Should he buy a sprayer?

[Beefsmith]

My cousin in Scotland has put a question to me. He’s inheriting a 350ac farm from his parents. The farm was in a cfa which is ending this September due to the cf retiring himself. My cousin whilst growing up on the farm is a private sports physio doing very well at it but going to take the farm back in hand and reduce his physio hours. It’s mixed cropping with cereals, beans, grass. He’s wondering about the spraying as contractors are around £5/acre and we’ve worked it out he’ll spray a total of 3000 acres per year including liquid fertiliser as there’s tanks on farm from the cfa which are staying in place. So a contractors going to cost him £15,000/year. He’s already bought a 230hp used tractor and isn’t afraid of buying something smaller as well. The cf was running a 36m system and my cousin says that size suits the fields reducing the number of short work in each field. So he’s thinking something 30-36m in size. It’s generally flat ground not far from Edinburgh but due to his physio job he wants something with decent output. Crop splits are 50% cereals, 15% grass, 35% spring beans. The retiring contractors machine isn’t an option as it’s a large SP.
What does the forum think? What budget and what machine? It needs to be reliable so it can just be turned on and off it goes.

 

[Farmer Fin]

My cousin in Scotland has put a question to me. He’s inheriting a 350ac farm from his parents. The farm was in a cfa which is ending this September due to the cf retiring himself. My cousin whilst growing up on the farm is a private sports physio doing very well at it but going to take the farm back in hand and reduce his physio hours. It’s mixed cropping with cereals, beans, grass. He’s wondering about the spraying as contractors are around £5/acre and we’ve worked it out he’ll spray a total of 3000 acres per year including liquid fertiliser as there’s tanks on farm from the cfa which are staying in place. So a contractors going to cost him £15,000/year. He’s already bought a 230hp used tractor and isn’t afraid of buying something smaller as well. The cf was running a 36m system and my cousin says that size suits the fields reducing the number of short work in each field. So he’s thinking something 30-36m in size. It’s generally flat ground not far from Edinburgh but due to his physio job he wants something with decent output. Crop splits are 50% cereals, 15% grass, 35% spring beans. The retiring contractors machine isn’t an option as it’s a large SP.
What does the forum think? What budget and what machine? It needs to be reliable so it can just be turned on and off it goes.

Would say if he is earning decent money then better off paying a contractor.

However if wants to do it then crack on. His tractor he has would probably be suitable. Would advice boom levelling and gps shut off for ease of use and at the width.

Remember he has to go back to school as well with PA1 and 2. Good luck.

 

[yellowbelly]

With his physio commitments, has he time to faff about waiting for dry days/wind to drop or change/etc, etc when he's got customers booked in.

I expect they'd be a bit miffed if he can't 'tweak their back 'cos he's got to nip off and finish getting his fungicide on his beans.

On balance, I'd say 'No'.

 

[teslacoils]

Spraying is one of my most profitable jobs as a contractor.

Spraying is one of my most time - critical jobs as a farmer.

Although on that acreage he could do most of it on an evening.

 

[Still Farming]

Sell it all and have an easy life ???

 

[Clive]

Sell it all and have an easy life ???

.......... and a tax bill

What would you invest the cash in as an alternative ? Something IHT safe and inflation proof ? ............. land maybe ? !

 

[Still Farming]

.......... and a tax bill

What would you invest the cash in as an alternative ? Something IHT safe and inflation proof ? ............. land maybe ? !

If already not farming maybe tax anyhow in the inheritance?

 

[Spencer]

36m sprayer on a 350 acre farm

Is this farm on farming simulator by any chance ?

 

[MikeNeaverson]

Why not though? A second hand 36m sprayer costs no more than a 24m one and, as a part-time farmer myself, its quite nice to jump on the sprayer on a Sunday morning and be done by lunchtime. Work/Life balance and all that.

The neighbours will think you're mad but who cares?!

 

[quattro]

Plenty of 36metre sprayers about to do that acreage and nearly pay for itself in a year
Fit it with his other job easy he’s only got a 175acres of cereals do it one night beans another night

 

[fudge]

As above!! Farming simulator or not. There’s nothing to think about. If you have a tractor a sprayer is a no brainer. Assuming he’s sensible enough to get a decent second hand one.

 

[DrWazzock]

Has he plenty of cash he wants rid of? If he has then go for it, if he enjoys it, but I wouldn't borrow a lot to buy kit/set up a farm.

I remember I bought a 24 m self propelled sprayer while I was sat in the office at my job in town. I had to use the lay phone down the corridor , not you desk phone. Never regretted it. Other people were buying sport cars and stuff for five times what the sprayer cost me.

I am still using the sprayer 20 years on. On a small acreage it will last forever and bring hours of pleasure if you like that sort of thing.

 

[MikeNeaverson]

And whilst you're at it, as a part-time farmer theres absolutely nothing wrong with buying larger - or slightly better kit - than your farm would otherwise justify.

Again, your neighbours will think you're mad, but its a trade-off between the earning potential of your main job, employing a bloke full or part time, or engaging contractors.

I myself prefer to work most of the week and then jump on decent kit in the evening to get the job done quickly.

 

[Clive]

If already not farming maybe tax anyhow in the inheritance?

It’s the person leaving the farm that’s taxed - beneficiary does not pay tax I believe

And what do you invest all that cash in that’s iht and inflation / recession proof ?

My point being dreaming about selling up for an easy life is ok until you think it through, I think it only makes sense if you have something else you know you want to do with the cash

 

[yellow belly]

on that area a 24 m would be the most cost effective with gps switch on off there is not a lot of difference
with 350 acre farm the most one crop is 175 acres so a 3000 litre 50 to 70 acres a fill up spray 3 tank at most half a day or 1 load a day still gets spray done in 3 days
on fert 15 to 20 acres per tank fast fill pump 2 half days
the other half of day on physio work

the advantage of 24 is not so heavy a setup narrow wheels and if needed more contractors available

a better option is to share machinery with another farmer near by who you can work together with

 

[Clive]

36m sprayer on a 350 acre farm

Is this farm on farming simulator by any chance ?

If buying used the 36m might be cheaper


No brainier to buy a sprayer imo - most important machine on the farm and the highest contracting margin by far

 

[fudge]

I agree! Why do farmers always assume somebody who wants to do the job part time is an idiot? Bizarre attitude.

 

[neilo]

Does the man need, or even have use for a second tractor? If not, i’d Suggest a secondhand sp sprayer that he can just get on and go, when he needs to. If he’s prepared to do the hours, he could start early in the morning, when it’s nice and still usually, and get most of it done before he goes to his ‘real’ job. Plenty of 24m sp sprayers about at handy money, that would retire to that acreage.

As for what the neighbours might think, I wouldn’t worry. I have an old 24m sp here and only do about 100ac of arable cropping.

 

[Nearly]

If already not farming maybe tax anyhow in the inheritance?

If farm has been contract farmed properly then Agri exemption will apply.
Parents have done well for their beneficiaries.
A 24m or 36m sprayer will cover a lot of ground outside office hours, but personal trainer might be able to farm during the day and train in the other hours?

I agree! Why do farmers always assume somebody who wants to do the job part time is an idiot? Bizarre attitude.

Apparently I'm odd for not buying a round baler etc and trying to undercut the locals.

 

[Clive]

I agree! Why do farmers always assume somebody who wants to do the job part time is an idiot? Bizarre attitude.

Often guilt that maybe their own farm isn’t really full time (despite making it so) and maybe they should also have a job or other business?