options for farm

johnny122

Hi all


Just hoping someone might come up with an idea or two that I havnt thought of with regard where to go with farm.

Current situation is running 50 odd dairy cows and keep most of calves to beef. Could drop beef n milk say 70 cows , currently I work off farm but do milking morn n evenings and weekends are used to do odd job's. Father looks after the place during day and does some milkings.
Anyway finding it tough going at present as not enough time for family etc..
Farm needs 50k investment on cubicle housing , roadways and some parlour improvements. In order to take 70 cows.
Currently no debt
So my options.

A. Give up job. Circa 50k
B. Continue as is and try to streamline
C. Hire in Labour
D. Other options?

epfff

johnny122 wrote: »

Hi all


Just hoping someone might come up with an idea or two that I havnt thought of with regard where to go with farm.

Current situation is running 50 odd dairy cows and keep most of calves to beef. Could drop beef n milk say 70 cows , currently I work off farm but do milking morn n evenings and weekends are used to do odd job's. Father looks after the place during day and does some milkings.
Anyway finding it tough going at present as not enough time for family etc..
Farm needs 50k investment on cubicle housing , roadways and some parlour improvements. In order to take 70 cows.
Currently no debt
So my options.

A. Give up job. Circa 50k
B. Continue as is and try to streamline
C. Hire in Labour
D. Other options?

What do you enjoy doing most

mickey1985

Im in a similar position to yourself and im trying to decide which to do. I think its a non runner continuing to do both as your life work balance isnt there especially at this time of the year. As epfff said it comes down to which you enjoy doing the most. Your father wont always be there to look after the place when your at work. Earning 50k is good salary would you consider sticking at that and maybe leasing the land or moving to drystock where less labour will be required.

freedominacup

A neighbour who works full time as a secondary school teacher installed a robot last year. His father is getting on a bit and I reckon the milking was getting too much for him. Fairly compact grazing block. Around 70 cows. Might be different to your position in that he has shortish days and long holidays. I'm sure he's fairly flat out this week catching up on any jobs long fingered over the past month but at least he has the time. Hard to turn your back on a 50k salary to go milking 70 cows.

AP2014

johnny122 wrote: »

Hi all


Just hoping someone might come up with an idea or two that I havnt thought of with regard where to go with farm.

Current situation is running 50 odd dairy cows and keep most of calves to beef. Could drop beef n milk say 70 cows , currently I work off farm but do milking morn n evenings and weekends are used to do odd job's. Father looks after the place during day and does some milkings.
Anyway finding it tough going at present as not enough time for family etc..
Farm needs 50k investment on cubicle housing , roadways and some parlour improvements. In order to take 70 cows.
Currently no debt
So my options.

A. Give up job. Circa 50k
B. Continue as is and try to streamline
C. Hire in Labour
D. Other options?

Anything but option A, 50k if private sector is a decent salary.

arthur daly

AP2014 wrote: »

Anything but option A, 50k if private sector is a decent salary.

I agree big time here..it leaves you something reliable to make up any short falls.
Option c is a very good choice (if you keep your job)get someone part time 20h a week

johnny122

freedominacup wrote: »

A neighbour who works full time as a secondary school teacher installed a robot last year. His father is getting on a bit and I reckon the milking was getting too much for him. Fairly compact grazing block. Around 70 cows. Might be different to your position in that he has shortish days and long holidays. I'm sure he's fairly flat out this week catching up on any jobs long fingered over the past month but at least he has the time. Hard to turn your back on a 50k salaryu to go milking 70 cows.

Do robots not. require someone to be always
On call nearby ? How dors hé get around this?

johnny122

arthur daly wrote: »

I agree big time here..it leaves you something reliable to make up any short falls.
Option c is a very good choice (if you keep your job)get someone part time 20h a week

Question is should i take somone fulltime eg manager. What kinda bobs would u be talkin

freedominacup

johnny122 wrote: »

Do robots not. require someone to be always
On call nearby ? How dors hé get around this?

