Farming Youtubers

KAMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120159193#Comment_120159193

A quick back of the envelope calculation is as follows. Based on agriland prices for under 24 Month bulls (o & p grades). On 9 Jan 23 (Around the time he mentioned the bulls going first) the flat price offered was 4.80. So average carcass weight of 283 x €4.80 is €1,358. For second load, assuming they went last week, the price on agriland for under 24 Month bulls (o & p grades) was 4.90. So, average carcass weight of 263 x €4.90 is €1,289.

In my opinion, after having these animals for almost 2 years, this is a very poor return. And these are the best 2 loads I assume!!!

KAMG

I don't want to come across as negative because I love watching Phil's videos. But, I just feel for all the hard work that is involved in his business, he is relying on Youtube for a living. He has stated before that he doesn't get paid from the farm. That is not a surprise based on the above estimated returns. His father said in the Farm Flix video they featured in that they rent 300 acres of land!!! More madness.

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120159380#Comment_120159380

What's the costs though? All that matters is profit i.e. income minus costs.

There are folk getting closer to the €2k mark, but their costs may be higher. It's all about what is in the bank at the end of the year, not what is on the cheque from the mart.

KAMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120160529#Comment_120160529

Did you not watch his latest video? He went through it all. That's what has started this whole debate. He is going on about how great they are having all their own feed produced on the farm. He is trying to say that they are reducing costs this way. But what about the cost of the rent of 300 acres. The time spent growing all these crops. Madness in my opinion. And what about the cost of rearing them as calves?

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120160624#Comment_120160624

No not watched it. What was it coming out as when summed up and divided out?

farmerphil135

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120156762#Comment_120156762

out of the 200 bulls ill have about 12-15 won’t make the weight by the age and they’ll go for the farm shop for the year. Also they’re just gone over 4 months inside and the other 2 batches are just gone over 3. We tend to put them in as grass starts to run out.

if we switched to 30 month bullocks we’d reduce in output as we have to cater to 3 generations of cattle

and yes I do think 500kg at 24 months is shocking but I’m under no illusion to the type of cattle I’m dealing with

KAMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120160693#Comment_120160693

It was difficult enough to follow. He was making it complicated in my opinion by trying to put an equivalent market value to buy in the various 'ingredients' they grew. I don't know why he just didn't give the actual cost. The only reason I can think of is that he hasn't a clue. Which is worrying.

Anyway, I think the overall figure he was coming up with was roughly 3e a day per animal to feed. But this is only for this winter.

What about last winter. And what about the cost of rearing them as calves 2 years ago.

farmingquestion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120138920#Comment_120138920

Fair play if that suits him but it's only a bale of hay. There's no hardship in forking hay. If he could do it with silage it would be another thing but you'd have the hay forked to them as quick.

farmerphil135

In the heel of the hunt to answer the main question why do we continue to do what we do when xyz is poor to look at is we’re making good money. As our accountant says we’re one of there most profitable farms on their books. The reason the place doesn’t look like it yet is due to the 2016 grain losses which last year we settled the last of the debt. Father Phil won’t do a video on it yet as the wounds from it are still fresh.

the reason I haven’t mentioned profit per head and won’t is it’ll open up a whole other can of worms as to our cost of production (which I done with our advisor) and the p/kg we’re getting

at the end of the day if the account, the tax man, the bank man and your advisor say it’s working then it’s working

ginger22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120160624#Comment_120160624

Especially as they dont do the tillage properly anyway. Everything is a cobbles. Always late sowing.

FintanMcluskey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120160922#Comment_120160922

As our accountant says we’re one of there most profitable farms on their books

You had mentioned before that you don't take a wage, would that not effect overheads?

farmerphil135

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161403#Comment_120161403

Of course it would but that’s another can of worms in another knicker draw.

family farms & partnerships aren’t clear cut straightforward things

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161227#Comment_120161227

It’s easy talking, not everyone is farming in the Golden Vale.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120160813#Comment_120160813

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161227#Comment_120161227

Seems a bit hard on the man. I don’t watch YouTube so I can’t comment either way but I’d say there’s very few perfect farms out there. Even lads that have what they’d consider the perfect farm that suits their needs, a different set of eyes looking into it could find plenty of problems.

