Any farmers? Could use some help.
I am thinking about moving up to my families vacation property in the near future and I am seriously considering animal farming as a hobby/small income potential.
Anyhow I am having a hard time finding good informational sources on choosing what animals to raise etc, of course I have only been looking for the last hour but figured maybe some of you knew of some good ones?
It will be in Northeast Minnesota between Duluth, and Virginia My father and mother both lived on farms, however I am a city boy so most if not all of this is new to me, and since I just had this brainstorm as I was trying to go to sleep now I cant sleep.... anyhow.
Any of you know of any good websites for this type of information? Basically what I am most interested in reading about is different animals I could possibly raise there possibly profitability things of that nature.
My biggest problem right now is I can't for the life of me think of what to do a search for, get plenty of results for farming but nothing much on animals, anyhow I'm going to keep looking just figured you guys may know of some good websites for me to look at and or maybe you would make me think of something since I'm drawing a blank at the moment.
Edit: OK just so you don't think I'm being lazy asking here I just found what seems to be a good resource however I haven't read anything on it yet http://sfa-mn.org/discussion/ edit again aparently not much information there
looked so prommising to
Anyhow I am having a hard time finding good informational sources on choosing what animals to raise etc, of course I have only been looking for the last hour but figured maybe some of you knew of some good ones?
It will be in Northeast Minnesota between Duluth, and Virginia My father and mother both lived on farms, however I am a city boy so most if not all of this is new to me, and since I just had this brainstorm as I was trying to go to sleep now I cant sleep.... anyhow.
Any of you know of any good websites for this type of information? Basically what I am most interested in reading about is different animals I could possibly raise there possibly profitability things of that nature.
My biggest problem right now is I can't for the life of me think of what to do a search for, get plenty of results for farming but nothing much on animals, anyhow I'm going to keep looking just figured you guys may know of some good websites for me to look at and or maybe you would make me think of something since I'm drawing a blank at the moment.
Edit: OK just so you don't think I'm being lazy asking here I just found what seems to be a good resource however I haven't read anything on it yet http://sfa-mn.org/discussion/ edit again aparently not much information there
looked so prommising to
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Something big and mean or you will be just feeding the local timber wolf pack. Buffalo come to mind. Dave 0 -
Alpaca's 0 -
quote:Originally posted by use enough gun
Something big and mean or you will be just feeding the local timber wolf pack. Buffalo come to mind. Dave
I am not sure if they would be a problem or not, they seem to leave us alone they have plenty of deer to feast on and are big enough to take them easily, I have seen our local pack at about 50 yards on our road as they were crossing into the nabors property pack of 20+ and massive like streamlined saint Bernard's.
However it is something to think about
I only have 46 some acres to work with and about 20 of it is peat bog or I believe that's its designation that's what me and dad always call it sorta mossy stuff real squishy you can walk on it but don't feel safe almost always wet, partially because of bad drainage which I hope to remedy in the near future, Pine type trees they use for making paper grows on it, we had it logged about 3-5 years back.
Anyhow I know I don't want to do cows, and I kinda doubt I would want to do Buffalo as interesting as that sounds especially since I assume that would require fencing off a large area for them to graze, I don't have that kind of money to work with especially when you consider the cost of the animals I would assume would be quite high.
Some things I had already thought about was Goats, pigs, sheep One thing that interested me and my dad had this idea was for goats/sheep was to fence off areas for them to grais in the woods and let them clear the areas we have a lot of brush and tall grass. And its a lot of work clearing it by hand, even with a bulldozer its a lot of work because of all the blow downs etc that tend to de-track our old dozer, not to mention the low ground isn't the best place for heavy machinery a lot of time during the year.
One thing I would be really interested in is some of the more exotic yet still accessible animals that are available in the area, I know one of my teachers who had a farm in Wisconsin had some interesting cows with really long hair don't recall what they were but never seen anything like it.
quote:Originally posted by mogley98
Alpaca's
I am actualy planning on reading up on them, I know little to nothing about them other than have seen them on those comercials.0 -
You'll have to have a good woven wire fence, but it sounds as if Boer Goats would be what you are looking for. We have several small farmers raising them around here and they sound like a great investment, plus a satisfying hobby. Here's a link for you: http://www.abga.org/
Another good place to search for information would be your local county extension office.
Hope this helps.0 -
Are these the cattle you're looking for? There are several breeds of long haired cows around, but these are fairly common.[:)]
http://www.cruachan.com.au/genuine.htm0 -
The first lottery winner in Indiana to hit the million dollar prize was being interviewed.
Reporter: What do you do for a living?
Winner: I'm a farmer.
Reporter: Now that you've got a million dollars what are you going to do?
Winner: I reckon I'll just keep on farmin' 'til it's gone.
After you said this:
quote:I am seriously considering animal farming as a hobby/small income potential.
It was pretty obvious that:
quote:I am a city boy so most if not all of this is new to me,
IMO farming is not something done on a small scale for income per se. Generally small scale operations are for personal consumption.
http://www.southwest.msus.edu/marl/
http://www.extension.umn.edu/index.html0 -
...Might find some help here, though I haven't spent any time on the site, and haven't bought the magazine since the '70s.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/0 -
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/
Check out the Belted Gallaway, its in the cattle section. That would be something different then your regular angus. 5 years ago Alpacas weren'
t a bad market, but from what I have heard that market is dieing fast and the money to start up a breading operation is not worth the investment.
