Dumb question on cattle feeding/land

[Sigarms]

Eddie, your first sentence "says it all".

I also think that the "deal" that he is getting is also playing a part in my thinking.

JerryG, understand about the "issues" of "digging it up" as far as feeding the cattle, just wondering about why we didn't have any of these issues last year and guess I will need to talk to him about it.

Bird, I hope you're right.

Farmwithjunk, those "pads" may be a good idea, but may be too much work that the farmer wants to do.

Thinking about it, I guess it just comes down to a communication issue. Fact is we hardly talk to this farmer at all (in a year, maybe twice, and we always have to approach him when we see him).

The previous owner had horses, we're not ready to go that route yet.

Where the farmer has the hay sitting is right by an access road on the property that leads to the road that goes by our house. My wife gets to look at that hay everyday when she goes into town.

I am curious, will need to talk with my neighbor, becuase it seems when he feeds most of his cattle, he spreds the hey down a hill, where the cattle then eat it. From what I've seen, he has very little "impact" on his land. Just want to be careful of my wording because the two (neighbor and farmer) know each other.

In retrospect, may change this "agreement" to more of a "business decision". Find out the local rate for cattle per head and what people pay compared to bush hogging.

Tried to keep things "status quo" when we moved in, but the more I think about it, this guy does have a very "sweet deal".

 

[HammerFour]

Personally I would call the county ag agent and ask what decent quality pasture is leasing for per acre per year.

Then I would offer to let this farmer pay that per year and also ask him to improve his land management practice so that the hay feeding area doesn't get messed up that way.

I'm certainly not going to buy 30 acres so this guy can use it for free.

And keep in mind I am working on leasing some land from an absentee owner for pasture at this time, so I am in the farmer's shoes.

The amount you get for the lease may not be a huge amount ( around here its $15 - 25 per acre per year based on the quality of the pasture ) but at least it may offset some of the taxes you are paying on it.

 

[HammerFour]

Personally I would call the county ag agent and ask what decent quality pasture is leasing for per acre per year.

Then I would offer to let this farmer pay that per year and also ask him to improve his land management practice so that the hay feeding area doesn't get messed up that way.

I'm certainly not going to buy 30 acres so this guy can use it for free.

And keep in mind I am working on leasing some land from an absentee owner for pasture at this time, so I am in the farmer's shoes.

The amount you get for the lease may not be a huge amount ( around here its $15 - 25 per acre per year based on the quality of the pasture ) but at least it may offset some of the taxes you are paying on it.

 

[Unclebuck257]

First of all, you have an agreement in effect right now and even though it may be only by word of mouth, I think you need to honor it!! The farmer probably doesn't have a clue that you and your wife are upset and with her being upset, I'm sure you're hearing about it daily!! That's got you riled up more probably than it would normally.

Talk to the farmer, in a man to man conversation, and just level with him that you don't like the hay being put out as he did this time. I'll bet you he'll be very willing to change it around. He probably doesn't have clue one that you two are upset or don't like it.

Also, before you change your agreement with him, remember it's your word and your handshake at stake here. IF you decide to change your agreement, give this farmer options, and at least two months to find another place for his cattle.

When I put out round bales for our cattle, I'll usually move it around each time within a certain area, but that area really isn't that big. Yes the cattle tear up the grass in that area, but it also regrows every spring and usually richer and higher than any other area because of all the fertilizer the cattle left. This past year, with our severe drought, I noticed the ground being torn up much more than in years past, so I moved the hay bales around and expanded the haying area to a bigger area generally.

You see, I used to graze my cattle on 27 acres owned by the neighbor right next to me, in addition to our place. The neighbor himself is a fine young man, but his wife is a real patoot!! The grazing was done on a handshake and with the agreement that if they wanted to change it, I would get 30 days notice. They got a BIG ag exemption on taxes and I got 27 additional acres to graze on. I also fixed up an entire length of their barbed wire fence to make sure the cattle were secure too.

When it was terminated, I got 3 days notice. I still like that young man, but I lost all respect for him at that point. His word wasn't worth much in my opinion. Don't do the same thing with that farmer. Oh, and his wife demanded our cattle be removed immediately because she had a friend with 8 head who needed a place to graze..AFTER I fixed up their fence!

 

[Unclebuck257]

First of all, you have an agreement in effect right now and even though it may be only by word of mouth, I think you need to honor it!! The farmer probably doesn't have a clue that you and your wife are upset and with her being upset, I'm sure you're hearing about it daily!! That's got you riled up more probably than it would normally.

Talk to the farmer, in a man to man conversation, and just level with him that you don't like the hay being put out as he did this time. I'll bet you he'll be very willing to change it around. He probably doesn't have clue one that you two are upset or don't like it.

Also, before you change your agreement with him, remember it's your word and your handshake at stake here. IF you decide to change your agreement, give this farmer options, and at least two months to find another place for his cattle.

When I put out round bales for our cattle, I'll usually move it around each time within a certain area, but that area really isn't that big. Yes the cattle tear up the grass in that area, but it also regrows every spring and usually richer and higher than any other area because of all the fertilizer the cattle left. This past year, with our severe drought, I noticed the ground being torn up much more than in years past, so I moved the hay bales around and expanded the haying area to a bigger area generally.

You see, I used to graze my cattle on 27 acres owned by the neighbor right next to me, in addition to our place. The neighbor himself is a fine young man, but his wife is a real patoot!! The grazing was done on a handshake and with the agreement that if they wanted to change it, I would get 30 days notice. They got a BIG ag exemption on taxes and I got 27 additional acres to graze on. I also fixed up an entire length of their barbed wire fence to make sure the cattle were secure too.

When it was terminated, I got 3 days notice. I still like that young man, but I lost all respect for him at that point. His word wasn't worth much in my opinion. Don't do the same thing with that farmer. Oh, and his wife demanded our cattle be removed immediately because she had a friend with 8 head who needed a place to graze..AFTER I fixed up their fence!