My plan for Silage Contracting

pakalasa

Just reading through the posts there. This is something that struck me before too - why dont contractors offer a discount for prompt payment?

If they could offer say a 10% discount, then they'd get money in a lot faster.

dar31

silage contractor has for the last two years, been offering 5% discount for payment after the next milk cheque

Casinoking

I always offered a bit of discount for getting paid coming out the gate, something in the region of 5-10% depending on the size of the bill and what kind of mood I was in. As far as baling on hire goes, it's not something I see a very rosey future in to be honest. I was operating 2 balers and wrappers up until last year but balers are ten a penny at this stage and the work is getting scarcer. I sold one of the wrappers today, have a deal nearly done on one of the balers and am giving serious consideration to selling the other pair as well and concentrating on niche services with less competition. In relation to the OP, if you're doing 4-5000 bales a year I think you'd be doing a good job to hold onto that work going forward, doubling it to 10k just isn't a realistic prospect.

enricoh

in my opinion spanner concentrate on the teaching end of things first - guaranteed a good wage and guaranteed to get paid! the farmer that doesnt haggle when you name your price per bale is the one who wont be paying you. good to see you clued in about h.p on new gear - less bills = less stress. all the best lad

13spanner

Thanks for all yer opinions lads.

I've some good pieces of advice taken on board. I'll definately concentrate on getting my degree first and see after that. As ye were mentioning, I won't be getting too caught up in work, but I enjoy driving tractors as much as some lads enjoy the beer, absoluetly addicted! :rolleyes:.
Thanks to everyone who's wished me luck and with the help of god, everything will go my way for a finish.

Thanks again,
13spanner

hedgecutting eddie

just found this site tonight ,just after reading all the replys , im 28 and started contracting cutting hedges when i was 19 bought new ts115 i worked hard built up a good few customers and slowly bought few bits of machinery not much i kept the machinery up dated bought new john deere in 2007 and have a new one now2011 , i work hard do long days so id rather sit in something decent than drive scrap , only have one tractor pay no staff . i hate begrugers talkin dont b buying 2011 john deeres ,i kno what my repayments are so kno how much ive to pay back and to all ye begrugers no my father didnt do any contracting and didnt buy me anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rant over:):)

best of luck gettin started up 13spanner

snowman707

hedgecutting eddie wrote: »

just found this site tonight ,just after reading all the replys , im 28 and started contracting cutting hedges when i was 19 bought new ts115 i worked hard built up a good few customers and slowly bought few bits of machinery not much i kept the machinery up dated bought new john deere in 2007 and have a new one now2011 , i work hard do long days so id rather sit in something decent than drive scrap , only have one tractor pay no staff . i hate begrugers talkin dont b buying 2011 john deeres ,i kno what my repayments are so kno how much ive to pay back and to all ye begrugers no my father didnt do any contracting and didnt buy me anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rant over:):)

best of luck gettin started up 13spanner

times have changed a little in the last 9 years or so, but great to see you made a go of it, well done !
what do you do when the hedge cutting season closes, ?

hedgecutting eddie

snowman707 wrote: »

times have changed a little in the last 9 years or so, but great to see you made a go of it, well done !
what do you do when the hedge cutting season closes, ?

do small bit of sowing corn ,reseedin for dairy farmers ,baling and wrapping can have use of my fathers plough but have to maintain it ,we have all our own gear for tillage so can use the machinery but we only started sowing corn in 2007 cause had a big enough tractor, bought combine in 2007 for de farm i drive it and if i get any work i can use it but maintain it 2 ,wudnt like to get much bigger into machinery one man outfit seems to best to me! the farm will come first have 300 ewes to keep me busy when slack!!!
heres some pics http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=40&page=71

http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=40&page=107

scroll down to irish eddie

pajero12

hedgecutting eddie wrote: »

do small bit of sowing corn ,reseedin for dairy farmers ,baling and wrapping can have use of my fathers plough but have to maintain it ,we have all our own gear for tillage so can use the machinery but we only started sowing corn in 2007 cause had a big enough tractor, bought combine in 2007 for de farm i drive it and if i get any work i can use it but maintain it 2 ,wudnt like to get much bigger into machinery one man outfit seems to best to me! the farm will come first have 300 ewes to keep me busy when slack!!!
heres some pics http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=40&page=71

http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=40&page=107

scroll down to irish eddie

Well the wear with the new tractor.I'm liking that bonnet cover

maidhc

hedgecutting eddie wrote: »

just found this site tonight ,just after reading all the replys , im 28 and started contracting cutting hedges when i was 19 bought new ts115 i worked hard built up a good few customers and slowly bought few bits of machinery not much i kept the machinery up dated bought new john deere in 2007 and have a new one now2011 , i work hard do long days so id rather sit in something decent than drive scrap , only have one tractor pay no staff . i hate begrugers talkin dont b buying 2011 john deeres ,i kno what my repayments are so kno how much ive to pay back and to all ye begrugers no my father didnt do any contracting and didnt buy me anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rant over:):)

best of luck gettin started up 13spanner

No one is begruding anyone a 2011 John Deere. It is a fantastic looking machine and I would love one. The OP is in a slightly different position though.

Im the same age as yourself, but I take a certain pride in not updating the machines. Nothing much has been added to our farm in 10 years (since we bought a TS115 incidentally).

