Starting out in Farming

Potential Farmer

Ok first post!

So a bit of background, I grew up in the country and had plenty farming neighbours, wanted to be a farmer as a kid but having no farm ourselves and the parents not having a great perception of it as a career at the time I was steered away from it in childhood. I'm in my mid twenties now and have a reasonably good job at the moment. Have always thought about and kept a passing interest in farming while getting set up in my current career though. While I don't know would I go for a complete career change now its something I'd like to turn my hand to part time as so many do now and my career would allow plenty time for that. It's also something I think I would really enjoy, challenges and all.

I was reading an article last week about young farmers starting out in Kildalton and it was mentioned that it is difficult to start out if there's no farm in the family. Any young potential farmers like that on here? My parents know of some people who saved hard in their jobs in the 70's and 80's and bought some land to go into part time farming. With land prices at the bottom of the trough and starting to rise again long term does anyone think this is a viable proposition today? Would it be possible to get a syndicate of 4-5 young farmers that are open to new ideas/ways of doing things and start up some kind of enterprise? How would the banks view this? What sort of percentage deposit do they expect for farmland purchases? Is it as high as 10% like for mortgages? I have inquired by email to BOI but they want me to come into the branch for a meeting, don't think I have the finances or expertise to go it alone without being in partnership with someone who has more practical experience even though I have skills that would transfer to the job.

So I suppose I'm looking for general feedback from ye on this and if there is anyone out there in the same boat?

Thanks!

Timmaay

Now is not the 80s, back then an acre was worth 1500, and a bullock would make you 1100 in the factory, the same bullock is still worth 1100 now, but the land is more like 10k acre. My advice is to forget about buying for now, live your life but save up, and when you have 100k or so in the kitty consider afew acres and part time farming then, but if you borrow money to buy land you are very unlikely to be able to even meet the repayments from revenue generated on that land.

just do it

Like a lot of farmers you could lease some land. At the moment it is a pipe dream of yours and maybe you'll hate it after 2/3 years. Alternatively you may love it.

Even before that you should do some farm work to get a taste for it. Do you know any farmers?

And finally I think a bank would be foolish to legend you 90% of the purchase price. Such lending has got us to where we are.

keep going

My first suggestion is to forget about buying land for while because you have to get up and running first.buying a farm , stocking it and putting infrastructure in place from a standing start is not feasible unless you have a big pot of money of your own whereas rentig will show you whether you have what it takes

case04

Unless you have surplus money available to you as already stated, dont even think about buying land,let alone stocking and infastructure! I did this with the help of BOI and im relying on my full-time job to make repayments! Your farm wont meet the re-payments on land! If you have a love for it, rent a bit of ground and keep a few head and fulfill your ambition that way, without the burdon of the repayments!

bbairsoft

Another element to look at is what sort of farming you're thinking of. I know some people who were in a similar position as yourself, one went away and bout 10 acres to farm, only to find out it wasn't all about machinery, there's a lot to it science-wise as well. If its the idea of tractors and things youre looking at, then finding a job with a contractor during a summer break, even a week, would give you an insight into this, while perhaps getting a week milking cows and the like if it is that side you're into. Farming can be tough, and although rewarding if you enjoy it, you need to be 110% committed to every aspect of it. Just my two pence worth on it anyway

Reggie.

bbairsoft wrote: »

Another element to look at is what sort of farming you're thinking of. I know some people who were in a similar position as yourself, one went away and bout 10 acres to farm, only to find out it wasn't all about machinery, there's a lot to it science-wise as well. If its the idea of tractors and things youre looking at, then finding a job with a contractor during a summer break, even a week, would give you an insight into this, while perhaps getting a week milking cows and the like if it is that side you're into. Farming can be tough, and although rewarding if you enjoy it, you need to be 110% committed to every aspect of it. Just my two pence worth on it anyway

+1

MFdaveIreland

Potential Farmer wrote: »

Ok first post!

So a bit of background, I grew up in the country and had plenty farming neighbours, wanted to be a farmer as a kid but having no farm ourselves and the parents not having a great perception of it as a career at the time I was steered away from it in childhood. I'm in my mid twenties now and have a reasonably good job at the moment. Have always thought about and kept a passing interest in farming while getting set up in my current career though. While I don't know would I go for a complete career change now its something I'd like to turn my hand to part time as so many do now and my career would allow plenty time for that. It's also something I think I would really enjoy, challenges and all.

I was reading an article last week about young farmers starting out in Kildalton and it was mentioned that it is difficult to start out if there's no farm in the family. Any young potential farmers like that on here? My parents know of some people who saved hard in their jobs in the 70's and 80's and bought some land to go into part time farming. With land prices at the bottom of the trough and starting to rise again long term does anyone think this is a viable proposition today? Would it be possible to get a syndicate of 4-5 young farmers that are open to new ideas/ways of doing things and start up some kind of enterprise? How would the banks view this? What sort of percentage deposit do they expect for farmland purchases? Is it as high as 10% like for mortgages? I have inquired by email to BOI but they want me to come into the branch for a meeting, don't think I have the finances or expertise to go it alone without being in partnership with someone who has more practical experience even though I have skills that would transfer to the job.

So I suppose I'm looking for general feedback from ye on this and if there is anyone out there in the same boat?

Thanks!