Another thing you can do is talk to your local university extension, if you have one. In Ohio, there is a OSU extension on every county. At these extensions there is a agricultural person that is basically a free consultant for farmers of the county. If you have something like that, these guys might be a big help for you.0 -
..I just poked around the Mother Earth News site a little. Click on "livestock and farming". You can look for articles going back years. Yes, I know it's been known as a liberal, hippie rag, but info is info.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/0 -
I agree - Alpacas. My friend has them - Paid $25k for one with champion blood lines and is now breeding her. The offspring are worth $15k. Plus the wool is the real money. Alpaca wool is softer than marino wool and quite sought after. I think he said the big thing with Alpacas is that they are no longer allowed to be imported into the US. 0 -
I really, really, hate to agree with Henry on anything (It makes me feel sooo liberal and anti-Christian) but, I must. I grew up on a farm. we raised horses, cattle, hogs, and rabbits. We grew enough corn and hay to feed them. Dad was a good farmer but a poor businessman due to a lack of education. So to get to the point we had some great looking healthy animals But if my parents both did not have full time jobs we would have went bankrupt. If you have some business background and a second source of income to see you through the beginning stages you could learn to care for and raise farm animals... If you really like them and enjoy being tied down with them because they require nearly as much care as children 0 -
If you can afford it and you like that kind of stuff, farming can be a good hobby. As a means of making a living, it kind of sucks. Like if you are out for a relaxing evening stroll, walking is nice. As a means of transportation, walking sucks.
Farming is more of a commitment than a spare time project. When you want to do something else, vacation for example, it's hard to fit one in. I will say this though, you'll either love it or hate it. There isn't much room for in between.
Read Henry's post again. Matter of fact read Henry's post at least once a day until you go into the farming business.
By the way, GOOD LUCK! I hope you love it.0 -
Chinchillas
Vicious little creatures but the hides are worth a fortune.0 -
calamitywood, I think you are in the clear. I believe you accidentally agreed with Henry, not HARRY. [;)] [:D] 0 -
I have been a country boy all my life and around farming/ranching for a large portion of it. While there is a lack of profitability in a small farming operation, what you end up with is home grown food that is ten times better than the commercial crap you buy in the store. If you put a LOT of effort into it, you can have a little to sell, therefore getting the cost of your own food reduced. Ecoli in the hambuger? Ecoli in the vegatables? No need to worry about that nonsense if you are raising/growing your own. We put a beef in the freezer for $1.50 a pound. That's right folks, T-bones for $1.50 a pound. Lean hambuger too, not that 30% fat junk from the store. The quality will rival anything served in the finest restaurants. If you ever eat a home raised chicken, you will never again eat that garbage that passes for chicken in the stores. Vegatables and fruits too that are ripened on the vine don't even compare to the store stuff.
My wife is a city girl, and she was amazed the first time she ate real beef, couldn't get her to buy beef in the store now on a bet.
Just keep in mind it's not a money maker, but you can get high quality food, the kind rich people eat, at a poor people price.0 -
Nudist farm!
Animals are a pain in the rear.
Nudist could be intresting...0 -
Good luck. Try deer. No farming of any kind is really profitable. But its damn fun.[:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by calamitywood
I really, really, hate to agree with Hairy on anything (It makes me feel sooo liberal and anti-Christian but, I must.
You were taught to read sight-word method and not phonics, right?
If Hairy posted in this thread, I didn't see it.0 -
...Ummmm. Not sure where to get breeding stock for these...[:D]
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Contact the local Cooperative Extension Service in your county. They have a wealth of information on agriculture and generally the local agent is knowledgeable about the potential activities that would be appropriate there. Also, the land grant university in that state can provide additional resources. Good Luck!!!!! 0 -
I hate it when that happens [:I] edit completed [:D] 0 -
My wife and I are knee deep into this farming thing right now. Last year we bought a 100 acre old dairy farm. This spring I am putting in a hen house for about 30 heritage breed chickens, and several turkeys. We are going to raise a couple of pigs, and we will be running beef cattle on the pasture. Right now we have about 18 head of cattle (mostly Angus, or Angus cross) that are all do to calf within the next few weeks. Of course two horses came with the farm, as did some sheep, and a few goats. We are also planning on raising some Bore Goats. We looked into the Alpaca thing, but the cost was out of the world. Someone above stated that you can only make money on Alpaca's if you sale to someone who owns Alpaca's, and that is not far from the truth. The entire Alpaca trend smells of a pyramid scheme.
Trinity +++0 -
The Emu is a animal that will make you a fortune, the look like an ostrich and every thing from the eggs to the feathers are worth a fortune. Nothing goes unsold from the Emu. 0 -
Stay away from any and all of the exotic animal breeds that are going to make you a fortune. They all have their "gotcha" selling points, but the bottom line reality is that the real money is made by those who get in early and sell high priced breeding stock to the next few generations of owner/breeders.
