28 acres worth a hay operation?

[Old Junk Man]

No matter what you do with the land you going to need a tractor. Shop around and go to auctions and buy a bargain. Just last week I watched a JD 1020 3 cyl diesel iin good cond sell at auction for lessthan $3000. and there was a JD three point sickle mower sold for $300. Maby you have a neighbor who will bale it if you cut & rake it. you could plant trees and sell Christmas trees? a mini farm can grow a lot of your food.

 

[smstonypoint]

Well shucks. Doesnt look like hay will pan out. Id like to try to grow something and try my hand at some farming, wife wont like 40k in equipment and a loss every year. Need to fund my hobby if you know what i mean. I guess i need to look at crops.

Which crops?

As you explore alternatives for the 28 acres, it would be worth your time to become familiar with NC's land-use assessment program for property taxes -- Present Use Value. The property tax savings can be substantial.

Steve

 

[bushhog28]

Corn, wheat and soy beans is what the farmers grow. Maybe i should look into those.

 

[smstonypoint]

Corn, wheat and soy beans is what the farmers grow. Maybe i should look into those.

When you do, you will find that producing these commodities on 28 acres in not a viable option. There is a lot required in the way of equipment (planter, drill, combine, sprayer, etc.) and substantial economies of size. Also, commercial farmers are hurting in the current environment of low crop prices.

You could look at vegetable and fruits, but they are usually labor- and management-intensive and require access to suitable markets.

Steve

 

[powerscol]

You have gotten a lot of great advice. Yes you will first need a tractor. I started by visiting dealers that had new and learned what I could about manual trans, shuttle shift and hydrostatic. I quickly learned that hydro was for me. Next is HP. I have a 35 HP diesel, with 26.5 on the PTO this is the smallest you should consider. I suggest a minimum of 35 to 40 PTO hp at least as that is what I would do if I did this over.

I then started looking for used, but ended up buying new due to steep discounts offered by Bobcat at the time. I got new for only a few thousand over good used.

The rest of my equipment I picked up used and rebuilt. Do your homework and talk to the local farmers on what they use. Check with the local COOP and talk with folks - be a sponge.

Craigs list or you local Thrift Nickle can be a start. beware of auctions unless you know what you are doing. I got burned badly once. Many times equipment is sold by word of mouth, so let folks know what you are looking for.

Good luck - I think if you choose wisely you can make a go of 28 acres, and at least break even. In my case the tax write off (sch F) paid for a lot of my stuff. In other words instead of sending it to the gooberment, I paid it to myself in buying the equipment and depreciating on the taxes. Check with a local tax adviser on this for your area.

On edit - this year I am haying about about 15 acres over various 3 acre lots and having just run the first cutting numbers I may actually have to pay the guberment for once. Not much but a little. Makes one feel good to actually make a profit at the start. Took me 3 years to get here, but I am getting better in my hay quality.

 

[Old Junk Man]

When you do, you will find that producing these commodities on 28 acres in not a viable option. There is a lot required in the way of equipment (planter, drill, combine, sprayer, etc.) and substantial economies of size. Also, commercial farmers are hurting in the current environment of low crop prices.

You could look at vegetable and fruits, but they are usually labor- and management-intensive and require access to suitable markets.

Steve

Those row crop farmers receive thousands and sometimes millions in crop subsidy payments. if not for those brown envelopes many would be bankrupt. The cheapest thing would be to fence & cross fence it. get a few cows or sheep and buy winter hay. the hay & manure will build up the soil. no fertilizer and spraying needed. you could even pay somebody to bush hogg it and not even need a tractor. Use them for a tax write off and grow you own meat. A small herd of animals there isn't much profit. there is a lot of enjoyment. However its a good way to save money. and if you need money for a emergency the market is always there. there are sale barns close to almost every location.

 

[Old Junk Man]

When you do, you will find that producing these commodities on 28 acres in not a viable option. There is a lot required in the way of equipment (planter, drill, combine, sprayer, etc.) and substantial economies of size. Also, commercial farmers are hurting in the current environment of low crop prices.

You could look at vegetable and fruits, but they are usually labor- and management-intensive and require access to suitable markets.

Steve

Those row crop farmers receive thousands and sometimes millions in crop subsidy payments. if not for those brown envelopes many would be bankrupt. The cheapest thing would be to fence & cross fence it. get a few cows or sheep and buy winter hay. the hay & manure will build up the soil. no fertilizer and spraying needed. you could even pay somebody to bush hogg it and not even need a tractor. Use them for a tax write off and grow you own meat. A small herd of animals there isn't much profit. there is a lot of enjoyment. However its a good way to save money. and if you need money for a emergency the market is always there. there are sale barns close to almost every location.

 

[big bubba]

Old Junk Man[/B];4182329]Those row crop farmers receive thousands and sometimes millions in crop subsidy payments. if not for those brown envelopes many would be bankrupt. The cheapest thing would be to fence & cross fence it. get a few cows or sheep and buy winter hay. the hay & manure will build up the soil. no fertilizer and spraying needed. you could even pay somebody to bush hogg it and not even need a tractor. Use them for a tax write off and grow you own meat. A small herd of animals there isn't much profit. there is a lot of enjoyment. However its a good way to save money. and if you need money for a emergency the market is always there. there are sale barns close to almost every location.[/QUOTE

yup, putting some hides on the place would be in keeping with the conventional wisdom of land use. if i'm not mistaken, after a certain # of yrs on a tax exemption business, don't you have to show some actual profit? anyway, having been down the cattle trail yrs ago, that's one logical way to go. the question you might ask yourself is how do you really want to involve yourself with your land? my suggestion is to step back, wait awhile & talk to your wife on why you really wanted this piece of land & what are your dreams. do you want to look out the window @ a bovine production? the flies, manure, haying in winter & hauling to sale barn? (plus cross fencing/water needs, etc)..... just a comment. what stage in life are you? all the best

 

[Old Junk Man]

EWG Farm Subsidy Database

 

[Creamer]

My $.02 is that hay is an easy thing to get into and out of. You can do it this year or next and start getting your tax deduction and start accumulating machinery. You don't have to worry much about it. You may lose it but you have only lost your profit and not your investment like you would if your cow died. There will not be any vet bills, animals out at midnight, water problems, etc. The only thing you have to do is cut it at the right time and get it put up so it is decent quality. You can fertilize it if you want but do not have to. The machinery needed is very inexpensive if you go older stuff which is all you are going to want if you are only at 28 acres.

Mine is mostly grass and I only take one cutting off of it. After that I mow it a couple of times to just keep it looking nice but then I only have four acres that I do that to. I have a neighbor swing in and bale it - i just cut it at a time when he is putting his up and this year I don't think it took him ten minutes to bale the whole patch. I do it more for the fun than anything and to keep the area looking nice. My mower I bought for $300 and my rake was given to me by my brother (but it was an the old dump rake that I had used as a kid and he hadn't used it in 20 years.) I did put about $100 in the mower to get it cutting good but the rake was a good lube job and some adjustment and it is working well.) My tractor is not a lot but it does fine for what I am doing. I do agree that I would get a little bigger one than I have. I am not sold on HST except for lawnmowers but 40 hp is the minimum I would go and live PTO with at least one rear hydraulic outlet.

the biggest thing is get started with something that does not cost much and enjoy it. You can always change!