Who Should I rent to?

Mac63

Hi there,
I'm looking for some advice on who is best to rent to. I have a few acres of grassland. I'm not around to look after it myself and due to my neighbour who's field is full of nettles and thistles my field is now getting dirty with thistles and nettles. My options so far are:
1) let a guy in on it with a few sheep to eat down the dead grass for a month. He will then spray it for me if he can take a cut of grass. No payment, he sorts out the weeds, and the field is cut. 
2) Rent it to a farmer who will take two cuts off it, hay then silage? and put a few young cattle on after until the 1st December  for 1500. But he won't spray it.
I want what's best for the land, it's not really about money but what's best for the land. I had rented last year and the year before that and the two separate people weren't great (i.e. dead sheep on the land and very lazy, tubs left everywhere etc)
I suppose what I'm asking is it better to get it sprayed? or just let the other guy take two cuts off it?

handlemaster

How many acres ?
Where in the country are you?
If your renting out land forget about this notion of whats best for the land concentrate on who will pay and pay on time with the least of hassle.

No body is going to be looking after your land adding value.

Mac63

Yeah I know that, but I'm trying to make the best out of two not great options. If I don't spray it the land is going to be overrun by next year.  The guy who says he will spray I hope will or he'll be cutting dirty hay.
11 acres in Meath. I know the guy will pay me but as for the least hassle that I'm not confident on. Thanks for your reply

pedigree 6

I'm sorry but I had to post this.
The second farmer is willing to pay to take a cut of thistles and nettles for hay or silage but won't go with a simple spray.:pac::D

Ain't he some eegit.:p
I bet he sells the silage to some poor other eegit too. Ha.

For your own information. If you wanted to get rid of thistles without spraying.
Top the thistles when it's raining or top the thistles and spread dirty water on them.
The water goes into the cut stump of the thistle and rots out the thistle.

Topping won't work on nettles though. Have to spray them. But they are easy to kill with Grazon 90, etc.

pedigree 6

Actually forget about the sheep men.
See if any dairy men are in the area who would take it.
I'd take it if I was near you.
All land I've taken I had to plough and reseed before farming it properly.

Actually advertise it with an auctioneer on condition that whoever takes it sprays the weeds or else take back yourself and do it.

There's some good farmers out there who would take it not all jokers.

Mac63

I thought the same,  to me if a farmer is willing to cut hay from a dirty field he has no pride in his work. And in the past I was on the receiving end of a cute bugger selling me straw that was wetter than the straw I had already bedded down.
Why forget sheep? I always find cattle harder on the land apart from Dexters who I use to breed.
Would you know why the first fella wants to put sheep on before he sprays? He keeps saying its to eat the dead grass, but can he spray with the grass as it is? It did have sheep on last year and to me looked well eaten down. Question I'm asking is can he spray without the dead grass being eaten off? Thanks

handlemaster

OP from my experience forget the m'en that promise to do this and that. It rearly materialises. Advertise with a good agent. They will help sniff out the chancers.

Mac63

Believe it or not I did that last year and the agent was worse than the chancers. He rented it to his own brother and was just full of ****e... Telling you want you want to hear. There is a good landowner nearby who rents his land to fairly decent blokes so I might see if any of them are interested as it's all nearby for them too.

handlemaster

Ive bee there with the bad agent route also. Its hit and miss. Just good if you get a good one.

Mooooo

If you leased it for 5 years plus, the income would be tax free, and if Tennant has it for 5 years they would get value out of reseeding and feeding the ground. It's unlikely anyone would do a whole pile for it if it's only a yearly lease

jimini0

Well since you are not too interested in getting money from it for now.
Rent it to the first guy free for this year. But next year he pays goin rate. Get him to clean it up and spray. if he does a good job and you are happy with it. Rent it to him from there on. You can't really lose.

50HX

take your 1500 and get a local lad with a sprayer to spray it for you when the conditions suit - best of both worlds

Username John

Mooooo wrote: »

If you leased it for 5 years plus, the income would be tax free, and if Tennant has it for 5 years they would get value out of reseeding and feeding the ground. It's unlikely anyone would do a whole pile for it if it's only a yearly lease

Would agree with this.

You should be able to get 1.5 - 2k a year tax free, prob closer to the 2k mark...

