Just looking for ideas as to what others do. I'm at a cross roads and looking for inspiration as to where to go forwards. I'm in my 30s farming about 400acres. Currently buying calves and taking through to fat. Also grow barley. I want to change things slightly because 1) struggling to find decent calves. 2) most calves are around untill 22/24m which is just to long to be around. 3)I'm in a high rainfall area of the southwest and the last 5 years has been difficult growing cereals. What do you do? How many acres do you farm and how do you stock it? Thanks
What's your buisness plan?
- Thread starter Bullbeeef
- Start date
- Location
- somerset
calves, tie your self in with a couple of dairy farmers, breed/vacinations/colostum, can be guaranteed.
It's odd to think a 400 acre farm, it's 'an inbetween' size, not big enough to warrant todays modern kit, and to big not to have some of it ! Corn products, like crimped wheat, soda grain, or even crimped maize, should find a ready mkt, and takes the hassle drying out, and could also shorten your fattening times. Basically, you are a stock farm, producing grain/straw to feed your own livestock. Or, take the plunge, and start a spring grazing herd, plenty of keen young lads out there that could help you achieve that.
It's odd to think a 400 acre farm, it's 'an inbetween' size, not big enough to warrant todays modern kit, and to big not to have some of it ! Corn products, like crimped wheat, soda grain, or even crimped maize, should find a ready mkt, and takes the hassle drying out, and could also shorten your fattening times. Basically, you are a stock farm, producing grain/straw to feed your own livestock. Or, take the plunge, and start a spring grazing herd, plenty of keen young lads out there that could help you achieve that.
@som farmer dairy is something me and my partner have thought about. The farm is currently 300 acres of arable 100 grass. It would suit being grass better. The corn is what needs to change as I don't have much interest in it. I did work for a dairy farmer for about 6 years whilst I was at college so it's not all new to me.
- Location
- Ceredigion
Change to crimping your barley ' stock do better on it and weather becomes less of a problem
Castle Farm
Member
Hopefully die broke.
- Location
- Left in the middle of nowhere
Make cheese, build a brand & direct market it. Fund it through the next round of productivity & marketing grants (whenever they come around again). I know it ties up your cashflow as it matures but you could continue to supply milk to a processor and have some raw milk sales on the side.
Farmer1001
Member
Put the whole lot into MT stewardship, get as much capital works approved and done as possible. MT would give a gross income of over £80k/yr on top of SFP. Graze the land extensively, sit back, enjoy it and see how the world of trade unravels over the next 5 years. Obviously the above assumes you have 5 years tenure if not the owner.
It also assumes MT will still be around
Martyn
Member
- Location
- South west
Is this farm owned or tenanted
- Location
- South West
Let all the land out to an AD plant and buy yourself a road brush 
- Location
- Scot Borders
you are in a good grass growing area, so grow good grass and manage it well. Treat it like you would a crop. Rotational graze and make top quality silage.
Stopped growing grain here 5 years ago and haven't regretted it one minute. Too much money tied up in machinery, and too big a risk. Let the big arable boys play at it.
Stopped growing grain here 5 years ago and haven't regretted it one minute. Too much money tied up in machinery, and too big a risk. Let the big arable boys play at it.
- Location
- East Dartmoor, Devon
It sounds like you have a nice farm. What do you call high rainfall. I farm about 250acs plus some rented bits on the dry side of Dartmoor (dry in the summer wet in the winter). I'm gradually building suckler cow and ewe numbers up and I'll buy a few calves as well. Grow a few acres of cereals for our own use and sell the surplus. The farm would be better off all down to grass to be honest but I do not want to buy all my winter bedding in. Gradually getting my head around rotational/paddock grazing. We sell all the progeny as big stores but I'd like to get to a position where I'm finishing them all eventually.
Have you considered uping the stock numbers (maybe have someone rear the calves on contract for you) and just growing what crops you need for feed and bedding. It sounds like with 300acs of crop-able ground you could be virtually bought in feed free.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Thinking about doing exactly the same here. The arable is only here to allow entry for winter root crops, with small scale arable making next to damned all.
Farmer1001
Member
it will until ELMS is in place. Given the OP has said the land is currently mostly cereal but his interest is mainly grass based, then id at least look into it and draw up a plan and apply in the next window, you cant accept MT if you dont apply, and you dont have to accept any offer. id suggest its a no brainer to apply and then dismiss if the OP plans change. a decent MT scheme would fit perfectly with a low input dairy.
- Location
- Hereford
Farming 300 acres and every acre is used to feed/bed (maize, wheat, barley, rye, lupins) intensive beef unit of about 400. cattle are bought in weaned and fattened to 12-15 months old
Turn a few clean cattle out if you want but set up an AFU and house most of the cattle all year, calves and weaned calves are an absolute steal if they are TB restricted. Focus on temporary grass leys with a break crop of a winter cereal for your straw and the grain can be combined or crimped weather depending. Housed all year you will easily kill the majority at under 18 months and a minimum of a 300kg carcass. Stick to what you are good at and enjoy just tweak a few elaments. It may be worth having a few sheep or an increased area of arable to spread risk?
It's owned