Farming stigma…. Working like “crazy”

[Bossfarmer]

Hang on, you seemed to suggest that you had "progressed" more than some neighbours that were farming the same acreage as 30 years ago so it was you coming out with the negative comments about them which is unnecessary.
All I suggested was perhaps they had as much as they needed, any more may not have been progress, they may well have reached their goal 30 years ago, if that is the case perhaps they are doing better than you ?

the reason i said that was to defend myself and point out why im doing what im doing, i know of a few that sold stock about 15 years ago, kit sold too now and contract farmer in, progress?

 

[Bossfarmer]

Saw this thread and Knocked off ploughing so I could put my 4 year old son to bed, read him is favorite dinosaur book and watch the lambs playing around the field out of his bedroom window. Best decision I have made all day.

fair play

 

[Bossfarmer]

All the successful people l know and knew delegated the graft and concentrated on the business. They can make decisions and take time off, but get up to make sure stuff happens.

you can make a lot of decisions and phonecalls from a tractor these days, nice comfy quiet place, im not sure theres the margin to be paying a lot of staff in this industry anymore unless your intensive i.e potatoes/dairy etc

 

[Henarar]

the reason i said that was to defend myself and point out why im doing what im doing, i know of a few that sold stock about 15 years ago, kit sold too now and contract farmer in, progress?

Depends if they are making more or doing other things to make more or have a better life, it may well be progress for them

 

[serf]

I have no issues with you working all hours but what if you were ill? You can't have any reserve in your business doing so much yourself.
You see success as a bigger business with big returns I guess but I have had conversations with people who are ill or dying in later life and they regretted working so hard.
Look after yourself

We'll all own the same size plot when we are done !
Is life for living or always working

 

[Optimus]

My dad was like that. I played in cup finals the lot, but he never came to watch.
Always stopped what I was doing to go and watch my two play rugby or hockey as life is too short to miss out.
I packed in farming last year and thoroughly recommend it as I have a part time job that gets me out and about meeting people . I show folks around houses for sale and rent with one of the higher end estate agents , which pays me to look at some wonderful properties without any pressure at all. Absolutely love it .

I enjoy farming, I just enjoy other things too.i just don't think it's good for you to do nothing but work all the time.

 

[tullah]

you can make a lot of decisions and phonecalls from a tractor these days, nice comfy quiet place, im not sure theres the margin to be paying a lot of staff in this industry anymore unless your intensive i.e potatoes/dairy etc

No point in paying someone to sit there destoning spuds all day at 1 mph. Take your office with you in the cab.

 

[BenSimons]

“Progress” that’s what we are all striving for, but everyone’s idea of progress is different. There was a time when i was in my early 20s when I thought progress was a bigger tractor, taking on more ground or work, buying a better trailer or plough, buying land or building a new shed. But I’ve changed since having a family, I realised no matter how many pieces of painted metal I had it didn’t make any difference. Progress for me now is knowing that my kids are getting better educated, that my wife is happier this year than she was last year, being a better person myself mentally and being better to others. There is some financial in there of course, saving a bit more money, knowing the mortgage is being paid off etc. Being able to have more days off than last year that would be progress for me.
Watching those videos of very old people saying what they regret about life had a big impact on me. They all say they regret working too much or not spending enough time with family, kids and making memories. None of them ever say they wish they’d have built a bigger empire. But of course each to their own absolutely. Historically society has done well off people who work like mad and “pioneer” stuff. Don’t tell me Elon Musk spends time with his partner or his kids though.

 

[puppet]

“Progress” that’s what we are all striving for, but everyone’s idea of progress is different. There was a time when i was in my early 20s when I thought progress was a bigger tractor, taking on more ground or work, buying a better trailer or plough, buying land or building a new shed. But I’ve changed since having a family, I realised no matter how many pieces of painted metal I had it didn’t make any difference. Progress for me now is knowing that my kids are getting better educated, that my wife is happier this year than she was last year, being a better person myself mentally and being better to others. . But of course each to their own absolutely. Historically society has done well off people who work like mad and “pioneer” stuff. Don’t tell me Elon Musk spends time with his partner or his kids though.

I have seen photos of him attending meetings carrying his children. But he also calls them by a single letter so maybe he should spend less time with them

 

[Bossfarmer]

Depends if they are making more or doing other things to make more or have a better life, it may well be progress for them

its well known to be for financial reasons and is a common pattern round these parts,

first stock goes..... all gets cropped, 10 years or so later kit/cars getting older run down.... machinery gets sold off due to "change in farming policy" kids off and get jobs.....a while after that farm up for sale

progress?

