Super Steve
Member
so farming isnt paying as much as id like so im looking for other ways to make money. I would like to find something that works with farming 400 acres and 30 beef cows. What type of work do you folks do?
- Thread starter Super Steve
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flying belgian
Well-known Member
I own some rental houses in the near-by college town. Got in it years ago when good houses were cheap. It is not as good of a racket now as it was 20 years ago.
Pair-a-dice farm
Well-known Member
Build a motorcross dirt track and take up welding. It that don't work you could get a job doing inventory and tell the boss what an idiot he is.
It is hard to give advise with out more information. Like where you are located? What are your likes/skills? Also how old are you? Can you do/want hard physical labor? If you are around an urban area then you have more choices. If you are in the middle of Iowa a hundred miles from the nearest city then different and fewer choices.
I have had to work at different jobs over the years. The market changes. Thirty years ago a good mechanic could make a good living wage, now not too good of wage. I can make twice the take home with my CDL in todays market. Now if they let the Mexican truckers in then that will more than likely die too. Less local equipment repair too. The bigger farms either have new or fix it themselves. Same with welding shops most farmers today have their own welders and such.
I have had to work at different jobs over the years. The market changes. Thirty years ago a good mechanic could make a good living wage, now not too good of wage. I can make twice the take home with my CDL in todays market. Now if they let the Mexican truckers in then that will more than likely die too. Less local equipment repair too. The bigger farms either have new or fix it themselves. Same with welding shops most farmers today have their own welders and such.
loneranger27
Member
Steve,
many farmers also work as crop insurance adjusters. They generally have the background knowledge of farming and crop management, you only have to learn how to adjust and read and understand a policy.
many farmers also work as crop insurance adjusters. They generally have the background knowledge of farming and crop management, you only have to learn how to adjust and read and understand a policy.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Back then fuel was $1.25 a gallon and a family of four could eat dam good on less than $100 week. Today, I'm making more money than ever, working lot's of OT, but I've never been this poor. Taxes, insurance, and other "fees" are just killing us.
whatever i can find to do now, sold my kenworth, as the economy is so bad here it hadnt hauled a load in 3 months, but the insurance ect still had to be payed, plant closed down due to little business, i a currently rebuilding a mile of wood rail fence, doing some landscaping, ect can do asphalt seal coating, painting operate any kind of heavy equipment, trucks ect, problem is nobody here is doing anything, im too old and stove up for some of this stuff but ya got to eat
Get your CDL, you can always find work then. Construction companies, local suppliers, over the road outfits, they all need good people to haul materials. I'm back in school and I drive part time for the company I'm at. Without having my CDL, I wouldn't be making as good of money that I am. Kind of a blessing in disguise.
Yes I agree if your not a farmer but if you are a farmer and not making it these days there is no way you will make it in the long run.
I survived through the 80"s farming by taking an off farm job at a weld shop. But those were the days of $1.50 corn $30 hogs and $70 cattle with 18% interest rates.
I agree our inputs are higher right now for farming, but the prices more than offset the high cost of farming.
Gary
I survived through the 80"s farming by taking an off farm job at a weld shop. But those were the days of $1.50 corn $30 hogs and $70 cattle with 18% interest rates.
I agree our inputs are higher right now for farming, but the prices more than offset the high cost of farming.
Gary
My local school districts are bagging for substitute bus drivers. If you would rather plant corn or go to a auction, you just say no that day. If you do work, its a few hours early in the morning and a few in the afternoon. Your not going to get rich but it makes for a good part time gig to earn a little mad money. Still lots of time to get some farming done. Works good for me with my small farming operation. Although I do have a pension from 35 years of truck driving which helps alot.
Super Steve
Member
Gary, i know what your sayin, but theres more to the story. Im more or less what you would say an "employee". Grandpa still owns the farm, hes given me some land to play with and make the money off of, and i did quite well last year with the prices we are having. The problem is now, grandpa had a stroke 6 weeks ago and i now have to take care of the entire farm. Im making some money right now but its about half of what i was making when i was working fulltime and farming part time and id like to make a little more to feel comfortable.
