Farming as a Second Job

squinn2912

I'm interested to hear what additional work people on here do along with farming. I'm a teacher and contrary to popular belief you'd rarely make it home for 4.30. I farm with my father who this week is on holiday (he had 2 months of summer when I was off to take the holiday but I'm seeing above that!) so I'm rushing home every evening to get round 2 out farms and the main place. Battle against the dark. I do a bit of running as well so that takes up time but I can do it after dark. I could be being negative but a night's sleep seems to last about 15 mins and then it's a rat race all day to get everything done. This is a heavier week and too many cattle still out - he decided they'd pick up chills if they went in and he wasn't about & we have a bit of repair work to do to one shed so it's all yards and ring feeders at the moment. 
Right there's the rant done be interested to see what other jugglers are out there.

Keepgrowing

squinn2912 wrote: »

I'm interested to hear what additional work people on here do along with farming. I'm a teacher and contrary to popular belief you'd rarely make it home for 4.30. I farm with my father who this week is on holiday (he had 2 months of summer when I was off to take the holiday but I'm seeing above that!) so I'm rushing home every evening to get round 2 out farms and the main place. Battle against the dark. I do a bit of running as well so that takes up time but I can do it after dark. I could be being negative but a night's sleep seems to last about 15 mins and then it's a rat race all day to get everything done. This is a heavier week and too many cattle still out - he decided they'd pick up chills if they went in and he wasn't about & we have a bit of repair work to do to one shed so it's all yards and ring feeders at the moment. 
Right there's the rant done be interested to see what other jugglers are out there.

Instead of complaining about your father taking a break you should've been getting sheds etc washed and ready during your holidays. Get over yourself suck it up and get on with it.

Welcome to the real world

_Brian

I think if you can’t run a farm along with a teaching job and having your father at home you should look at a type of farming that might suit better.

Working full time and running a full time intensive farm are near impossible to do together without running yourself into the ground

In my mind you should be looking at less labour intensive farming and perhaps scale back on stock a bit for breathing space.

Going forward your father won’t be there for ever and in time family commitments may increase with kids etc.

L1985

I agree with some of the above although it's a bit harsh.i think when your farming with your dad it's too easy to constantly think he will pick up the slack. I don't teach and work a 9-530 demanding role so don't get home until 6.inhave to be realistic in what I will and won't get to during the week. I also have to be realistic in terms of what's important and plan what's coming up. I bought cattle in prob 2weeks earlier then I needed to because trying to supplement feed that many animals in the dark is crazy. I also focused on getting the yards and housing so I can move them or do whatever needs doing in my own if needed. Luckily works agreed to change my hours so I'm now 930-6 which gives me a bit more breathing space in the mornings. You can't kill yourself as then you do two jobs badly.
It can be a juggle as my dads v up and down with his health and I just have it in my head that he can't do anything so then anything he does do is a help not essential.
I think the key is planning and yard layout. I don't know re the stocking rate as we have built ours up rather then down but efficiency is what's important. I value my time. Storm Brian's made a mess of things for me as load of fences down but just have to factor it in. Gave my neighbour two trees just so I can get the fence cleared off as it will be a month before I can get to them. I would love to have the summer months off but it doesn't happen so your blessed to have that. Focus on the important and don't be afraid to get someone in to do the jobs you can't get to. And ignore what your dad says when you do!!!

squinn2912

L1985 wrote: »

I agree with some of the above although it's a bit harsh.i think when your farming with your dad it's too easy to constantly think he will pick up the slack. I don't teach and work a 9-530 demanding role so don't get home until 6.inhave to be realistic in what I will and won't get to during the week. I also have to be realistic in terms of what's important and plan what's coming up. I bought cattle in prob 2weeks earlier then I needed to because trying to supplement feed that many animals in the dark is crazy. I also focused on getting the yards and housing so I can move them or do whatever needs doing in my own if needed. Luckily works agreed to change my hours so I'm now 930-6 which gives me a bit more breathing space in the mornings. You can't kill yourself as then you do two jobs badly.
It can be a juggle as my dads v up and down with his health and I just have it in my head that he can't do anything so then anything he does do is a help not essential.
I think the key is planning and yard layout. I don't know re the stocking rate as we have built ours up rather then down but efficiency is what's important. I value my time. Storm Brian's made a mess of things for me as load of fences down but just have to factor it in. Gave my neighbour two trees just so I can get the fence cleared off as it will be a month before I can get to them. I would love to have the summer months off but it doesn't happen so your blessed to have that. Focus on the important and don't be afraid to get someone in to do the jobs you can't get to. And ignore what your dad says when you do!!!