His father is still active.

Panch18

Well one option you haven't listed above is going drystock route

I'd say you have circa 100 acres judging by what you are saying above - if you make 200 an acre per year from it that's 20k on top of your 50k salary - that's a nice packet outside of Dublin. And considering you have 50k guaranteed - then it doesn't matter if you make 15k one year and 25k the next, its just bonus money

and it keeps you farming, keeps you interested. And the work is pretty easy as well, check them daily, bit of fertiliser and topping, dosing etc could be done at weekends, the work load is low. Avoid the suckler route though!!

Fair hard to beat the part time farmer route

johnny122

Panch18 wrote: »

Well one option you haven't listed above is going drystock route

I'd say you have circa 100 acres judging by what you are saying above - if you make 200 an acre per year from it that's 20k on top of your 50k salary - that's a nice packet outside of Dublin. And considering you have 50k guaranteed - then it doesn't matter if you make 15k one year and 25k the next, its just bonus money

and it keeps you farming, keeps you interested. And the work is pretty easy as well, check them daily, bit of fertiliser and topping, dosing etc could be done at weekends, the work load is low. Avoid the suckler route though!!

Fair hard to beat the part time farmer route

More geared upw for the dairy route and would like to continue that if possible. But maybe the day is in it , well maybe it's time to get out!

C0N0R

Expand the dairy farm and pay for a farm manager, once his salary is a reasonable amount less than yours your flying, seventy cows should have no problems paying him a wage and leaving something for You and leaving you with a Decent quality of life.

Panch18

johnny122 wrote: »

More geared upw for the dairy route and would like to continue that if possible. But maybe the day is in it , well maybe it's time to get out!

Don't be afraid to go against the flow!! There's going to be some serious burnings in Irish dairy in the next few years - although you don't have borrowings so it shouldn't be a problem for you

And any farm set up as dairy will make a very easy to manage dry stock farm - it would be a joy

Drystock sounds like it could be the job for you though - less work, less stress and whatever you make is a bonus!!

frazzledhome

Give up the job. Push up to 70 cows. Should be able to pull €900 to €1k per cow, needless to say you'll need to be on top of your game but it's doable.

Is the 50k you have to spend for compliance or to make things handier?

There's no money in drystock if anyone here is to be believed. Have you considered getting someone in to milk in the evenings?

You could of course lease you farm tax free and keep your job

Lots of options

Greengrass1

Where does your dad come in the equation?
Is he self efficient?
Have talked to a few farmers who says the yr they had to pay tax man most was when they milked 70 cows ie. Made good money

Grueller

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Where does your dad come in the equation?
Is he self efficient?
Have talked to a few farmers who says the yr they had to pay tax man most was when they milked 70 cows ie. Made good money

Just like in any other job, earn more and you pay more tax.

Farmer Pudsey

Some are against you going full time but it has to be an option, I think it is either that or exit milk. No point in paying a farm manager who will be there maybe 50 hours a week. You may still need to do one milking a day and cover weekends.

Assuming that because of working full time you have not maxed o/p from 50 cows. I will assume that average milk price is 33c/L over 5 years. 50 cows milking 6K Litres/year is a turnover of 99K on milk we can assume that drystock is bringing in another 4-5K profit maybe.

If you went full time 70 cows milking 7K litres/year is 162K in turnover would you hold onto half the extra turnover??. A robot is a possible answer but have you the skills to manage it and maximise it. I think it will only milk 60 cows. It will also require you to be there a fair amount of time as well.

