City girl married to a guy who wants to be a hobby farmer!

[kelliarider1]

Hello, I am a city girl who is married to a guy who wants to be a hobby farmer but he is always stuck at work! Bought almost 16 acres of pasture in 2009, built a much too large house, a beautiful barn ...with no animals and put up 5,600 linear feet of fence and I know I am the one who is going to be taking care of the place most of the time! I have two small kids and work part time so I am spending as much time as I can researching the best smaller tractor to take care of bush hogging and maintaining our "living" space, maybe tilling a garden, etc. Daughter and hubby want horses, cows, chickens and bunnies.

We live south of Franklin, TN in a rural town called College Grove.

Yipee!:laughing:

 

[Muhammad]

Welcome to TBN.

 

[RoyJackson]

Welcome to TBN!!!

There's quite a few folks with about the same acreage as you folks have. I'm sure you'll find plenty of info (especially in the general Buying forum as well as the brand specific buying forums).

You know you'll need to field mow about 16 acres...what else? I'm sure the horse and cattle (if you do go that route) will add tasks.
So, next I suggest you determine a tentative budget...just don't overextend yourself financially.

 

[teg]

If you get horses, they will mow the grass for you

:welcome: to TBN... Is the barn going to be the tractor "house"... make sure it will fit into the door.

 

[Bob77064]

Welcome

 

[kelliarider1]

Thanks guys. I am looking at the kubota B2920,land pride with 5ftthe cutter, 60" belly mower,, tiller and seeder. I want something small enough that i can handle alone and not take out the fence I. Our barn is 6o long by 36wide, inside. Doors are 12ftyou opening, so no issues foreseen with fit.

My thought on horses, they eat money and poop work. But i am sure i will one day lose that battle.

Have to do something agricultural to keep tax exemption. Chickens seem easiest

 

[MikeFarm]

Hi

Sounds like you have a nice farm. To keep the grass down and get some money in from this look at agisting someone elses cows or sheep. They do good job of keeping the place neat and bring in a few dollars per animal per week. Ask the neighbours if they know of anyone that wants agistment or place an ad in the local paper.

Over a year or two with someone elses agisted animals you can learn a lot of the things that their owner needs to do and so get an idea if you want to get similar animals or not.

A small tractor is still nice to have also

Mike

 

[magicheater]

Hi

Sounds like you have a nice farm. To keep the grass down and get some money in from this look at agisting someone elses cows or sheep. They do good job of keeping the place neat and bring in a few dollars per animal per week. Ask the neighbours if they know of anyone that wants agistment or place an ad in the local paper.

Over a year or two with someone elses agisted animals you can learn a lot of the things that their owner needs to do and so get an idea if you want to get similar animals or not.

A small tractor is still nice to have also

Mike

Great advice!

 

[kelliarider1]

Its a beautiful place. Our neighbor behind us has alot of cows that he has roaming on his land but we need a water source. Have priced out a well and its not too expensive and could use that to supply a small water source. I would love to dig a pond but don't want the cows in it My idea of "farming" is planting some fast growing hybrid walnut trees and becoming a small walnut tree farmer and maybe apples. Don't have to step in animal leavings :laughing:

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks guys. I am looking at the kubota B2920,land pride with 5ftthe cutter, 60" belly mower,, tiller and seeder. I want something small enough that i can handle alone and not take out the fence I. Our barn is 6o long by 36wide, inside. Doors are 12ftyou opening, so no issues foreseen with fit.

Depending on how critical your budget is, you might seriously consider a related tractor, the B3030 cab. If you will be mowing pastures in the summer in TN you will appreciate the air conditioning and bug barrier. Same goes for heat and snow protection in the winter. It is basically the same size tractor as the B2920 just updated and with a cab.

A 72 inch belly mower will cut beyond the tires and make it easier to mow the fence line without taking it out. Alternatively, a 75" flail mower which can be offset to the right by about two feet would be another consideration (Caroni TM1900, about the same or cheaper than the belly mowers and available from AgriSupply)