What's the most profitable way make cash, farming

johan3400 · Jul 4, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

( 
" Think outside of the box. Don't fall into the rut "This is what we did last year, so let's do it the same way THIS year"...... Don't despare when you have 2 or 3 (or 10) bad years in a row." )

This is good advice for making money on the farm. I am starting back to work to make the move faster to the farm. I now live 156 miles away from the farm and need to be close by. I wish to keep my lifestyle the same as it has been for the past years. I want my family around me. My wife and I made a clear choice. We believe in where we want to take the farm, we just want the security of a job to make the transition easier. I have 65 acres of rolling ground. We took the 200 acre family farm and devided it between my brother(Wesdor), my sister and myself. If you wish to make money on the farm, What do you like to be involved in? Do you like livestock, vegetables, fruit, or some other specialty crop? What experience do you have in farming. For me I was a conventional farmer. I made the same mistake many farmers did in the later 70's into the early 80's. I tried to borrow my way to a big farm and did not backit up with enough focus to the detail. What ever you do to make money, back it with a solid business plan. Capitalize it well enough to succeed and do not loose heart. Surround yourself with successful people who can encourage you when you need it.

Slamfire · Jul 4, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

(
-- organic vegetables
-- organic chicken, turkey and duck
-- venision
-- specialty beef cattle, natural or organic
-- buffalo
)

I knew a fellow who had buffalo, but he couldn't keep them on the 2 sections he owned, they kept wanderin' away. Finally his neighbors, The U. S. Forest Service gave him a choice, and he got rid of them. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

rcaretti · Jul 4, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

I'm not a farmer, though I grew up in a rural area and did my share of helping friends who were farmers. I have to say, looking back, I don't know how some of my friends families made any money.

I do own a small piece of property now (25 acres), but a good bit of the tillable propery is tied up in pasture for my wife's horses.

Thinking out of the box a little bit, I've always wondered about the feasibility of growing nuts, such as chestnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, etc. or depending on location, going the pumpkin patch, pick your own (strawberries or rasberries) route. Is there any money in crops like sunflower or safflower seeds (I see enough people feeding birds to make me wonder)?

midwest · Jul 4, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

Wow!!!! there has been some awesome information put forth so far, I really appreciate all the help.

Now, let me say that I know that I cannot make a living doing just the farming. Although, I have never understood it, how farmers have had such a problem getting paid better for what we provide for everyone. However, I want to make my land make me some extra cash, not to mention help me make the payment on it. I bought it for the beauty and to get back to my roots.

I know this is probably a stupid question, but I'm going to ask anyway. What exactly is organic farming?

Also, on a good year, how many square bales can be produced in hay? How many Round bales?

curt1 · Jul 5, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

Around here you can sell top soil for a nice profit. Some people buy a few acres, strip the topsoil and sell the land a in year or so for development. You can also sell rock to landscapers if you have the right type. Rock and top soil business??? Might not
be a good business there, but it seems to be here.
Curt

riptides · Jul 5, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

We did not intend to actually make any money, let alone profit from our new "old" homestead. I have about 40 acres of quality hay that I plan on getting to one day, next year.

This is still the idea, but it is driven by market reality. The price and availability of good quality hay in our area really keeps me thinking about being a small-time grassland farmer.

So, in your area, what is the go-to-market product? What could be the out-of-box ways of thinking to get you in the game? Will you love doing it? Can you afford to hang in there if it does not click for a while? Do you have a business plan?
Do you have a back-out plan?

Good luck!
-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

wjmst · Jul 5, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

So the concensus is....no money in farming, just enjoyment as a hobby. I know around our area there is a need for dog/cat/other pet kennels. Most places charge between $8-$15 per night. From my understanding they are usually pretty busy all year round.

Build a nice kennel and then plant a nice little garden for yourself and you can also sell some of the produce to the customers of your kennel or whatever.

Enjoy life.

Wes

Indydirtfarmer · Jul 5, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

After reading a few replies, including my own, I have to add a few comments.