If you wanted, you could knock down the rent, on condition that the ground is reseeded and lime spread.

A lad taking it for one year won't do much for it, and like everything in life - lads often put little value on things they get too cheap. So you might be better off charging a decent rent, to get a professional kinda lad in,..

Mac63

If I tie into the five year rental I can't sell it which is what I want to do..that's what's holding me back in that that front.
I understand what you're saying ..if you give too cheap, people won't think any better of you. But they also don't want to pay.
I've two farmers offering me everything, spray, fertilise it, good price etc if they can have it but each one tried to get one over me when I was farming, to the outside they appear very professional but they're not happy unless they think they've got one over you

Mac63

If I tie into the five year rental I can't sell it which is what I want to do..that's what's holding me back in that that front.
I understand what you're saying ..if you give too cheap, people won't think any better of you. But they also don't want to pay.
I've two farmers offering me everything, spray, fertilise it, good price etc if they can have it but each one tried to get one over me when I was farming, to the outside they appear very professional but they're not happy unless they think they've got one over you

Username John

Mac63 wrote: »

If I tie into the five year rental I can't sell it which is what I want to do..that's what's holding me back in that that front.
I understand what you're saying ..if you give too cheap, people won't think any better of you. But they also don't want to pay.
I've two farmers offering me everything, spray, fertilise it, good price etc if they can have it but each one tried to get one over me when I was farming, to the outside they appear very professional but they're not happy unless they think they've got one over you

If you're planning to sell it - then why worry what's best for the ground?

Go to an auctioneer, say you want to rent the land for 12 months, give him a price and say payment up front...
Let the lad who takes it do whatever, spray, fertilise, cut, not spray, not fertilise...

Any lad buying it for farming will know what the ground is like, and the fact that it has weeds or not won't make any difference to them...

ganmo

Did ya ever hear about the blind man going to see a field he was going to buy?
He handed the reigns of his donkey to the auctioneer. The auctioneer said that there was no tree to tie it to, so the blind man said just tie it to a thistle. Ah said the the auctioneer there's no weeds either. So the blind man took the reigns back saying if it can't even grow thistles it's not worth buying

Mac63

Thanks Ganmo, sums it up perfectly.

I'm of the opinion that I want it looking as good as I can while it's for sale and my auctioneer was if the same opinion.

Nothing worse than seeing a dirty field, I think it reflects the cut of the person farming/looking after the field.

One question....Can anyone answer me why I need the angel to eat down the dead grass before spraying? It had some dead grass but had sheep on it until last November? Tanx

PMU

dont think them angels like grass

rangler1

Mac63 wrote: »

Thanks Ganmo, sums it up perfectly.

I'm of the opinion that I want it looking as good as I can while it's for sale and my auctioneer was if the same opinion.

Nothing worse than seeing a dirty field, I think it reflects the cut of the person farming/looking after the field.

One question....Can anyone answer me why I need the angel to eat down the dead grass before spraying? It had some dead grass but had sheep on it until last November? Tanx

Don't know what the last paragraph means, but weeds have to be fresh and green and growing for weed killer to work, if the ground is grazed hard the weeds will come back more vibrant

Mac63

Sorry, predictive text. He wants to put sheep!!! On to graze off dead grass, he said for a month...then spray weeds April, then take a cut later in the year. I

Mooooo

If that's the case instead of depending on others why not just spray it yourself.getting your pictures and that up when the aftergrass is coming from when it's cut then. Grazing now may be no harm as you may get a better kill in April when growth would be stronger from the sprays

stanflt

Mac63 wrote: »

Sorry, predictive text. He wants to put sheep!!! On to graze off dead grass, he said for a month...then spray weeds April, then take a cut later in the year. I

I know plenty of dairy farmers that would have the land looking like this in a couple of weeks

Mac63

See to me thats a proud farmer. That's how my family always had the land. And I can't change. I just want the thistles taken care of as I'm not around enough to do it myself. I'm saddened that the general attitude I've been reading is if its rented they will just take what they can and sod the land. Surely even if it's a yearly contract if you look after your investment you will get a better yield?
I've been trying to add a picture but can't see where to add the attachment

stanflt

Mac63 wrote: »

See to me thats a proud farmer. That's how my family always had the land. And I can't change. I just want the thistles taken care of as I'm not around enough to do it myself. I'm saddened that the general attitude I've been reading is if its rented they will just take what they can and sod the land. Surely even if it's a yearly contract if you look after your investment you will get a better yield?
I've been trying to add a picture but can't see where to add the attachment

I'm county Meath too- but on the east side

Mac63

How do I attach a picture?

bogman_bass

Mac63 wrote: »

I'm saddened that the general attitude I've been reading is if its rented they will just take what they can and sod the land. Surely even if it's a yearly contract if you look after your investment you will get a better yield?