I'm looking out for an exceptionally clean Ford 8100 though....!

hedgecutting eddie

Im the same age as yourself, but I take a certain pride in not updating the machines. Nothing much has been added to our farm in 10 years (since we bought a TS115 incidentally).

I'm looking out for an exceptionally clean Ford 8100 though....![/QUOTE]

we still have the ts115 father bought it off me bought new in sept 2001 has 10k hrs still looks new great tractor one of best fords ever built,dont think new fords are as gud thats why we went for john deere we always had fords have a 1981 7600 with loader goes every day brillant tractor

13spanner

I'll just say lads, I'd never begrudge anyone who had a new tractor. It's great to see a bit of prosperity coming in the place and I'd hope they had the best of luck with it.

I just meant I wont buy a 2011 john deere when the zetor garage is 2 miles out the road.

Keep the posts coming and thanks again.
13spanner

tismesoitis

maidhc wrote: »

No one is begruding anyone a 2011 John Deere. It is a fantastic looking machine and I would love one. The OP is in a slightly different position though.

Im the same age as yourself, but I take a certain pride in not updating the machines. Nothing much has been added to our farm in 10 years (since we bought a TS115 incidentally).

I'm looking out for an exceptionally clean Ford 8100 though....!

+1 i take great pride in our 2 old dolls a 1983 mf 290 and a 1990 mf398 two great machines paid for for years and once their looked after they won't let u down!
BEST OF LUCK with the new deere eddie!!

rahin man

Spanner.

Im a teacher and do a bit of contracting/ few cattle etc.
The main thing is to show a loss in the accounts and get a nice tax refund every dec. aside from making a few extra dollars you can run a jeep/ car even the home heating oil through a contracting business.

i just do a bit of hedgecutting/ fencing and mowing. All the local heroes with new gear tried to undercut me when i started but ironically im still going and there in stubbs gazette!

Getting a permanent teaching job is another headache. im 33 and im glad i have a truck license!

rahin man

Also remember spanner

Every 20k euro you borrow is 5k/year repayment over 5 years...
Thats 1200 round bales of hay not taking in net/diesel/repairs every year.

i never made money till i sold my new gear kept a few well minded wrecks.

If you dont need the machine on your own farm its pointless buying it to depend on hire work alone.

Hate to be pessimistic....

13spanner

rahin man wrote: »

Also remember spanner

Every 20k euro you borrow is 5k/year repayment over 5 years...
Thats 1200 round bales of hay not taking in net/diesel/repairs every year.

i never made money till i sold my new gear kept a few well minded wrecks.

If you dont need the machine on your own farm its pointless buying it to depend on hire work alone.

Hate to be pessimistic....

Thanks for the post and sound advice. Like my auld man is always saying it's better to know you're own gear and how to fix it on the side of the road than have new gear that's full of electrics and not havin a clue once you look under the bonnet. You're probably right about only buying a machine for contracting too, it's only going to be gathering dust if I don't need it for myself. Just wondering are you a primary or secondary teacher? And how do you find you are for time between teaching and the bit of farming?
Thanks again,
13spanner

rahin man

Im a secondary teacher but im only short term contract so im not paid for the summer hols. (or any school hols midterm etc) the hourly rate is very good for hours taught though.

It fits perfectly with farming/machinery work except this year i was mowing in sept. a late or early summer will **** you up as regards work.

Hedgecutting can be a pain as every saturday in sept/oct and midterm is given staring into a hedge.(try teaching foundation maths and then stare into a hedge for 10 hours...they have a lot in common!)

Im buying a round baler this year as well cause i cant find any part time arctic driving work and ive found out you can draw prsi and work for yourself. (dole going on baler repayments.. you couldent make it up!)

What kind of teaching you going for? The entry requirments for the H-dip have changed this year bear that in mind

Juniorhurler

On the time issue 13spanner, I am a teacher with suckler cows and a small bit of contracting. My advice is find a woman who won't put too much of a time demand on you or she'll be ending up disappointed. I never have a minute once I leave school in the evening until about 9 at night. Wouldn't change it though for all the tea in china.

13spanner

rahin man wrote: »

Hedgecutting can be a pain as every saturday in sept/oct and midterm is given staring into a hedge.(try teaching foundation maths and then stare into a hedge for 10 hours...they have a lot in common!)

What kind of teaching you going for? The entry requirments for the H-dip have changed this year bear that in mind

Haha, I'd say the lads you'd be teaching in that class wouldn't be ''cream of the crop'' :rolleyes:

Well to be honest I was thinking of secondary teaching but trying to get a full time job somewhere within an hours commute of home. I haven't taken much of a look at the H-Dip as I'm still only in 5th year. What's the story with it now?

rahin man

you firstly need to do a degree the teaching council recognises that will allow you to teach. for example if you did ag science they will only recognise the ucd degree and then only two degree options within it. ie animal science and acp.

to get on the h dip then you need at least a 2.2 honours degree and certifiable teaching experience. (this year they are going on other work experience)

Be careful with a lot of the institute of technology degrees the teaching council dont recognise them and you wont be able to get into the nui h-dip programme.( now called the pgde)

Teaching work is very scarce at the moment. i know a lot of people gone to lybia, dubai, uae and england.

Dont let this deterr you its a great job as the previous post said.