What advice would you give to a young farmer ?

[bumkin]

what i would say enjoy it if you don't get enjoyment from it dont do it
take your time when doing a job and do it properly, when people look at the work you've done they never ask how long it took,as i was once told there's nowt got by rushin only kids ,
and most of all do the sums if it don't add up don't do it

 

[Muddyroads]

Great thread idea.
Don’t be an island, help people and don’t be afraid to ask for some in return.
Enjoy what’s around you and the results of your work.
Keep an open mind and learn from the mistakes of others as well as yourself.

 

[Wellytrack]

My advice would be to see some life, or other versions of it. Don't rush to it, walk a few miles in other shoes before you circle back to it.

 

[le bon paysan]

Emigrate!

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Steer well clear of work for work's sake, and producing commodities.
Invest wisely.
Travel as much as possible, see as many different operations as possible to gain perspective of what is real and what is fake, 'work for what you'll learn, not what you'll earn'

 

[Macsky]

Before you’ve any major commitments/tie downs, travel!!

Keep an open mind, try not to make your mind up about different ways of doing things until you’ve tried a few.

Don’t listen to bitter old farts that say there’s no living in it, despite still making a living from it.

Try to learn as much from a bad example as a good one.

Try to spend time with people who are passionate about and enjoy what they do.

 

[Deerefarmer]

You are greatly influenced by the top 5 people whom you associate with... it is your choice who these people are

Enjoy what you're doing and you'll never work a day in your life

 

[Hfd Cattle]

It's not all about shiny new machinery , and ...paddle your own canoe but keep an eye on what others do

 

[FarmerBruce]

Don’t take too much notice,? if any, of the know it alls on here!!!

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Marry well, preferably choosing a girl with acres and a dowry

 

[Yale]

Get yourself another trade to complement or fall back on.

Farming is a great lifestyle however it doesn’t necessarily pay the bills.

Having a second income stream allows you to have your cake and eat it,and a bit of variety.

 

[Danllan]

Spend as little as possible, and don't be too proud to use older kit; maintain things so they don't break; take advice from people who are demonstrably successful in their field, ignore 'advice' from people who can't do / haven't done what they advocate; make yourself and business self-reliant, i.e. don't work on needing subsidy to survive; when you start always have at least two sources of income; get enough sleep; don't waste time on people who don't keep their words, always keep your word.

(+ use spellcheck when writing for public consumption )

 

[br jones]

Do something else to earn a living ,or turn into a misrable ,moaning ,the world is against me ,wheres my handout type of person ,who knows everything but knows nowt,

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Think very hard before leaping, look for an enterprise that doesn't rely on subsidies, focus on cashflow and return on capital.
Don't give up when things become difficult.

 

[Boysground]

You never stop learning take every opportunity to learn something new.

Ignore the people who say you can’t do something

The office is the most important place on the farm. Track your money well.


The first payment each month should be into a pension even if it’s only a little

Bg

 

[Dry Rot]

Advice I got from a lecturer at college, use other people's money to make your mistakes! What he meant by that is go and work for someone else to get your experience. And go and work on as many different places as you can as there is more than one way to do a job. In life, it is not money that is important but knowledge.

 

[ajcc]

Learn off by heart....IF...by Rudyard Kipling.

 

[teslacoils]

I'd say don't ever, ever get a mortgage, or a loan that you can't pay back in seven years or less. Don't get married. Don't get tied down to anything or anywhere. And travel the world having adventures.

Having farming skills and application are valued higher in every other country, so get the hell out of the UK asap.

 

[curlietailz]

Strike out on your own... don’t be tied under the older generation
Too many young farmers still have to do what dad, or grandad says and get disillusioned

be your own boss

 

[Red Fred]

Plummy blokes with big smiles and pink trousers are potentially far more of a threat to your business than a whole campsite full of marauding pikeys, and often have less honour,