This is not new and has been going on forever with all kinds of products, is always sworn by as the "foolproof" program, and ALWAYS nails the folks who don't get in early, or stay too long.
Here's some history of these types of things, and I've seen most of the newer ones over the last 40 years.
http://aic.ucdavis.edu/research1/alpaca_RAE.pdf
Here's a selected excerpt from it about speculative bubbles in agriculture. They are not new.
"The average auction price of alpaca breeding stock in the U.S. may exceed $25,000 while in Peru, where over three million alpacas reside and the world's only viable alpaca textile industry is maintained, alpacas sell for a small fraction of this price. The pricing dichotomy is even more striking when considering that all U.S. alpacas are of South American origin and boast few, if any, distinguishing characteristics from their ancestors.
While Dutch tulip mania, the South Sea bubble, and the Mississippi bubble are on most short lists of famous, speculative manias with dire consequences, the agriculture industry has not been immune to speculative bubbles. Merino sheep, Berkshire hogs, Broom corn, and Rohan potatoes are examples of commodities attracting speculation during the pre-Civil War period of U.S. history (Cole, 1926), while more recent bubbles have surrounded increasingly exotic specimens such as Emus, Shetland ponies, Boer goats, and ostriches (Gillespie and Schupp, 2002). Due to the striking similarities between the auspicious beginnings of these industries and the U.S. alpaca industry, it is important to consider whether alpacas represent the latest speculative bubble in agriculture."
You can add several of the fur bearing rodents to the list, and I have had several neighbors who could attest to the economics of several of them over the last 40 years. That includes Chinchillas.
They all have a limited market for their particular product at a high price, whether meat, eggs, fiber, or hide, but they cannot beat the established substitutes of beef, pork, chickens, cotton, wool, or leather on a large scale basis over the long term for the very simple reason that the products have to be competitive in cost to the widespread consumer market, and the "big" money goes away at that point. That's economic reality.0 -
I agree with most everybody here, we have been searching for something to farm but all we ended up with is GOOD HOME GROWN FOOD. Alpacas are expensive and don't send away for the info. cus they will send you junk mail daily! I bought a book that was to explain all about how to get started and the ALPACA LIFESTYLE but it was about 200 pages of pictures and alpaca farm ads. Got 2 meat goats, ate em. Pot bellied pig for HOG practice, ate em. Veggies, ate em. Chickens are good for eggs and meat. We sell eggs to pay for the feed so we get free eggs. I can put 5 or 6 birds in the freezer for a little bit of time and electricity.
I like the idea of boer goats but around here they only auction once a month and if i want to make a living from it i need to be at the auctions constantly, buying at a low price and selling at a higher price. Around here cows auction twice a week in some stock yards so it's easy to buy, keep for a few weeks and sell off with small amount of feed and time invested. I ain't no pro farmer but thats just my 2 cents0 -
quote:Originally posted by bang250
Good luck. Try deer. No farming of any kind is really profitable. But its damn fun.[:D]
I'm afraid up where he's setting up shop deer would only bring the timber wolves in quicker. They can really be a big problem in that area along with black bear. Dave0 -
What ever you decide, do it for enjoyment. The only thing that makes money now is NOT FARMING. Don 0 -
...what dlrjj said.
..Alpaca is a self perpatuating market, that is going nowhere.
Emus are the same...these stupid birds run wild down here because people "invested" in 'em (like ostrich) and then the feeding etc. became too much (no market); and turned 'em out...these two are headed the way of the ostrich...all a $$$$ drain = no money...[;)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by use enough gun
quote:Originally posted by bang250
Good luck. Try deer. No farming of any kind is really profitable. But its damn fun.[:D]
I'm afraid up where he's setting up shop deer would only bring the timber wolves in quicker. They can really be a big problem in that area along with black bear. Dave
Oh ya the black bears to, almost forgot about them at least in that case its legal to shoot them :P Nabor has 5 or 6 buried in his yard that went after him over the years. We had one nuisance one ourselves a few years back but before we had the chance to kill it it attacked the nabor as he was out deer hunting, that one fed the timber wolfs where it fell.
Unfortunately he didn't like bear meat
So far everything you guys have said has been pretty much what I figured, that I wouldn't make any money doing it probably but that I would maybe get some good meat out of it, to me that sounds better than selling for cash considering the meat prices these days.
Thanks for the heads up on the alpaca thing I hadn't looked into them yet since I fell asleep last night but now I don't plan to
Have a lot of websites to look threw that I found last night hopefully some of them have some good information, thanks for the suggestions/links I will look them over here in a bit, have to run and ship a gun right now that I sold on gunbroker.0 -
Start raising fighting chickens..the way all the Mexicans are walking across our border there will be a market for them..just kidding, I picked up a few pygmy goats for weed control and something the kids can take care of. Then last week I bought a pygmy/fainter billy to breed to my regular pygmy's. If you have never seen a fainter they are funny to watch. My kids went out to catch him and didn't chase him 10 yards and he just fell over on his side. They are more of a novelty I think..we raise rope and show horses. Be prepared for long hours and no days off...Bull 0
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