Super Steve
Member
I was working at a seed elevator for the past year, but being so many hours(anywhere from 5-10s to 7-12s) it was hard to work with the farm. I went to school for heavy equipment operator and have my truck licence aswell. The problem is, nobody wants to hire someone part time.
I think im more looking for "starting my own business" but not really, just looking for ways to make more money. I sell hay and am going to be doing that on a larger scale this year since we are cutting back on cows this fall. Im looking for a decent but cheap haybine for this year and have a couple smaller people looking for someone to cut some hay. Ill have the straw off 10 acres of wheat to sell this fall. I sell a few logs here and there to a buddy with a sawmill. I help him with the mill once in a while, like a day every couple weeks.
Grandpa quit upgrading equipment back in the 70s so im working with worn out junk. yes im pulling a 3pt 11' cultivator with 85 horse. With the duals on, the tractor is 10'6" lol. So im trying to build things up a bit but to do that and still survive right now, i need to make more money.
I think im more looking for "starting my own business" but not really, just looking for ways to make more money. I sell hay and am going to be doing that on a larger scale this year since we are cutting back on cows this fall. Im looking for a decent but cheap haybine for this year and have a couple smaller people looking for someone to cut some hay. Ill have the straw off 10 acres of wheat to sell this fall. I sell a few logs here and there to a buddy with a sawmill. I help him with the mill once in a while, like a day every couple weeks.
Grandpa quit upgrading equipment back in the 70s so im working with worn out junk. yes im pulling a 3pt 11' cultivator with 85 horse. With the duals on, the tractor is 10'6" lol. So im trying to build things up a bit but to do that and still survive right now, i need to make more money.
I had retired early at 55 and found out I couldn't quite keep everything going. I got recertified as a teacher and started taking some sub work.
That didn't pay much, so I took a job as an engineer on a solar panel project. It is only a 1 year job, but I am getting near SSI time. One day at a time is how I have begun looking at it. I farm when I have time.
I started a plastic factory and tool shop in 1976. At 73 I am still doing the same thing. Making plastic wheels and tires and repairing molds. Farmed off and on over the years. Cash rented my farm part of the time. Now cash rent it all the time, what I haven't sold off. If I can keep my health for another seven years I'll be looking at early retirement. Then I'll most likely start another small part time business to keep food on the table.
Can't see working for anyone else after this many years. Can't hardly get along with myself let alone some young whipper snapper.
Can't see working for anyone else after this many years. Can't hardly get along with myself let alone some young whipper snapper.
A lot depends on your background, skills, abilities, and education. I taught high school ag for serveral years and was an ag extension agent before that. Both worked will with a little part time farming. I decided farming was what I liked to do and what I wanted to do so thats been where I've been full time for the last several years.
For me, and everyones circumstances are different I added a few different things to my hay, cattle, and horse business. Since both result in really inconsistant cash flow I invested in rental property and private paper. Both give me monthly cash flow to live on. On the farm, to increase business volume I started buying and reselling hay. Im pretty good at marketing and have a good location so thats worked out well. I decided I could either try to compete with other commodity producers or focus on selling a premium product at a premium price. Lastly, I do some custom work, mainly mowing, skid loader, and round baling. The key for me is I screen my jobs for ones that generate a lot of income for the amount of effort I have to put in, do them first even if it means something of mine doesnt get done, and always show up with good equipment and a sober operator. I could triple the size of the custom work if I wanted to.
For me, and everyones circumstances are different I added a few different things to my hay, cattle, and horse business. Since both result in really inconsistant cash flow I invested in rental property and private paper. Both give me monthly cash flow to live on. On the farm, to increase business volume I started buying and reselling hay. Im pretty good at marketing and have a good location so thats worked out well. I decided I could either try to compete with other commodity producers or focus on selling a premium product at a premium price. Lastly, I do some custom work, mainly mowing, skid loader, and round baling. The key for me is I screen my jobs for ones that generate a lot of income for the amount of effort I have to put in, do them first even if it means something of mine doesnt get done, and always show up with good equipment and a sober operator. I could triple the size of the custom work if I wanted to.
