Wasn't sure were to post this so i did here because this is my first year of farming some ground i rented. I have farmed all my life but never had My own to worry about, just helped DAD. I often hear people in my area and all around always commenting how they want to farm because you only have to work a little in the spring and a little in the fall. HA! they don't have a clue. Not discouraging anyone from starting to farm ITS HARD! LOL. All i can say about my experience is that i am exhausted! in the past 3 weeks today is the first day i can even think about relaxing.. (my relaxation is working in garden and shop to get caught up on projects). Its so different to farm when if ya don't do it hey its not going to get done and still working a full time job, but my goal is to full time farm some time in the future so i have to start somewhere. Also this is my first year so i also found out how EXPENSIVE it is to do. WOW. I have seen some people on this site that talk or have actually started farming and i guess my point is that it has been worth it for me so far just to be able to have my own and what not.
1st year truly farming
- Thread starter zythinl
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Chiriqui
New member
You don't farm for the money, cuz there ain't any. Those who stay in farming find a way to eek out a living, but they really do it cuz they love it.
rsewill
Veteran Member
Nobody works harder than a family farmer.
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
I would like to farm, I just can't afford it. High risk, high investment, low return even with all the hard work. It also takes a lot of knowledge and experience too that most of us don't have.
For me building landscapes is almost as enjoyable as farming and allows me to defray the equipment costs and make a small living. After 25 years being a full time mechanical contractor I had to make a change to something I enjoyed more. Mixing in landscape construction is working for me, nice to look at completed projects and see the improvements.
For me building landscapes is almost as enjoyable as farming and allows me to defray the equipment costs and make a small living. After 25 years being a full time mechanical contractor I had to make a change to something I enjoyed more. Mixing in landscape construction is working for me, nice to look at completed projects and see the improvements.
so you farmed with your father???? are you using his equipment or did you buy your own?
I would love to be a full time farmer buy it will never happen. Didnt grow up with or marry the farmers daughter. So land and equipment will never be affordable.
I do envy the full time farmer who inherits or buys from family the equipment and land to continue the family farm.
Best of luck to you
I would love to be a full time farmer buy it will never happen. Didnt grow up with or marry the farmers daughter. So land and equipment will never be affordable.
I do envy the full time farmer who inherits or buys from family the equipment and land to continue the family farm.
Best of luck to you
creekbend
Super Star Member
Best wishes. Sincerely hope that everything works out. :tractor:
tessiers
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We have a few years under our belts but I agree it is awsome. We own 15 acres which is all pasture and we hay another 25 which is all owned by other people. The one piece we do which is worth paying lease on the owner told me to spend whatever I would pay him and improve the fields. We run all old junk equipment, I can't see how anyone can afford new equipment without hundreds of acres. We are definately doing it for the love right now, no real money yet. I figure the best way to make a million farming is start with 2 million.
rambler
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Takes about 5 years be4 you see any money, or gain, from the farm.
Will be 10 years before it feels worthwhile ($$$-wise) and like you are getting ahead.
Those first few years are very eye-openning.
Welcome to farming.
--->Paul
Will be 10 years before it feels worthwhile ($$$-wise) and like you are getting ahead.
Those first few years are very eye-openning.
Welcome to farming.
--->Paul
No i didnt buy equipment. the deal with my dad is that i help him all the time i can and in return i get to use his equipment on my share of stuff and all i pay is fuel, seed, fert and what not. if i didnt have this option then i wouldnt be able to farm. If it wasnt in the family to begine with i cant see my self ever full time farming but i will be the 4th generation on this ground!
atgreene
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Good for you! Good luck, start small, don't get in over your head. Keep improving each year and you will eventually get your own equipment and land.
flusher
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- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
What crops?
Around here it's mostly orchard crops (olives, almonds, English walnuts, pistachios, mandarin oranges, prune plums). Farms range from 10 acres of walnuts that one of my neighbors just planted to the new olive orchards that cover thousands of acres (for olive oil, semi dwarf variety, harvested with modified grape harvesting equipment). Another neighbor grows alfalfa on 30 irrigated acres and makes good money selling three-twine square bales to the horsey crowd, which is another popular use of land in these parts.
Good luck
sam5570
Veteran Member
i truly admire your self motovation that is something that is really a problem with alot of people in todays world i love farming and a days hard work not worry about the money i just enjoy doing it as it sounds like you do as well i think as you grow you will see all your progress and will like it even more when you sit down on the porch and look and say i did all that myself enjoy.:thumbsup:
Wow alot of intrest in this i see. crops > corn, wheat, beans in a 3 year rotation. Here at my job work> people ask me how i have time for it all and i just tell them i dont watch the stupid box all day after work never had much use for that thing anyways oh ya friday the 11th we finnished up all the planting.. well for the first time anyways.
Also a little more about me.... i also have a small machine shop i get some work to do in and im only 28. and yes I love looking back at what i accomplish mostly becuse most people my age and younger have no respect for life wanted everything handed to them and dont work for anything to help themselves or anyone else.... not all of them just most people in general.
never had much use for that thing anyways oh ya friday the 11th we finnished up all the planting.. well for the first time anyways. Also a little more about me.... i also have a small machine shop i get some work to do in and im only 28. and yes I love looking back at what i accomplish mostly becuse most people my age and younger have no respect for life wanted everything handed to them and dont work for anything to help themselves or anyone else.... not all of them just most people in general.
Baby Grand
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I've always been amazed at the breadth and depth of knowledge the farmers that I have met possess. It seems to be mostly DIY to control costs and there seems to be a network of knowledge - if the hydraulic problem is over your head, then ask Bob, 'cause Bob knows hydraulics. And he still remembers the welding you did for his dad last Fall and won't mind helping you out.
tessiers
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- Central Maine
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- 05' JD 790 - 53' Ford NAA - 70' Massey Fergusen 135 diesel - 67' John Deere 3020 deisel - 77' John Deere 2130 - 1950 John Deere MC
Wow alot of intrest in this i see. crops > corn, wheat, beans in a 3 year rotation. Here at my job work> people ask me how i have time for it all and i just tell them i dont watch the stupid box all day after work
Also a little more about me.... i also have a small machine shop i get some work to do in and im only 28. and yes I love looking back at what i accomplish mostly becuse most people my age and younger have no respect for life wanted everything handed to them and dont work for anything to help themselves or anyone else.... not all of them just most people in general.
When they ask me how I do it all I say there are 24 hrs in a day and if I work through my lunch hour I can get 25 in.
That is awsome cant believe i havnt heard that one before.
Such a good thing to hear when younger (than me!) people move into farming. Congratulations! I was on the phone for an hour or so the other day with a young friend from Alberta. They are moving back to the family farm with their two children. How exciting for them too. I put my order in for some more of their home grown wheat.
schoolsout
Veteran Member
Tree farming is pretty easy Just takes 20+ years before seeing any returns unless you have large acreage and harvest sections at a time.
Just takes 20+ years before seeing any returns unless you have large acreage and harvest sections at a time.
flusher
Super Member
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- Location
- Sacramento
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- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
Tree farming is pretty easy
Around here they plant 3-year old semi-dwarf almond tree varieties and harvest the first crop in the 3rd year after planting. And, yes, these orchards cover 1000+ acres.