Harsh is a mild word for that. Rude would be another. My father has a much better mind for this than me so I'm happy to be under guidance. I spent all but 5 days during the summer working along with him. I don't take any money for my work and help out with the bills as best i can. My point was merely a quip that it would've suited better with longer days and me being available fir all of them. I'm more than happy he's having a break and am not complaining.
He does have to do the lions share during the week and he leaves the two man jobs for when I get home
As you say it's worth prioritizing and planning so that the focus is on effiency rather than fire fighting

kk.man

I teach as well. I'd give anything to have a second pair of hands never mind a second pair of eyes around the place.
I keep a small flock of sheep and dry ewe lambs over the winter. I buy cattle in the spring and finish them off grass. Last 4 going this evening. There is value in buying cattle in the spring if you know the system. I make hay which I sell to a horse guy.
Do an hours work in evening and most of Saturday. I take it easy on Sunday. It night not be everyone cup of tea but I like it and always looking for efficiencies in the system.

I cringe on the mistakes I did in the earlier years but think I may have it sorted now.

Who2

Harsh it may seem, but if you genuinely cant cope, with the holidays and days off and the number you said you were running, then your going to have to look at other options. plenty of lads around me working longer hours and running 50-60 sucklers in the evenings and weekends. if you want to stay farming and youve a full time job your going to have to look at investing in every time saving opportunity that comes along. Good fences,decent sheds, good handling facilities and then learn to be time efficient. Theres too many lads would spend half a day pricking around welding up or repairing a 12 foot gate without thinking about it, yet wouldnt consider theyd have a new one dropped in the yard at the same price. Fencing is another prime example, out patching ditches with bits of rolls of wire constantly or getting it done right on day one.
When your working also you dont have time for sick animals, so you have to stay on top of things, like vaccinations and dosing. one sick animal could eat up more time than all the rest put together.

kk.man

A late Uncle of mine who did not have much of an education said to me once when I took over the place...never waste a day. The best advice I ever got.

squinn2912

Well we're a wee bit away from not being able to cope just yet. It's a tough time of year and we're not in yet. We should have had squeezing, weaning and housing all done earlier and it would be a doddle right now but all was put back a bit because of chasing the weather all year. I had testing in the middle of all this week and it just made me wonder how others deal with it.
A good system means an hour or two in the evening does most of it then a good charge on a Saturday.
Getting all those things in place is important but there's a balance between that and getting the use out of investments too. No wand to do all at once.
Just closing the gate now then up and change for an hours running then iron the shirts and some quality time. Hardly too bad a way of managing things

squinn2912

kk.man wrote: »

A late Uncle of mine who did not have much of an education said to me once when I took over the place...never waste a day. The best advice I ever got.

Class! That's it in a nutshell

anthony500_1

Work 8 to 5 here, as a carpenter, 5 days, im building a house so that's Saturday, and half day Sunday farming, other 6 days spend an hour to hour and a half after work farming, and I have no one to give a help out even though I'm 35, have a mix of 8 sucklers and a lock of dry stock. would have the mother who would make sure nothing is dead but that's about it, and a sister who complains if she has to let the dog out for a run. There is 24hrs in a day, 8 spent sleeping, 8 spent working, and there is another 8 to do as you please, time management is key, waste 5min a day and that's 30hrs a year, might not sound like much but add up all the 5min you waste and it equates to a lot of hours lost.

squinn2912

Well that is 9 hours working plus travel time but you're dead right it's about managing time and saving it where you can. Simple things like having the meal filled make a difference. The one thing we can't redeem is time.
I have a system that every second day is 3-4 hours in the evening otherwise 2 flat will do it

BENDYBINN

kk.man wrote: »

A late Uncle of mine who did not have much of an education said to me once when I took over the place...never waste a day. The best advice I ever got.

Roughly translated _ be a slave to the place!
Do you go on holidays? Sure that would be 14days wasted.
I pity your attitude

Grueller

BENDYBINN wrote: »

Roughly translated _ be a slave to the place!
Do you go on holidays? Sure that would be 14days wasted.
I pity your attitude

I wouldn't take it that way. I often have days where I feel like doing nothing. Shake myself and get going and can often get through a lock of work. They could be the days he means. It's all about interpretation.

kk.man

BENDYBINN wrote: »

Roughly translated _ be a slave to the place!
Do you go on holidays? Sure that would be 14days wasted.
I pity your attitude

I have been on holidays in most of Ireland and all over Europe in the last 20 odd years. USA next on the list.
Think you have the wrong end of the stick.

kerryjack

BENDYBINN wrote: »

Roughly translated _ be a slave to the place!
Do you go on holidays? Sure that would be 14days wasted.
I pity your attitude

14 days holidays in spain with wife and kids now thats hard work, give me tipping around on the small farm on a beautiful summer's day now thats paradise.

