Share/Tenant Farming Career Advice

[The Fenster]

Hi All,

I’m currently 16, just finished GCSE’s and going on to A-Levels and hopefully Ag University after those , over the last two years I have worked on a large sheep farm ( just over 2000 ewes), a mixed sheep, beef and arable farm and dairy farm calving all year round which has an additional 16000 chickens. Looking into future career options I am particularly interested in share farming and or tenant farming on a council farm. My question is does anybody think of a way I could begin to build up stock now while busy nearly all the time with school and after that University. I potentially have money to invest but lack time and locality to farms , so is there any way I could build up stock on someone else’s farm in a system that would benefit the farmer enough to make it worthwhile he/she doing the work, and still mean I could get some physical livestock out of it, however small the number of stock I build up I feel any could be a benefit . It of course sounds like I am asking for an impossible deal, and it may be just that, but I thought that with nothing to lose it might be worth asking for advice and any ideas. Please feel free to be negative and of course realistic, and say what you think it would be best for me to do in order to eventually achieve my long term goals.

Regards , Fenster

 

[multi power]

Forget university
Head to NZ

 

[multi power]

Oh and welcome to the fourm and good on you for being enthusiastic

 

[spin cycle]

at this stage experience/education is the best investment you can make....you could save rather than buy stock....but whilst at uni is saving that practical

good luck to you anyhoo

 

[Rod Dumbreck]

Hi All,

I’m currently 16, just finished GCSE’s and going on to A-Levels and hope..................................what you think it would be best for me to do in order to eventually achieve my long term goals.

Regards , Fenster

A man I respect would say "Keep your powder dry"
If you see a really good opportunity you will be in a better position to benefit from it if you havent already committed to something else. Have fun over the next few years and observe the good and bad of other farms, best of luck with your studies.

 

[Headless chicken]

Good luck to you but be very careful if your not going to see your stock often only the person you've done a deal with. Don't want you getting burnt and being put off coming into the industry

 

[O'Reilly]

I admire your ambition, but you'll have a long time to farm in, ffs have some fun while you're young, don't get bogged down in the worry and hassle of keeping stock yet, and concentrate on learning, about farming, and beer and women, not forgetting that a good one of the latter is the best investment you will ever make.

 

[Clay52]

Unless it's for a specific specialty like medicine, I wouldn't go to university either. It's a big waste of money and time for most people these days. Get a job and learn on the job, do short courses, online courses. You will get a better education and be getting paid for it. I did Ag science and it wasn't worth it compared to what I leant after.

Also don't look at just learning about farming and animals. Look into doing some Human Resources courses. It will help you as an employee and as a manager of people in the future. In fact just dealing with people in day to day life.

As for getting stock and farming, you are young, first learn how to save and do things on the cheap. It will help you later. No need to rush in with animals yet, especially if you are not the one looking after them.

That's just what I would reccomend.

 

[beardface]

Id approach the sheep farm you worked at and offer a deal on ewe lambs where you buy the tup and do the lambing period required in exchange for ewe lambs. Could run them dry for a year on some rented ground then do another deal with the same fella to check them post lambing if your busy studying in exchange for lambing and half term help.if I were him I'd be interested as I'd have young lad with ambition on my side with potential to contract out big group jobs and build a solid lamb production model over a larger flock with a young lad eager to keep it going after he's getting on a bit.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Well put @Clay52.
Going to university for agriculture, with the intention of becoming a farmer is a waste of your time and money. If you must go to university, go for accounting/finance, leadership,business, public speaking etc. anything that can educate you on how to communicate well and understand money. Most of the general population sucks ass at these two skills.

There are plenty of short courses out there that can distill years of bullsh it into a few weeks. Meet as many farmers as you can and visit their farms. Ask a lot of questions. Find a mentor. Read, read, read, read. Throw your television out the window.

This is 2017, we live in an era of unprecedented access to information. There is no reason to go to school for it. School teaches theory, not practical application or wisdom. These things can only be gained through experience.

 

[davieh3350]

Forget university
Head to NZ

Or Canada

 

[multi power]

Or Canada

Don't think there is any share milking opportunity in Canada?
But cheap land, and plenty of it

 

[chris elk]

I went to ag college and it was the best time of my life met all my best friends there, I'm from a family farm but recently set up on our own with sheep. My advice would be go and enjoy it life is very short , you'll meet like minded people and who knows what opportunities will arise, if you get the chance to travel to nz / auz then do so , biggest regret of mine is not going over there on a sheep unit . Always take an opportunity that comes up have a go,no harm in trying! If your focused and want to farm then you will do at some level . All the best for the future .

 

[capfits]

Well put @Clay52.
Going to university for agriculture, with the intention of becoming a farmer is a waste of your time and money. If you must go to university, go for accounting/finance, leadership,business, public speaking etc. anything that can educate you on how to communicate well and understand money. Most of the general population sucks ass at these two skills.

Is farming not a business? You need these skills and more besides. University, even an Ag degree, gives you a more analytical mind and think of wider issues. To deal with.

Well put @Clay52.

This is 2017, we live in an era of unprecedented access to information.

So will have a better chance of sifting through the great amount of shite that is out there.

Anyway sounds like you are getting a great grounding in the industry but these days to be a successful producer you need more.

 

[Clay52]

Is farming not a business? You need these skills and more besides. University, even an Ag degree, gives you a more analytical mind and think of wider issues. To deal with.


So will have a better chance of sifting through the great amount of shite that is out there.

Anyway sounds like you are getting a great grounding in the industry but these days to be a successful producer you need more.

You don't need to go to university to get those skills. There are other avenues.

The useful information I learn in a 3 year ag degree could have been condensed into a 1 week course.

Get a job and learn on the job. Do short courses and online courses. It will allow you to tailor your education to what you actually need. That's also three years extra income you have and less university debt. After the three years working and doing courses as you see fit you will have miles better knowledge than someone with a fresh degree.

Also university isn't immune from shite. When I first started working it was amazed at the out of date information I was taught at university.

 

[Spuddler]

If you have to go to uni get some qualifications in the environmental sector, Then for a full time job follow the breeding habits of 9 lesser spotted snort weavels in a bog in the middle of Norfolk for 40k a year and do your sheep along side.
A lot of tenant farms are now encouraging people to have another career along side the farming.