That's the problem with renting. The farmer has no security and there is no point in investing in the land for some other lad to get the benefits.

That's the beauty of long term leases. If a farmer has it for 7 years + then it's worth his while to consider things like reseeding lime etc.

Talking to a girl I used to go out with who was an auctioneer, she said that there is no benefit in doing anything beyond topping. Land will still make the same price

Mac63

I think you're right Bogman. I'm nearly decided on a longer lease now, if I can find a decent enough fella.

lakill Farm

Mac63 wrote: »

I think you're right Bogman. I'm nearly decided on a longer lease now, if I can find a decent enough fella.

what part of meath?

might be someone here who could help you directly

Mac63

Just outside of Kells

mf240

ganmo wrote: »

Did ya ever hear about the blind man going to see a field he was going to buy?
He handed the reigns of his donkey to the auctioneer. The auctioneer said that there was no tree to tie it to, so the blind man said just tie it to a thistle. Ah said the the auctioneer there's no weeds either. So the blind man took the reigns back saying if it can't even grow thistles it's not worth buying

Even with the help of his "guide donkey" wasnt he a great man not to let his disability prevent him from expanding his portfolio. .

lakill Farm

Mac63 wrote: »

Just outside of Kells

sure there are a few on here who would be local to you

Id be 20mins plus away

Bass Reeves

Mac63 wrote: »

See to me thats a proud farmer. That's how my family always had the land. And I can't change. I just want the thistles taken care of as I'm not around enough to do it myself. I'm saddened that the general attitude I've been reading is if its rented they will just take what they can and sod the land. Surely even if it's a yearly contract if you look after your investment you will get a better yield?
I've been trying to add a picture but can't see where to add the attachment

One issue with a farmer spraying for you he may just use MCPA, this will kill thistle but it will not kill other weeds, it will just kill there leaves for a year. What will happen then is next year well will again be visible. You need to decide if you are selling or holding it. If you are holding onto it then you are better off with a long term lease. Land that is leased for 5+ years is making more than conacre in general.

If you intend selling it next year you are better off arranging to spray it yourself. In general however farmers that buy land know the quality and only see weeds as a small issue. However if a small holding which may be attractive to a lad that wants to only keep a few horses, cattle or sheep then having it in good nick can extract a higher price...............sometimes.

rangler1

Bass Reeves wrote: »

One issue with a farmer spraying for you he may just use MCPA, this will kill thistle but it will not kill other weeds, it will just kill there leaves for a year. What will happen then is next year well will again be visible. You need to decide if you are selling or holding it. If you are holding onto it then you are better off with a long term lease. Land that is leased for 5+ years is making more than conacre in general.

If you intend selling it next year you are better off arranging to spray it yourself. In general however farmers that buy land know the quality and only see weeds as a small issue. However if a small holding which may be attractive to a lad that wants to only keep a few horses, cattle or sheep then having it in good nick can extract a higher price...............sometimes.

Is MCPA not good enough in most situations, weeds are more a symptom (of poor management ) than the disease.
MCPA plus good management for a few years and then target the problem weeds if they're there. nettles and docks won't thrive in poor fertility and MCPA would be adequate

Mac63

Thanks Bass Reeves
I'll ask the guy, but I'm going on trust he is also taking a cut later on.
I'm going to let it on a longer lease next year 3/5 years.
My dad never wanted me to farm so I'm a bit ignorant on a lot of things, when he passed I decided to have a go and went down the organic route so use to keep on top of them by strimming.
I appreciate your advice thanks

bogman_bass

If looking to lease maybe ring the macra land mobility service.

Mac63

Cheers.