Biscuitus

Time management is crucial on a farm. Work as hard as you can during the Summer months so you don't have the panic coming up to housing. I write down a list of jobs that need to be done and then check the weather to see what takes priority.

There is no end to rain here even during our hottest months so when it does I'm straight out in the sheds cleaning, power washing, fixing, painting etc

With that said I don't know how lads work full time outside farming with calving down 20-30 cows in Spring and looking after young kids.

Grueller

Biscuitus wrote: »

Time management is crucial on a farm. Work as hard as you can during the Summer months so you don't have the panic coming up to housing. I write down a list of jobs that need to be done and then check the weather to see what takes priority.

There is no end to rain here even during our hottest months so when it does I'm straight out in the sheds cleaning, power washing, fixing, painting etc

With that said I don't know how lads work full time outside farming with calving down 20-30 cows in Spring and looking after young kids.

To address the last paragraph, contractors and lots of them. I know that I under use them but that is changing as time goes on. All my sheds were made and erected by myself with only slatted tanks done by contractors. I am planning a shed for next spring start atm and I will only lift a hand to write the cheques this time.
Within the next year or two I will be buying fert bulk spread.
Also, any more than 1.5 bales of straw per cow per year and you are wasting your life bedding. I house about 90 adult females between suckler and in calf replacement heifers a sing 100 bales of straw. Slats are the biggest labour saver of all. The saving on straw will pay for them over a few years.

Muckit

Biscuitus wrote: »

Time management is crucial on a farm.

I don't know how lads work full time outside farming with calving down 20-30 cows in Spring and looking after young kids.

I'd agree with you. Very hard have time for everything. You can't be fully in the moment if you are thinking about the farm while with family. Realise whats important and prioritise as you'll be doing neither right. Cut your cloth to suit your measure. A system that was in place with the generation that wet before will have to be adapted or changed altogether if farming is to be a part of your life. And perhaps in situations, time nor money will not allow for it. And that's ok too.

squinn2912

It's a pity but people seem to be deliberately misconstruing the meaning behind the posts on this thread. I began the thread for a bit of craic and to get an insight into how other people similar to me operate but if there's a negative way to take things then that seems to be the way to go. There have been some positive, supportive and helpful contributions but maybe we're all better off catching a grip and getting back to work. Jumping on the offensive like this is what I spend time sorting out with kids in school.

kerryjack

Your looking at becoming a part-time farmer right, your occupation should suit this practice.

J.O. Farmer

BENDYBINN wrote: »

Roughly translated _ be a slave to the place!
Do you go on holidays? Sure that would be 14days wasted.
I pity your attitude

It depends on whether you count holidays as a waste of time or not.

It could also be roughly translated as live every day. Don't just sit at home feeling sorry for yourself get out and do something and enjoy life as it's short.

As for the OP you work as a teacher and the school day as far as I remember is only 9-4. Most lads working full time will have core hours of 9-5.30 or something similar so you have more daylight than most if you want it and your OP sounded a little bit like you were feeling sorry for yourself.

However there's good advice here regarding thinking about changing the system and looking at improving the facilities. Rome wasn't built in a day but it takes planning to get there.

farming93

Work an 8 to 6 job .. leave at seven and get back at 6 30 unless I work weekend's I would leave at 7 30 and be home by six thirty. Worked almost everyday in the summer between the two, but as a rule I dont work Sunday on the farm unless I really have to. Got home tonight and the sheep had broke out onto the grass im saving for next year (had to happen on the week the father is away) anyways a few bushes were put down and I wont get to it till Monday as im on holidays then. I just hope the bushes hold the ewes out till then haha

Dickie10

teaching part time here. geography and history so jobs are very scarce. i had it in my head i would be part time farming and full time teaching but it has worked the other way mostly. lucky enough the farm is fairly big so im not reliant on the teaching but im delighted i did it becuase i love the job and my subjects. i usually work maternity leave and sub day to day in three different schools all within 15 minutes drive. thinking of renting another lump of land that may come up soon its 60 acres which would leave me farming 180acres. id like to take a ten year lease on it. prob will have very little time to teach then but to be honest its the farming thats keeping me going on money front.

