Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

That's true but that land seems good value in today's world for a man looking to buy land.

Given what looks like happening.

It may allow you to hold or increase current numbers slightly

Perhaps calves at home and maidens on outfarm, synchronise for breeding. At end of year bring incalf heifers home and let yearlings clean it off.

Silage perhaps bale silage suit, can be drawn home as needed or get contractor to do it for you

Would think grass and youngstock would give more flexibility compared to maize esp for spring calving herds

Outblocks take time no getting away from it but setting it up as well as possible to minimise the time required would be key.

Good use of contractors, young lad a few pound round breeding for the helping hand etc. Checks as part of school runs or whatever

Regarding thinking ahead for successor, a viable farm today may not be so for the next generation. In this game if you are not expanding you are going backwards. So if you want one of your lads to take over after you they will need bigger than you started with.

For your information I am farming with over 40 years, have seen lots of farms with no successor because their children see no future in it. I have a successor because I have always had a positive progressive view of farming. What young person want to enter a career where all they hear is negativity like you propose.

im farming what would proably be described now as a handy farm (about 165 acres but spread across 5 blocks )it’s as productive a farm as you’ll get bar maby 8 acres .I enjoy what I’m doing …I’ve no interest in milking 200 cows or second blocks don’t mean I’m not progressive …..I’m relastic enough now to accept I’m most likely going to break the link of handing the farm down to one of my kids to farm full or part time that my dad did or my grandfather did to my father …scale just won’t be there to provide enough of an income lucky I’ve the big money spent on sheds parlour etc

The only way farms will survive from generation to generation is if there is sufficient scale to provide 2 incomes, then the old lad can gradually step back and let junior get on with it.

Agree as well. A bit above average industrial wage here being made but the set up is that the parents get a few bob,health insurance paid, electricity paid, car taxed and insured and their heating oil bought.

All of that means that it's not viable for me full time so I work about 20 hours a week on average off farm. I am lucky that I have qualifications that mean that 20 hours nets a nice bit above the average industrial wage. That has allowed the wife to go part time, working mornings only while we have primary school age kids. All in all its not a bad lifestyle.

Can be small a small farm, in a niche market, and make serious cash, its not about the size, its how you use it.

You have a decent setup there and very lucky to have a high paying off farm employment, diversified income streams should balance out any bumps in the road. I have to work 40 hours off farm to achieve that level of income, would love a 4 day week or the option to wfh a couple of days.

Very few businesses have continued thru the generations supplying the same relative income without growing

You'll have competition for that land you looked at

I don't understand the link between saving tax on the sale of the shares and buying land... anyone got an understanding of this?