The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: Taliesin on June 15, 2017, 11:39:49 am
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We bought 12.5 acres of land last year, 5.5 acres of which are meadows. I've just asked our local farmer to top the 5.5 acres and he has done a good job taking care to go round all the newly planted fruit trees. I've left the grass to mulch back in to improve fertility though next year will remove for hay. He has asked me to pay him what I think it's worth. Looking for suggestions on how much to pay, especially as I'll need to get this done at least twice per year for until I can afford to buy a compact tractor and flail mower.
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Recommended contractor rates (which tend to be on the high side) and are here
http://www.naac.co.uk/LatestContractorPricesGuide (http://www.naac.co.uk/LatestContractorPricesGuide)
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As he has spent time mowing around trees and because it is a small area you need base your payment on an hourly rate rather than the rate per acre.
I cant imagine the average farmer would expect the hourly rate mentioned in the link above- but I might be wrong !
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Thanks, that's helpful advice which I shall heed.
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Depends a lot where you are ..... Here in Wales £20 an hour is about the going rate.
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I pay the chap that tops my scarey slopes @ £10/hr but he is using my tractor and topper and red.
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Man + gear Cumbria £20/hr + diesel
Same North Cornwall £35/hr includes diesel
These both for local guy lives within 2-3 miles.
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I was going to say about £20 an hour but chickened out....I'd say your man would be very happy with that and would come again when you ask him next.
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Brilliant, thanks all. Charging an hourly rate seems fair. £20 including tractor, flail mower and fuel included. I'll go with that!
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About £80 cash in hand I would think.
Will get cheaper and quicker once they learn the field.
(or more expensive if youve got some machinery death rocks)
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Bazzais is bang on, that's what I would charge based on normal topping and not heavy undergrowth which would probably be about the 100-115 mark.
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Picking up on your point of compact tractor and flail mower... yes nice to have, but I manage mine with a ride on mower and/or quad bike and tow along mower. It does mean that it has to be cut a bit more frequently to manage the grass length but it's a cheaper option to get you started. Hope that helps..
Hi, appreciate your post was last year though I'm interested in what you say about a quad/mower. Any recommendations on machines for someone starting up?
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My OH is at this moment outside with quad and flail mower cutting rushes ..... does great job