Stress in Farming

[Cross farmer]

Not a particularly arable topic but fairly general. Has our job got much more stressful this year. The weather, poor prices for grain, sfi, end of bps, Accs, crop rotations, environment agency,nvzs or is it just me?

 

[Adeptandy]

Definitely been a tough year, and from an arable view, it’s not looking like a great start to the next one

 

[Phil P]

I’ll second what @Adeptandy said. Been a horrendous year from the start and it’s looking like it’s going to be a real struggle to get over the finish line at this point (over 54mm and counting). Wondering to myself how much longer the job will stand it

 

[farmerm]

Not a particularly arable topic but fairly general. Has our job got much more stressful this year. The weather, poor prices for grain, sfi, end of bps, Accs, crop rotations, environment agency,nvzs or is it just me?

Its like going to the casino, but one where on average the minimum stake increases, the winning payout decreases, both numbers becoming ever more volatile, more unpredictable and each year another zero is added to the roulette table thus worsening the odds of coming out ahead.... The biggest issue though is the weather for the past 12 months has been a complete swine. Historically most of us probably wouldn't have been too concerned by a few wet days end of September, knowing October would still give rise to some good drilling opportunities. After experiencing last year such hopes are rather quashed, even the forecast of light rain brings growing to a cold sweat. BPS was always there to at least partially plug a disastrous year but now we must walk that tight rope to the casino with the safety net being disassembled. Still it could be worse, few of us here are facing conscription into a war, at least not yet.

 

[Chae1]

Not a particularly arable topic but fairly general. Has our job got much more stressful this year. The weather, poor prices for grain, sfi, end of bps, Accs, crop rotations, environment agency,nvzs or is it just me?

Wait until the budget!

 

[DrWazzock]

It’s the new normal. Now it’s about mitigating risk. Really difficult land and time consuming gearing’s gone into SFI. If it can’t be arable cropped easily then it won’t be. Drawing our horns in. Battening down the hatches. No point in busting a gut trying to be “feed the nation” hero. Rationalise to take account of volatility or perish.

 

[nelson]

I’ll second what @Adeptandy said. Been a horrendous year from the start and it’s looking like it’s going to be a real struggle to get over the finish line at this point (over 54mm and counting). Wondering to myself how much longer the job will stand it

is the 54mm from over night and today?

 

[Phil P]

is the 54mm from over night and today?

Last 24h, 55.7mm now

 

[bobk]

Better than living in Beirut

 

[nelson]

Last 24h, 55.7mm now

you where having fun with wet spots before that lot

 

[Phil P]

you where having fun with wet spots before that lot

Ruts will be fun of water now so that won’t have improved anything

 

[Phil P]

Better than living in Beirut

Always say to myself it could be worse, I’ve got my health so not complaining.

 

[teslacoils]

sh!t money, sh!t weather.

 

[livestock 1]

Unsettling times for one thing or another, past performance has been to keep the head down as it will pass and better times will be ahead

 

[richard hammond]

Definitely been a tough year, and from an arable view, it’s not looking like a great start to the next one

Had them before and we will have them in the future it is the nature of the job and what goes with it,,

 

[suffolksmallholder]

IMO it is unsettling times for everybody and not just for farming.
The weather patterns are very changeable at present and that must be difficult.
But there is uncertainty in lots of other things too.
I for one am not looking forward to being old and incapable. But those I meet who work (them) in the care world give me hope.
SS

 

[Green oak]

Six mile bottom estate down the road. Put 2500 acres into SFI. All the kit is up for sale via local auction. Cheffins I think. Farm manager made redundant. How depressing.

 

[PSQ]

Its like going to the casino, but one where on average the minimum stake increases, the winning payout decreases, both numbers becoming ever more volatile, more unpredictable and each year another zero is added to the roulette table thus worsening the odds of coming out ahead....

Since the ridiculous eye gouging price rises that came along with Covid and Putins stupid war in Ukraine, it's felt increasingly like we are no longer farmers: we are the ones being farmed.

Despite the reps saying that price increases are barely covering increases in manufacturing costs, the facts say otherwise:

 

[average farmer]

Got a bill today from John Deere dealer for a pick up hitch cable…… 328 whole British pounds. Really stressed me out for the afternoon. Pleased I got the bill before I picked it up .

 

[Phil P]

Got a bill today from John Deere dealer for a pick up hitch cable…… 328 whole British pounds. Really stressed me out for the afternoon. Pleased I got the bill before I picked it up .

Try Nick young or eBay, start around £40 depending on model.