Who’s thinking of calling it a day

[nelly55]

With all the uncertainly over different tax rules,prices and farming low on labours priority is it worth the hassle,

 

[Jackov Altraids]

The main positive of having BPS removed is that everyone will be giving this question serious consideration.
I think the EA, Natural England and net zero will be more influential than tax rules.

 

[serf]

With all the uncertainly over different tax rules,prices and farming low on labours priority is it worth the hassle,

You'd probably have to be quick to fold up before the socialists get there tax changes thru / if they are going to be detrimental to the job

 

[spin cycle]

I am I must admit

farm's been in family (grandfather line) 100 years and in grand maternal before that.....only the shame of letting go and the upheaval keeping me going tbh☹

not farming fault though just caring for elderly mum whilst trying to keep it all together on a shoestring

I dunno

 

[nelly55]

When I have asked non farming folk about farming they nearly always say you all have big posh houses,4x4 and a lifestyle I would never have.Afraid thats the life most see looking in,which in most cases is far from reality.Yet they have posh houses,posh cars ,lots of holidays and certainly don’t work 365 24/7 to just survive.

 

[teslacoils]

I like to think that, after 20 years I have finally got the balance right.....

....working elsewhere and farming nature, while providing a not-awful place to live for the next few years until my children leave home.

Few plans in the offing, but mainly a steady reduction in kit and more hours enjoying my farm that actually driving around in mud etc.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

When I have asked non farming folk about farming they nearly always say you all have big posh houses,4x4 and a lifestyle I would never have.Afraid thats the life most see looking in,which in most cases is far from reality.Yet they have posh houses,posh cars ,lots of holidays and certainly don’t work 365 24/7 to just survive.

It's not just the money, but the way of life.
Farming has always been stressful but enjoyable work, beautiful surroundings and a lot of freedom providing contentment.
Its the barrage of bullshite from calculating carbon footprints, meeting assurance requirements, EA inspections, trying to work out SFI applications etc, has made farming an office job when many other professions are enjoying working from home.

 

[Bald Rick]

No ... at least not in terms of the farming on the farm as son is now in charge .... to the extent that I was able to dispatch him just now to deal with an angry farmer in to which some of our dry cows are "enjoying" his silage field.

Otherwise, it is a case of winding down slowly to about 40-50 hours a week

 

[Bald Rick]

^^ Having said that, I do have a £6m pound ear if anyone wants to whisper in it

 

[Kidds]

We jacked in as a family partnership. I carried on in a hobby level and tbh we are all living the life of Riley.
I have a busy day today, woke up at 9:45 and so far have fed the geese done some hoeing in my polytunnel and back in for a brew.
Going to do a bit shortly and will then probably take the missus out for lunch.

Top tip is figure out what cash you will end up with and how to manage the taxes on any sales etc. Then figure out what you can do with the funds available and then the biggest challenge is to figure out what exactly it is that you do want to do.
I have always enjoyed growing apples so that is what I decided to do. It can be very challenging at times and can also be very physically demanding at certain times of the year but I am being genuine when I say life is pretty much one big holiday these days.
Being able to escape from scrapyard challenge farming is wonderful.

 

[bluebell]

No its not worth the "hassele", one day not long now, the s**t will hit the fan big time? Example 1939, when war was inevible. The govt, in their wisdom, from lessons bitterly learnt from ww1, stock piled many new tractors and more importantly did a doomsday type survay of the total uks land and then divided the land into areas and appointed a agricultural council for each area to then start going around the area seeing the farms, land owners and telling/instructing them of what the land was to be done with? Now 80 odd years later the UKs population has increased by nearly 20 million and rapidly growing at the same time since the end of ww2 we have lost to development some 2million plus acres of land that did and could have grown food, whilst today the main use now for land is to build houses, rewild and construct solar farms, yes right food food food where is it to come from?

 

[serf]

reality.Yet they have posh houses,posh cars ,lots of holidays and certainly don’t work 365 24/7 to just survive.

