What could I grow on 15 acres

[Dadnatron]

The real issue is length of lease and what you want it for.

It sounds like you are really just looking for the shop space and see the acreage as a potential mitigating factor for the increase cost of the shop space. All (or most) of the options work in the field, which means cost. Some, ie the only ones which would actually pay enough to reach a 'break even' point, will require LOTS of input in TIME, ie vegetables, hops, etc.

I would say, to reach the closest to your goal, you would need at least a 5-7yr lease, and then have a farmer put in grass hay and take 1/3 of the crop for yourself. Sell that... and just be happy with your new shop space and a higher rent.

Unfortunately, making $12K on 10-15ac can be done, but it will likely take quite a bit more than you are looking to do for it.

 

[mikester]

I think the key word there is "gross."

Steve

The OP didn稚 say he wanted to NET $20k per year on 15 acres... ;-)

 

[smstonypoint]

The OP didn稚 say he wanted to NET $20k per year on 15 acres... ;-)

Well, if he is more interested in gross revenue than net revenue, there is no limit to the amount that he can lose.

Steve

 

[newbury]

The real issue is why y'all keep responding to the thread.
Like it was written - if it was easy everybody would be doing it.

Close to me in Mississippi $12,000 for 15 acres would be a good bargain. I paid about that per acre and thought I was getting a great deal. But of course that was PURCHASE price, not annual rental.

 

[smstonypoint]

Close to me in Mississippi $12,000 for 15 acres would be a good bargain. I paid about that per acre and thought I was getting a great deal. But of course that was PURCHASE price, not annual rental.

Just curious. What are the cash rental rates in your area? You can find average cash rental rates by county at USDA/NASS QuickStats Ad-hoc Query Tool.

Steve

 

[nimblemotors]

It is a great location for me, and frankly I like challenges,
but I am hoping/expecting they will cut the rent in half in which case I can pay it and not need to make any real profits using the farmland.

I appreciate all the inputs.

 

[nimblemotors]

I got the barn and instead of 15 acres, I am only getting 2 acres and less than half the rent, just as I hoped.
So now I don't need to grow anything, but I still plan to grow bamboo and maybe other stuff.

My question now is how do I get rid of all thick dead tall grass covering the area?

 

[GLyford]

If you think getting rid of grass is a problem, you are going to really hate bamboo.

My best advice on bamboo is simply don't. Even if you are happy with it, every one else will be trying to deal with it forever and ever, amen.

Fort Worth Botanical Garden had some show up 100' away, on the other side of a paved parking lot. That is not unusual for bamboo. Concrete or plastic lined pits, umpteen feet deep, whatever...somehow, all management strategies no matter how well made or thought out fail and it gets out and makes a run for it.

As to ways of getting rid of the tall dead grass...just mow it. You will soon have short living grass.

 

[Dadnatron]

I would definitely find out a way to KILL ALL the bamboo before you put it in. Make sure there is an almost perfect way to get rid of it, first.

I've heard some bad things about bamboo... and you might have or be giving a problem to everyone in area.

 

[MossRoad]

but I suspect it is labor intensive.

Only the running and hiding part....