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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

OT:How are you cutting it??

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TomMan

03-18-2006 08:44:21




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I'm farming about 270 acres right now. Corn, soybeans, a little wheat, a little alfalfa. I've saved a lot of money farming with smaller older equip.(100 hp tractor, gleaner K 3rn, 13ft head etc.) I'm trying to work on getting to where I don't have to work off the farm. Any suggestions on how to get there.
I am a single guy and I'm thinking about just going for it, making sacrafices, and living the simple,plain life like my grand dad did. No frills, but at least i'll be on the farm doing what I love all the time. How well would livestock supplement me. I've got the facilities for about 60-70 head of cattle. Maybe sows? Ewes? I don't know. Just wanting to pick your brains some. Seeing what different folks have experienced.

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WyoDave

03-18-2006 19:57:10




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 Re: OT:How are you cutting it?? in reply to TomMan, 03-18-2006 08:44:21  
Livestock always adds money. For the most part corn and alfalfa is going to feed livestock, and if you feed it yourself you make the money that the person buying it and feeding it would make. Livestock takes time though. Everyday you have to be there, no exceptions. The big question is, can you be efficient enough to make it pay? I don't know, maybe, but it'll be tough. I've been farming full time for 2 years now, and love every minute of it. Its a great way to live.
David

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ricedaddy

03-18-2006 10:19:28




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 Re: OT:How are you cutting it?? in reply to TomMan, 03-18-2006 08:44:21  
not to burst your bubble, but with that small acreage it would be hard to do. when I first started back in the 60's, I started out like you BUT, in the winter time I worked other jobs to make up the difference. I don't know where your farm is but there are some perishable crops that bring in good cash money.Remember it's not how much you make but how much you spend. where there's a will theres a way! Best of luck, we need all the young farmers we can get
Ron

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JT

03-18-2006 10:08:41




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 Re: OT:How are you cutting it?? in reply to TomMan, 03-18-2006 08:44:21  
One thing to make your self a little more self suffiecient is to do some research into some of the exotic animals and crops. One thing that is quite labor intensive, but can make good money growing is catnip. An animal that is becoming quite popular are buffalo, or alpaka or however you spell it.
Jim



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N. TX Tim

03-18-2006 09:38:15




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 Re: OT:How are you cutting it?? in reply to TomMan, 03-18-2006 08:44:21  
I am not an expert here by any means, but have spoken with some ex-cattlemen and they say meat goats are by far more profitable than cattle (I don't know about dairy cattle, but with that you are tied to your place 24/7). Input costs are less, quicker turn around for sale, market brings about $1 per pound, couple this with intensive rotational grazing...might be something worth looking into. I plan to.

As there is more and more immigration into this country, the demand for goat meat will continue to rise...something to think about...

Just some thoughts...again, I have not done this and am not claiming to have all the answers...

Good Luck
Tim

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barnrat

03-18-2006 09:19:42




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 Re: OT:How are you cutting it?? in reply to TomMan, 03-18-2006 08:44:21  
I started farming "full" time almost 6 years ago. 3 years previous to that I bought jersey heifer calves. I bartered and traded different farmers to raise them form me while I turned wrench at a local tractor dealership. I chose dairy farming partly cause I grew up on a dairy farm and partly cause dairy cows have the most income potential per acre. One thing I found to be most helpful is to not listen to the old timers and their "If I didn't do it and my dad didn't do it, it can't be done" rant. Whatever type of farming you choose do as much research as you possibly can. With livstock low input practices like Managed Intesive Rotational Grazing is king. Grazing pays my bills on my 60 cow dairy and makes my neighbors envious of my bottom line. I do make money on the side fixing tractors only cause the farm I'm renting(and soon to buy)has a good shop. I live by one quote "If you always do what you always have done. You will always be where you always have been." Good luck.

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Jimmy King

03-18-2006 19:48:30




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 Re: OT:How are you cutting it?? in reply to barnrat, 03-18-2006 09:19:42  
Barnrat, no matter what the Black and White boys say Jerseys are pretty durn hard to beat. They were milked on the farm where I live for close to 85 years some where at one time two places. I will be the first to admit I wasn't that good of a dairy farmer. I am 64 years old and have been working in town for 9 years 8 plus at the job I have. I do not farm any more at all, still have most of my machinery. At one tome I was debt free and 1/3 of my herd was registered. When the milk price went down in 1986 it seperated the men from the boys and it took 10 years to do it but I found out I was a boy. I did have some bad luck a couple of times in raising calves, and that is hard to recover from. You hang in there and show us you are a man. Jim

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