At the start of this thread I thought well, I would offer to rent them myself at a reduce rate but longer period of time and then sublet to other beekeepers for an out apiary. However clearly your farmer knows some of the same ones as round here. Thick as pig @**t and only interested in sitting on their arses in air conditioned cabs in one vehicle or another. Or just killing stuff. I meet a lot of them and banjo playing webfooters is an insult to banjo playing webfooters. Hold a grudge like a woman who has been seen off by Argos and never learn unless it involves personal loss.
That said they are very very pleasant until you p one off. Then they get all stupid and smug. If they can't win they resort to bullying and if that fails they take revenge.
Your particular farmer will never back down. The above opinion will no doubt bring forth the clueless "yeah but" people who always seem to feel the need to say "geralisation" "sweeping statement" blah blah blah. He will never back down and every time you see him he will smirk. Just to rub it in. It's not because he is a farmer it's because this is how the human race is going now. Can't have my own way - tantrum, threats, legal threats, throw money at it via solicitor, sulk, violence, apathetic police involvement, intimidation thereafter. If it were me and I had the dosh, I'd try and buy it. Farmers lose a grudge when they hear the russle of notes.
