Where is less Loony?

kfpben

Member
Location
Mid Hampshire
Wife and I are early/mid 30s, living in the South of England and thinking about the future. Baby arriving soon all things being well.

I’m a livestock farmer, she’s a farrier. Outside interests; cricket (me), horses (her), hunting (both).

With the mounting lunacy in government with regards to farming in this country where, if anywhere is better?

Oz? (Could we stand the heat!?)
NZ? (Has that turned even more anti farming than the U.K. recently?)
Scotland? (recommending big cut in cattle numbers).
Ireland? France? Argentina?
Might pass on Afghan for now but happy to think of other options!

Or stay put, keep our heads down and keep expanding the business?
Are others having similar thoughts?
 

kfpben

Member
Location
Mid Hampshire
Do you trust them though?

First thing you hear is ‘a leaked memo from officials’
Then it’s an official denial
Then it’s offered as a potential possibility.
Then it’s government policy.

We’re currently at step 3 with the meat tax.
 

MRT

Member
Livestock Farmer
All my mates move to Oz (trying not to take it personally) as the prospects there are 10x here for 30 somethings if you are brave. None have come back, from general layabouts, pro boxer, treesurgeon, and a couple of vets. Not sure about agri though, rough climate. Canada?
 

kfpben

Member
Location
Mid Hampshire
Canada or the US? Or, a bit of a wild card how about Chile? Several friends and former colleagues who have been there for both work and leisure have spoken highly of it.
My brother lives in the US. He works in a lab in California.
I reckon Montana would be about perfect. Cattle, horses, Big Skys etc. I’m not sure how easy getting residency is though. My wife did a Young Farmers exchange there a few years ago. The advantage with the US system is that it appears the more rural states aren’t dictated too quite as much by the urban dwellers. The rural/small town US sometimes seems like the only place that still cares about the freedom of the individual.

Chile is an interesting shout. There’s a Chilean guy who lives down the road actually. Lovely bloke. Came over here to work and then Covid hit and he’s still here. I’ll chat to him about it. Chile always strikes me as sensible South America.
 

PSQ

Member
Arable Farmer
a bit of a wild card how about Chile? Several friends and former colleagues who have been there for both work and leisure have spoken highly of it.

Parents did a tour of Chile 20 years ago. Dad, as an ex 'Hereford Show' winner, said that he'd just seen the best Herefords of his life in Chile.
In hindsight I'm not sure if that was a comment on their farming ability, or on the UK selling their best genetics to a very able competitor :facepalm:
 

Kidds

Member
Horticulture
Not sure Australia is the place I remember it as. Don’t think I’d go there now.
Me neither and more relevant is my son has spent years over there and has always wanted to go back but not any more.

Personally I would stick with the UK, expand the business as you say but would move North, Shropshire, Hereford, Worcester direction. Much more rural and agricultural, a recent visit to Northumberland left me surprised how agricultural it was up there too.
 

Kidds

Member
Horticulture
Many years ago was going to emigrate to Australia...since learnt about their snakes and spiders...glad I didn't.
More people die in UK from wasps and bees than deaths in Australia from snakes. Horses and cows cause many more deaths than spiders and snakes.
It isn't a good reason not to go, in fact the flies would put me off way more than spiders and I don't like spiders a right lot.
 

Lincoln75

Member
Theres a lot of whining on this forum but I dont think anywhere else will be easier or better businesswise ,plus you have the security of free healthcare and the social security safety net , but if you want a big change of scenery and an adventure NZ, Aussie then Canada in that order .

The biggest hurdle for most is getting a business/work visa .
 

robs1

Member
Canada would be my choice, would have been France but I think the way things are going there and Europe in general Canada would be better, went there in 2012 and it was lovely and the people seem to love brits, parts of the US are ok but there are some nut cases there like here.
Too old to move far now so just dont watch the news and then font get too worked up by all the nonsense, do worry about my grandkids though.
 
My brother lives in the US. He works in a lab in California.
I reckon Montana would be about perfect. Cattle, horses, Big Skys etc. I’m not sure how easy getting residency is though. My wife did a Young Farmers exchange there a few years ago. The advantage with the US system is that it appears the more rural states aren’t dictated too quite as much by the urban dwellers. The rural/small town US sometimes seems like the only place that still cares about the freedom of the individual.

Chile is an interesting shout. There’s a Chilean guy who lives down the road actually. Lovely bloke. Came over here to work and then Covid hit and he’s still here. I’ll chat to him about it. Chile always strikes me as sensible South America.

Rural America is about as good as it gets' if you value personal freedoms and opportunity, especially so in western states. Plenty of avenues to follow your dream and support when needed.
Locally we need another vet, immigration procedure is not the problem many perceive.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 75 43.6%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 61 35.5%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 27 15.7%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 3 1.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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