The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: 40acres on August 16, 2012, 09:32:33 pm
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Hi guys,
Ive read the forums for a while and thought it was time I asked you advice.
I have recently became the owner of 40 acres of land in Southern Ireland by way of inheritance. I have no ral agricultura experiance ,appart from a half acre allotment.
The land over looks an extensive lake ,3kmx1/2km, picturesque veiws but hasnt been farmed or worked in a long time. There are no buildings on the land and it rises 400m in the centre ,so its quite undulating and a little rocky (glacial lake).
Just lloking for some ideas on how to proceed. The locals farm sheep on it. But I was thinking of trying something else, as Im no sheep farmer and the lack of buildings would begin to ramp up costs from day one.
So just to ask......
What would you do with it?
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As said on your earlier post, I actually know VERY little and just have a big garden, but if I were you I would start off with:
- a duck house next to the water and some nice ducks for eggs (I love ducks)
- a chicken run, again lovely eggs, you could start with 3 hens and see if you like them and would be interested in raising them for meat as well as eggs. You would need proper housing for that but a shed, coop or eglu in the back yard could be a quick start.
- and then I would start looking into goats (I love goats too), great milk - you could try cheese and butter, meat and they are lovely little fellas. And they would be fine on the rocky land
But that's not really a long term plan, just a try and see and they can live with whatever animals you get if you change your mind with the land
PS 40 acres is LOADS, lucky you I would so be up for that challenge :excited:
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Wow! What a challenge, and what an opportunity!
I've learned that there's probably a lot to be said for looking at what your neighbours are doing, since they're probably doing it right! Also, although starting up a sheep enterprise might be expensive, I can't think of anything else you could do with 40 acres which wouldn't be even more expensive!!
It depends on what your goal is though. Do you want to be self sufficient? run it as a business? Just a hobby? That's got to be the question to answer first, since it'll dictate everything about what you need to do next!
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While you're deciding... maybe get some sheep, either your own or let the grazing for the rest of the season - grass can get overlong really quickly, and if the ground is 'undulating' then it can be tricky to get it back into good shape for grazing. If it were me I would see if a local farmer or smallholder would graze it, or most of it, for you until you are ready to use it all. Then you can relax and take your time trying out ideas, in your head and then on a small scale on a bit of the ground, meanwhile the ground isn't 'getting away from you.'
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Hi all,
Well I think the duck and goat thing would be a little underwhelming for 40 acres ;) I'd turn my back and end up with a herd :)
The other farmers have taken advantage of the lack of management thus far, and let their stock roam the area. Ideally, I'd like to let it out for grazing, leave it be and have a small income off of it. But, I thin as the farmers have had the run of it, I cant ask them to pay as it might cause bad feeling. So is there a land management 'thing' like they have for flats and rental houses?
I wouldnt mind outsourcing it to them and having a few more years to 'think on' before making a decision on what to do. :fc:
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If you were in England I would direct you to the local Livestock Auctioneers, who probably handle the Grass Lettings in the area. I have no idea if this would apply in Ireland.
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If you were in England I would direct you to the local Livestock Auctioneers, who probably handle the Grass Lettings in the area. I have no idea if this would apply in Ireland.
Hi Sally,
Thanks for the reply! :thumbsup:
I'd assume there would be some type of similar organisation in Ireland as its a rural based community.
Would like anyone else's take on how they'd go about utilising it, as I might give up work to squeeze a living out there.
Always liked 'The Goodlife' :thinking:
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Given that the Irish ecconomy is down the pan at the moment , it would not be a good time to sell. Tell the locals that you need your land back as you will be farming it yourself , and stick some beef on it for now, they have grass and water. Are you in a possition to build a house and live there ? because if you are absent they will take advantage. you must write a book and claim that you are an author, Authors and artists were always allowed to live tax free in Eira, or has that changed? you're a lucky person. :excited:
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Go to a local auctioneer and put it up for rent. I think the going rate is about 100 euro per acre per year. Which would give you 4 grand. First thing you have to do is fence the land to keep roaming animals out, methinks.
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i would fill the lake full of fish and sell season tickets to fishermen.but then, i am a fisherman.
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I strongly agree with Sausages and Cash about fencing and keeping roaming animals out. The locals will have to be told that things have changed I'm afraid or they'll just take advantage.
It will have to be done either now or in the future and now is definately better.
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Go to a local auctioneer and put it up for rent. I think the going rate is about 100 euro per acre per year. Which would give you 4 grand. First thing you have to do is fence the land to keep roaming animals out, methinks.
