Standard Contract Farming |
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The Mountfair Difference |
Basics
An agreement between a farmer (landowner / tenant) and a contracting farmer / company
- Farmer looking to cover more acres
- Experience of Contract Farming varies - more crucial than many believe
- Can be a neighbour or a large organisation with central controls and restrictions
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Basics
In Mountfair Contract Farming you will benefit from:
- Over 25 years of experience
- Management in place for the next 20 years
- Attention to detail in all aspects of our farming
- Family business - dynamic and flexible
- Proven track record
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Management Expertise
- Labour & Management supplied by the contractor
- Contract usually only 3-5 years
- Often contractor looking for a larger area
- Neighbouring farm looking to expand
- Experience of contract farming can be limited
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Management Expertise
- Positive long term view on contracts
- Although contract agreements based around 5 year terms - we manage the business as though it is our own and with a long term perspective
- With our extensive experience over 20 years contract farming we have the knowledge of how to successfully operate and manage these agreements
- Family business - with the management team trained and experienced over many years
- Next generation is already involved and integrated
- Expertise in buying / selling inputs and outputs
- Agronomy - understanding and ability to look at larger areas with the attention to detail
- Economies of scale - purchasing power
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Machinery
- In some cases smaller machinery and older technology
- More traditional methods
- Less responsive to changing
- Level of knowledge and understanding varies
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Machinery
- Aim to maintain and embrace new technology - open minded approach
- We utilise machinery for all our contract farming clients - bring advantages to all
- An Acceptance of change - understanding the need to change and develop when the economy / business requires it
- Very high level of technical understanding - both machinery, precision farming / GPS, computers and innovation
- Existing scale has allowed extensive investment in the latest technology and wide implements
- Cultivation strategy to improve soils, efficient, reducing costs especially time, fuel, labour
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Financial
- Volatile industry
- Fluctuating returns - unless skilled at managing these
- Sometimes managed by third party agents / consultants
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Financial
- Third party agent / consultants used to oversee agreements - professional approach
- Controlling costs and maximising income - we have the experience and proven track record
- We use our experience and knowledge to manage and maintain results - crucial in contract farming - output is vital
- Budgeting controls throughout the year
- 20 years experience in managing budgets, cash flows and financial controls
- Experience of fully managed agreements can be operated between Mountfair and Farmer / landlord
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Storage & Infrastructure
- Buildings and Infrastructure provided and paid for by the farmer / landlord
- Many contract farmers take the grain off the farm - central store or to commercial stores (this can be an expensive option)
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Storage & Infrastructure
- We are experienced in developing & investing in existing grain storage buildings along with the farmer / landlord
- Utilising what is available - cost effectively
- We like to keep the grain on farm in most circumstances
- However we can provide additional storage off farm when required
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