Sean Richo Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Everybody is entitled to an opinion I started the thread to see what people's opinions were that was all. I appreciate the situation some farmers are in and as a human being don't like to see anybody struggle all am saying is when times are good they tend to keep quiet and all they do now is moan things won't stay like this forever they got to get better and remember we will always need to eat population is growing demand is high. There are still a lot of rich people in the farming community don't be fooled or get the violins out to soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ack-ack Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Nobody is denying that they do work very hard but that goes with anybody running a business but its the same for everybody. I'm sick of every spanner bleating about the current financial climate. We adapt or we die like dinosaurs. We cannot control the weather and believe it or not weather is considered to be a fairly significant part of the Agricultural machine that feeds us. If the farms are on their ***** its because they've produced less. If they produce less theres less on the market, if theres less on the market the price of your pot noodle and ranchers microwave burgers go up. Capiche? There are big farming business backed by speculative land investors swallowing up vaste swathes of the UK. The price of land is going bonkers. Small farms cant expand so they slowly die. Land that has been in the same hands for centuries is going to the suits as the farms hit the skids. You've had your fun, bug out mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav912 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 it takes time to claw back your investment costs,farming is not a get rich quick scheme.its a bit like a factory owner buying a new machine for million pounds,it doesn't mean he's rolling in money,it means he's investing in the future of his factory and its the same with farmer,new kit means less man hours/work force and quicker working practise (which means great deal when your working against the weather) Spot on, the farm I work on invested just over £500k in a new temperature controlled potato store for 2000 tons of crop last spring, its going to pay for itself in around 7 years by saving the farm money on renting storage nearly 40 miles away and the transport costs in getting them there (around £8/ton in 2011). Kit is updated regularly in order to try and avoid large repair costs, at £60/hr+ for dealer repair costs it doesn't take long for bills to add up, as an example the potato harvester I use to get the 2000t of crop out of the ground is currently being overhauled with the replacement parts costing £10k, not including my labour or the dealers labour to fit them, and thats an annual cost, in the 2011/12 season it cost £24.5k due to some major parts failures which is a large bill for any business to swallow. Yes some farmers are their own worst enemies when it comes to moaning about things but to suggest those that are hard up sell up to realise some money is just not an option to them as its a way of life to them and not just a job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 i think mat means he wants to help someone who's helped him over the years,not just anybody. Yep thats the jist of it, i wont let a friend struggle when i can go and help them! Beside, if he goes under completley, i'll have to pay for my strawberries and raspberries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Everybody is entitled to an opinion I started the thread to see what people's opinions were that was all. I appreciate the situation some farmers are in and as a human being don't like to see anybody struggle all am saying is when times are good they tend to keep quiet and all they do now is moan things won't stay like this forever they got to get better and remember we will always need to eat population is growing demand is high. There are still a lot of rich people in the farming community don't be fooled or get the violins out to soon. there are some very rich farmers most of the sensible ones have made their money and got out of it but for a lot its an ongoing struggle the one i work for is not short of a bob or two but he works hard and the farm has been in the family for generations colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 I think anybody that tried to grow crops or work outside in the last 12 months will be moaning. I bet there's not many golf course owners singing from the rooftops. Brolly makers might be cheery but I don't know anyone in China to confirm that bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Richo Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 I have not met a poor one yet that's all if and when I meet one will let you know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 The farmers whose land i shoot on certainly are not hard up brand new range rovers every couple of years mainly for the Mrs as they have new. L200 or hilux's to rag around the fields and run into the ground coz they just get another next year. But these are large arable farmers and i haven't heard them plead poverty, but they are all as tight as a ducks ***. I know this as i have had quite a bit of work from them building and fencing ect. And every time i have given them a price they try to screw you down to nothing much worse than the average person who definatly doesn't have as much as them. They also all have outbuildings and barns they rent out to other businesses on even said he collects over £15,000 a month rent from what he rents out,and they all have cottages they rent out also and not all to farm workers. Also i think its the farm managers and labourers that do the real hours and hard graft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 i think most of the posts are from jealous people that don't like to see people get on in life,yes some farms do well and the owners arn't short of a few bob,but at the other end of the spectrum is the very poor farmer thats getting deeper and deeper in a hole trying carry on the best he knows how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diceman Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 I think some people are getting a bit confused between farmers and estate owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 i think most of the posts are from jealous people that don't like to see people get on in life,yes some farms do well and the owners arn't short of a few bob,but at the other end of the spectrum is the very poor farmer thats getting deeper and deeper in a hole trying carry on the best he knows how. Most posts are from people who just say what they see with their own eyes and don't have a big chip on their shoulders about it. Why would we be jealous, most farmers work hard and earn good money it's no surprise at the level of investment they make. Fair play to those hardworking and wealthy farmers and their big cars and houses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotShot! Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Well said !! ^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Most posts are from people who just say what they see with their own eyes and don't have a big chip on their shoulders about it. Why would we be jealous, most farmers work hard and earn good money it's no surprise at the level of investment they make. Fair play to those hardworking and wealthy farmers and their big cars and houses but what a lot of folk see is nice new kit,then they think the farmer most be rolling in money when the truth might be that the farmer is very over stretched financially,but trying to keep up with new technology in a bid to try and make more profit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 (edited) They say they got no money but most drive new shape discoveries and live in five bedroom houses worth about 300000 They wouldn't get a ford ka across a muddy field, would they? Their car is just a tool they use for their job. By the way, wasn't there something on about red squirrels? Did anyone see it? Edited February 3, 2013 by Reece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Farmers are not so different to many other walks off life there are good ones and bad ones, wether it is down to work ethic or good/poor ground and some who will invest and save and some who drive about in flashy motors (and the flashy motor brigade are not usually the rich ones) Who here would work for them selves, say building bird tables/patio furniture type thing U can build as many as u want have to pay for materials ur self as u go but can only sell them once or twice a year, so money going out constantly but only coming in 1 or 2 times a year. Hard enough but the killer is u are not guaranteed a set price for ur furniture and have to take wot is offered wether or not that covers ur cost's. U could work ur **** off 1 year as u want a new motor/house/holiday only to find 2 or 3 other suppliers have done the same, so too many on market or simply no market/demand or undercut by cheap substanard foriegn stuff, ur whole year would off been a waste with nothing to show for it. Farmers were buying store lambs to fatten in back end for £60 and are now selling them to slaughter months later after feeding, worming, looking after, vets bills and no doubt some dieing on them, market price is now £60 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Farmers are not so different to many other walks off life there are good ones and bad ones, wether it is down to work ethic or good/poor ground and some who will invest and save and some who drive about in flashy motors (and the flashy motor brigade are not usually the rich ones) Who here would work for them selves, say building bird tables/patio furniture type thing U can build as many as u want have to pay for materials ur self as u go but can only sell them once or twice a year, so money going out constantly but only coming in 1 or 2 times a year. Hard enough but the killer is u are not guaranteed a set price for ur furniture and have to take wot is offered wether or not that covers ur cost's. U could work ur **** off 1 year as u want a new motor/house/holiday only to find 2 or 3 other suppliers have done the same, so too many on market or simply no market/demand or undercut by cheap substanard foriegn stuff, ur whole year would off been a waste with nothing to show for it. Farmers were buying store lambs to fatten in back end for £60 and are now selling them to slaughter months later after feeding, worming, looking after, vets bills and no doubt some dieing on them, market price is now £60 your spot on there,farming is a gamble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry90 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 They have money but they just wont spend out and you dont need a 10000 pound jeep that who ever sed no jeep no work you could sell and get a cheaper one i wouldent go and get food for nwt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Small farmers are having a very hard time - estates are big enough to absorb the ups and downs. In the next ten years, farmers will be so necessary to grow the food we all need to eat. I deplore all criticism of all small farmers - usually family businesses. Its not since the 60's/70's that farmers have been coining it and then not the small farmers who have worked hard to make a living and raise a family. I favour small farms and family farming - estates are not the way to improve the countryside IMHO. Dont please criticise small farmers to me - salt of the earth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Big difference between tenant and owner, arable and livestock. But as a sweeping generalisation most farmers are well off. My respect goes to the great grandfathers and grandfathers of the current crop of owners, they were the ones who took the big gamble and bought land when it was cheap (between the wars) and worked incredibly hard to pay off the mortgage etc and make the fram work. The present farmers more or less have an easy ride in comparison, running a family business they inherited. Not many 'self made' farmers hereabouts, the price of land and tenancies for that matter make it almost impossible now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 My 4x4 cost me £900 2 years ago. I work somewhere around 55 hours a week, often more. One weekend off in three, but not if we are busy. Two weeks hols a year, work most bank holidays. Do not get overtime rate. If it rains I get wet, if it snows I get cold and wet. I don't stop because of either. Haven't driven a tractor for over a week and if I did it would be older than most on here and has no cab. If and when I get chance to stop I will enjoy a bit of a moan. I also live in a house you couldn't afford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overandunder2012 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 I have actually been considering offering free labour to a local farm. I have already witnessed one local dairy farm close and what to try and help the other one out. why on earth would you want to work for a farmer for free unless your after a permission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 Yep thats the jist of it, i wont let a friend struggle when i can go and help them! Beside, if he goes under completley, i'll have to pay for my strawberries and raspberries Perhaps, IF you paid fer your strawberries and raspberries ..... He might be less likely to go under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 Surely if you have farmland, as a poor farmer you diversify, You get someone or multiples thereof to shoot your avian pests and ground vermin Ohhh, And charge them for the privilege :happydays: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybucket Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 My old boss said to me the only poor farmers are stupid farmers who are afraid to try something new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 (edited) They wouldn't get a ford ka across a muddy field, would they? Their car is just a tool they use for their job. By the way, wasn't there something on about red squirrels? Did anyone see it? Reece, that's what I was hoping for when I saw the title on this thread. Very interesting. Keep up the grey control. Edited February 4, 2013 by Fisheruk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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