That 100 euro would be let on a fbt with entitlements, not just grazing, I think, unless the value of sheep is much greater in Eire...
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Given that the Irish ecconomy is down the pan at the moment , it would not be a good time to sell. Tell the locals that you need your land back as you will be farming it yourself , and stick some beef on it for now, they have grass and water. Are you in a possition to build a house and live there ? because if you are absent they will take advantage. you must write a book and claim that you are an author, Authors and artists were always allowed to live tax free in Eira, or has that changed? you're a lucky person. :excited:
OOOh! I like that bit, my grandad was friends with Brendan Behan, hopefully enough rubbed off on me to squeeze out on tome :fc:
The lake isn't mine, its owned by the local council and used for a water supply in the area. You can have access to it for water and fishing, but as for 'fishing rights' that's a no-no apparently.
I got a quote on serviceable fencing and my engineer said about 2000 m of it needs replacing/updating. So at E5 m, that's 10k right there. Will ask the adjacent owners to chip in.
I'd priced up leasing, would like to lease with a repair clause,so the new 'leasee' repairs the fencing. I dont have to travel back and forth to sort it out too.
Did think of a memorial site where people could dedicate a tree or a stone memorial to a loved one. I have building experience (15 years),so the path and landscaping side of things wouldn't be too much trouble.
I cant build a home on it, a sheep shed is fine, 100 sq m floor , under 8m in height. The green belt restrictions in Eire are much more restrictive than here.
The replies have been great (especially the tax free bit :excited: )
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Or what about some rare breed cattle - Irish Moyled (may have spelt that wrong) are rare breed.
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If you look at the deeds to the land you may find that the adjacent landowners are responsible for all the fencing, then again you may be responsible for it. Chances are some will be yours some will be theirs, I'd still tend to say start off as you mean to go on. Otherwise in a few years time this 'gift' may have a very different feel to it .......
could end up as something of a poison chalice.
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If your married just say 'darling what shall we do with this land?'....then :goat: :goat: :goat: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :&> :&> :&> :&> :&>
worked for me, 5 acres filled - not a problem ;D :innocent:
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Well I think the duck and goat thing would be a little underwhelming for 40 acres ;) I'd turn my back and end up with a herd :)
Yep didn't mean 1 goat meant LOTS of goats :eyelashes:
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Could you put game birds on some of the scrub land and rent out to poachers / shooters (not sure correct term)?
I like the fishing idea, shame you can't do that.
Could you start a conservation project? Rare breeds? Arapawa goats (lots of them, they are about to shoot most of them in NZ apparently)? Or a animal rescue centre of sorts?
Ghost hunts, night time treks to spot owls, campsite, caravan park.
Plant xmas trees?
So you don't have a house on it? That is tricky thought you had a farm building
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I would think more along the lines of what you can comfortably handle in your choice of animal - I would section off the required amount of land to suit that choice and number - short term let the remainder of land, until you feel confident in your choice - then expand accordingly. I believe if you try to much to quick you could end up ruining your new adventure.
Focus, in my opinion on what you will enjoy - after all it's you that is going to have to deal with the enevertable problems that arise in smallholding.
Good luck :fc:
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Its certainly going to take some thought. As its been said, the other landowners need taking in hand, but its been that way for years, so another year or so of planning wont amount top a whole pile of beans. :relief:
I do like the idea of shooting on the land. A small lodge and parking, the only problem is its treeless, so clays or seasonal hunting might be the key.
Thanks for the replies thus far guys :hug:
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I forgot about forestry. At the moment (Native Woodland Scheme) Oak and Beech get a premium of 515 Euro per hectare (as a farmer), per year for 20 yrs. To be a farmer you need a herd number (very easy to get).
on 40 acres (16.1874 hectares), you would get a return of 8336.51 euro per year for twenty years. A grand total of 166,730 euro over twenty years.
The locals will probably not be best pleased. 'Forestry = Rural death etc.
On the upside, the forestry company will fence and plant the land for the cost of the grant. In short it will cost you nothing.
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Oh yes, and you're relatives will get the money from selling the hardwood in 40 years.
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Around here the grass keep system runs from 1 April until 31 October and the person taking it on can use the ground as he pleases (grazing, hay, silage), but the owner is responsible for good fencing and a water supply). If someone is paying you for grazing it's going to be in their interests to keep everyone else out.
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first profit is the best profit. i would rent it out.