Wage for 2 people out of farming??

Feckthis

I have neighbour who keeps 20 sucklers on 80-100 acres and he sells hay and silage. His son is out of work and interested in farming and he is wondering if he started dairying would the 2 of them be able get a wage out of it?
He has housing and slatted unit for about 50 cows I would say. They are not into their big machines so wouldn't have massive borrowings I would say.
Just needs to build a secondhand parlour and increase stock numbers.

simx

Feckthis wrote: »

I have neighbour who keeps 20 sucklers on 80-100 acres and he sells hay and silage. His son is out of work and interested in farming and he is wondering if he started dairying would the 2 of them be able get a wage out of it?
He has housing and slatted unit for about 50 cows I would say. They are not into their big machines so wouldn't have massive borrowings I would say.
Just needs to build a secondhand parlour and increase stock numbers.

Know one family, father,mother and son that have if say circa 140 ac, 30 milking cows and keep all the calves, they sold sites in the good times but I'd say they'd still be able to work away regardless, buy new tractor every 7/8 yr, any equipment they have is bought brand new, bought a new wagon last year, they seem to be able to manage, but would live very frugally I'd imagine

Timmaay

simx wrote: »

Know one family, father,mother and son that have if say circa 140 ac, 30 milking cows and keep all the calves, they sold sites in the good times but I'd say they'd still be able to work away regardless, buy new tractor every 7/8 yr, any equipment they have is bought brand new, bought a new wagon last year, they seem to be able to manage, but would live very frugally I'd imagine

The live very frugally is the key point, you just can't compare being a farmer to a normal 5-9 job, the farm income here is split across me and my dad, to be bluntly honest I'd get a much better take home wage if I gave up the farming and go back to my previous career, however the farm has some big advantages, one being a free site, another the very flexible hours, no communite to work, not having to be presentable ha etc etc. I do have friends with young families and one income, who need serious drawings as a result, they are very very good at controlling spending, defo no such thing as a new tractor etc every 7yrs etc, that's no measure of how successful you are ha!

Willfarman

With the talk of where milk prices are heading it looks like all the would be doing is making themselves busy.

Miname

If there's only 20 sucklers on that size of land base I'd say it's a tall task to set up a dairy farm from scratch. 80-100 would be just about able to support a frugil couple with no massive overheads.

severeoversteer

the neighbour gets a new tractor when the tyres are worn and he's a beef farmer so does that mean he's makin money ? !

simx

severeoversteer wrote: »

the neighbour gets a new tractor when the tyres are worn and he's a beef farmer so does that mean he's makin money ? !

it could be the lad up the road foddering with a 165 that is more comfortable, i think a lot of lads only get a new tractor as a status type thing, id much rather a new shed, fields reseeded etc. something thats going to benifit me more, i know a lad that buys a new tractor regular enough, and a new car, he doesnt have much to go behind the tractor though, always borrowing stuff, like my father said who`d know if he had a new bale handler, yard scraper, bale trailer, etc.

Willfarman

simx wrote: »

it could be the lad up the road foddering with a 165 that is more comfortable, i think a lot of lads only get a new tractor as a status type thing, id much rather a new shed, fields reseeded etc. something thats going to benifit me more, i know a lad that buys a new tractor regular enough, and a new car, he doesnt have much to go behind the tractor though, always borrowing stuff, like my father said who`d know if he had a new bale handler, yard scraper, bale trailer, etc.

That is so true! 100 hp 4wd tractor and a few rusty implement the grandfather had for the mAjor are rusting in the ditch is common.

Farmer Pudsey

Feckthis wrote: »

I have neighbour who keeps 20 sucklers on 80-100 acres and he sells hay and silage. His son is out of work and interested in farming and he is wondering if he started dairying would the 2 of them be able get a wage out of it?
He has housing and slatted unit for about 50 cows I would say. They are not into their big machines so wouldn't have massive borrowings I would say.
Just needs to build a secondhand parlour and increase stock numbers.

TBH is he has to ask the question he will be up against it maybe in one way. If the lads is good quality straight off they could continue the suckler opertion and add in 20-30 dairy cows. If the father is still very active it is a real goer. If they can keep borrowing under 50K and aim to get to 70ish cows it should provide a good income. The real trick is if the young lad is willing to either work alongside it for a few years as well. Any sort of job that brings in 3-400/week would really keep the show on the road.

Look at it this way young lad either milks morning or evening and both at times and gives a good hand at weekends. With in ten years you could have a really tidy operation. 70 cows milking 5K litres at 33c/L would turnover 115K on milk alone yes you will have bad years but good years as well.

smokey-fitz

Willfarman wrote: »

That is so true! 100 hp 4wd tractor and a few rusty implement the grandfather had for the mAjor are rusting in the ditch is common.

But you need the power and 4wd to pull it out of the ditch :P

I think alot of lads replace tractors on a regular basis for tax, it also takes the cost of costly repairs on older tractors out, depeding on size but new tyres are pretty expensive too. And if you have a 5 or 7 yr old tractor to trade its going to be worth a fair sup too. But its still going to cost more in the long run if you dont have the use for it in the first place.

keep going

Its probable that you could make a wage plus what he is already making out of the suckers with dairying but the only question that needs to be asked is is it in the young fella

onyerbikepat

severeoversteer wrote: »

the neighbour gets a new tractor when the tyres are worn and he's a beef farmer so does that mean he's makin money ? !

Could he not just get new tyres? :D:D

lakill Farm

lets be honest around here . Its very hard to say if that farm can support 2 families. Nobody knows the loan repayments, sfp or sales.

We all know lads with 300 acres who cant afford a can of coke and lads with 100 acres who have a fine tidy set up.

Right set up and profitability and cashflow and it could support 2 families

Willfarman

lakill Farm wrote: »

lets be honest around here . Its very hard to say if that farm can support 2 families. Nobody knows the loan repayments, sfp or sales.

We all know lads with 300 acres who cant afford a can of coke and lads with 100 acres who have a fine tidy set up.

Right set up and profitability and cashflow and it could support 2 families

That sums it up. Belter of a post there lad.

severeoversteer

onyerbikepat wrote: »

Could he not just get new tyres? :D:D

try telling him that, he does be driven it on the road just to keep the thing workin
else it would be parked up because he has feck all work for it

joejobrien

The question I would ask is,
1. has he got the ability, determination and will power first of all.
2.If he hasnt any of the above, none of the above mentioned post will apply. stay where you are!!!
3.Experience in financialy planning would be a good resquite especially as we are in volitility??
4 I would agree with farmer pudsey in so far acqiring an off farm work to supplement during growth, remember you will have years of nothing but excerise, and this needs to balance on the good years
5. in relation to having no massive borrowing.........is that definitive??? as one may see 50k enmorous , someone else may be comfortable at 150k.
6. I am not running down the proposable but just be careful, talk is and can be cheap. It will be you that will be saddle and not the experts.
8. I would presume the 80/100 acres is of good quality land and not foresty type.
9. Has this person in question done any research currently, if he hasnt , draw your own conculisions.
10.Either way, best of luck to him what ever he chooses