None of it's paid for , it's only as good as the next months payment

 

[livestock 1]

A lot of folks packing in or talking about it round my way. Had some silage delivered last week that was supposed to be delivered to someone who decided to get shot of his cows. A contractor told me most are on about getting rid of their cows and are sick to the back teeth. He usually leads a lot of silage into us he said not to worry about silage there would be an abundance of it spare for the winter

 

[teslacoils]

No its not worth the "hassele", one day not long now, the s**t will hit the fan big time? Example 1939, when war was inevible. The govt, in their wisdom, from lessons bitterly learnt from ww1, stock piled many new tractors and more importantly did a doomsday type survay of the total uks land and then divided the land into areas and appointed a agricultural council for each area to then start going around the area seeing the farms, land owners and telling/instructing them of what the land was to be done with? Now 80 odd years later the UKs population has increased by nearly 20 million and rapidly growing at the same time since the end of ww2 we have lost to development some 2million plus acres of land that did and could have grown food, whilst today the main use now for land is to build houses, rewild and construct solar farms, yes right food food food where is it to come from?

Indeed. Better tell Mr and Mrs UK that they need to abandon their avocados and pineapples. Its locally grown turnip and swede from now on, in the drive for 100% self sufficiency. Grown by an increasingly aged farming workforce, past retirement, in an industry leading the way in industrial accidents, workplace deaths, and suicides.

ONS suggested that most British men consumed closer to 3000 calories a day, rather than the 2000 the need. So instead of worrying about where the food is, maybe a reduction in how much a Brit eats could be considered a good thing?

Really, you need to get a grip on this "where will we grow X". What youre suggesting is merely based on your distaste for the reality of modern Britain, which is a population-dense, service and leisure economy. In the meantime, Ill do what I like on my land, and will think of the hungry populace once woodland planting schemes, rewilded estates, and golf courses are ploughed up to keep the natives in cabbage.

 

[jh.]

I am I must admit

farm's been in family (grandfather line) 100 years and in grand maternal before that.....only the shame of letting go and the upheaval keeping me going tbh☹

not farming fault though just caring for elderly mum whilst trying to keep it all together on a shoestring

I dunno

Similar with me but with 86 year old dad , who's still able for 86 but needs help .

Really hoping my teenage kids look elsewhere for a life as 300acres is just no use these days with kit and inputs where they are . We got rid of livestock years ago and went one man band but having broken my shoulder last month has highlighted this isn't ideal either. Just glad the livestock wasn't still here , needing done 7 days a week

 

[stewart]

Just heading home after a visit to the UK, seems to be quite a few packing in there particularly dairy farming, not that many left now and those that are still dairy farming claim there is no profit in it. Great shame.

 

[Bill dog]

I am I must admit

farm's been in family (grandfather line) 100 years and in grand maternal before that.....only the shame of letting go and the upheaval keeping me going tbh☹

not farming fault though just caring for elderly mum whilst trying to keep it all together on a shoestring

I dunno

You shouldn’t feel shame at all for making the decision. The only person who can decide what to do is you , and you’ll be doing it with your families best interests at heart !
You might become the first family member to be cash rich , and asset poor , rather than the norm!
Good luck either way !

 

[Highashgrange]

Interesting question. I didnt re-tender for a cfa and at the same time did not renew a fbt. That got rid of 400ac over night and I honestly do not miss it in the slightest. At the same time I let 80ac of grass out. That left me with 350ac of combinable crops. Ive other business interests but I now only work 25 hrs a week except during harvest time. Every weekend off. Pretty much have december and january off bar doing the vat return. Two holidays a year. New car every 3 years. And i’m 48. I think its a good work life balance. But I am thinking about selling the land due to these potential changes.

 

[Rich_ard]

When I have asked non farming folk about farming they nearly always say you all have big posh houses,4x4 and a lifestyle I would never have.Afraid thats the life most see looking in,which in most cases is far from reality.Yet they have posh houses,posh cars ,lots of holidays and certainly don’t work 365 24/7 to just survive.

It's looks easy when someone else is doing it.

 

[SilliamWhale]

My love for the job isn't what it was at all.

Crappy weather again at harvest makes it depressing. Prices are poor let's be honest.

It's kind of boring now.