Philosophical Question

Are you a farmer?

Say you have few acres.. under twenty most of its marginal but some good, you work full time and keep a few cattle on the land, why would you consider yourself and see yourself both socialy and culturally as a farmer.

Red Sheds

Because you are,
You dont have to have lots of acres and work on farming full time to be a farmer.

Say you work, 2 evenings a week in a bar, are you a barman? I dont think anyone would say not, its the same comparisson.

its not though if you are working full time to make a living then you are not making your living from farming, your few acres are either a way of making a few bob or a pastime. By the way I do understand the attraction of cattle and land.

Red Sheds

Even if you are not making your full time living from it, you cannot exclude those persons from the defination of a farmer, just because they are economically more profitable doing something else. Your opening question asked why you would see yoursefl socially or culturally as a farmer and I think you can if you carry out even a small level of farming activity. I think most people see themselves as many things, not just those that provide economic or financial reward to them.

Tokyo

I'd imagine that 'farmer' isn't just a job description, it describes a way of life. And as such I'd imagine that most people who say they are a farmer, aren't describing what they do from 9-5, or even for a few hours in the evening if it's part-time - they are describing how they live.

I grew up on a farm where the old man worked full time, I'll be doing the same myself. I'd still consider him as a farmer. The 9-5 he could live without, the farm would be like losing a limb though.

RightTurnClyde

mike_ie wrote: »

I'd imagine that 'farmer' isn't just a job description, it describes a way of life..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sillEgUHGC4

C0N0R

I'm a rugby player but I aint no Rory Best, does that make me any less able to use the phrase rugby player?? If someone doesn't own a farm but works 9-5 on a farm are they a farmer? Just because it's not what you do all the time or are financially tied to it doesn't make you any less of a farmer in my eyes.

just do it

mariaalice wrote: »

Are you a farmer?

Say you have few acres.. under twenty most of its marginal but some good, you work full time and keep a few cattle on the land, why would you consider yourself and see yourself both socialy and culturally as a farmer.

If you play golf at an amateur level, are you not entitled to call yourself a golfer?

ganmo

if you have a driving licence but no car are you still a driver?

if a shopkeeper rents out a house is he not a landlord too?

I'd say its up to the individual how he defines himself.
to the people he works with will he/she be a farmer but to the farmers will he be a full time worker?

mf240

You dont need land to be a farmer.

Having land doesent make you a farmer either.

Take the guy on the making money from beef thread. I wouldnt consider him a farmer. Just a land owner.

Plenty of small landowners are very good farmers.

_Brian

ganmo wrote: »

to the people he works with will he/she be a farmer but to the farmers will he be a full time worker?

This is so true..
For me if you're in control of a farm (owned, rented, leased, borrowed, inherited) and working the land with the intent of making a profit then you're a farmer.

keep going

If you spend your time loking at sites like these you are a farmer, its in you.mind you theres a good few lads on here only want to tear strips off us too

Kovu

I suppose there is still a side of society that see farmers as more 'backwards' than the rest of the country. If a person is happy to call themselves a farmer, regardless of how much stock they have, then let them at it.

Deranged96

yeah, that's a farmer, don't let the boys with a mighty dairy ban tell you different

In my view, anyone with a few acres and an intimate relationship with the land is a farmer.
it isn't about making a huge profit, it isn't about being full-time.
its about having that tie to the land you can't shake, its about having grass on the mind and shít in the jeep, early starts and weather forecasts

If you're of the land and work it, you're a farmer.

The_Pretender

I'm sure most posters here consider themselves farmers, be it hobby farming or full time. it's more down to personal opinion though.

Officially though - what do you put down as your occupation on official documents?

People are free to perceive themselves to be anything they want to be, but farming( in Ireland ) is more that just an occupation its a whole set of cultural attitudes and beliefs around rural and family life although that is changing a bit.

So if two farmers met and one owned 30 acre of mixed land in Sligo and had a few cattle and sheep and the other owned a 500 acre tillage and beef farm in Waterford the mere fact that they are farmers would negate any difference in social standing because innately they would recognise each other as farmers and start gossiping about cattle prices?

just do it

More like the 30ac farm would begrudge the 500ac farmer and the 500ac farmer would right off the 30ac farmer as a begrudger

Damo810

mariaalice wrote: »

People are free to perceive themselves to be anything they want to be, but farming( in Ireland ) is more that just an occupation its a whole set of cultural attitudes and beliefs around rural and family life although that is changing a bit.

So if two farmers met and one owned 30 acre of mixed land in Sligo and had a few cattle and sheep and the other owned a 500 acre tillage and beef farm in Waterford the mere fact that they are farmers would negate any difference in social standing because innately they would recognise each other as farmers and start gossiping about cattle prices?

Without a fupping doubt.

Dickie10

this discussion could also be seen in the light of social class distinction in Ireland, what social class are farmers? 80% would surely be working class if income is the difining tool. but in my expierence 80% of farmers would look at themselves as middle class

Dickie10

Dickie10 wrote: »

this discussion could also be seen in the light of social class distinction in Ireland, what social class are farmers? 80% would surely be working class if income is the difining tool. but in my expierence 80% of farmers would look at themselves as middle class

To be honest any farmers I know then to hard working and unsentimental and not at all bothered by class their much more interested in making a living/money, although they do then to have a belief in how superior their life style is and look down on urban life.

AP2014

mf240 wrote: »

You dont need land to be a farmer.

Having land doesent make you a farmer either.

Take the guy on the making money from beef thread. I wouldnt consider him a farmer. Just a land owner.

Plenty of small landowners are very good farmers.

Why not? I have herd number, land, stock and make silage. Do you consider me not a farmer because I make profit?

smokey-fitz

To be a farmer you have to be able to make hay, good hay, and with a haybob :P

smokey-fitz

smokey-fitz wrote: »

To be a farmer you have to be able to make hay, good hay, and with a haybob :P

Maybe there are still farmers our there making cocks of hay with a hay fork, and have never got as far as bales let alone silage!

ganmo

mariaalice wrote: »

...that they are farmers would negate any difference in social standing because innately they would recognise each other as farmers and start gossiping about cattle prices?

The same could be said for 'normal' peolpe talking about football, rugby GAA etc

milkprofit

If I mow the lawn and plant flowers am I a Gardner

fastrac

I always thought farming was a state of mind☺��

tanko

I think therefore I am (a farmer):cool:

Dont be daft

Dickie10 wrote: »

this discussion could also be seen in the light of social class distinction in Ireland, what social class are farmers? 80% would surely be working class if income is the difining tool. but in my expierence 80% of farmers would look at themselves as middle class

That's an interesting point.

I've always seen farmers or people from a farming background as a sort of distinct class within society.

And not meaning to sound snobby but I would always look upon people not within that class, with a sense of pity really.

So they can be upper-class or whatever they like, if they're not from the farming class, there's not much they can have that I'd covet.

arctictree

I manage a flock of 30 ewes and have a full time job unrelated to farming. I would consider myself a farmer but a lot wouldn't.

Muckit

I'd class myself as a peasant.... farmers are the ones with money

smokey-fitz

Muckit wrote: »

I'd class myself as a peasant.... farmers are the ones with money

Peasant season in 2 months :P

smokey-fitz

mariaalice wrote: »

Maybe there are still farmers our there making cocks of hay with a hay fork, and have never got as far as bales let alone silage!

There is actually... some old fella bout 8 or 9 miles away from me does them, he got a field baled one time and got them brought into the yard, opened them all up and pitched the cocks in the haggart, taught it was a great way to transport hay.. now thats farming