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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,461 Likes: 1
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Well, the machinery is one of the reasons I thought I'd stick to livestock. My grandpa has an old, but working tractor, and I think the equipment needed to grow hay, so I could keep that in mind, but the machinery, or lack there of, is one of the reasons I thought I'd stick to livestock. I supppose I may want to grow hay however for feed...
As far as time goes, unless I hit the jackpot and could work full time on the farm at this point it would need to be in addition to my 8-4pm day job. Eventually my dream would be to be an auctioneer and farmer, that maybe be do-able in a year or two. Row-crop farming is very machinery intensive. Plowing, cultivating, seeding, harvesting and spraying all need very specific equipment. One is also more at the mercy of the weather - a row of corn can't climb into the barn or under a shed when it hails. Honestly, unless you are into some very profitable organic or specialty crops it will be very difficult with that small of parcel to be viable considering the start-up investment. Even if using horses, the team, harness and equipment are not cheap, either, even though newer equipment is still made by several Amish and Hutterite makers.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 51
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 51 |
Lol, what are "urban values"? Great question! 
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,214
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,214 |
Perhaps my understanding of urban has to do with the city I live in. What I mean is that someone would have "urban values" if they would be happier in a city than the country. That they would think there "is nothing to do" when the nearest neighbor to you is half a mile away, or when the nearest town is considered a "big city" because it has a Wal-Mart and Cracker Barrel. When the nearest movie theater is an hour away, and then that one has small screens.
Not everybody can find it easy to adjust or be content in a rural atmosphere.
Personally, I would prefer to live at a farm like you described, with laying hens and a large kitchen garden.
Terry
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,214
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One thing I really don't like about Houston is how many adult stores they have. It would not surprise me if it were in the thousands, with adult book stores, video stores, and exotic clubs combined.
Terry
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 102
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 102 |
If any of you are farmers (hobby or full-time), give out a shout. I have some agricultural questions regarding the family farm that I'm interested in purchasing from my grandfather (it's only a dream right now, but if a few things go my way this year it may could be a reality). We can have the conversation on this forum, but I think it'd be pretty boring, or we can exchange PM's. Basically, I'm looking for ideas of what to do with 160 acres, about 80 acres tillable, 80 acres pasture, but I think I'd rent the tillable acres out and use the pasture to raise livestock (leaning towards beef, because my dad and grandfather have experience in this area).
Anyways, looking for any advice on what you would do or recommend in Minnesota if you had this amount of acreage.
Thanks,
Nathan I can't answer your questions, (so you're probably thinking why am I answering!?  ), but I am curious about the answers you receive. My husband and I are planning to move out to Minnesota hopefully in the fall, and we want to get at least 40 acres, hopefully more. We want to raise a couple of cows (for milk and beef), chickens and lots of veggies. Our goal is to try to supply most of our food ourselves. It's our dream, anyway! Andrea
Last edited by AndreaW; 02/15/08 02:01 PM. Reason: fix smiley
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,461 Likes: 1
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,461 Likes: 1 |
Should be able to find plenty of Holstein steers up there at a reasonable price - can't do much with extra bull calves in dairy country. They are actually pretty lean and fine for home/subsistence beef.
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