New Farmer

[Verticaltrx]

Yes cows need milking twice a day, everyday, no exceptions. Let alone field work, feeding, manure hauling, building and equipment maintenance, calving and herd health, as well as the business record keeping amongst others.

Having dairy cattle is probably the only thing worse than being in prison. Those cows have to be milked twice a day, every day, rain or shine, holiday or fun day, etc.

This doesn't have to be the case, at least not nowadays. With a grass based seasonal dairy you milk the cows for 9-10mo and have at least 2mo off when the cows are dry. Sure, you still have to feed them hay or move them to fresh pasture when they are dry, but it's easy to find help capable of doing that if you want to take a vacation. Furthermore, for at least a month, sometimes two months, you'll only be milking once a day as the cows near the end of their lactation cycle. This is what we do on our small farm and it works quite well. There are other dairies in the area milking up to 300 head this way and also doing very well.


I do agree about getting all the hands on experience you can get. I spent many summers working on my uncles farm in the Midwest (1000 head farrow to finish hog operation, 800ac crops, and 50 head commercial cow herd) throughout middle school and high school. I also worked at a conventional dairy milking cows during high school as well as working on our own home farm raising hay, cattle and horses. While some of those agricultural enterprises are far different than what we are doing today, the experience was invaluable. I learned 100 times more in those few summers than I did getting a 4 year degree from Virginia Tech. If you have the means of getting a college degree debt-free then by all means do, but don't ever underestimate the benefit of plenty of hands-on experience.

 

[Farming5]

I do have the money to go to college without getting any debt, so that is what I plan to do. I want to get as much experience from college and my uncle's farm as I can so that I am prepared.

 

[Farming5]

2 things:

What do you guys think about a Bobcat skid steer for cleaning out the cow barn and moving hay around the yard?

There is a 2004 New Holland 1412 10'4" impeller moco for 10k at our local dealership. Do you guys think is a good deal, or should I keep looking and waiting?

 

[jimpen]

The skid steer makes sense in some formats. But I would price out other attachments before jumping at it. Such as will a post-hole digger be generic that you can use it on both the skid steer and a regular tractor? Same with a BH type attachment? What about others?

The tractor gives gives you the rear PTO. The skid steer doesn't. So just throwing this out as a thought whether you want to go for the "limited" functionality or go for mor options.

 

[Farming5]

I know the skid steer has less functions, I am just concerned about whether or not the tractor with the loader on it will be able to fit in the barn.

 

[hammerone40]

You need the tractor for haying. Depending on your building set up it may work for cleaning the barn.

The skid is far more handy at cleaning the barn and other tasks around the farm. Leave the tractor on the spreader and use the skid to load.

Definitely work with some neighbors and gain experience. School is good and I value it but don't ignore the hands on. You need BOTH in my opinion.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I guess my advice of not buying equipment is falling on deaf ears. Between the JD hay equipment, a JD 6 or 7 series tractor, gooseneck trailer, skid steer, etc. That's enough money to equal at least two or three years of income on a farm that size. Maybe I'm crazy, but I thought the goal of any business was to make money, not buy toys.

 

[hammerone40]

Perhaps vertical... I forgot we are talking ten cows. A fork will work.

 

[jimpen]

The Jeff Schmitt tractor handles both Kubota and Mahindra as new. There is a New Holland dealer less than ten miles away. Both of them also have used equipment as well. They are in the Beavercreek area which is less than 70 miles from Marysville.

So buying anything immediately should be put on the back burner. Get your plans setup first and then buy later.

 

[Farming5]

I know it is a lot of money, but I don't plan to buy everything at one time. I will probably start off with the skid steer 18-20k, a JD 4010 5k and the gooseneck trailer 8,500-10k. I would use the gooseneck trailer to haul the tractor, skid steer and bales around. Verticaltrx I would take up your idea of buying bales for a few years and buy baling equipment overtime. I would use the skid steer to unload the bales from the guy that I bought them from and I would use the skid steer to clean the barn, and put bales into the cow enclosure in the winter. So I would spend around 35k to start out and wouldn't buy anything for a few years. Do you think this is a good idea?