The three main challenges of the modern farmer

[mikkelebbesen]

What are the three main challenges for you as a modern farmer?

I'm asking you this question, hoping that you are willing to share your views and experiences. As an employee at the Danish farm, Ausumgaard (www.ausumgaard.dk), I know how hard we are trying to diversify our farm and improve our chances of success. We have a specialized crop production (for seeding and oil production), products under our own brand (hogs and flour), a biogas plant and an annual production of 500,000 broilers (additional space, cornfed). But we have also experienced huge failures: edible potatoes, organic vegetables for home delivery, and a production facility for 1,200 sows.

By sharing our challenges, across national and professional borders, I believe we are one step closer to solving them and making agriculture prosper.

We're not gonna take it!

Cheers,
Mikkel

 

[FonterraFarmer]

The "media" would have to be one of them, misinformation from people/NGO's/bureaucrats and other self interested group interfering in the day to day activities of farming.

 

[wasted years]

1,guessing where interest rates are going, only important to those of us that need to borrow,
2, Planning rules and people complaining because they can,
3, Bad debt and cashflow management, never used to be issue but has to be watched closely now.

 

[franklin]

Weather
Folk with clipboards
Public relations

 

[spin cycle]

Weather
Folk with clipboards
Public relations

weather
folk with clipboards
globilisation

 

[KMA]

1. Politicians
2. Journalists
3. Weather

 

[czechmate]

1. Too much rain.
2. Too little rain
3. The weather

 

[S J H]

1. Short term lets
2. Land agents
3. Short term lets

 

[gone up the hill]

Rising input prices.

TB.

NFU.

 

[Spuddler]

Price rises in machinery, fertilizer etc.

Other farmers bidding stupid rent.

Governments lack of respect for agriculture

 

[Adeptandy]

1, Stupid Rents
2, Weather
3, Regulation

 

[Shutesy]

1. Blackgrass (surprised it took this many posts to be mentioned)
2. Weather
3. Not knowing what will happen post Brexit!

 

[beltbreaker]

1. Weather - makes or breaks our harvest and how our animals perform sometimes years hence.
2. Volatility of markets - Being price takers in general it is difficult to accurately budget more than 2 years ahead although there are mechanisms available such as futures, pool trading, farmer owned co-ops sheep and cattle are different. Although you can buy your feed ahead and maybe your fert if you feel the price is right (and you have cash).
3. Globalisation- connected to above but I see Increased pressure and less competition from less and less suppliers and customers who force different quality standards of the same basic principles ie SQC, Red Tractor, Farm Sustainability Asseement = Frustrated Beltbreaker

Cheers BB

 

[Sonoftheheir]

1. Extreme weather
2. Cash flow
3. Poor prices for what we produce.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Market Volatility
Margin Squeeze
Maintaining Cashflow/Servicing Debt

 

[mikkelebbesen]

The "media" would have to be one of them, misinformation from people/NGO's/bureaucrats and other self interested group interfering in the day to day activities of farming.

Thank you for your comment. The media, misinformation and interfering are also highly relevant issues in Denmark. Recently, we had a customer saying that our pork products were the only ones her body was able to tolerate! She was implying that meat from a conventional production made her sick. We we're in for a good laugh at lunch time.
On the other hand side, our local community really stands behind us. For our windmill and biogas plant projects, we have seen no objections, what so ever. A rare sight for farmer-driven projects. But we have also worked deliberately on staying attuned with our neighbours organizing a Christmas Market and Spring Fair, along with other things.

 

[mikkelebbesen]

1,guessing where interest rates are going, only important to those of us that need to borrow,
2, Planning rules and people complaining because they can,
3, Bad debt and cashflow management, never used to be issue but has to be watched closely now.

Especially on the interest rate matter, I agree. It is especially a challenge for young farmers who want to own their own farm. Not only is it difficult to predict interest rates in these times, it is also difficult to even borrow money with banks. As a consequence, the average age of an active farmer continues to increase.
When it comes to planning, it seems like some politicians have finally rediscovered the importance of agriculture and the agri-industry (made up app. 20 percent of exports during the financial crisis). We are slowly moving towards environmental regulations based on measuring, and not calculation models far from the real numbers.

 

[mikkelebbesen]

Weather
Folk with clipboards
Public relations

You mention the weather. Do you believe, it is a challenge that has become more urgent for you in recent years? And what are your challenges in practice?
In our area, the weather has behaved itself this year. The rain hasn't caused any flooding yet, so the crops are looking just fine.

 

[mikkelebbesen]

weather
folk with clipboards
globilisation

Thank you for your comment. How would you say globalisation affects you?
Overall, competition is growing. Last summer, we had a Polish temporary worker for three months to replace an employee of ours, who got himself injured. At home, he managed a farm together with his father, all very professional. Now, they have even acquired their own slaughterhouse in a co-op with fellow farmers. There's other quick learners out there.

 

[mikkelebbesen]

1. Politicians
2. Journalists
3. Weather

The weather forecast is a farmer's best friend (if they're right about it). Have you done something recently to counter the effects of the weather?
For us, it is more important than ever to keep our draining system intact. Some places, we have had to make new ones, not previously needed.