First off, there is money in farming. ('cause I put it there......LOL) There just isn't the profit margin that you find with outher business's requiring the same investment (of time AND money)

Times are changing.... A great deal of the U.S. farm "base" is leaving our borders. (i.e. soybeans/Argentina and Brazil) Even the BIG farms are seeing reduced profits.

Getting started in PRODUCTION FARMING takes start-up capital, nerve, and a great deal of knowledge. Starting up a hobby farm takes considerabley less of each.

As long as a person goes into farming with the knowledge that he won't make much in the first 10 years (or more), and has the where-with-all to hang in there, go for it! GREAT LIFE......

Bottom line.... There are THOUSANDS of life-long farmers that have racked their brains to figure out a way to increase profits. No reasonable expectation that a new-comer will jump in and reverse that trend.

But..... If you feel strongly about making a try, I understand 100% why someone would want to.

I LOVE MY JOB.....!

cowboydoc · Jul 5, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

The BEST way to make money farming is to do nothing with it. Either leave it in CRP or rent it out. I'm serious in the long run unless you have ALOT of time or alot of money to lay out in capital to farm that ground, and no money in that, you aren't going to make very much. To get into the cattle business right now would be like getting into the stock market at the top of it a few years ago. The specialty markets are a full-time and then some business to run. There is some money in it but the reason is the time factor. Best of luck to you but it's really hard to make money in agriculture.

EddieWalker · Jul 5, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

HGTV has or used to have a show called the Good Life. It's about people who quit their stressful jobs and start a new business that is usually in the country. One I remember was a woman who started growing Lavender plants. She sells them online all over the world. Another started selling tumble weeds as a joke. It took off!!!

If the show is still on the air, I don't know, take a look for it. You might find an idea that works for you.

RonR · Jul 5, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

Not sure if the Tumbleweed person is the same or not, but I read about her a few years ago. She picked them up in Western KS and literally shipped them all over the world.

She had a website that was a hoot to read! She'd taken a bunch of pics of construction equipment around her area and posted that as her "equipment" used to plant and harvest the crop. Also had pics of green sorgum planted that she claimed was her rows of organically grown tumbleweeds.

When she got orders, she'd drive around the county and pick up what she needed. Different sizes/different prices...........

Her investment was some gas and a website. Almost all profit!

I had an opportunity 20 yrs ago to go into farming. It was a sweetheart deal, but there just was not a business case to make enough money at it. The lifestyle I would love, but you gotta eat and provide for the family..................

ron

David_Borden · Jul 5, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

RonR, think this might be the place you mentioned. http://www.prairietumbleweedfarm.com/

Tumbleweeds anyone... I hear they make a great Christmas gift /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

David

Slamfire · Jul 5, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

(
Thinking out of the box a little bit, I've always wondered about the feasibility of growing nuts, such as chestnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, etc. or depending on location, going the pumpkin patch, pick your own (strawberries or rasberries) route. Is there any money in crops like sunflower or safflower seeds (I see enough people feeding birds to make me wonder)? )
The chestnuts might be a good one, Penn State Ag believes they have bred an American chestnut that will resist the blight. They planted a test plot last year. Once they are convinced you can try and get some seedlings. Then you can plant and wait 7 years for fruiting. I know some folks who'd love a source of mulberries, hardly anyone grows them, the trees are immense. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

stevenf · Jul 6, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

Midwest, This may be way outside the box but it has become popular in areas around Texas. Is your land huntable whether it be large game like deer or birds migratory or otherwise. My wife and I bought 347 acres and have turned it into a hunting ranch of predominantly native animals, not canned hunts no high fences just planting food plots and developing our resident and transcient friends to stop in and say Hi long enough to give our hunters a chance to harvest them. We have 5 hunters and charge $10,000. we supply a 18' x 10' rock cabin with a wood stove and 2- 20 amp electric circuits, no indoor plumbing and no guarantees for feeding or their success in hunting. Its a great return on investment and if your choosy about your hunters no problems with them. We have a contract with them that allows a set number of animals per hunter and a price for additional animals (feral hogs or exotics) if they choose to harvest more than what they pre-pay for. We offer 5 white-tail deer, 4 rio grande turkey, 2 feral hogs and one exotic of their choice per hunter with no guarantees as to their success in hunting them. This may not be an option for you but it sure helps us pay the bills. I'd recommend not to consider day hunters as it requires you to be there and its tough to keep the hunters in line if their only there for one weekend they have no reason to behave or not harvest more than they've paid for and try to get away with it. We have strived to find a christian/family oriented group that has a long term interest so they have no pressure to go out in the field and shoot everything that moves since they are hoping to be invited to renew their lease each year (ours is a seasonal lease that allows access from September thru February and a few weeks during spring turkey season and occasional access during the year as most hunters around here like to feed year round so we allow them with a phone call to come out and do maintenance on their equipment blinds, feeders, food plots and refill their feeders every 3 months or so).
Steve

