.