Crops
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Other Topics
Forum Name: Shops, Barns, Varmints, and Trucks
Forum Description: anything you want to talk about except politics
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=154702
Printed Date: 24 Aug 2025 at 1:37pm
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Topic: Crops
Posted By: AJ
Subject: Crops
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2018 at 11:19pm
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Not sure if this is the right spot but I have some farming questions. Kicking around the idea of renting some small acreage around me to "farm" on a smaller scale than many if you other guys. This is more of a father-son idea I'm kicking around. Looking for ideas, advice and constructive criticism. Be nice to actually use some of my equipment more. Maybe just baling hay would be a better route. What crops can be productive? I know there are beans and corn but what about fescue, oats, rye, etc stuff like that, any speciality crops that can bring more value? I can't seem to find a cash value on them. ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Replies:
Posted By: thendrix
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2018 at 11:39pm
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Fescue hay sells cheaper here than other types because people are concerned about whether or not it's "endophyte free". Mostly cow people here that buy it. Burmuda, Timothy and some other types bring a little more but the market is smaller. If it's not weed free the market is smaller still. Have seen burmuda at $6.50 a baler and Timothy at $8. Alfalfa brings good money but it's another small market. I've seen alfalfa squares at 50 lbs for $9 and $10 each. Don't know how much sold though ------------- "Farming is a business that makes a Las Vegas craps table look like a regular paycheck" Ronald Reagan |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2018 at 6:29am
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this from a guy with 1/2 acre 'under cultivation'..... I'd scope out the competition, see what they're growing and selling. No 'cents' in growing 10 acres of corn is there's 1,000 next door.... Maybe a 'market garden' crop, depending on the acreage you're renting. Up here garlic goes for $10 a pound and Kale is very popular. Depends on what equipment you have and how clsoe the rented land is. No cents in burning expensive fuel just to make a buck or two. horses need feed, so if theres' a stable nearby, maybe small squares are a good choice ?? The bottom line IS the 'bottom line'... do the math ! see IF it's viable to MAKE some money before you commit to renting the land. ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: klinemar
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2018 at 6:32am
| What you need to ask yourself am I investing in this as a hobby or to make a profit? If you are wanting to play in the dirt and excersise your machinery and enjoy doing the task then by all means go for it! On the other question you want to make a profit then you need to establish a market for your product that you intend to grow. Run the numbers,find out if there is any niche markets such as organic,horse owners who need a certain hay or vegetable's or even fruit. I know of a Dairy Farm near me that the Mrs.likes to grow Blueberries along with all the work involved with a Dairy Farm. She enjoys the one on one with the customers! My wife tells me my hay making is just a hobby. I tell her I get to play with my tractors and keep my sanity! |
Posted By: desertjoe
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2018 at 10:36am
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Hey AJ,,,it good to hear from you, guy. I ain't no farmer by no means,,but,,,,but I CAN grow some good azzed rocks and goat heads,,,!!!  The biggest thing you most read about is the "organic health food market", yes,,them yuppies are gettin themselves heard and so are the "boomers" too,,!! I think ole Les had the right idea with the Aronia Berries, as they ARE one of the most sought after fruits,, just didn't have the market CLOSE BY plus a shady buyer to make things worse,,,, I have no idea what it takes to farm,harvest and deliver, but one way to start is look at the pkgs of these foods at the store, then contact that supplier for any possibilities. PLUS you got the walmart headquarters some close,,,maybe contact their buyers for what they are lookin for,,,??? Good Luck,,,hope you are successful,,,but,,,but,,,don't you go forgetting who steered you on to this money makin idea,,,,,,,
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Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2018 at 11:07am
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You need to figure out what your willing to put into this in the way of time and money. Hay has to be made when weather as well as your time allows. Our you willing to have a crop dictating your time. Picking fresh vegetables have to on there time line not yours as well. Not knowing what equipment is available many things are a guess if they would be practical. But if a Al crop combine is part of your equipment many of the seeds for cover crops could be something profitable and less time sensitive. But nothing wrong with just a acre or 2 of regular corn or beans if there is a handy way to harvest, so you don't make a penny but you had fun.
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Posted By: Red Bank
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2018 at 11:56am
| Some things to consider is how much to rent the land? What will the landowner allow you to do? If you do decide to do hay be careful of putting money in seed, fertilizer and lime for the landowner to kick you out after you invested money in it. I sorta was in the same boat as you two years ago but I owned the land and I checked into everything I could looking at the numbers and decided to do hay because we have a horse boarding operation. I have 12 acres of hay and initially I have invested $15000 in used equipment and invested $5000 in seed fertilizer lime and weed killer in two years. I sold around 200 bales last year and 100 so far this year and the horses being boarded ate the rest. But I would rather bale hay than buy a new bass boat and go fishing on the weekends. So be prepared to not make money but for the time with the family working the land is priceless. But my goal now is have the best damn hay around here and I sell to horse people and I have started working on another six acres to get it ready. |
Posted By: Red Bank
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2018 at 11:59am
| One more thing not sure of your location and equipment but if you raise corn you could market it as deer corn if they allow baiting where you live. Friend of mine I use to buy hay from does that now and has his own printed feed sacks and does it all. |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2018 at 12:05pm
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Less than 5 acres IMHO I would garden plot it, squash, gourds, melons, peas, green or snap beans, tomatoes, sweet corn varietals even perennial flowers. Plant as to individual harvest period where as with beans you get multi harvest days same with maters but squash and gourds or melons tend to come in all together. Set up with a booth or tent at the local farmers market. |
Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2018 at 4:51pm
| you have to have a market for anything close to you. you don't wanna raise something that you have to haul over 20 miles to sell! (unless you want the road trips!) are there elevators in your town to accept grains? are there resturants in town that would buy greens? are there horse people that would buy grains/hay and what kind? you hafta find a market or create one before planting what ever! farmers market? punkins, berries, watermelons, gourds, cane, and remember, your landlord wants the ground to be clean and free from weeds. organic? fence off for critters like free range chicky's or pigs, or any other type critter? the possibilities are endless, just hafta find what will work for you! any land is become real hard to come by to rent, if you see some, grab it before the conglomerate farmers do! |