scesnick
Veteran Member
What about a small Alpaca farm?
Does anyone make any money off their property
- Thread starter woodlandfarms
- Start date
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rustedduck
Member
Have always had high hopes of raising a cash crop, but have never
figured what would work. Do have some income from infrequent
timber harvest. The money is not bad if the price of timber is up.
(which it hasnt been in some time).
Have considered Christmas trees, but not sure at my age if I
want to invest my time and money, and then wait for 7 years
for a return.
figured what would work. Do have some income from infrequent
timber harvest. The money is not bad if the price of timber is up.
(which it hasnt been in some time).
Have considered Christmas trees, but not sure at my age if I
want to invest my time and money, and then wait for 7 years
for a return.
Alpacas? Been there. They are a joy to have on the place. So cute when the crias are born in the spring and fairly easy to take care of. Problem is the huge outlay of cash to get quality breeding stock (talking tens of thousands of dollars here). Without the top of the line herd you just do not get much for selling the offspring. The wool is excellent but not enough of a market in the U.S. Much cheaper to import it from Peru, Chili, etc because of labor costs.
AHNC
Gold Member
I'll be moving next year to our place in CA. It is in Nevada County. The Ag extension has a detailed history of farm development in the area. Check your locally. Basically they say there are many small operations with people making $10K/yr...but they do not speak of time and expenses...so I think, for me, it is going to be farmers market time and good food on the table.:licking: Table first!
Abe460
Bronze Member
When we first bought our 22 acres it seemed inconceivable that a person could not make money from land. Everyone I have spoken to has ideas, but start up capital is required. The only capital I have is at the beginning of these sentences...so, pretty much takes care of that idea.
gdh
Silver Member
How about a small tree farm? Plant bare root seedlings for minimal expense and watch them grow until they are worth something.
gdh
gdh
FallbrookFarmer
Platinum Member
I think the day of self sustaining farming is fast coming to a close. Just about everybody I know(unless they have fairly big acreage) usually ends up either giving their stuff away, or throwing it away.
One exception is a friend who has an avocado grove behind his house, he also owns a Mexican restaurant here in town.
Needless to say, he has great guacamole.(When in Fallbrook make sure you stop @ El Jardin!)
Don't knowif you followed the postings by Rox in France, but I think she is a good example on how to make some money on growing something. Find a niche market, and try to grow/make the highest quality you can.
The era of making money off a commodity product is long gone, I'm afraid.
In any event, Good Luck!
One exception is a friend who has an avocado grove behind his house, he also owns a Mexican restaurant here in town.
Needless to say, he has great guacamole.(When in Fallbrook make sure you stop @ El Jardin!)
Don't knowif you followed the postings by Rox in France, but I think she is a good example on how to make some money on growing something. Find a niche market, and try to grow/make the highest quality you can.
The era of making money off a commodity product is long gone, I'm afraid.
In any event, Good Luck!
gerard
Veteran Member
Well, we don't make a living off our land, but the feed store, fence company, vets, farriers, tractor people, and a whole host of other folk do that we but stuff from to keep our horses happy........
OP
woodlandfarms
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2006
- Messages
- 6,139
- Location
- Los Angeles / SW Washington
- Tractor
- PowerTrac 1850, Kubota RTV x900
So far so good. Let me throw some ideas into the mix.
Grapes - Everyone in our area is going toward grapes for wine. Upside is that global warming is turning our little slice of heaven into more like Napa CA weather and less like Southern washington weather. Grapes are improving in quality. But as stated, lots of startup costs.
Alpacas - Yeah... Seems to me to the be a rich mans stock market. (kinda like beanie babies are the white trash stock market). As I understand it, it is more a way to get your land into farming taxation than a profitable venture.
Horses and Beef. A friend of mine makes good coin in an up market with her horses but they are a special breed (miniatures) and I think she put up lot of coin like alpacas.
As for any livestock, I either need someone to watch over them or give up the career I have.
Trees - Don't have 30 years to wait to harvest, and christmas tree farms are dime a dozen in our area. You need a lot of trees to make any sort of profit.
How is this for alternatives.
Marijuana - Not legal in my state to grow but I am not going to be too surprised if it doesn't become legal soon. That said in talking with people who partake, I guess todays pot isn't your dads pot. The stuff you get at the store (in CA we have stores) is strong stuff, grown hydroponically, and definitely very specialized.
Bamboo - There is a guy whom I heard was making some coin off of it. Locally grown and then sent to the local mill. Has potential as it is a quick cash crop -
Mushrooms - Not the magic kind, I saw a guy on the tube making a killing growing specialized mushrooms. Seemed reasonably easy but all I know is corn, beets, wheat and alfalfa. No clue on mushrooms...
Carl
Grapes - Everyone in our area is going toward grapes for wine. Upside is that global warming is turning our little slice of heaven into more like Napa CA weather and less like Southern washington weather. Grapes are improving in quality. But as stated, lots of startup costs.
Alpacas - Yeah... Seems to me to the be a rich mans stock market. (kinda like beanie babies are the white trash stock market). As I understand it, it is more a way to get your land into farming taxation than a profitable venture.
Horses and Beef. A friend of mine makes good coin in an up market with her horses but they are a special breed (miniatures) and I think she put up lot of coin like alpacas.
As for any livestock, I either need someone to watch over them or give up the career I have.
Trees - Don't have 30 years to wait to harvest, and christmas tree farms are dime a dozen in our area. You need a lot of trees to make any sort of profit.
How is this for alternatives.
Marijuana - Not legal in my state to grow but I am not going to be too surprised if it doesn't become legal soon. That said in talking with people who partake, I guess todays pot isn't your dads pot. The stuff you get at the store (in CA we have stores) is strong stuff, grown hydroponically, and definitely very specialized.
Bamboo - There is a guy whom I heard was making some coin off of it. Locally grown and then sent to the local mill. Has potential as it is a quick cash crop -
Mushrooms - Not the magic kind, I saw a guy on the tube making a killing growing specialized mushrooms. Seemed reasonably easy but all I know is corn, beets, wheat and alfalfa. No clue on mushrooms...
Carl
SARG
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2009
- Messages
- 813
- Location
- Upstate New York
- Tractor
- NH T1030- NH T1530 - 49G Brockway
Just bought five acres next door and plan to start the Alpaca deal ..... but not the high priced stuff. Just looking for the wonderful semi-legal tax write-offs.
