Kit one used to see

[glasshouse]

There was probably still plenty of draft houses in use and available back when steam ploughing was at its peak. Would take a long while breading enough of them now if we had to go back to them from tractors.

I am not suggesting that, although i often joke about it
But a return to simpler machines that farmers can actually afford without ruining them.

 

[Pan mixer]

I think you'll struggle to find enough labour to run a topper,lifter and loader and three trailers these days. I think lack of conversation and teamwork has taken more of the enjoyment out of farming it's a very solitary job now.

Brings back a very tragic memory of when I was part of exactly that sized gang in my pre-college year working with people with whom I had worked with and known for several years prior.

We were all in the field at 7:30am, ready to go, and no topper driver.

Sadly we heard that he had shot himself the previous evening. The job was not the same again for me, we all used to have breakfast and lunch together in the fields and had been doing this for a month or so at the time and none of us realised that this poor chap would do such a horrid thing.

Just to say that loneliness and mental trouble is not a brand new concept.

 

[glasshouse]

I think you'll struggle to find enough labour to run a topper,lifter and loader and three trailers these days. I think lack of conversation and teamwork has taken more of the enjoyment out of farming it's a very solitary job now.

Lack of labour is a self perpetuating problem.
Once one person goes to a massive machine, the surplus labour finds other work so is not available for other jobs
Then there is no affordable housing any more as all the farm cottages have been poofed up for Rupert and Camillas weekender

 

[ED.D]

I think you'll struggle to find enough labour to run a topper,lifter and loader and three trailers these days. I think lack of conversation and teamwork has taken more of the enjoyment out of farming it's a very solitary job now.

I was told as a kid that if you need to use a calculator to find your profit you werent making enough.
im not saying I’m clever, probably the complete opposite but there’s plenty out there realising the same at the moment.

 

[Lowland1]

Lack of labour is a self perpetuating problem.
Once one person goes to a massive machine, the surplus labour finds other work so is not available for other jobs
Then there is no affordable housing any more as all the farm cottages have been poofed up for Rupert and Camillas weekender

In my experience bigger machinery comes to replace people who leave rather than pushing people out of work. In our village of thirty or so houses fifty years ago everyone would have worked on a farm or had some connection to the land today I doubt there is one person working on a farm or having any connection to the land. These people weren't forced out they chose to leave and when they left they weren't replaced. People complain about the price of tractors and combines etc but they aren't comparing like for like. The lad who started with my uncle in 1975 retired last week he went from a Ford 4000 to a MF 7724. 60 HP to 240 HP when he started there were 4 fulltime on 400 acres when he finished he was the only one on 2000 acres. That's how things have changed.

 

[glasshouse]

In my experience bigger machinery comes to replace people who leave rather than pushing people out of work. In our village of thirty or so houses fifty years ago everyone would have worked on a farm or had some connection to the land today I doubt there is one person working on a farm or having any connection to the land. These people weren't forced out they chose to leave and when they left they weren't replaced. People complain about the price of tractors and combines etc but they aren't comparing like for like. The lad who started with my uncle in 1975 retired last week he went from a Ford 4000 to a MF 7724. 60 HP to 240 HP when he started there were 4 fulltime on 400 acres when he finished he was the only one on 2000 acres. That's how things have changed.

But if the 2000 acres was mixed with stock and crops there would more than one man

 

[Lowland1]

But if the 2000 acres was mixed with stock and crops there would more than one man

Yep but the four hundred acres he started on was all arable. No potatoes now but beet instead. I could tell you the names of all who worked on the farms over the years no one got sacked they all retired or got other jobs.

 

[Lazy Sod]

When I was young, I can remember my neighbour quoting 100 acres per man.