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.