The flip side of Brian806's question

Didn't want to hijack the post so I'll start a new one. Is anybody making a living with no outside income farming fewer acres than I am? I've got 77 acres of pasture,75-80 acres of corn,15-20 acres of oats and 130-140 acres of hay.
I farmed fewer acres than that when I was milking cows and getting everything paid for,but it takes and few more head of cattle and a few more acres to feed them now with the beef cattle instead of dairy. I couldn't do this with the debt I had back then but it works just fine now. We don't live high on the hog,but then we don't want to. We have internet and satellite TV so we aren't in the stoneage,we just appreciate as much simplicity as we can get away with without it making life harder by trying to live simpler.

We also milked cows until a year ago. We have 200 acres of cropland and feed out Holstein steers. I just bought some Angus beef cows to use my pasture.For extra income we grow 25 acres of rye that we clean and sell as cover crop seed. I do some repair work for others and buy and sell a few tractors and have parted out several 2510,3020 and 4020 tractors.I also supply forage to a neighbor who custom feed 100-150 heifers and steers.I do have debt (almost to much) and have to struggle to keep everything going. We need more income but I am somewhat afraid of enlarging the steer operation as the market looks to high. Our newest tractor is a 4230 Deere and most of our equipment is the same age but in good condition. I think this topic is going to be interesting and maybe I can come up with some ideas from others on how to expand without a huge amount of new debt. Tom

I had a good friend who raised Flowers, both dried and fresh on about ten acres. He was single and very frugal with his money. He worked long hours during the growing season and traveled all over the world in the off season.
He passed away 5 or 6 years ago and left his Nephew something in the neighborhood of $ 500,000.

Depends how you look at it. I run nearly the same overall acreage as you but mostly soybeans with a little corn and hay. The wife works off the farm and makes pretty decent money but she has had some substantial medical bills over the years. We are making it and with the recent high commodity prices we have been able to upgrade on some equipment. I would really love to have something off farm as well but this area is in terrible shape economically. Employers are not afraid to let you know they can be picky which is a metaphor for "we can find somebody we can readily bend over the barrel so why bother with you." I get real anxiety-ridden some days worrying about the future. We have buildings that need work among other things but the feeling was to upgrade the field equipment to do a better job and to be able to handle more acres should the opportunity arise. Some days I get stressed to the point where I wonder if I will be around in a couple of years.

I've kind'a got my second wind the last few years. Resigned myself to being here and not selling out and moving I guess. I replaced a barn last fall and have upgraded a fair amount of equipment the last few years.

Things always seem to happen on Easter though. Four years or so ago,we told the kids we were finally ready to sell the place and leave and the kids had a fit and said they had changed their minds about us letting the place go.

This year,the oldest boy's girlfriend said something about them needing to buy a house when she's done with pharmacy school. I told her I thought they were going to buy me a place to retire and move in to this house. She said "Are you serious?". I said "Yes,that's why I'm still here.". She looked a little surprised,like the search for a house was over already and just said "Oh,OK.".
Every year is full of new plans I guess.

Farm about same amount of acres.115 corn,85 soybeans,75 hay, 10 oats,120 pasture for 75 mama cows, feed out calves. Own all but40 acres that I rent from my parents. 1 acre owned and paid for is worth 3 that you have to go out on open market and rent. Your 400 acres has the same return , with a lot less risk, as 1200 cash rented acres. Better to pay rent to yourself than help the landlord make money. Our ag colleges promote the idea that you have to farm lots of cash rented acres. Better to own dirt than machinery, it depreciates , land has a long term appreciation track record. That being said , I would not be interested in buying land at this time, I'd wait for a decline in prices. Have a safe planting season and good luck.

Mom's parents supported a family and lived well with two 80's and a team of horses. That was a good bit of land in the depression. Growing up we farmed a section and did well - that was pretty big. I farm 1000 and get by fine. I would be in hurt if it weren't for the calves to sell the last couple of years. I use old equipment for the most part. Some field tractors are from the 60's. I do have a tractor that is '96 vintage but when I decided to go with a much newer planter and incorporate more technology and crop management I didn't have much of a choice. I raise wheat, beans, and milo in addition to the hogs and cattle. I can't see myself needing to get any bigger. It is plenty for me to manage.

rrlund when did you quit milking cows and how many did you have? How many beef cattle are in your operation now? thanks Kenny in SC

I quit milking in November 2003. We generally kept close to 60,tried to milk 50-52 on any given day. Sold all the bull calves,raised all the heifers,sold some open or bred.
I try to stay around 75 mama cows now,feed out all the calves to slaughter except 8 or so heifers held back to breed every year.

We use a system I call cow flipping to expand the cow calf herd and to raise revenue, we buy the poorest, oldest and plainest cull cows, bred cows and pairs that we can find, not the walking dead or the cancer eyes, just the ones who need worming and something to eat. Bring them in and worm,vaccinate and mouth them, palpate any that were not checked at the sale barn, keep them penned up a few days on hay and start a little feed, turn out on pasture and feed them 3 times a week unless pasture is real good, creep feed any calves to help keep the pressure off the cows, calve out any bred cows then make a decision if any are worth turning out with the bulls, after roughly 60 days on pasture put the open cows and cows that have weaned calves in the feedlot for another 60 days or so. Chopped hay, corn silage and grain screening pellets or rice bran, rolled corn or whatever high energy feed is the cheapest at the time, these type of cattle will typically gain 300 pounds in this 120 day period, the grain feeding on grass and in the feed lot puts on ''white'' fat, which brings a premium at the packer. Sell direct to a cow killer, live weight or on the rail, killer cows are in high demand and actually make more efficient gains than steers. if you can keep your feed inputs under $200.00 per ton you will make money on the increase in selling price and the weight gain, and the calf if there is one. We background calves as well but because we live in the deep south we can buy calves a little cheaper on average because there is the automatic shipping adjustment that all the order buyers factor in and bid by. I direct sell all calves as well except odd balls and real plain calves because they bring a lot more in uniform lots and sorted by steers or heifers and color.