ps.
often thought of spongeing two flocks of ewes one for mid term in februaury the other at easter holidays, anyone know hw this would work? how long would it take for 75 ewes to lamb if sponged? say 1:10 ewes to ram

Dickie10

have to add i live in my own homeplace house without mortgage also not married or children so im in a different place to some

MIKEKC

squinn2912 wrote: »

Harsh is a mild word for that. Rude would be another. My father has a much better mind for this than me so I'm happy to be under guidance. I spent all but 5 days during the summer working along with him. I don't take any money for my work and help out with the bills as best i can. My point was merely a quip that it would've suited better with longer days and me being available fir all of them. I'm more than happy he's having a break and am not complaining.
He does have to do the lions share during the week and he leaves the two man jobs for when I get home
As you say it's worth prioritizing and planning so that the focus is on effiency rather than fire fighting

You have to help out with the bills. If the farm can't pay its own bills it's time to close shop

Who2

MIKEKC wrote: »

You have to help out with the bills. If the farm can't pay its own bills it's time to close shop

That's ok when your set up, but I know from my own situation I had to bury money a few times just to get things ticking over nicely.

squinn2912

Who2 wrote: »

MIKEKC wrote: »

You have to help out with the bills. If the farm can't pay its own bills it's time to close shop

That's ok when your set up, but I know from my own situation I had to bury money a few times just to get things ticking over nicely.

Aw now we'll hardly close up over me ponying up for an odd bag of meal, a gate or a drop of diesel!

kk.man

Dickie10 wrote: »

teaching part time here. geography and history so jobs are very scarce. i had it in my head i would be part time farming and full time teaching but it has worked the other way mostly. lucky enough the farm is fairly big so im not reliant on the teaching but im delighted i did it becuase i love the job and my subjects. i usually work maternity leave and sub day to day in three different schools all within 15 minutes drive. thinking of renting another lump of land that may come up soon its 60 acres which would leave me farming 180acres. id like to take a ten year lease on it. prob will have very little time to teach then but to be honest its the farming thats keeping me going on money front.

ps.
often thought of spongeing two flocks of ewes one for mid term in februaury the other at easter holidays, anyone know hw this would work? how long would it take for 75 ewes to lamb if sponged? say 1:10 ewes to ram

If you know little about sheep stay away or start smaller. If you want early lambs make sure you have really good dry ground. A neighbour of mine was doing early lambs for the last 30 years. He stopped last year as it just doesn't pay. A huge meal bill and factories drop the price like a snot. They are getting plenty of carry over hoggets into the spring now.

Dickie10

yeah have a god bit of experience with sheep ,its why im not dairying. trying to get better all the time with what i know. have dry ground all right in south meath. i lamb from feb 1st every year and sometimes get better weather than mid april. just wondering about sponging and its timeframe. i use hampshire down rams, there extremly quick to get up to 20kg deadweight . thats my window between may 1st and june 15

squinn2912

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

BENDYBINN wrote: »

Roughly translated _ be a slave to the place!
Do you go on holidays? Sure that would be 14days wasted.
I pity your attitude

It depends on whether you count holidays as a waste of time or not.

It could also be roughly translated as live every day. Don't just sit at home feeling sorry for yourself get out and do something and enjoy life as it's short.

As for the OP you work as a teacher and the school day as far as I remember is only 9-4. Most lads working full time will have core hours of 9-5.30 or something similar so you have more daylight than most if you want it and your OP sounded a little bit like you were feeling sorry for yourself.

However there's good advice here regarding thinking about changing the system and looking at improving the facilities. Rome wasn't built in a day but it takes planning to get there.

Live every day is right Jo. You work hard and plan well in order to be able to take an odd family day.
On the hours we're nitpicking. My routine is leave home at 7.30 to arrive in work at 8 and set all up for the day. Leave at 4 and be in the yard for 5. Of course some lads have longer hours than me. I started this post in a light hearted way and with interest in how people in other jobs can make more of the time they have. I'm not on here looking sympathy.
There are a few flatteners on here since but the main thrust seems to be happily helpful and encouraging now, including your post.

