Looking to start growing & harvesting Hay - with a Compact Tractor. Advice please

[TSO]

I can't remember who it was, but somebody around me locally said there's a certain number of bottles I can produce before I have to report it to the state. Off the top of my head I want to say the number is somewhere between 200-500. I might be completely wrong, it's just part of a conversation at some point that I vaguely remember .

I definitely don't have the time or resources to actually try to make a living off of it , but maybe if I learn how to do it well enough before I kick the bucket, it could turn into a possible business for my children .

Or, maybe not... I've spent money on much worse things that returned even less in regards to an investment. If I could get back even a third of the money I frivolously spent during my early twenties on partying and, ironically, alcohol..... I would probably have enough money to pay for all or most of the startup costs related to planting an acre or 2 of grapes.

There's a small vineyard only a couple miles away from me, I'm going to see if the guy will take me under his wing and give me a little bit of help to get started. Most guys don't have a problem with that, especially being that I won't be considered any type of competition.

I've been reading up on grapes over the last couple months, I can see that it will not be an easy process. Luckily, the pumpkins and the Christmas trees will be easy, and once I get them planted, I can focus more on the blueberry plants and the grapes. I doubt I'll be able to actually plan to the grapes this year, but I am hoping to get a few rows of blueberries started.

Thank you for the tips regarding a vineyard though, considering I have absolutely 0 experience, that makes you an expert compared to me and I will gladly accept any information or tips you can give me

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[SanDucerro]

Re: Looking to start growing & harvesting Hay - with a Compact Tractor. Advice please

I assure you I'm not an expert, however I did do the research and was at the same point as you last year. I looked at watermellons, hay, corn, and a couple of other crops as well - but none of them would allow me to make a living as the "break even" points all required more acerage than I have. Even grapes were at first researched and then dropped for the same reason - not enough acerage to produce a living wage. It took a second look at grapes and the addition of the winery to make the numbers work for me - but that "addition" sent the start up costs through the roof. Which changed "What can we do to make a few extra dollars in our retirement?" to "Let's invest in a project that could provide an early exit from the 9 to 5 rat race!" Of course all we really did was change from a city rat race to the country version - but at least I can say I work from home!

 

[TSO]

I'm reading that a vineyard can produce between 1 and 10 tons of harvested grapes per year... 1 ton can produce up to 2 barrels of wine, and each Barrel can produce up to 60 gallons, which will yield 300 bottles. So... 1 ton equals 600 bottles.

How many acres have you decided to plant and tend, and what kind of final yield are you planning for ?

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[Reyer Farms]

Tso- how much time do you have? I think I have read all posts and you have some ambitious plans. I not trying to be discouraging at all, you ought to see all I bite off .
I would highly recommend talking with your county agent and also checking with local grower associations for crops you plan on growing. There are costs that will side swipe you even after the most careful plans are laid. Some of the best money we have spent has been in association dues, learning from others mistakes and hoping we can avoid them. Specialty crops require equipment that is not as easily located and generally more expensive. I am up against the wall now- cant grow more because I can't handle it and can't come home to handle until I grow more to support us full time. I'm fixing to have a big decision to make, as in the next two weeks. How's the new ride working for you.

 

[TSO]

The new ride is fantastic so far, thank you... I'm really enjoying the added power. As for time, I don't really sleep much, and I've never been good at standing still. I work nights, so I usually have time available during the day to get outside and work at the house, when the kids let me. Obviously, this has been a long winter, so I have not been outside working for a while. Luckily, my wife is a teacher and has the summer off. That allows me a lot more time to do stuff outside... I'm not a workaholic at work, but I am definitely 1 at home... And I was able to make a lot of progress getting the property ready last summer.

My wife loves being outside too, and she keeps herself busy tending to the chickens and her garden. The boys are always outside with us, and as a family we really enjoy the property. When it comes to spending money, we typically only spend it on things related to our house and our property.

Just being home is practically a vacation from what we deal with on a work basis, as we both work in the city. Therefore, a labor of love is exactly what we do anyhow and it keeps us happy !

