That employers are turning to Eastern block countries for labour because UK citizens aren't prepared to do the work. Well let me run this scenario past you and ask yourself, would you? 25 years experience being offered 21k for a 12 hour day, 6 days a week, ok, not that bad, but the house/cottage which in his agreement was part of the package would only be available for a deposit of 550 pounds,the council tax and a monthly rent of 25 pounds, to be paid by the herdsman, effectively reducing his income to some 19k, and with the hours worked, meant a below minimum wage of some 5.45 an hour. SO would you ??????

no lol

 

simpley yes because its more than i make at the moment and have worked for less

HI COWMAN.  UNFORTANTLY ITS MORE THAN ALOT OF THE BOSSES HAVE HAD TO LIVE ON,IN RESENT TIMES,AND THEY HAVE THE MONEY TIED UP AND THE WORRY AS WELL .DONT WONT TO SOUND MEAN ,BUT ITS THE WAY IT IS ,WRITE TO THE FOOD RETAILERS,AND TELL THEM. GIVE IT TO THEM STRAIGHT.  JOHN

 

I have read cowmans and john's side. I consider both arguements and to be honest, this is a prime example of why agriculture needs to change. We need to make the consumer aware of the time and effort that goes into producing a high quality product  e.g. beef, lamb, milk etc and this should mean that they are prepared to pay a little extra, therefore giving the farmer more money and it should, in theory, mean better wages and seeing more british folk employed in the UK instead of going to poland or wherever.

Saying that, foreign workers do seem to graft well and from things i have read and seen, they are well worth it. BUT considering the low wage and the wealth of experience cowman has, why should we go to other countries to get others, especially considering the HIGH, unemployement rate (btw, for no minute am i suggesting that someone such as cowman, who i guess is very passionate about his job, give it up to ''be on the dole'').

Cowman, i certainly wouldn't!! But i suppose, if you are passionate enough about your job, which you oblivousely are due to the 25+ years of it, you learn to get on with it, which really you shouldnt! Although i say i wouldn't, it still beats working in a job stuck in an office block in my view.  Really, i dont think we should be going abroad and we should be getting more people involved in agriculture. Hope nobody takes any offence to this.

Cowman, if you want to milk cows, go to new zealand, you can sell your wellies and earn $80,000 in the sun. And a free house. You will soon be a manager on $80,000 +  running 700 cows or more. Prospects for advancement abound. Plus you can buy a house for $100,000. Petrol is 50p a litre.

Yes come to NZ. If you have ambition and exceptional stock, pasture management and people skills you could expect 100k for managing a large operation. If you don't like responsibility or thinking come and put cups on for 30k. I'd hold onto those wellies in either case.

paid about 73p for petrol last night.