Is your wife/partner working as well if so you will have a weekly wage coming in anyway. The other choice is drystock, maybe 70-80 bullocks leaving 15-20K/year but no extra debt to pay off.

larthehar

I just just going to say do the maths but trust Puds to get in there with it!!
As a previous poster said, I really depends on what you want to do. To me it sounds like you want to milk but are afraid of losing the 50k comfort! Wouldn't blame you either, I would hold out a few years until the true impact of quota removal will be.my personal opinion, I see over production cause milk price to drop followed by heavy culling causing the beef price to drop. I hope I m wrong, but I will be holding onto the day job for another while and keep my drystock system running..
Before I get reported for abuse by the dairy boys, that's only my opinion and I admire your faith!!

ihatewinter

You're earning 50k per year in your job. Is the farm income worth it, as you're only working and killing yourself to pay Revenue. When you factor in all PRSI, PAYE, USC etc, you're paying 50% on what you make on over the standard rate cut off point.

Carrigogunnell

Definately hold onto that job anyway. Whats your palour like units feeding and also wats the lenght of ur calving. How flexible are u at work if things go bad in the morning is it ok to go in late or have to leave early or take the day off short notice all these make a big difference.

ganmo

Sub contract your job

On a more serious note, you could look at going milking once a day all year

Markcheese

Also thinking once a day milking - contract out more stuff maybe use a relief milker to get a bit more free time -
You could see how you go before investing -
On the manager side - you have to pay him good year or bad - could always look locally for a share farmer , who'd be incentivized to improve farm-stock-and profit to both ye're benefits .

Cran

If you want to go full time, I d say do it. 50k off farm is not the same as 50k profit on farm. Anyone part time farming will tell you that. I earn considerable more off farm here, but decision will need to be made next 2/3 years and it wouldn't be based on what is the bigger number.

One thing I would say is what's your options in scale and enterprises. My place is in one piece, and can really do any enterprise as land is very good. Need to look at all options, if at limit to survive on farm at the moment go full time without alternatives or option to grow. It mighten be a long term viabLe option then???

One question is for each enterprise what's the required minimum ground to make a living? i.e pay mortgage, take holiday etc

Farmer Pudsey

ihatewinter wrote: »

You're earning 50k per year in your job. Is the farm income worth it, as you're only working and killing yourself to pay Revenue. When you factor in all PRSI, PAYE, USC etc, you're paying 50% on what you make on over the standard rate cut off point.

You could also question is the off farm income worth it. 50K off farm is not worth anything as much as say 50K farm income.

Carrigogunnell wrote: »

Definately hold onto that job anyway. Whats your palour like units feeding and also wats the lenght of ur calving. How flexible are u at work if things go bad in the morning is it ok to go in late or have to leave early or take the day off short notice all these make a big difference.

I think he has achoice to make because he says he can scale to 70 cows it is either full time milk or dry stock.

Markcheese wrote: »

Also thinking once a day milking - contract out more stuff maybe use a relief milker to get a bit more free time -
You could see how you go before investing -
On the manager side - you have to pay him good year or bad - could always look locally for a share farmer , who'd be incentivized to improve farm-stock-and profit to both ye're benefits .

Maybe once a day would be an option but it back to the robot milker as well. I agree I do not think it is viable to hire a farm manager/full time worker. He will need his month holidays and B/H etc off. Say he was there 50 hours a week and you paid him an income of 40K it will be costing you in the region of 45K and after that while he is on holiday say relief milker at 70/shift. You would also have to factor in that he is entitled to two week off during the June-August period.

johnny122

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

You could also question is the off farm income worth it. 50K off farm is not worth anything as much as say 50K farm income.




I think he has achoice to make because he says he can scale to 70 cows it is either full time milk or dry stock.




Maybe once a day would be an option but it back to the robot milker as well. I agree I do not think it is viable to hire a farm manager/full time worker. He will need his month holidays and B/H etc off. Say he was there 50 hours a week and you paid him an income of 40K it will be costing you in the region of 45K and after that while he is on holiday say relief milker at 70/shift. You would also have to factor in that he is entitled to two week off during the June-August period.

Lads thanks for all your replies.

First off I've ruled out robot as 1 the farm is not laid out square enough for one and 2 all I would be doing is moving out of the pit to cleans sensors etc morning n evening and gather cows that couldn't be arsed to come in for milking , unless I went all indoors couldn't see them in anyway reducing my time on the farm.