FintanMcluskey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161484#Comment_120161484

Exactly!

But its important to remember the free labour when talking about profitability.

KAMG

It might be a bit hard on him, but when you are putting yourself out there like he is, and I'm sure, he is taking in plenty of money from YouTube, you have to accept there is going to be some negative as well as positive comments. If you ever go through some of the comments on Youtube, you will see some ridiculously positive stuff. Like he is the best farmer out there. I'm sure even Phil would say he definitely isn't.

funkey_monkey

The debate, disagreements and differing opinions is what keeps these forums going. It's not always sunny in the garden but at the same time we need to make that we put our points across without rubbing folk up the wrong way.

Fair play to those putting up the videos, not in a million years would I let youse have a look at what I be at!

Jim Simmental

It’s possibly the income from YouTube that could be skewing his accounts too re profitability.

farawaygrass

If it working for ya Phil that’s all that matters. I think you are learning a lot as you go to which we all are at-i think it’s a great move not taking calves till a month old. Will you have you pay a lot more for them then?

if 2016 was such a tough year for ye financially, then the positivity of ye, but especially your father is admirable. Great that ye are the right side of it now.

would love to see what you actually end up doing with the yard and sheds when the time comes, it’s a fine place. Keep up the good work

ruwithme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120162252#Comment_120162252

This is it, whatever about observations & contributions to educating someone where they may be going wrong, a small number can't resist personalising it.says alot about that poster.

FintanMcluskey

I will say boards is perhaps the most forgiving and inoffensive forum when it comes to discussing youtubers.

I think some of ye would be well advised to avoid the UK forums

farmingquestion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161403#Comment_120161403

There's money coming out of somewhere, how can you survive otherwise? I think the no wage taken was a ploy to get people to subscribe.

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120162592#Comment_120162592

Precisely.

This all started with a discussion on money. Now there's goading about Youtube and income. Too much jealousy here and it's coming from posters that wouldn't be regular on here.

Good on ya Phil. Give em nothing.

It's a youtube thread. But would some of ye get a life.

Odelay

Keep the head up Phil. You're doing a great job and making massive improvements. Some people don't understand that a farmer cant spend all of the money at once. It needs to be spent in a targeted way with clear goals. Money in this industry is hard earned and needs to be spent wisely. We don't all turn into Larry overnight.

Big thanks for showing the work you're doing with the 1200 for your uncle Ian and sharing it. Family is important too. Money wont replace that.

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120162644#Comment_120162644

Well that lad from Olly's Farm should avoid them anyway! Rest of us should be okay 😁

K.G.

To be fair to phil he does watch performance and does do his sums.the only comment id make from experience is there is a big variation in fr bulls and especially je crosses and the day you buy is the day you sell.you should be in a position with your info built up to be more choosey in the calf you buy.

jaymla627

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120163741#Comment_120163741

He mentioned before alot of their calves come from men they do contracting for, leaves them as basically a dumping ground in the above scenario, I wouldn't be taking any calf in a calf to beef system unless a month old and in good nick, the losses been expirenced with soft weak calves are huge and wouldn't be good for the mental health either

funkey_monkey

If the calves are coming in at small money are they getting a good enough start in terms of colostrum intake etc? Not much benefit for the supplier to put effort into them early days if the money isn't there to justify it.

farmingquestion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120162776#Comment_120162776

I find the comment pointing to people who are not regulars interesting considering there are youtubers who only signed up to boards, with their Youtube channel name, who only post in this thread....it's almost like they're using boards for free advertisement..

straight

You'll never be criticized by someone doing more than you. You'll always be criticized by someone doing less. Remember that.

DENZEL WASHINGTON