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[Reyer Farms]

That's great hear that the whole family is on board. I work 2nd shift and don't sleep much either. We live on our farm and it's great but the hour in the road every day, twice a day wears on me worse than the work. Sounds like our home life is very similar. Man, I wish y'all all the best!!

 

[SanDucerro]

Re: Looking to start growing & harvesting Hay - with a Compact Tractor. Advice please

I'm reading that a vineyard can produce between 1 and 10 tons of harvested grapes per year... 1 ton can produce up to 2 barrels of wine, and each Barrel can produce up to 60 gallons, which will yield 300 bottles. So... 1 ton equals 600 bottles.

How many acres have you decided to plant and tend, and what kind of final yield are you planning for ?

It's not the number of acres that determines yield - it's the row spacing within the acerage. I'll have 1.28 acres of Black Spanish (Red) and 2.66 acres of Blanc Du Bois (White) for a total of 3.94 acres "under vine". Row spacing is 10x7 (10 foot row width on center with vines spaced at 7 foot). This will allow me to plant 700 Black Spanish vines in the 1.28 acre section and 1400 Blanc Du Bois vines in the 2.66 acre section. Yield on the two varieties also varies, with Black Spanish producing 15.60 pounds per vine and Blanc Du Bois producing 10.80 pounds per vine. Because of the difference in yields I'll need double the amount of Blanc Du Bois to produce the required gallons. If I need more I'll source the grapes from West Texas.

Final yield numbers are expected to be 586 gallons of red with a case count of 246, and 844 gallons of white with a case count of 355. Assuming everything goes as planned (doubtful), we'll increase acreage and production as conditions warrant (ecomomy being the main variable). We had a more "aggressive" original plan, but the uncertainty of the economy due to the political climate has caused us to scale back. And in case anyone is interested - that "climate" cost our economy 3 full time jobs that we can no longer afford to create.

Your "math" on the gallons is essentially correct. In it's most basic terms you'll get 5 bottles of wine per gallon. Of course that's if EVERYTHING goes perfect - and it won't. You need to figure in a 10% loss (at least) in pretty much every calculation you do. And on Red wines that are aged in barrels you'll lose a minimum of 10% due to evaporation (Angel's Share) - probably a bit more.

 

[TSO]

It's not the number of acres that determines yield - it's the row spacing within the acerage. I'll have 1.28 acres of Black Spanish (Red) and 2.66 acres of Blanc Du Bois (White) for a total of 3.94 acres "under vine". Row spacing is 10x7 (10 foot row width on center with vines spaced at 7 foot). This will allow me to plant 700 Black Spanish vines in the 1.28 acre section and 1400 Blanc Du Bois vines in the 2.66 acre section. Yield on the two varieties also varies, with Black Spanish producing 15.60 pounds per vine and Blanc Du Bois producing 10.80 pounds per vine. Because of the difference in yields I'll need double the amount of Blanc Du Bois to produce the required gallons. If I need more I'll source the grapes from West Texas.

Final yield numbers are expected to be 586 gallons of red with a case count of 246, and 844 gallons of white with a case count of 355. Assuming everything goes as planned (doubtful), we'll increase acreage and production as conditions warrant (ecomomy being the main variable). We had a more "aggressive" original plan, but the uncertainty of the economy due to the political climate has caused us to scale back. And in case anyone is interested - that "climate" cost our economy 3 full time jobs that we can no longer afford to create.

Your "math" on the gallons is essentially correct. In it's most basic terms you'll get 5 bottles of wine per gallon. Of course that's if EVERYTHING goes perfect - and it won't. You need to figure in a 10% loss (at least) in pretty much every calculation you do. And on Red wines that are aged in barrels you'll lose a minimum of 10% due to evaporation (Angel's Share) - probably a bit more.

Is there a cost/bottle analysis that you've worked out to determine what each bottle costs you to produce, and then, profit?

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[vtsnowedin]

Re: Looking to start growing & harvesting Hay - with a Compact Tractor. Advice please

But ossifer I'm sotally tober. I've jusht had a glash or two of wine I made myshelf wid grapes I gruew wid my little twator.

 

[TSO]

But ossifer I'm sotally tober. I've jusht had a glash or two of wine I made myshelf wid grapes I gruew wid my little twator.

?

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