The Times: Older farmers ‘should be offered cottages’ to retire

[milkloss]

The idea of helping farmers, especially the less efficient maybe struggling type, to retire is an excellent one. I have suggested it a few times on here but I don't think 'buying them cottages' is the tag line the public need to hear. The ability or at least make it easier to build a house on farm so a younger generation can take over the reins is a good one.

It still won't replace subs though.

 

[milkloss]

No, but we have some of the highest overheads.

And some of the most pedantic jobsworths watching over us.

 

[banjo]

It don't hurt to discuss things, some ideas won't work ( proberbly this one won't ) but if people are willing to try different ideas some sensible outcome could happen.
Most normal people retire at 40 with a pension, army, police, civil service, then get a big payout and can still go into another job.
My mate left the army two years back, his pension pays for his new house mortgage and he's working in a good job again.
Another guy up by us left the civil service and his pension was £300k and he's working again.
If more farms for new entrants are needed something has to happen.
This will upset a few, how about an upper limit on the amount of ground people can run in a certain area.
I will get my crash helmet on!

 

[le bon paysan]

Here in France, if you own and farm more than 40 Hectares, you can get planning permission for a retirement cottage.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Why would I want to retire to a cottage on the farm , I want to spread my wings and fly away not rot where I drop

 

[czechmate]

Here in France, if you own and farm more than 40 Hectares, you can get planning permission for a retirement cottage.

Does the plot have to be adjoining?

 

[GTB]

This will upset a few, how about an upper limit on the amount of ground people can run in a certain area.

Dependent on how many business partners though?

Wasn't there some sort of EU scheme in Ireland where the older farmers got a grant to build a retirement home if they let someone younger/new entrant take over the farm? Maybe I dreamt it???

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

Why not go the other way?

Business owner over 65? =
No more sub for you old boy / girl!!

Could be controversial, but I'm just "throwing it out there!"

TSS

 

[GTB]

Why not go the other way?

Business owner over 65? =
No more sub for you old boy / girl!!

Could be controversial, but I'm just "throwing it out there!"

TSS

I thought maybe they were heading down that route when they asked for everyone's national health numbers a few years back.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Why not go the other way?

Business owner over 65? =
No more sub for you old boy / girl!!

Could be controversial, but I'm just "throwing it out there!"

TSS

best reply yet

 

[GTB]

best reply yet

It's certainly worth considering IMO.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

It's certainly worth considering IMO.

in fact it might be better if it was over 60 years of age, this would mean the older generation could look over and advise the children take over

 

[GTB]

in fact it might be better if it was over 60 years of age, this would mean the older generation could look over and advise the children take over

Hell no! That only gives me ten years!

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Hell no! That only gives me ten years!

make the most of it then

 

[unlacedgecko]

It don't hurt to discuss things, some ideas won't work ( proberbly this one won't ) but if people are willing to try different ideas some sensible outcome could happen.
Most normal people retire at 40 with a pension, army, police, civil service, then get a big payout and can still go into another job.
My mate left the army two years back, his pension pays for his new house mortgage and he's working in a good job again.
Another guy up by us left the civil service and his pension was £300k and he's working again.
If more farms for new entrants are needed something has to happen.
This will upset a few, how about an upper limit on the amount of ground people can run in a certain area.
I will get my crash helmet on!

They're not normal people jobs. They're government funded public sector jobs. And the pension rules for all of them are fast being re-written. Just look at teachers pensions.

 

[unlacedgecko]

The idea of helping farmers, especially the less efficient maybe struggling type, to retire is an excellent one. I have suggested it a few times on here but I don't think 'buying them cottages' is the tag line the public need to hear. The ability or at least make it easier to build a house on farm so a younger generation can take over the reins is a good one.

It still won't replace subs though.

Remove the subsidy. The inefficient will go bust.

 

[GTB]

Remove the subsidy. The inefficient will go bust.

They'll go bust alright and it won't be just the inefficient ones either. Those with debt/mortgages won't be able to carry on repaying loans if the subs end. You might think this will provide opportunities for new entrants but I really doubt any bank would lend you money to buy land if land values were dropping.

 

[unlacedgecko]

They'll go bust alright and it won't be just the inefficient ones either. Those with debt/mortgages won't be able to carry on repaying loans if the subs end. You might think this will provide opportunities for new entrants but I really doubt any bank would lend you money to buy land if land values were dropping.

I've fairly resigned myself to the fact I'll never buy land in the U.K., it's just too expensive.

But as @Clive says, owning land is separate from farming.

 

[GTB]

I've fairly resigned myself to the fact I'll never buy land in the U.K., it's just too expensive.

But as @Clive says, owning land is separate from farming.

Maybe so but here in Wales it's very difficult to find land without buying it.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Maybe so but here in Wales it's very difficult to find land without buying it.

Just as well I'm not Welsh then

As Michael Blanche says in his Nuffield Scholar Report, if you want to get ahead you've got to be prepared to move. One reason I'm currently lambing in Dundee...