RalphVa · Jul 6, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

There's a chestnut farm just north and west of my house. He sprays his trees with Seven every week to keep the chesnut borer beetle away. He has a tractor rig that he uses to do the spraying. Uses Roundup on the tree line ground level to keep weeds dead and brush hogs in between. Think they're on 20' centers.

Ralph

bdog · Jul 6, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

Our local extension office had a day long class for small acreage owners a while back. I went and one of the speakers talked about ways to make money on small acreage. The most interesting I thought was a corn maze. We have one locally, just on the edge of town. A guy has 12 acres that he plants with corn, and then cuts paths through it to make a maze which happens around halloween. This was the third year I think he has done it and he had over 20,000 people go through the maze at $6 each. They said this past year he also expanded and grew and sold pumpkins. They said this guy farms over 1000 acres and makes more on his 12 acre corn maze than he does on the other 1000 acres. It might be something to look into in your area.

Highbeam · Jul 6, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

My plan is to "farm" enough to take advantage of the tax exemption. Secondary is to pay the entire tax bill with profits. This is allowing the land to take care of itself to some extent and is about the best I feel I can expect in terms of profit.

For me, running cattle is a big interest. A pumpkin patch on the wetter ground would be great for a bonus. Agriculture, growing stuff, seems a lot more risky and dependent on land conditions.

The farm on the side, aka hobby farm, is my desire as well. I plan to keep my full time job and let the wife tie up the loose ends like filling water troughs while I am doing the 9-5 or mroe accurately 6-6.

slowrev · Jul 6, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

Highbeam,
Cattle seem to be the most profitable around here. Of course you are still dependent on rain for hay and forage. Can't make much money on cattle if you have to buy all your feed.
Many are into raising goats to sell on the hoof, maybe a bit more work, but the money seems to be just about as good as raising cattle. Won't get ritch raising weither on limited acerage, but you can get by if you keep your equipment outlays down by keeping old equipment instead of buying new.

Ben

Highbeam · Jul 6, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

The cash crop... wasn't it indigo for while, then tobacco.

I think I like cattle for the animal. Those scottish highlander long haired cattle appeal to me especially. Goats would be easier to keep since they are less likely to kill you and you can haul a lot more to auction in a lightweight trailer. I see no reason that the fencing/feeding systems can't be used for multiple species with some modification. I would like to try some pigs too. Local markets, feed supply, and ease of keeping them will help my product evolve.

The taxman needs to see some income. All of these animals should provide some money at auction and even profit above their upkeep costs. Not enough to live on but that's not the point.

RonR · Jul 6, 2005

Re: What\'s the most profitable way make cash, farming

I worked with a guy that studied this and studied this before taking the plunge. He figured raising feeder pigs had the highest rate of return and promised the best yields for him. He went to the ag college and bought a set of books about a foot thick on raising hogs, then went out and did it. He's at the point now that he sells a semi-load of porkers about every month.

He figured out how much to feed them and what mixture, then had it delivered in cost effective quantities. He'd have one butchered and measure the fat in different areas to confirm that his feed mix was right on!

As a side, one of our common friends also went "into hogs", only he bought 4 piglets and was buying the feed by the 5 pound bag. He couldn't understand why he didn't get the returns that Bruce did!

Study hard and take the right plunge...............
ron