1st year truly farming

[flusher]

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.

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]

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.

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:

 

[zythinl]

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.

 

[Baby Grand]

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]

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.

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.

 

[zythinl]

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.

 

[zythinl]

For those that are interested today we started planting beans for the 2nd time. YAY the fun you encounter farming... still loving it though.:confused2:

 

[suzy]

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]

Tree farming is pretty easy Just takes 20+ years before seeing any returns unless you have large acreage and harvest sections at a time.

 

[flusher]

Tree farming is pretty easy Just takes 20+ years before seeing any returns unless you have large acreage and harvest sections at a time.

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.