I've been tinkering with tractors and was thinking it might be fun to get into some actual production I do two acres of corn locally for fun/neighbors, but I was thinking of adding a cash crop in my spare time.
I have the opportunity to pick up 10 acres about an hour away for fairly cheap. $3500 an acre. If I were to plant it, I could have the land paid for itself in 3-5 years hopefully. The question is how much additional will I need to spend on equipment in addition to what I own.
I have a truck/trailer to haul machines. I have a Ferguson TO30 in excelent running condition that I figured could run the baler. I have a 6' finish mower, I don't suspect that will work as the mower though. I've seen local balers for $3500-5000 in working condition. Searching the local craigslist for mower isn't really yielding me the type of mower I'm after.
I don't suppose my kubota b8200 with turfs will be of any use in this application? maybe pull the hay cart?
The thought is 10 acres yielding 100 bales an acres at $3.5/bale is $3500/cut, cutting 3x/yr, so roughly $10k/yr yield. Minus fuel and bailing materials, budgeting for breakdowns. I can pay for the land with my main job so a year of learning or a bad/wet season wouldn't be to harsh.
The only complication I am thinking is time. This would be a weekend gig for me, cutting late friday or early saturday, hoping to bale sunday's, being at the weather's mercy I could be asking for trouble.
Anything else I should be taking into account?
I have the opportunity to pick up 10 acres about an hour away for fairly cheap. $3500 an acre. If I were to plant it, I could have the land paid for itself in 3-5 years hopefully. The question is how much additional will I need to spend on equipment in addition to what I own.
I have a truck/trailer to haul machines. I have a Ferguson TO30 in excelent running condition that I figured could run the baler. I have a 6' finish mower, I don't suspect that will work as the mower though. I've seen local balers for $3500-5000 in working condition. Searching the local craigslist for mower isn't really yielding me the type of mower I'm after.
I don't suppose my kubota b8200 with turfs will be of any use in this application? maybe pull the hay cart?
The thought is 10 acres yielding 100 bales an acres at $3.5/bale is $3500/cut, cutting 3x/yr, so roughly $10k/yr yield. Minus fuel and bailing materials, budgeting for breakdowns. I can pay for the land with my main job so a year of learning or a bad/wet season wouldn't be to harsh.
The only complication I am thinking is time. This would be a weekend gig for me, cutting late friday or early saturday, hoping to bale sunday's, being at the weather's mercy I could be asking for trouble.
Anything else I should be taking into account?