Ours used to be a mixed farm, like a lot more, I think the main reasons it's not now are, labour, suitability of the buildings we used for animals and at the time they were dropped, the income from them.
We still have grass, some of our land it's the only good crop for it......despite not needing fodder we have a lot, that we sell as a good income.
Would we return to livestock for me the answer is no, that as much a lifestyle choice as a business one, I can see the advantages of livestock, but my wife would kill me if I tied up my time with them, does that mean I would not consider it, no but it would have to stand up on its own and that includes any investment in buildings it may need, I am not blind to its advantages, but as a one man band smallish farmer (275 acres)it's not something I would rush into. Even without my wife's objections. Who works herself outside the farm.
A farm near me is the opposite, he is dropping his arable area in favour of livestock, and is now renting out a large portion of his land as he just wants to concentrate on his livestock, he just farms the land that he needs for feed.
I do agree the farmers actual likes and dislikes, effect their choices, past just the cash flow economics of things.
I think also having no real contact with the livestock side of farming isolates you from the money side of it, who would you even ask if it would make sense to restart, a livestock enterprise. i can ask neighbours but they can only tell you so much and what the market is like at that given time not what it will be like a year from now as your animals are ready for market. Like everything in farming it has its ups and downs.
I cannot see me retraining to pickup the needed skills to restart with livestock or employing someone to do it for me, 30 years ago my farm would have supported an employee to look after the livestock side, and provide the needed skills.
I think that's the bottom line now skills and labour, 30 years ago you could have both even on a small farm now unless it's you providing both it doesn't happen.
We still have grass, some of our land it's the only good crop for it......despite not needing fodder we have a lot, that we sell as a good income.
Would we return to livestock for me the answer is no, that as much a lifestyle choice as a business one, I can see the advantages of livestock, but my wife would kill me if I tied up my time with them, does that mean I would not consider it, no but it would have to stand up on its own and that includes any investment in buildings it may need, I am not blind to its advantages, but as a one man band smallish farmer (275 acres)it's not something I would rush into. Even without my wife's objections. Who works herself outside the farm.
A farm near me is the opposite, he is dropping his arable area in favour of livestock, and is now renting out a large portion of his land as he just wants to concentrate on his livestock, he just farms the land that he needs for feed.
I do agree the farmers actual likes and dislikes, effect their choices, past just the cash flow economics of things.
I think also having no real contact with the livestock side of farming isolates you from the money side of it, who would you even ask if it would make sense to restart, a livestock enterprise. i can ask neighbours but they can only tell you so much and what the market is like at that given time not what it will be like a year from now as your animals are ready for market. Like everything in farming it has its ups and downs.
I cannot see me retraining to pickup the needed skills to restart with livestock or employing someone to do it for me, 30 years ago my farm would have supported an employee to look after the livestock side, and provide the needed skills.
I think that's the bottom line now skills and labour, 30 years ago you could have both even on a small farm now unless it's you providing both it doesn't happen.