Taking on a new bit of ground

[capfits]

Fun isn't?
Recently had the opportunity to look over a bit of ground that we have been offered to rent pre Christmas.
Could not look over it any earlier due to clause in sale.
As a neighbour knew it was a bit hairy, but on inspection it is proper poor.
Fences just let go, drainage needing a good sort out and arguably the most criminal pHs were in the range of 4.4 to 5.6
This unit is 1/3 arable capable, 1/3 rotational grass,1/3 pernament grass.
What is the worst you have taken on?

 

[som farmer]

17 acres of grass, farmed it properly for several years, and then someone offered £5/ac more, and lost it. 10 years later, after a quick downward spiral, it was that bad, nobody wanted it, 1 year, just left empty.
As literally next door, we agreed to cut it once a year, so for 4/5 years, we cut, dried baled, and that was it, chap did the hedges, every other year.
Why, l post, after that initial 4/5 years, just 1 cut, yield began to rise, quality improved, and weeds decreased, the last 2 years, we had x2 cut, of good quality fodder. Lost some of it now, sold, but will have 3.5 acres for the future.
It shows nature can sort its self out, and rectify abuse, so if offered 'crap' ground, make sure you have a decent length FBT, with a suitable rent. Looking back on our example, if we had been allowed to 'farm' it, that 4/5 yrs, would have been 2/3.

 

[ollie989898]

Helped farmers improve the roughest of ground a myriad of times. Many landlords now reluctant to rent it out for maximum possible price because they know it will be neglected.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Fun isn't?
Recently had the opportunity to look over a bit of ground that we have been offered to rent pre Christmas.
Could not look over it any earlier due to clause in sale.
As a neighbour knew it was a bit hairy, but on inspection it is proper poor.
Fences just let go, drainage needing a good sort out and arguably the most criminal pHs were in the range of 4.4 to 5.6
This unit is 1/3 arable capable, 1/3 rotational grass,1/3 pernament grass.
What is the worst you have taken on?

Can't see the point , unless the landlord is paying for all the improvements , land like that usually goes for around £60 acre for rough grazing

 

[Hooby Farmer]

Put the guts of 1000ton of fym a little hen litter on to 33acres over the last 6 years to help bring it back after it was hammered by the previous few tenants. This year was the first time we are starting to see benefits in yield, quality of the soil and worm activity.

 

[whitefox]

Helped farmers improve the roughest of ground a myriad of times. Many landlords now reluctant to rent it out for maximum possible price because they know it will be neglected.

not round here,clueless landlords guided by their scoundrelous agents will always go for highest rents!!!and they couldnt care( or tell the difference) as to whether it was growing ryegrass or ragwort

 

[robs1]

Fun isn't?
Recently had the opportunity to look over a bit of ground that we have been offered to rent pre Christmas.
Could not look over it any earlier due to clause in sale.
As a neighbour knew it was a bit hairy, but on inspection it is proper poor.
Fences just let go, drainage needing a good sort out and arguably the most criminal pHs were in the range of 4.4 to 5.6
This unit is 1/3 arable capable, 1/3 rotational grass,1/3 pernament grass.
What is the worst you have taken on?

The ex wife

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

not round here,clueless landlords guided by their scoundrelous agents will always go for highest rents!!!and they couldnt care( or tell the difference) as to whether it was growing ryegrass or ragwort

Very different down here.
The Agents are pleased to find a any tenant and are very careful to look after the best people. A lot of grazing land will not be farmed this summer as stock numbers are short and there are barns full of Hay from last year. The horse brigade are looking a bit less certain they will eat so much hay.
Very happy to pay for winter grazing but a lot of summer grass will be for very little or for free.

 

[ARW]

I have posted about this before but here goes
10 acre field next door to us came up for sale in 2020, hadn’t been farmed properly in 15 years, hedges with 15 years growth, drains smashed, weeds and ruts all over, ditches full.
We scraped our pennies into a small pile and managed to buy it, cut hedges back, cleaned ditches out, sprayed it off, complete new drainage system, re-seeded with grass, new fencing and gates, got planning on a dog park, fenced the dog park, car park, website and all that crap.
it’s doing great but we are a long way off getting back what we have paid out
Here’s some pics
signed up and

Cut 15 years worth of growth off the hedges, pulled out the old fence and self seeded hedge plants, gained 2-3 metres all the way round the

New drainage system, the old one had been hit with a subsoiler on every lateral in about 4 acres

drilled with grass

rolling grass in early spring last year

fences the perimeter and started the dog park

dog park opened in June last year

this picture was tonight in the dog park taking some pics for our social media

 

[mo!]

Took on a block where the two sister that owned it had fallen out. Nothing touched for about 15 years, oak trees as thick as your wrist growing in it. Blackthorn 25 yards into the field. Free the first year and then cheap rent. It's still a bit wet but we are making progress with the ditches, limed, sprayed for leatherjackets and plenty of muck has brought it round. Very rewarding.

 

[mo!]

I have posted about this before but here goes
10 acre field next door to us came up for sale in 2020, hadn’t been farmed properly in 15 years, hedges with 15 years growth, drains smashed, weeds and ruts all over, ditches full.
We scraped our pennies into a small pile and managed to buy it, cut hedges back, cleaned ditches out, sprayed it off, complete new drainage system, re-seeded with grass, new fencing and gates, got planning on a dog park, fenced the dog park, car park, website and all that crap.
it’s doing great but we are a long way off getting back what we have paid out
Here’s some pics
signed up and
View attachment 1024486
Cut 15 years worth of growth off the hedges, pulled out the old fence and self seeded hedge plants, gained 2-3 metres all the way round the

View attachment 1024487

View attachment 1024488
New drainage system, the old one had been hit with a subsoiler on every lateral in about 4 acres
View attachment 1024489
drilled with grass
View attachment 1024490
rolling grass in early spring last year
View attachment 1024491
fences the perimeter and started the dog park
View attachment 1024492
dog park opened in June last year

View attachment 1024495
this picture was tonight in the dog park taking some pics for our social media

A good setup it is too. Been there for puppy training.

 

[vantage]

Can't see the point , unless the landlord is paying for all the improvements , land like that usually goes for around £60 acre for rough grazing

Just been offered land next door, not been farmed a good long while. Reeds, Japanese knotweed, redshank, oh I could have it for 5 years, don’t actually think that is long enough!

 

[v8willy]

Place next door, was a veg farmer, never cut hedges, drained, limed or anything else.

Fields just kept getting smaller, he worked less of it & some of it now taken over by trees, we have some of it in crop, best of ground but was growing moss when we started, hedges mostly cut, limed & sheughs cleaned out with a bit of drainage as we go along, rent is dirt cheap but still a work in progress.

 

[Flat 10]

Reclamation is good for the soul. My examples aren’t as extreme as above but plenty of hedging, ditching and fert required in many cases

 

[Flatlander]

Had a 30 acre field on the end of a large block that was abandoned for five or six years. Just left to fill with dandelion,thistle and couch. Got so bad that a cloud of seeds would blow across mine and I was forever getting a crap growing down wind of that field. Offered to go in and cut it down and spray it clean for free. The owner agreed and said I could then farm it rent free provided it was kept tidy. Only access was across his front yard so I put a culvert in and now have no issues. Fifteen years later I still have it and a happy neighbour. Volunteered to pay rent so not to loose it but its only roughly 30 pounds an acre. Took three years and plenty of roundup to clean it but turned out good.