FARMING WITH NO MACHINERY

Gballs

Hi all...
I'm looking for a bit of advice...
I'm running a dairy goat farm and am really struggling with the work load...
The goats are not as I'd like them because I'm trying to keep everything done but getting nothing done right...

I'm considering selling all machinery on the farm ( not that there's that much anyway ) and using a contractor for all jobs...

As the goats are fed haylage all year round I'd have a loader + attachments for the every day jobs...
After that it would be all contractor...

Hiring someone is not an option right now, and even if it was it would be help with the goats I'd need most of all...

Free up some money and not have machines sitting there and only using them 3 or 4 times a year...

What do ye think...

Markcheese

What machinery have you that you want shut of..?
Are you making your own haulage? Have you a neighbouring contractor that you can trust to mow bale ted and wrap when you need it,?

Gballs

Markcheese wrote: »

What machinery have you that you want shut of..?
Are you making your own haulage? Have you a neighbouring contractor that you can trust to mow bale ted and wrap when you need it,?

Tractor, tedder, rake, front mower, chain harrow, fertilizer spreader, bale handler, bale feeder...

There are 2 good local contractors...

cute geoge

Will the contractors work for nothing and then come when it is pissing rain just at the end of a fine spell!!!!
Keep your few purties if they are in good working condition and under cover they will last you the next 20 years

joejobrien

You have a few items, have you a value on them? If selling is to gain funds Id start to question the operation.
Is there loans against these? will you have tax issue if sell?
I think you need to look at how its been run , machinery may be sympthom but if workload is that busy ID be certainly looking improvements and labour saving. Although there is men on here and elsewhere think farmers are ROBOTS. Are You???????

wrangler

Gballs wrote: »

Tractor, tedder, rake, front mower, chain harrow, fertilizer spreader, bale handler, bale feeder...

There are 2 good local contractors...

Maybe you have a big enterprise, but if you haven't, contractors don't want to be hassled by small jobs,
As for valuing your machinery, very few get the values they're quoting on Done Deal, you could be disappointed

bogman_bass

As long as you have the means to feed stock everything else can be contracted out.
Workload is the issue but have you still the problem this time of year? If so it's likely that machinery jobs aren't your main problem. However if work during the summer is when you're under pressure then I say go for it but chat with the contractors first and see if they can do and are willing to do all the jobs you want done

roosterman71

I'll assume the machinery is all bought and paid for already, so I see no need to sell as it isn't costing anything. Then, get contractors in to do the jobs you need done (haylage making is probably the main one). Ya'll have a fallback of being able to mow, shake and rake if they are busy when you need them. Yer only waiting on the baler then, just like you are now.

So if it was me, I'd keep it all and maybe look at work practices and improve them first to get more time for the goats.

Markcheese

How many are you feeding? In how many groups? (as in different rations for different animals)
Are you giving them nuts or míxing straights on site to suit?,( it's unlikely to be worth your while to get a contractor in with a diet feeder...)
I assume they're all on straw, would woodchip cut your workload... (or a straw chopper).