Second I have more or less ruled out the manager option because A of cost and B well he would probably be 5 day week man plus holidays so that leaves the weekends still a problem and holidays to be covered.

Someone said lease that's not happening either although the tax incentives are huge! Auld lad wouldn't have it.

Someone asked where was aulds lad fixed in all this . Well he has income to help out but wants to carry on farming while he can. But he won't be able to go forever. And deserves less work whether he wants or agrees to that remains to be seen.

So where does all that leave me? Well looks like someone for maybe 20ish hours a week for the moment , problem is it's quiet hard to get a lad that it would suit and who was reasonably reliable and good as working for farmers is fairly dead end job to be fair. But as I see it try get someone and continue to build to 70ish cows and put the infrastructure on fast forward to deal with that. And hold onto the job for another few years until it's done. Now all I have to do is convince the other half! Oh could be a late night!!

freedominacup

johnny122 wrote: »

Lads thanks for all your replies.

First off I've ruled out robot as 1 the farm is not laid out square enough for one and 2 all I would be doing is moving out of the pit to cleans sensors etc morning n evening and gather cows that couldn't be arsed to come in for milking , unless I went all indoors couldn't see them in anyway reducing my time on the farm.

Second I have more or less ruled out the manager option because A of cost and B well he would probably be 5 day week man plus holidays so that leaves the weekends still a problem and holidays to be covered.

Someone said lease that's not happening either although the tax incentives are huge! Auld lad wouldn't have it.

Someone asked where was aulds lad fixed in all this . Well he has income to help out but wants to carry on farming while he can. But he won't be able to go forever. And deserves less work whether he wants or agrees to that remains to be seen.

So where does all that leave me? Well looks like someone for maybe 20ish hours a week for the moment , problem is it's quiet hard to get a lad that it would suit and who was reasonably reliable and good as working for farmers is fairly dead end job to be fair. But as I see it try get someone and continue to build to 70ish cows and put the infrastructure on fast forward to deal with that. And hold onto the job for another few years until it's done. Now all I have to do is convince the other half! Oh could be a late night!!

How good are your husbandry skills? Quota is no longer limiting. You are probably thinking in terms of a 5000l cow you could as part of your expansion plans sell current herd and buy a herd of stan's or mahoney's type of cow and be supplying 8000l/cow from spring calving. Much higher top line and those guys have very good production costs with an excellent bottom line. Might make it easier to maintain your current household income. Expansion like this would double your farms output.

johnny122

freedominacup wrote: »

How good are your husbandry skills? Quota is no longer limiting. You are probably thinking in terms of a 5000l cow you could as part of your expansion plans sell current herd and buy a herd of stan's or mahoney's type of cow and be supplying 8000l/cow from spring calving. Much higher top line and those guys have very good production costs with an excellent bottom line. Might make it easier to maintain your current household income. Expansion like this would double your farms output.

I would have to say probably not good enough at present anyway for that type of cow. They need everything set out right for them, and things from housing to yards to roadways need to be above average to top notch, and me the farmer needs excellent technical ability and be very much on the ball, that's my thinking on them anyway. Not saying it couldn't be done or that this type of cow doesn't make good money for lads just they are not for everyone

Panch18

freedominacup wrote: »

How good are your husbandry skills? Quota is no longer limiting. You are probably thinking in terms of a 5000l cow you could as part of your expansion plans sell current herd and buy a herd of stan's or mahoney's type of cow and be supplying 8000l/cow from spring calving. Much higher top line and those guys have very good production costs with an excellent bottom line. Might make it easier to maintain your current household income. Expansion like this would double your farms output.

Surely the high yielder is the wrong type of cow completely for a guy who can't devote enough time as it is to the farm??

If you really want to stay in cows then I would say once a day milking is the way forward for you

freedominacup

Panch18 wrote: »

Surely the high yielder is the wrong type of cow completely for a guy who can't devote enough time as it is to the farm??