ganmo

Dickie10 wrote: »

teaching part time here. geography and history so jobs are very scarce. i had it in my head i would be part time farming and full time teaching but it has worked the other way mostly. lucky enough the farm is fairly big so im not reliant on the teaching but im delighted i did it becuase i love the job and my subjects. i usually work maternity leave and sub day to day in three different schools all within 15 minutes drive. thinking of renting another lump of land that may come up soon its 60 acres which would leave me farming 180acres. id like to take a ten year lease on it. prob will have very little time to teach then but to be honest its the farming thats keeping me going on money front.

ps.
often thought of spongeing two flocks of ewes one for mid term in februaury the other at easter holidays, anyone know hw this would work? how long would it take for 75 ewes to lamb if sponged? say 1:10 ewes to ram

There's about a week spread on AI with multiples coming first and singles later

squinn2912

Dickie10 wrote: »

yeah have a god bit of experience with sheep ,its why im not dairying. trying to get better all the time with what i know. have dry ground all right in south meath. i lamb from feb 1st every year and sometimes get better weather than mid april. just wondering about sponging and its timeframe. i use hampshire down rams, there extremly quick to get up to 20kg deadweight . thats my window between may 1st and june 15

Disappointing that with 2 subjects there isn't more work around but I'm pleased it's worked out like that for you, good to have the farming to fall back on and do well out of. Can't offer any input on sheep I'm afraid I know zero about them! Good luck with it!

Dozer1

what makes a pr*ck of most part time farmers is multiple parcels of land.

I'm a relatively small farmer and I've 1 main block then 3 smaller bits and pieces, they are a flipping disaster and a drag on time and money and in fairness they are all under a 5 mile radius.

Sold 2 small fields 2 years ago and hope to sell more in the years to come. whatever it costs 5 - 8 year plan is to be down to 1 block regardless.

Only reason I don't sell them now is the old lad is still going and he bought most of them and there would be war if I consolidated properly.

if you added up all the time we spend drawing cattle to these blocks or drawing fert and silage its a disaster.

charolais0153

Dozer1 wrote: »

what makes a pr*ck of most part time farmers is multiple parcels of land.

I'm a relatively small farmer and I've 1 main block then 3 smaller bits and pieces, they are a flipping disaster and a drag on time and money and in fairness they are all under a 5 mile radius.

Sold 2 small fields 2 years ago and hope to sell more in the years to come. whatever it costs 5 - 8 year plan is to be down to 1 block regardless.

Only reason I don't sell them now is the old lad is still going and he bought most of them and there would be war if I consolidated properly.

if you added up all the time we spend drawing cattle to these blocks or drawing fert and silage its a disaster.

Complaining about too much land

Green&Red

I'm an engineer and its tough going at times. I'm lucky enough that my father is still in good health and strong enough to do most jobs. Recently got a job 15 minutes away from home and its great to be able to get a couple of hours done in the evening but I worry that in another few years my father wont be able to do a lot of the jobs hes doing now. Have been trying the last couple of years to get a better set up to cut down on time

Being realistic I'll have to cut right back when hes gone and I have kids, I just couldnt manage the two

Dozer1

its too much in the wrong place, margins are tight, I'm at the end of a five year lease on a lovely 8.5 acres with a pen that I fenced and watered with a reasonable rate and will probably drop it.

the fields my dad would have bought range from .5 to 3.5 acres and not connected.

I've 2 small kids and I'd rather spend time with them and have a smaller return from the farm.

Both my wife and I have good jobs and I don't see running around the place checking/moving stock in the evening/weekends

tomwaterford

Dozer1 wrote: »

its too much in the wrong place, margins are tight, I'm at the end of a five year lease on a lovely 8.5 acres with a pen that I fenced and watered with a reasonable rate and will probably drop it.

the fields my dad would have bought range from .5 to 3.5 acres and not connected.

I've 2 small kids and I'd rather spend time with them and have a smaller return from the farm.

Both my wife and I have good jobs and I don't see running around the place checking/moving stock in the evening/weekends

I'd be inclined to keep them....even as places for sites for your kids,down the line


Even if you just cut them for silage etc.....8 -10 years your kids will be older and not as time consuming/be wanting to spend more time with their mates/pasttimes etc

Grueller

I have a block about 8 miles from the yard. Substantial enough block, but it is on borrowed time. The first parcel that comes up for sale beside me will see it on the market. The time cost of that block is savage compared to the home farm.

squinn2912

We're in a similar position - a big amount of time is spent on the road to out farms. Would you consider leasing it out rather than selling it and then bide your time, hoping that something will come up closer to home for you then you can sell one to buy the other. You have kids as well, maybe there'd be a site on the smaller blocks for the future?

