What's a fair wage on a family farm?

[Skimmer]

My brother and I (both directors of our livestock farm, but not ownerd by us) in our 30s work on our family farm usually 50+ hours, probably take a week to 10 days holiday a year (I know this is not unusual in this industry). Our housing is provided by the farm, but can hardly be classed as elaborate, we pay ourselves £8k/year (and have been for the last 10 years). I've been looking at our accounts and in theory we could probably afford to increase this to £16k ea, but this would probably be at the expense of investment needed (new barn, replace worn out machinery etc etc) as our profits would only be £10-15k based on last years costs/sales.

I'm very much minded towards a pay rise as I'm finding my pay whilst adequate a decade ago is not enough to afford the basics and have money for savings, but the rest of the family are reluctant. I have suggested we look for ways to improve profitability, but am met with deaf ears at best and positive hostility towards some diversification plans. Is it reasonable to expect more (as a uni grad) from this industry?

What's the alternative.

 

[jack6480]

Get a proper wage, ul regret it in the future if not. Most of this works pointless if you have no money or no time to do what you want. Yolo

 

[gatepost]

I think most of us probably don't take as much out as we would like, but it is difficult to always quantify what living where we do is worth, I certainly would never have got a job that would have bought me a house by its self on the top of the Cotswolds, most of my neighbours are retired business people who have spent their whole lives aspiring to live here and only got here for the last few years. Also although every one else seems to have huge salaries, most don't . wife was working at local retail outlet, basic plus 12p no overtime, now works as a carer £8/hr. It probably boils down to what you value most in life,

 

[bankrupt]

most of my neighbours are retired business people who have spent their whole lives aspiring to live here and only got here for the last few years.

Quite so, gatepost.

I was recently quite surprised to discover quite how many very highly-paid business executives spend their best 25-30 years or so saving up to become a farmer.

 

[michael N123]

Whats the point in making loads of money if your job bores you to death and you hate it?!

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Whats the point in making loads of money if your job bores you to death and you hate it?!

Not being someone's bitch is priceless

 

[Funny Farmer]

Whats the point in making loads of money if your job bores you to death and you hate it?!

There is no point but I think some farmers accept their lot simply because they don't know what else is out there, seriously. Take my two closest neighbours - one last went on holiday he thinks!, about 15 years ago the other says he has never been on a holiday and he's in his sixties.
Younger generations want more out of life, to many twenty somethings living in the country away from it all is the last thing they want, throw in a cr@p wage and you've got trouble at mill guaranteed !

 

[BredRedHfd]

Im in the position where i make all the calls farming and business wise and im the only one with access to the farm account but the farm asset wise belongs to my dad. I take very little out of the business apart from household bills but thats down to me. My wife works and i do off farm work too. My parents have been very honest re. Wills and shown me them. Im trying to build a future so my son can take a decent wage and have his household bills paid. This is on my head and iv not been forced into it.
You have to make your own decision and know where you stand. There may be a level of trust involved in this

Exactly my situation.

 

[bankrupt]

Younger generations want more out of life, to many twenty somethings living in the country away from it all is the last thing they want, throw in a cr@p wage and you've got trouble at mill guaranteed !

The mobile 'phone has a lot to answer for in this respect, Funny Farmer.

Thank goodness I don't have one.

 

[hindmaist]

It all depends a bit on your needs and working style. I don't have a family and my Mrs works, earning far more than I do. I receive about 8k a year plus my utility bills. I don't work that hard if I'm honest. I ponder a lot of things, try new things and have long teabreaks. If I did need more money I'd get my finger out and earn it, but at the moment I am not sure what I'd do with more money. Probably just waste it.

And there are other folk who will trample their neighbours into the mud in their desperation for a Range Rover Sport.

 

[gatepost]

Not being someone's bitch is priceless

Worth half a living to be your own boss

 

[pappuller]

I draw £1500 a mnth cash + all bills paid and vehicle expenses paid for, we are a family of four and my wife dosent work but is a partner in our business. For the hours worked and the responsibility I take I wouldnt want to do it for any less than that.

 

[chipchap]

I draw £1500 a mnth cash + all bills paid and vehicle expenses paid for, we are a family of four and my wife dosent work but is a partner in our business. For the hours worked and the responsibility I take I wouldnt want to do it for any less than that.

My kids must eat more than yours.

 

[multi power]

8k is about 160/ week , my wife would spend that in tesco every week never mind rear a family and have a life .

If my wife spent like that i would trade her in

 

[james ds]

If my wife spent like that i would trade her in

You can live on beans and toast and save money but if your shopping for a family and kids a €200 shopping trolley isn't hard to fill.

 

[sleepy]

Whats the point in making loads of money if your job bores you to death and you hate it?!

So as you can afford to buy a farm and retire...

 

[flyonthewall]

So it's pretty much a consensus £8k's a bit on the low side, esp as I do may a good portion of my own house bills. And that if I up sticks to build a few motorway junctions for a few years I could squirrel some dough away! I think we need to have a sit down as a family and discuss before jumping head long into new machinery. I was also thinking earlier deploying my mole traps funny how some of us farmers are prepared to work for £3-£4/hr, yet I'm being badgered by the younger bro to order a new JD on tick for £70+k, as one of our tractors needs yet more engine surgery. Wonder how much the German workers work for assembling the thing, not to mention management per hr. A reality check is in order!!!!

 

[Lazy Sod]

@flyonthewall, what's your brother's take on the situation? Is he happy with his lot?

 

[sleepy]

So it's pretty much a consensus £8k's a bit on the low side, esp as I do may a good portion of my own house bills. And that if I up sticks to build a few motorway junctions for a few years I could squirrel some dough away! I think we need to have a sit down as a family and discuss before jumping head long into new machinery. I was also thinking earlier deploying my mole traps funny how some of us farmers are prepared to work for £3-£4/hr, yet I'm being badgered by the younger bro to order a new JD on tick for £70+k, as one of our tractors needs yet more engine surgery. Wonder how much the German workers work for assembling the thing, not to mention management per hr. A reality check is in order!!!!

If you forget the idea of ordering the new JD, and instead keep your existing one, the ~15k of depreciation the new tractor will suffer the moment you drive it home, could instead be paid into your personal bank accounts...

Does make me laugh when people moan there is no money in the job when they have just gone and bought a load of very expensive shiny machinery.

 

[bankrupt]

Does make me laugh when people moan there is no money in the job when they have just gone and bought a load of very expensive shiny machinery.

Fair comment, Sleepy, but against that one sees so many businesses where the proprietors have happily lived for years off depreciation of their working assets, only suddenly to hit a brick wall.