If you really want to stay in cows then I would say once a day milking is the way forward for you

I was speaking from a point of view of the op coming home full time. Op you must be a fairly competent person with plenty of ability to be earning a 50k salary. It would only be a case of aiming your abilities in a new direction. Attention to detail would be key with that type of stock but that must be something you're well used to. Just an option.

johnny122

freedominacup wrote: »

I was speaking from a point of view of the op coming home full time. Op you must be a fairly competent person with plenty of ability to be earning a 50k salary. It would only be a case of aiming your abilities in a new direction. Attention to detail would be key with that type of stock but that must be something you're well used to. Just an option.

Yes I took it from the point of view of home full time. I never said I couldn't do it, just they are not as forgiving as your avg cow

just do it

Have you looked at once a day milking? Might be an attractive option

frazzledhome

Johnny, have you considered leasing you cows and rearing heifers. This way you get a return on your cows and similar stock returned after say 5 yrs.

You could do the ai and husbandry for young stock with your boss man still involved. any jobs he couldn't reach on you could catch up on during evenings and weekends.

Say cow at €150/yr would be 10% return with heifer at €1.30/day paid monthly would maintain a healthy cashflow

Count Mondego

As one or 2 posters already pointed out, the 50k job, in reality, mightn't be as crucial as it seems. I'm in much the same position. Asuming the 50k is gross rather than net there as hefty deductions before it gets to you hand, even more so od you're in the public sector with pension levy etc. How far is your commute? Could be spending up to 3k easily on petrol and car maintenance and that's after you've paid tax on the 3k.

If you packed in the job you might be surprised how little you'll be down cash wise and have 40 hours a week back. Not to mention mental and health benefits.

Sam Kade

Panch18 wrote: »

Don't be afraid to go against the flow!! There's going to be some serious burnings in Irish dairy in the next few years - although you don't have borrowings so it shouldn't be a problem for you

And any farm set up as dairy will make a very easy to manage dry stock farm - it would be a joy

Drystock sounds like it could be the job for you though - less work, less stress and whatever you make is a bonus!!

One problem, there's feck all out of dry stock.

Count Mondego

Sam Kade wrote: »

One problem, there's feck all out of dry stock.

Feck all might be a good year, you could easily lose money in a bad year.

Panch18

Sam Kade wrote: »

One problem, there's feck all out of dry stock.

Whilst the returns from drystock are certainly nothing to write home about I disagree that there's feck all out of dry stock when you consider how little work is involved compared to cows, and considering in this situation the poster has a job with an income of 50k or more - how much more does he need? Especially when his time is taken into consideration

with regards to dry stock - I'm assuming the poster has 80-90 acres if he could hold 70 cows and replacements. on 90 acres you could easily buy 45 yearlings in spring and keep them for circa 18 months - so having 45 yearlings and 45 2 year olds on hand for the summer (but only 45 on hand for winter), use a low cost grass based system. These will easily leave 400 a piece after 18 months

So 45 cattle @ 400 profit = 18,000 - on top of his 50k salary gives a total income of 68k.

Realistically he wouldn't be pulling that from 70 cows - especially not every year - and he'd have the money way easier from the 45 cattle - there is

With a 50k a year job - I don't see the point in this poster busting his ass milking cows, working all the hours under the sun, just to give more than half of what he earns to revenue whilst at the same time destroying his family life and/or personal time. Seem a bit pointless to me, but each to their own

Panch18

But looking at the milking parlour thread it seems Johnny has gone for a new miling parlour so cows it is!!

Farmer Pudsey

Panch18 wrote: »

But looking at the milking parlour thread it seems Johnny has gone for a new miling parlour so cows it is!!

I would not go contract rearing for 1.3/day either. Lasy year dairy boys were quoting 1/day. Price seems to have risen as maybe they could not get heifers reared for that. It still needs to rise by another 20c/day to be attractive.

