Who’s Responsibilty are ditches and land drains?

[Pilatus]

As above who would be responsible for maintaining ditches and field drainage system on contract farmed farms.
I ask as I have done some tractor driving last week,on a nice farm,which is contract farmed and the dirches looked as if they had not had any maintenance for years.
I was wondering if the above was part of the reason some fields were
so wet.

 

[masseybreaker]

the farmer not the contractor on my agreement i have to cut the hedges clean the ditches and anything else that is maintainance the contractor grows the crops

 

[Exfarmer]

Sadly this is so common across much of the country. Many lamdowners have not a clue about the value of the drains , they are just looking for max income, so land is let tohighest bidding contractor with no concern about the long term . Many perhaps most contracts for very short term perhaps 3-5 years.
Seen a very good farm locally where 10 yearcontract producing very high yields and excelent returns to Landlord replaced with a contractor where I would be surprised if the Landlord has earned diddly squit, but no doubt , it was cheap!

 

[Pilatus]

Sadly from what I can see you are so correct.
Contract farming may be good economics short term for both parties concerned,BUT long term the actual basic estate management gets neglected. Woodland, building maintenance,infrastructure(tracks), drainage maintenance, etc all get neglected unless the landowner is REALLY interested in keeping the estate looking nice rather than neglected.I rest my case.
Sadly the estate owners lifestyle is of more importance than the up keep
of the estate in many situations,money can only be spent once,lifestyle or upkeep of the estate??

 

[franklin]

Farmer supplies land.; buys inputs.
Contractor works land.

Contractor maintains his / her kit.
Farmer maintains their land drains.

 

[Pilatus]

Farmer supplies land.; buys inputs.
Contractor works land.

Contractor maintains his / her kit.
Farmer maintains their land drains.[/QUOTE

Standard of basic estate management is very much dependent on landowners interest in wanting to get most return from their land.