Dozer1

with the way things are going it'll be a few years before they are sold but I would see no value in keeping them for sites and guys lets be honest most of our kids will probably not be living locally.

Yes we are both planning for our kids future but it won't be keeping sites for them, who knows by then they mightn't give planning on 1 off houses so it would be delaying for the sake of it. life is too short

Grueller

squinn2912 wrote: »

We're in a similar position - a big amount of time is spent on the road to out farms. Would you consider leasing it out rather than selling it and then bide your time, hoping that something will come up closer to home for you then you can sell one to buy the other. You have kids as well, maybe there'd be a site on the smaller blocks for the future?

Not sure if this was for me or Dozer1. I have all of the above as well. I would be reluctant to rent it out as I have put a lot of work into building it up in terms of fence, soil indices etc. Also I would have to de-stock considerably. This could impact me negatively as trying to re stock to the type of stock that I have worked to breed if land came up more locally would be expensive and require time spent looking into mart rings, which I hate more than travelling to an out farm.

Cran

squinn2912 wrote: »

We're in a similar position - a big amount of time is spent on the road to out farms. Would you consider leasing it out rather than selling it and then bide your time, hoping that something will come up closer to home for you then you can sell one to buy the other. You have kids as well, maybe there'd be a site on the smaller blocks for the future?

Think is an interesting conversation that probably requires its own trend.

Farm here all one block and I work full time off farm for the moment, have fella 20 hours a week and more during lambing. Run 750 ewes and plan to increase, not a hope in hell of doing it if farm was scattered.

Farm365

What do people think of part time dairy farming? Would you manage 60 cows milking once a day and working 9-5pm with a short commute? Good facilities, all calves sold at 2wks, replacement heifers bought in etc

MIKEKC

charolais0153 wrote: »

Complaining about too much land

Not complaining about too much land. Only about it being in a number of blocks

Mf310

Farm365 wrote:

What do people think of part time dairy farming? Would you manage 60 cows milking once a day and working 9-5pm with a short commute? Good facilities, all calves sold at 2wks, replacement heifers bought in etc

Id think dairy would nearly be the easiest to do part time as long as you have the right facilities e.g quick parlour - 16 unit for the 60 cows -waste no time waiting for cows to milk ... and also that you get contractors to do all machinery work like fertiliser, slurry and even to feed cows during winter/spring . Ud manage cows part time with help in spring if it was a simple set up like you say calves sold at 2 weeks old , no stock on out farms to look at.. compared to sheep which you have to get in to weigh them take them to factory or mart or cattle buying in cattle in marts and selling cattle..

The big thing aswell is you have more of a margin with dairy that you can hire labour to help you

tomwaterford

Farm365 wrote: »

What do people think of part time dairy farming? Would you manage 60 cows milking once a day and working 9-5pm with a short commute? Good facilities, all calves sold at 2wks, replacement heifers bought in etc

There's lad rearing families on 60 cows....do a few relief milkings to bulk out money??


But I guess youd want to well established maybe for that??
How much less milk will you have for once a day vs twice??

Who2

The real question is do we really need a second job

tractorporn

Grueller wrote:

I have a block about 8 miles from the yard. Substantial enough block, but it is on borrowed time. The first parcel that comes up for sale beside me will see it on the market. The time cost of that block is savage compared to the home farm.

You could be talking about our place there too. In exactly the same position. I actually tried to buy a piece beside me earlier this year and I was going to sell the piece 8 miles away to pay for it but it was taken off the market in the end.

We have 140 acres in 4 different parcels 40 sucker cows and 100 ewes. I'm currently working full time and dad is still plugging away. I have been offered a 4 day week in work next year and a 3 day week in 2019 so that's the plan for me. I couldnt see how id manage with a full time job and that size of a farm. We have a 1 year old at home and my wife already complains that I'm not home enough.

I can't see the sheep being kept as it's at a busy time for work was considering tillage to replace it but I might be better off with a few store lambs.

kerryjack

Who2 wrote: »

The real question is do we really need a second job

One lad down ourway gave up the 9 to 5 job and gone full time farming he moved back in with his mother, rents out his house in the summer months and tries to do everything himself on the farm, he used to have a long commute but not any more thats gone. He said himself he is going to live off grants he planted some bad land as well and he is going to spend nothing .A lot of part-time farmers don't relise the money they pump in to there farms going to agri store for a few bags of feed all adds up.

MF290

Who2 wrote: »

The real question is do we really need a second job

Think the real question is do we need to farm