Greengrass1

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I would not go contract rearing for 1.3/day either. Lasy year dairy boys were quoting 1/day. Price seems to have risen as maybe they could not get heifers reared for that. It still needs to rise by another 20c/day to be attractive.

You want 1.50 a day to look at heifers everyday and move them and have 8 wks AI?
you muSt be joking.

ganmo

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I would not go contract rearing for 1.3/day either. Lasy year dairy boys were quoting 1/day. Price seems to have risen as maybe they could not get heifers reared for that. It still needs to rise by another 20c/day to be attractive.

Greengrass1 wrote: »

You want 1.50 a day to look at heifers everyday, spot & treat sick animal & reach targets and move them and have 8 wks AI?
you muSt be joking.

Pudsey has said what it would take for Him to contract rear. he must have done his sums to come up with that 20c

Contract rearing is growing and to keep growing it will have to be attractive to both sides

You don't have to pay it of course

mahoney_j

Greengrass1 wrote: »

You want 1.50 a day to look at heifers everyday and move them and have 8 wks AI?
you muSt be joking.

Fair price if lad rearing them was well up to speed.bit more to it than that gg.id say it d be easy get a lad do it for 80 cent /euro a day but I want someone who would rear my prize stock to a similar level or better than id do myself.too many lads considering contract rearing want someone to do it for peanuts and expect good results

darragh_haven

Greengrass1 wrote: »

You want 1.50 a day to look at heifers everyday and move them and have 8 wks AI?
you muSt be joking.

It was considered here last year at 1.30/day but on the end, neither of the interested parties were will to pay. I'm glad we didn't take it on now.

For me their are only 2 options for the farm. (Not necessarily the same position as the OP)
1. Keep my job and rent out the farm and get it totally tax free on top of my salary. (I've worked two Saturdays in my job in 4 years)
2. Go balls to wall milking cows. Flat out, no holds barred

There is no half way house if it a purely financial decision.

Sticking with option 1 atm.

Greengrass1

mahoney_j wrote: »

Fair price if lad rearing them was well up to speed.bit more to it than that gg.id say it d be easy get a lad do it for 80 cent /euro a day but I want someone who would rear my prize stock to a similar level or better than id do myself.too many lads considering contract rearing want someone to do it for peanuts and expect good results

not expecting anyone to do anything for peanuts why pay 150 a day when you can get a lad who doesn't think his **** is chocolate and do it for 1.20 /1.30 s day and do an excellent job. It's not rocket science to rear heifers.
plenty of lads I've talked to getting 1.20 -1.30 a day and rearing excellent heifers and he is much happier with a cheque every month

Pay the extra 133e to 200e per heifer if ye want

Farmer Pudsey

Greengrass1 wrote: »

You want 1.50 a day to look at heifers everyday and move them and have 8 wks AI?
you muSt be joking.

No AI for 1.5/day either stock bull, if you want them AI'ed it will cost more

Greengrass1 wrote: »

not expecting anyone to do anything for peanuts why pay 150 a day when you can get a lad who doesn't think his **** is chocolate and do it for 1.20 /1.30 s day and do an excellent job. It's not rocket science to rear heifers.
plenty of lads I've talked to getting 1.20 -1.30 a day and rearing excellent heifers and he is much happier with a cheque every month

Pay the extra 133e to 200e per heifer if ye want

I have done the sums, IMO It would not be worth my while to even think of changing system for less than that. This is to rear from 10-12 weeks of age to December pre calving. Lads doing it for less are not as good as Pudsey around the ring and I am in the halfpenny place compared to full time dealers. I am not going to leave a system where I make a decent margin to another system for less than that margin.

frazzledhome

Ffs we're discussing The Op's options so no need to derail to contract rearing. There's a thread for that and as most know nothing about it that's where it should stay. I don't care if its €1 or €5 per day. It doesn't matter

lakill Farm

how about expand the heard to 70 cows and stay with your job

bull your cows to a beef breed and sell the calves - 70 x €200 a calf

From the calf money pay a relief milker, a local person who would do 5 milkings for you a week

70 calves x €200 = €14000
42 weeks milking x 5 milkings x €60 per milking = €15,120

Buy in your replacement heifers in calf and sell culls from parlour

you have less milkings, less stock and still your job and invest in your housing and parlour.

