Starting from scratch

[Brett]

Has anybody out there started from scratch? I have wanted to farm my whole life and hopefully someday(preferably soon) it will happen. If not does anybody have any suggestions?

[Morgan Paradise]

I have my appointment in the morning with Farm Services http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=landing&am... I sure hope my loan goes thru.

[Alec Raymond Descoteaux]

I am starting from scratch right now. (with the exception of a barn, a corn crib, and 10 acres of tillable land) It's a real learning process, let me tell ya. If you go to conventions and expos, you can gain a lot of information there. This year the only things that were able to be accomplished were the garden, some landscaping, planning for this upcoming year, and budgeting. It takes time, no doubt about it. I'm working on buying equipment right now and planting soy beans in the spring. My main plan is to convert to alfalfa/grass mix in 2011. I have 10 acres available to use as it is, and another 20 acres if I can find somebody to come doze all the trees out. I also plan on starting out with small livestock this spring (goats, sheep, etc.) and moving up to some cattle later on. Here are some pics

[Cindy Stanley]

We are starting from scratch - bought 76 acres, of which 19 is tillable, and was leased to a farmer and was under corn. We have installed our first cow, a pregnant Jersey, Pearl, who was AI from a polled bull, so hopefully we will have a new female calf in May. We have ducks, geese and guinea fowl, although have lost 8 chickens so far to possums and other wild beasties, so we have eggs. It was always my husbands dream to farm, and he is starting - making cheese, currently 8 cheddars aging in the barn, fresh mozzerella in the fridge, lots of great ice-cream. Planning the pastures / grazing / vegetables / corn / feed, as this time next year we will hopefully at least be self-sufficient. I work, so we have income, and he works part time, but loves the hard work of farming.

[geoff tollefson]

just work hard and keep at man that's all ya can do and just d little by little and you'll get there

[Brandon Tisthammer]

It can be done but its gonna take you a long time. My dad started 23 years ago with 4 holsteins in a rented barn and nothing else. Today we have 80 acres, 30 cows, and a full line of junk equipment so we can raise our own feed. My dad still punches the clock in town which makes it hard. We have come a long ways and we still have a long ways to go but I believe it can be done. Just be prepared to work really hard for a long time.

[Mike Donovan]

I did just that when I was 35. I bought a 50 acre farm, and the 20 cows that were on it, but no machinery other than the milking equipment. I bought a cow per month, and got to 50 cows, sold the farm and bought a 135 acre place 9 miles away. Built cow numbers up using own bred heifers and bought in downcalving heifers. Milk quotas came in and I was not awarded an extra litre, so I stopped at around 60 cows, and started cutting costs, and also rearing everything. Started my farming magazine www.farmideas.co.uk in 1992 and sold the cows in 1996, after 22 years.
These days farming is very different. In the 70s milk was the one reliable product. Prices were set by government and were reasonable. You could make money on even 20 cows. Today I would be cautious about dairy, but would be interested in enterprises that can be expanded on short term land.
IN my latest issue there's a section Financial Focus: Starting or Expanding - Do you Buy Land or Rent it? There's greater opportunity in some ways, because people are less interested in farming. Tenancies are easier to obtain. There's a lot there for you to find out about, and I talked with a number of knowledgeable agents.
Best of luck, Take the other comments on board, they are very valuable. Mike

[Zach Janke]

Find a older farmer to buy out or find a good farm to rent. That is what i did it is nice to have a small amount of cash to pay start up costs. Dont try to out do your neighbor it might look like there doing good but there in debt up to there ears. And plan on working like hell if you work hard enough you will make it.

 

[Mike Donovan]

The older retiring farmer may well have the tools for survival but will they be adequate for a someone with a young family to support and few assets? Selling farm commodities for processing (milk, corn, meat) can be a thankless task as you customers are price driven. Creating a local market for your produce and adding value on the farm can make the operation viable.

[Frank N Smith]

Hey

Im also working hard at starting my own grass based dairy on a retired dairy farm in southside VA. Im hoping using pasture will help me get started with minimal resources. Its good to see Im not alone when all I ussually hear is that Im crazy for wanting to farm.

FS

 

[Brett]

Ya i know what you are saying. I can count on 1 hand the amount of people that actually support me for wanting to farm and there is a greater amount that tell me to forget about it and keep my day job. Im not going to turn my back on it. I want to do it too bad. Just going to take some hard work and thought. Keep at it Frank!

 

[Casey Hafner]

Brett,

You have my support as if it is what you want to do, go do it.  But, I will say, keeping at least one regular job for the first few years will allow you to put any money made farming back into your operation.

[Cheryl Connor]

I sent in a discussion for a young farmer to take over farm in the future. Look under my discussion. 

Cheryl Connor