Shepards wages

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Happening up here too.


Estates just asset strip.

To be fair, most large estates are in Trust, and the trustees are legally obliged to make the best financial decisions for the Trust. Unfortunately, the current vogue seems to be getting the big national kind agencies in to do an 'in-depth review' of the business. These are the guys in mustard cords with the short term views that advocate letting out on short term FBTs to the highest bidder, to rape the ground for 5 years as they can't afford to put anything back in. The same estates used to be run with a view to tomorrow, but hey, that's progress.:banghead:
 
To be fair, most large estates are in Trust, and the trustees are legally obliged to make the best financial decisions for the Trust. Unfortunately, the current vogue seems to be getting the big national kind agencies in to do an 'in-depth review' of the business. These are the guys in mustard cords with the short term views that advocate letting out on short term FBTs to the highest bidder, to rape the ground for 5 years as they can't afford to put anything back in. The same estates used to be run with a view to tomorrow, but hey, that's progress.:banghead:

Although very true, its interesting to see some estates being taken back in hand, and going against the trend as it were.

Ive been lucky enough recently to start contracting on a very large estate which is run by someone with a keen interest in farming, who although probably ridiculously wealthy, milked cows until retirement age! The land is pretty much all in hand and there is a young, forward thinking team, making the best go they can of creating a profit before subs and a sustainable buisness. Its great to see and be a part of.
 

David.

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
J11 M40
I was "collateral damage" as a sole shepherd on a 2000 acre estate with 1300 ewes, the agents decided to cut the sheep flock in half and just use contract labour. That was me out of a house with a wife and a son less than 12 months old. The dairy unit milking 200 soon followed, that disappeared completely along with the cowman and assistant cowman, the arable side didn't replace the two old boys that retired nor the farm manager. Just one chap on the tractors full time and all other labour as and when.
Employment is very fickle especially if they're "just trying out a sheep enterprise"
I won't "like" that either because it must've been tough.
But it is exactly what I feared the OP might be setting himself up for.
 

gwi1890

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North wales
I was on £12 per hour doing 1200 sheep had vet students to help during lambing, was full time from lambing to weaning, between then and tupping youl find your self with not alot to do so I was down to 2 days a week
 

Dkb

Member
I was on £12 per hour doing 1200 sheep had vet students to help during lambing, was full time from lambing to weaning, between then and tupping youl find your self with not alot to do so I was down to 2 days a week

Was it purely sheep work you were doing or would there be fert spreading. Mending fences or whatever to be done also??
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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    Votes: 80 42.3%
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  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.9%
  • 50-75%

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  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

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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