What kind of farm?

[watersniper]

Hops. A couple acres as a hobby for now... I have a local homebrew supply shop who will be selling and I have a web site. I have several brews of my own that are gaining momentum.

I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder due to all the roadblocks I run into trying to get things going. I have heard more "no's" in the past year trying to get this going. It's tough to tune out the laughs and negativity I hear when I talk about my ideas. The good thing is I have a ridiculous day job working on the water.

I didn't know I was a CUT cowboy, but I am not surprised there is a disparaging term for that. I will add that to my list of loving nicknames. At the end of the day I am having a lot of fun!

 

[Ken]

80 Acres of grass weeds and mostly rocks the size of hub caps.
Land leased to dairy man to run his dry cows until they are close to having a calf then taken to his dairy .
60 years ago Dad grew corn, sorgram cane, some hay crops and made a living with mules then a John Deere GP tractor. today the land doesn't pay the taxes. In my life time of being on the farm or working to afford keeping the place have worn out a JD "B" a 40, 2 Kubotas and now have a JD 4520 Pwr. Rev.open sta. tractor
Hard to make some one mad just asking how many acres or how many head of cattle.

Just look at the pick-up he is driving.if new on close to it his wife is working.
If old beat up he is frugle with his money Remember Sam Walton of Wal-mart drove a 20 year old chev. pick-up. Wife and kids all billionares.
ken

 

[blueriver]

I don't mind sharing. Cattle, Hay ground. 2011 with the rented ground totaled 360 acres ... 160 acres for hay production ... with the drought didn't get to put up much hay, sold off some cattle. Am trying to negotiate another 200 acres for pasture and hay production for 2012

Sold off the big "fuel burners" moved the operation into smaller more efficent tractors with smaller equipment and to our surprise ... we sold more 4x4 bales for more money per bale. 2011 we added square bales ... turns out the drought limited that production!!

Someone stated it best earlier ... it is business and must be treated as such. We try to keep diversified ... cattle, hogs, horse's, mules, chickens anything we can sell to get some extra cash. Also both the wife and I have real estate license's and I hold an auctioneers license in more than one state ...

Current ... Branson 5530C, Montana 4340C, Farmall Super C, 2 Frontier Hay cutters, 10 wheel V Rake, Case IH Round Baler, JD 346 wire tie square Baler, 10 bale accumulator, 10 bale grapple, wagon, trailer ... trucks and a bunch of other misc equipment... brush hog, blades, sprayers, cattle trailer... not much for crops around me some do cotton, peanuts, wheat. I'm geared for hay production and really like that. I do want to try the peanut thing. So I am currently looking into that.

 

[bigbull338]

Hops. A couple acres as a hobby for now... I have a local homebrew supply shop who will be selling and I have a web site. I have several brews of my own that are gaining momentum.

I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder due to all the roadblocks I run into trying to get things going. I have heard more "no's" in the past year trying to get this going. It's tough to tune out the laughs and negativity I hear when I talk about my ideas. The good thing is I have a ridiculous day job working on the water.

I didn't know I was a CUT cowboy, but I am not surprised there is a disparaging term for that. I will add that to my list of loving nicknames. At the end of the day I am having a lot of fun!

hey ignore those who laugh an say it cant be done.because you are living your dream on the farm.an thats all that matters.

 

[KerryTL70A]

Great topic. Always interesting to see what is going on elsewhere. We have a small 70 acre suckler farm in the south of Ireland. Tractor is NH tl70a. Attachments are primarily for grass work. We also have an early 1990's 5 tonne Kubota excavator which is very handy for a lot of work around the farm.

 

[JD 4520]

Around here it's considerd very Rude to ask a man how many Acres he has or how many Cows he runs...

Same as askin how much Money ya got in the Bank...

To Steve's comment above, I have also discovered this to be true in that industry specifically (cows & land). As described to me by ranchers, cows = cash flow; land = net worth. I would guess that certain row crop information would imply the same type of result.

Since very few members on this site don't identify themselves even in the least, it shouldn't matter here, this is for gaining helpful insight into the business. In person, I would treat such questions differently and respect the wishes of the farmer.

You all have good intentions and I for one appreciate the service this provides.

Happy Thanksgiving!