Would like your opinions on new small farming operation.

[300UGUY]

After the garden I'd definitely concentrate on the woodlot. That might depend upon the temperature, though.

A band-mill and a couple of tractors can allow a landowner to turn quite a lot of work into money. Careful selective cutting can improve the woodlot, too.

In Ontario we have local stewardship councils which encourage landowners to develop management plans for their property, and then divert resources such as tree-planting crews and forestry experts their way when needed. You might have some variant of this organization in your district.

Not much of that kind of thing availible in the states. Subsidies and assistance go mostly to row crop farming.

 

[MikeD74T]

In New England free range turkeys can be profittable. Like any other livestock they have containment issues, predator issues, illness issues, processing issues. Can be ranged in orchards giving the land double duty. High demand for sales for fresh (not frozen) processed birds the week before Thanksgiving & Christmas. Also a good market for fresh & frozen turkey pot pies.

Maplevale TurkeyFarm of East Kingston NH, now closed to family retirement but still searchable on the Net, did over 60K turkeys a year. There'd be a half mile backup on the road week days before Thanksgiving of people picking up their reserved birds. MikeD74T

 

[dieselbeef]

pines will make money..until they areready for harvest rake and bale the needles..pretty decent market for them..unending supply until the trees come down..replant..repeat