Winter Work (diversification)

[rob1]

Anything leisure or pleasure will give a better return and is independent of farming fortunes. Taking in young cattle to rear or fatten in the winter or maybe sheep on turnips etc if you want to keep it ag

 

[Wheater]

Anything leisure or pleasure will give a better return and is independent of farming fortunes. Taking in young cattle to rear or fatten in the winter or maybe sheep on turnips etc if you want to keep it ag

I completely understand where you are coming from with the leisure things but unfortunately with most leisure the summer is the busiest time which is also when the farm is the busiest. The finishing of hoggs on stubble turnips appeals as their is plenty of land available and the manure appeals for the organic matter. Don't know what the profit margins are like on it though as from what I have heard from my boss (in Yorkshire) it can vary a lot.

 

[renewablejohn]

Do you have any woodland, spinney or field corners down? With wood chip and hybrid fuels for power stations becoming increasingly popular it would make sense to have the men out in the winter managing this?

Are you actually in the Biomass business because your view is very different to the biomass market place I am in. Maybe Stobarts paying £3 per tonne for woodchip might put it into perspective.

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Logs or turkeys or both??

 

[renewablejohn]

Young lad up the road had access to free timber (fertiliser pallets) and made kindling and sold it to local shops, vegetable rounds etc. paid himself €10 an hour and still had €2500 left at the end of the winter.

I had to admire him

Would love to believe it but kindling is a time consuming business with very low margins.

 

[DrWazzock]

Art gallery. Buy up a few nice pieces as when you see them. Deck out the garage and out them on show, opening at weekends in the summer while the tourists are about or by appointment.

You would only need to sell one or two pieces to make more than most farming enterprises. No heavy lifting or sweating your cobs off. Minimal outlay and there will eventually be somebody daft enough to buy something.

 

[roscoe erf]

Logs or turkeys or both??

turkey logs

 

[Glass half full]

Art gallery. Buy up a few nice pieces as when you see them. Deck out the garage and out them on show, opening at weekends in the summer while the tourists are about or by appointment.

You would only need to sell one or two pieces to make more than most farming enterprises. No heavy lifting or sweating your cobs off. Minimal outlay and there will eventually be somebody daft enough to buy something.

sound easy!

 

[Dorset Lad]

Hedge Laying.