 

[Bossfarmer]

“Progress” that’s what we are all striving for, but everyone’s idea of progress is different. There was a time when i was in my early 20s when I thought progress was a bigger tractor, taking on more ground or work, buying a better trailer or plough, buying land or building a new shed. But I’ve changed since having a family, I realised no matter how many pieces of painted metal I had it didn’t make any difference. Progress for me now is knowing that my kids are getting better educated, that my wife is happier this year than she was last year, being a better person myself mentally and being better to others. There is some financial in there of course, saving a bit more money, knowing the mortgage is being paid off etc. Being able to have more days off than last year that would be progress for me.
Watching those videos of very old people saying what they regret about life had a big impact on me. They all say they regret working too much or not spending enough time with family, kids and making memories. None of them ever say they wish they’d have built a bigger empire. But of course each to their own absolutely. Historically society has done well off people who work like mad and “pioneer” stuff. Don’t tell me Elon Musk spends time with his partner or his kids though.

progress is......having a goal and sucessfully working towards that goal, everyones goal is different......mine is to keep a viable business to pass on to the next generation to give them a fair chance if they want it,

i didnt see much of my dad growing up unless i sat on a tractor with him, would i have preferred he sat around the house all day playing video games with me and not push on??? definately not, you have to make trade offs in life to progress towards your goals

 

[Frodo]

I agree there is a balance to be had, if you are earning £200k a year would you work all hours to save a £30k salary, which would actually only save you £16.5k as you would be in 45% tax bracket. There is a point where you will have to delegate work to others, at what point that is, is a combination of profit/work/life/self worth values.

You would be in a 48% tax band here in scotland

 

[Henarar]

its well known to be for financial reasons and is a common pattern round these parts,

first stock goes..... all gets cropped, 10 years or so later kit/cars getting older run down.... machinery gets sold off due to "change in farming policy" kids off and get jobs.....a while after that farm up for sale

progress?

If the job was no good yes I spose

 

[BenSimons]

its well known to be for financial reasons and is a common pattern round these parts,

first stock goes..... all gets cropped, 10 years or so later kit/cars getting older run down.... machinery gets sold off due to "change in farming policy" kids off and get jobs.....a while after that farm up for sale

progress?

You say everyones goal is different but then question if this farming scenario is progress or not…. If the people involved are doing something else with their lives which they are happy with and is fulfilling for them/ helping them reach their goal then this would absolutely be progress yes, no doubt about it. Who cares if their machinery is older, who cares if they are renting land out. Who cares if they have a farm sale and or a change in farming policy. Doesn’t mean they’re not progressing in life.

 

[DRC]

progress is......having a goal and sucessfully working towards that goal, everyones goal is different......mine is to keep a viable business to pass on to the next generation to give them a fair chance if they want it,

i didnt see much of my dad growing up unless i sat on a tractor with him, would i have preferred he sat around the house all day playing video games with me and not push on??? definately not, you have to make trade offs in life to progress towards your goals

Will your children be under pressure to follow you into farming ? And will you be very disappointed if they don’t want to ?

 

[Bossfarmer]

You say everyones goal is different but then question if this farming scenario is progress or not…. If the people involved are doing something else with their lives which they are happy with and is fulfilling for them/ helping them reach their goal then this would absolutely be progress yes, no doubt about it. Who cares if their machinery is older, who cares if they are renting land out. Who cares if they have a farm sale and or a change in farming policy. Doesn’t mean they’re not progressing in life.

i meant is it progress for the business? i dont see what else theyre doing theyve simply run out of money, they admitted back when the kit was sold they couldnt afford to upgrade it

 

[Bossfarmer]

Will your children be under pressure to follow you into farming ? And will you be very disappointed if they don’t want to ?

no pressure ill sell up to brother when im 65 if they dont and do the odd bit of tractor driving at busy times for someone to keep myself occupied, there appears to be more pressure on me to keep it going by the looks of things hence why im sticking at it

 

[glasshouse]

I have seen photos of him attending meetings carrying his children. But he also calls them by a single letter so maybe he should spend less time with them

His daughter has gone communist

 

[glasshouse]

“Progress” that’s what we are all striving for, but everyone’s idea of progress is different. There was a time when i was in my early 20s when I thought progress was a bigger tractor, taking on more ground or work, buying a better trailer or plough, buying land or building a new shed. But I’ve changed since having a family, I realised no matter how many pieces of painted metal I had it didn’t make any difference. Progress for me now is knowing that my kids are getting better educated, that my wife is happier this year than she was last year, being a better person myself mentally and being better to others. There is some financial in there of course, saving a bit more money, knowing the mortgage is being paid off etc. Being able to have more days off than last year that would be progress for me.
Watching those videos of very old people saying what they regret about life had a big impact on me. They all say they regret working too much or not spending enough time with family, kids and making memories. None of them ever say they wish they’d have built a bigger empire. But of course each to their own absolutely. Historically society has done well off people who work like mad and “pioneer” stuff. Don’t tell me Elon Musk spends time with his partner or his kids though.

Some people through no fault of their own have no alternative but to work all the hours just to keep a roof over their heads.
Its not always a choice.
The thing that all the experts dont get is that some farms are inherently profitable and some arent due to location, soil quality, good or bad sheds, climate etc.
As the bible says, some seed lands on stony ground and life is therefore going to be tougher.

 

[BenSimons]

no pressure ill sell up to brother when im 65 if they dont and do the odd bit of tractor driving at busy times for someone to keep myself occupied, there appears to be more pressure on me to keep it going by the looks of things hence why im sticking at it