I see below you are taking over the whole farm because of ill health of your grandad. I would sieze this opportunity- very seldom does one get a chance to get into farming on a commercial scale when commodity prices are at an all time high. Your payday won't be until fall, so you might have to squeeze by on credit cards until then. But don't do a half-a$$ job of farming by taking another job just for temporary income.
If you're going to need to work off-farm permanently, best jobs are school bus driver or teacher (summers off), insurance or crop loss adjuster, and I've always thought if I had it to do over, I'd have been a fireman. One day on, 2 off- lots of time to get farm work done. Only job where they pay you to sleep. Of course, that's dependent on how close you are to a city that has full time firemen.
If you're going to need to work off-farm permanently, best jobs are school bus driver or teacher (summers off), insurance or crop loss adjuster, and I've always thought if I had it to do over, I'd have been a fireman. One day on, 2 off- lots of time to get farm work done. Only job where they pay you to sleep. Of course, that's dependent on how close you are to a city that has full time firemen.
Super Steve
Member
thats the type of stuff im looking into, things that i can make money at on the side but will also help the farm out. having a skidsteer would be such an asset around the farm, we pay someone to do our mowing and round baling right now, our old sickle mower finally gave up a couple years ago after doing 70 acres of hay for a good 30-40 years. We do have a good square baler and ive made some decent money from it with the horse people but i need more customers and more help baling(doesnt everyone?). Last year i used the money i made from selling some of the hay and bought another running gear and made another hay wagon. Right now im looking for a decent mower to buy with some of the money from my crops last year.
I spent 34+ years an an aircraft propusion engineer, retiring in 1999 at age 57. I raised cattle on small acreage while I worked. Now we have a little bit bigger irrigated ranch where we raise natural (all forage fed) beef in Montana. I"m working hard but you should see the view from my office -the Mission Range!
Retired in 1994 after 43 years with the US government at their proving ground for all the Army's vehicles. We tested the M1A1 Abrams tank, M60 and M48 tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Gamma Goat and lots of trucks to name a few. I installed the instrumentation for testing. That includes 2 years in the Army during the Korean War. I spent most of my hitch at Ft Bragg NC with the 82nd Airborne Div.
We used this vehicle for full load drawbar pull tests and cooling tests. Hal
We used this vehicle for full load drawbar pull tests and cooling tests. Hal
Brian Jasper co. Ia
Well-known Member
Don't know if it fits in with a beef cattle and farm operation, but I'm a Powerstroke specialist and auto trans tech at a Ford/Chevrolet dealer.
Dad to my 2 sons now nearly grown an gone - eldest in USN and youngest undecided.
Was an IT Director doing Supply Chain work. Got laid off in Jan. after 17 yrs so now I am IT consultant going to where the work is.
Was in Atlanta for 8 wks now in Lousiville, KY for a few months. Looking for old iron around here
Truck farming was/is theraputic for me - sense of accomplishment vs. the digital world.
Was an IT Director doing Supply Chain work. Got laid off in Jan. after 17 yrs so now I am IT consultant going to where the work is.
Was in Atlanta for 8 wks now in Lousiville, KY for a few months. Looking for old iron around here
Truck farming was/is theraputic for me - sense of accomplishment vs. the digital world.
Justin SE IOWA
Member
I work for the city water works.
After 40 years as electrician, landlord, mechanic and working for general motors, I can't hardly do anything. Read. When my diabetic eyes are up to it. Computer. When it works. Hike, bike, and motorcycle when my back will let me. Only for an hour at most. Trusting the LORD for another day and please nothing any worse than what it is. Wife lets me dress myself(funny) and follow her around all day. Still drive(short trips) C ut 1 acre when up to it with Farmall cub or A. Could be better but could be a lot worse. No more electrician, license fees and insurance not in the retirement budget. Miss all the people that used to love to see you coming when they had a problem, miss being the hero. Always made my day. Never worry about the dollar, just help somebody and ease their mind. Love you all on this forum, Dave
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