farmer_ben

Thats an interesting topic for me Mark, my truck is insured for my bro to do odd bits with and my girlfriend to tow horse trailer etc. I have worked out fuel is around the 30p a mile mark but hadnt worked out depreciation, insurance, tax, annual repairs etc. Gonna have to look at the overal costs in more detail i think in the not to distant future.

or spend 2k ish on part worn ones. you dont need new ones unless its gonna do some srious draft work for most of the year

very nice mate, a modern day classic. I'd have one in a flash if i could justify it! the 7810 was alao a classic tractor and still very much sort after

Ben is that 5% fuel just for saws? or trucks as well? I put £100 a week in my pick up no trouble at all, dont spend that on advertising, thats just me though. Nice to be open with figures, all the top businesses no matter what sector share figures to help improve themselves

I have had 3 orders today, so i'd hang tight for couple more weeks as April is gonna be crappy all month. I have also done an end of season special prices just to get loads ticking over, not much of a reduction but enough to make people get a load in to store for next winter. Helps with cash flow.

Will probably invest in some, although the personalised match boxes are around £25.00 for 50, not sure if thats worth giving one away free with each load or not. suppose 50p a load sacrifice isnt end of the world!

There are some cracking desgins on there. I have, for a while now, been trying to source them little flip packs on matches. Want to get my firewood name on them and hand them out.

RObert, dont mess about mate, get straight down our local nfu office and have a face to face chat with someone, you wont care if nfu are tad cheaper after actually talking through yoru policy withsome face to face. everything i own goes through nfu

Ben, If conditions are crap for spraying tomorrow could I pop over and have a look? I'm not far down the road at Wickhambrook and always on the hunt for local timber. Cheers, Ben

Alec, I may have a bit of cherry coming up, what did you want it for? Im only down the rd from you, Stansfield.

I thought the pigs looked good size when I had a quick look yesterday Chris. Do Ruse's slaughter for you? Who butchers? Our next batch will be ready in 4 weeks I reckon, just in time for BBQ season hopefully ALl the best my friend

When I went VAT registered we went back 13 months and got VAT back on my van, I think what ever your claiming back on has to be still in USE or being USED by the business, simply being owned isnt enough I think

We had a Sycamore do that couple of years ago, we'd knocked loads down. Bro was on the last one, nice and straight...fairly straight forward...did his cut was about to go when it spun 180 and fell, shook him up a bit as he'd never seen any tree do that before.

Still no response from the editor despite a few emails, I have calmed down now over the last few days and aim to have a response printed in next months edition along the lines of WorcsWuss's reply above. Chap I works for writes the farming column in that rag, and said I can use his column to write a "Buyers Guide To Firewood" if I wish, which I think would be great way of dispelling a few misguided quotes in the original article. Many thanks guys, your replys and support have been great. This really got to me Tuesday but am moving on and not letting one person get to me.

If you go day rate then be careful with what hours the manager expects you to work for a typical day, might be 8-4 or may be 7-5, quite a bit of difference. We go for £100.00 a day(£12.50 ph) just man or £120 a day (£15 ph) for man, saw, fuel, trailer etc. And typically work 8hr day, but will work longer or start ealier if needed. Think its important for know what the hour rate is roughly, so if you need to go else where one afternon etc, the manager knows what will be charge for the hrs worked in the morning, etc.

its a lovely firewood, will take a while to season properly but worth it.

Scanned again

Rude thank you, now scanning at 600

the editor is another of my customers, he's had 2 loads this winter and been happy with my service as far as im aware. i have emailed him expressing my disappointment with the article. not sure what to do next really,

tried to make it bigger but cant quite work it how to do it!

thanks for them 3 responses straight away. i have emailed the editor already (incidently another log customer of mine) and told him i am very disappointed he printed this and I will be seeking legal advice. Thanks again, I am really gutted about this and aim to stand up for myself

if anyone knows how to make this scan bit bigger so others can actually read it please let me know

Evening all, After the excellent advice arbtalk offered a few months back regarding a funny old customer of mine, I now have a more awkward one that I dont know how to tackle. To cut a long story short, a well known chap in the village asked for a load of wood from me, we discussed his requirements, I told him my standard load was 1.2 cube, he wanted the logs 14" and we agreeded on a 1.2 cube load of 14" 18month seasoned ash. I explained all of this fully, dropped wood off next day and he gave me cheque straight away. That was 4 weeks ago, I open the local newsletter today to find in his monthly column he has, I feel, attacked me and my firewood business. I am the only firewood guy around here and the only one who advertises in the newsletter so readers will know he is directing his comments at my firewood business. The guy is making some wild claims which are completely untrue. I never mentioned anything about what my wood weighed, I never have or will sell by weight, only by volume. And I have reciepts to prove the Ash I said him was month then 18 months seasoned so he has lied about that too. I haven't spoken to the guy yet as I am to angry and don't want to loose my rag with him...yet. This column and his view on my logs is likely to loose me customers and I'm not over happy about that. What would you guys do in my position, I know some of you will just say get on with it and move on etc, but I have to much pride in my firewood to let this prat do potentially a lot of damage to my business. Thanks

thats what I do, free delivery within 7 miles, 8-12 miles tenner delivery and 13+ i quote for the individual. I'd say soft wood per bulk bag is still worth £55, with the running around delivering and the time processing i'd say £45 is not worth doing regardless of soft or hardwood. I sell my bulk bags at £65 a pop and sell them no probs. all the best

Essex Tool Sharpening just outside of Ridgewell is the place you want, I take my mcconnels there and quick service and cheap