Turn back the clock

[FonterraFarmer]

What on earth happened in 1985?

I can't say on grounds that it might incriminate me!!!
Yes it quite funny, but I suspect there might be the odd person(s) on internet or forums that "might" be offended.
I will neither confirm or deney any speculation.

 

[7610 super q]

As an only driver, in my late forties, and with only one tractor, I quite like sitting in my JD6920 that has air con, cab suspension, TLS and a seat with air suspension. It has plenty of power and weight to do everything I ask of it (including running a 10' single rotor rake on occasion ), without having the discomfort of bouncing round in a 1980's tractor with the window open to let the smell of sweat out on a summer's day.

It's 'nice', and if you can afford it, why not. But let's not kid ourselves it's necessary. Exactly the same area of land was farmed 50 years ago with MF 135's etc. And 50 years before that with horses.......

 

[rob1]

It's 'nice', and if you can afford it, why not. But let's not kid ourselves it's necessary. Exactly the same area of land was farmed 50 years ago with MF 135's etc. And 50 years before that with horses.......

While that is true how many men were working on it,Ileft school in 76 and my old man had three workers plus himself, by 87 it was just me with as many cows but did use contractors for silage, could buy some decent kit with three sets of wages now

 

[neilo]

It's 'nice', and if you can afford it, why not. But let's not kid ourselves it's necessary. Exactly the same area of land was farmed 50 years ago with MF 135's etc. And 50 years before that with horses.......

I agree it's certainly not a necessity. I would also agree with @rob1 's post, that work rate is very much higher per man now too though, although 160hp on a 10' rake doesn't seem to get any more done.

I'm a lot happier doing the mind numbingly boring job of tractor driving, if I can do it in comfort and can hear some tunes and can think about the livestock work I'll still be fresh enough to do a few hours later.

 

[multi power]

Just to be clear I want to go to 1984 , and stay there, 85 was the worst year ever, don't want that again

 

[Bury the Trash]

What on earth happened in 1985?

they had to do without the subsidy cheque.

 

[czechmate]

Just to be clear I want to go to 1984 , and stay there, 85 was the worst year ever, don't want that again

My god, everyone hated 1985!
I enjoyed live aid

 

[czechmate]

I agree it's certainly not a necessity. I would also agree with @rob1 's post, that work rate is very much higher per man now too though, although 160hp on a 10' rake doesn't seem to get any more done.

I'm a lot happier doing the mind numbingly boring job of tractor driving, if I can do it in comfort and can hear some tunes and can think about the livestock work I'll still be fresh enough to do a few hours later.

Add autosteer to the mix And you can write nonsense on here all day

 

[Hindsight]

they had to do without the subsidy cheque.

Well yes, but the subsidy was still there for certain crops / livestock with minimum buying in prices set by Europe through intervention support and storage / destruction - so the cost to taxpayer was same. The move in 1993 to direct payments under Macsharry made the cost / payment more visible and transparent to the farmer but also the taxpayer.

 

[Andy84]

It's 'nice', and if you can afford it, why not. But let's not kid ourselves it's necessary. Exactly the same area of land was farmed 50 years ago with MF 135's etc. And 50 years before that with horses.......

Not strictly true there are far fewer staff now looking after far more stock/acres than ever before. My farm employs just me now (and occasional help) on ground which used to support 6 family farms.

 

[Henarar]

Not strictly true there are far fewer staff now looking after far more stock/acres than ever before. My farm employs just me now (and occasional help) on ground which used to support 6 family farms.

progress ?

 

[lazy farmer]

Now then all the brexit doom,talk of hard times,farmers fed up etc
Should we go back to basic traditional farming add value to the produce before it leaves the farm as shown on the BBC milkman programme.
Reduce inputs and go back to production of as much home grown food as you can on the farm.
Sounds a bit idyllic and rose tinted I know but it could be the way forward for many folk?

sounds like grass based dairying to me

 

[Andy84]

progress ?

Arguably no but a necessary evil I'm afraid. It's a sad state of affairs tbh. I saw a thing the other day that post WW2 each UK farmer was feeding 20 people now it's 160!

 

[7610 super q]

Not strictly true there are far fewer staff now looking after far more stock/acres than ever before. My farm employs just me now (and occasional help) on ground which used to support 6 family farms.

Yes, but what I'm getting at is they did the work without aircon/ airseats/ suspension/ GPS / wankio transmissions.....etc, etc. And worked just as long hours too.

Tractors reached their zenith around the year 2000 IMO. Some powershift, LHS, aircon, and airseat.
What else do you need really ?

 

[bovrill]

I do think we should go back to driving 1980's tractors though.
Wasting money on cab suspension/ air seats/ front suspension/ vario transmissions.

Having spent the last couple of days on my 1987 John Deere, I would argue that some of us aren't in a position to 'go back'!

 

[Exfarmer]

Can we go back to about 1984 please ?

Yes please !!!!

 

[Robigus]

Yes.....but......not everyone can be involved in niche markets. If every dairy farmer made icecream.....

The real trick is to stop being a dairy farmer and just make the ice-cream. This will maximise your profit as there will always be someone willing to sell you milk* at less than the cost of production.

*insert any agricultural crop at this point.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Well yes, but the subsidy was still there for certain crops / livestock with minimum buying in prices set by Europe through intervention support and storage / destruction - so the cost to taxpayer was same. The move in 1993 to direct payments under Macsharry made the cost / payment more visible and transparent to the farmer but also the taxpayer.

sorry i meant in New Zealand..

My god, everyone hated 1985!
I enjoyed live aid

1985 was one of my favourites actually, i was on the ferry from wellington to picton watching live aid on the big suspended telly .......happy days.

 

[Grassman]

It's 'nice', and if you can afford it, why not. But let's not kid ourselves it's necessary. Exactly the same area of land was farmed 50 years ago with MF 135's etc. And 50 years before that with horses.......

Not strictly true there are far fewer staff now looking after far more stock/acres than ever before. My farm employs just me now (and occasional help) on ground which used to support 6 family farms.

Not just farming. Progress is a necessary evil. If you don't somebody else will!

 

[FonterraFarmer]

sorry i meant in New Zealand..


1985 was one of my favourites actually, i was on the ferry from wellington to picton watching live aid on the big suspended telly .......happy days.

Nothing better than a Cook Straight ferry crossing I'm positive that the beer on the ferry in those days was "watered down"