I'm kind of in the same boat, as both parents where brought up on dairy farms but didn't farmif you uunderstand, I can't speak for you or anyone else but it's my life dream to bring farming back I to my family, I would go as far as saying it eats u up inside everyday , I wouldnt think any other job would beike that , I wish you all the best

corkrobinhood

bbairsoft wrote: »

Another element to look at is what sort of farming you're thinking of. I know some people who were in a similar position as yourself, one went away and bout 10 acres to farm, only to find out it wasn't all about machinery, there's a lot to it science-wise as well. If its the idea of tractors and things youre looking at, then finding a job with a contractor during a summer break, even a week, would give you an insight into this, while perhaps getting a week milking cows and the like if it is that side you're into. Farming can be tough, and although rewarding if you enjoy it, you need to be 110% committed to every aspect of it. Just my two pence worth on it anyway

Just on the contractor point there,is there many or any contractors that take on staff like that with little or no experience in the case of the Potential Farmer?
I would have thought contractors would be slow enough to put untrained and inexperienced lads up on expensive gear? Its something I want to do myself as it happens,but i'd be in a similiar position to Potential Farmer.

Sorry for jumping in there by the way.

rs8

corkrobinhood wrote: »

Just on the contractor point there,is there many or any contractors that take on staff like that with little or no experience in the case of the Potential Farmer?
I would have thought contractors would be slow enough to put untrained and inexperienced lads up on expensive gear? Its something I want to do myself as it happens,but i'd be in a similiar position to Potential Farmer.

Sorry for jumping in there by the way.

no there not, the general farming mentality in Ireland is negative and would not want a non experience lad around! there would be a small few maybe that would take you on! new zealand would be the place as there much keener if you have the right attitude!

i see on the FAS website theres a place in westmeath with a contractor through jobbridge for 9 months! if you had no experiance this wouldnt be the wrose thing to do if you wanted to learn about machinery

bbairsoft

corkrobinhood wrote: »

Just on the contractor point there,is there many or any contractors that take on staff like that with little or no experience in the case of the Potential Farmer?
I would have thought contractors would be slow enough to put untrained and inexperienced lads up on expensive gear? Its something I want to do myself as it happens,but i'd be in a similiar position to Potential Farmer.

Sorry for jumping in there by the way.

Well it'd help obviously I you'd have a contact who could help, but I know that around here most fellas wouldn't have a bother bringing you out for a day in the tractor with them, whilst few others would let you actually drive. As long as you are careful and a good listener then I don't see why someone wouldn't give you an opportunity, or a day out with them at the very least. But as you say many people would be nervous of a newb up on a tractor and baler worth 100k..

Potential Farmer

Thanks for all the good honest feedback folks. I haven't a definite idea of which sector I'm going for yet so would jump at the chance to try a few with someone. Anyone here a Farmer in the Dublin/Kildare/Meath area that would take someone on for a week milking or know of anyone? I'd imagine people will need an extra hand with the end of quota expansion ongoing next few years. Though maybe I'm in the wrong part of the country for getting experience in Dairy?

Potential Farmer

Thanks for all the good honest feedback folks. I haven't a definite idea of which sector I'm going for yet so would jump at the chance to try a few with someone. Anyone here a Farmer in the Dublin/Kildare/Meath area that would take someone on for a week milking or know of anyone? I'd imagine people will need an extra hand with the end of quota expansion ongoing next few years. Though maybe I'm in the wrong part of the country for getting experience in Dairy?

ganmo

There's some dairy farmers north Dublin, Meath and into Louth

Could you move your work into something farm related to expose yourself to that world?

I saw this morning that AIB are looking for Agri Advisers as an example:
http://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Business-Banking-Agri-Advisors-7237945.aspx

jay gatsby

A lot of the posts might seem a bit negative (though in my opinion all are perfectly valid and sensible) so I thought I'd throw in something positive though I don't know how practical it is.

Investigate setting up a partnership with a farmer, there's enough older farmers in the country who have no-one to take over and not over working their land God knows. Many don't want to sell or even lease their place out but why wouldn't they think about letting you buy in through machinery or stock. You put in capital and labour at weekends or evenings or whatever, they supply the land and expertise and you work out a profit sharing agreement.

After 5 years or whatever each of you has the option to decide if it's working or not, if it is you drive on and in 10 years might be in a position where you have stock, expertise and a few more bob to go and rent somewhere. If it's not, you bail out

The lads here with more experience here will let me know how far into the ridiculous I've strayed but I think if you want it bad enough you'll find some way into the hardship game (sorry farming).

Potential Farmer

jay gatsby wrote: »

A lot of the posts might seem a bit negative (though in my opinion all are perfectly valid and sensible) so I thought I'd throw in something positive though I don't know how practical it is.

Investigate setting up a partnership with a farmer, there's enough older farmers in the country who have no-one to take over and not over working their land God knows. Many don't want to sell or even lease their place out but why wouldn't they think about letting you buy in through machinery or stock. You put in capital and labour at weekends or evenings or whatever, they supply the land and expertise and you work out a profit sharing agreement.

After 5 years or whatever each of you has the option to decide if it's working or not, if it is you drive on and in 10 years might be in a position where you have stock, expertise and a few more bob to go and rent somewhere. If it's not, you bail out

The lads here with more experience here will let me know how far into the ridiculous I've strayed but I think if you want it bad enough you'll find some way into the hardship game (sorry farming).

That was something I was half thinking jay gatsby, from the bit of reading I've been doing on Farmers Journal etc it seems that there might be a few older farmers in this bracket. Its difficult having not trained and not having the connections in Ag, plus living in a different part of the country now where to start on this one. But certainly the time in the evenings and weekends is something I have.