Farmer Pudsey

lakill Farm wrote: »

how about expand the heard to 70 cows and stay with your job

bull your cows to a beef breed and sell the calves - 70 x €200 a calf

From the calf money pay a relief milker, a local person who would do 5 milkings for you a week

70 calves x €200 = €14000
42 weeks milking x 5 milkings x €60 per milking = €15,120

Buy in your replacement heifers in calf and sell culls from parlour

you have less milkings, less stock and still your job and invest in your housing and parlour.

First off if you have 70 cows it will be more like 65-67 calves especially if you work as well. Next 5 milkings/week is say either a morning or evening milking during the week. Op will still have to milk either morning or evening and weekends. He would have to get an average of 7ish milkings to have every second weekend off. So we are at 1 little over 17500 euro.

If he opts for buying in cows lets assume that they average 5500L/year at 33c/L he is turning over 127000. Take away the 17.5K for milking's and he is at less than 110K. However going full time with cows milking 7K litres/cow he is at over 161K so he will be 61K better in turnover. If he keeps his job we can assume his costs will be higher with extra casual labour and extra contracting( fertlizer, topping etc) as well as higher replacment costs. This will defray any extra expenses to do with higher yielding cows. Getting 2 milking done/week on average during the year would cost about 5K and allow for going on holidays when cows are dried off.

Fulltime milking still looks more viable money wise and lifestyle wise.

johnny122

Hi lads thanks for all the replies and info.

Have come to some decisions ,
Going to stick with the cows for the present and invest money in upgrading farm (parlour which was on cards anyway) roadways water some shed work etc.

Plan Is to keep job for two years at least and get farm up to full speed with some casual Labour help and more contractor use.

Going to spend as much on farm in a wise way that will pay back for itself in the future in this way hopefully minimising tax bill. I will then 're access in two years and maybe farm full-time as I will probably be sick of two jobs at that stage

Timmaay

How many acres on the milking block? Is 70 definitely the max?

Farmer Pudsey

johnny122 wrote: »

Hi lads thanks for all the replies and info.

Have come to some decisions ,
Going to stick with the cows for the present and invest money in upgrading farm (parlour which was on cards anyway) roadways water some shed work etc.

Plan Is to keep job for two years at least and get farm up to full speed with some casual Labour help and more contractor use.

Going to spend as much on farm in a wise way that will pay back for itself in the future in this way hopefully minimising tax bill. I will then 're access in two years and maybe farm full-time as I will probably be sick of two jobs at that stage

TBH I think it is either go drystock and work or go fulltime dairy farming. If your wages were higher or your career prospects were very good I thing job and drystock would be best option. Howeverif 50K is arounf your longterm wage outlook then dairy is definately a feasible option. It is more than likly costing you 5K in take home income to go to work every year even allowing some defraying to farm expenses it is still costing you 50-60/week. Travelling time is another factor and if working a 40 hour week along with travelling time and lunch it is 10hours of the day at least tied up to job.

johnny122

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

TBH I think it is either go drystock and work or go fulltime dairy farming. If your wages were higher or your career prospects were very good I thing job and drystock would be best option. Howeverif 50K is arounf your longterm wage outlook then dairy is definately a feasible option. It is more than likly costing you 5K in take home income to go to work every year even allowing some defraying to farm expenses it is still costing you 50-60/week. Travelling time is another factor and if working a 40 hour week along with travelling time and lunch it is 10hours of the day at least tied up to job.

I take your points on higher wages but 50 is about average maybe 60 some years max. Have company vehicle and expenses so the 5 k is irrevalent,