Farmers || Future

Grant Hildabrand
  • Male
  • Russellville, KY
  • United States
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Grant Hildabrand's Discussions

Buffett says ALL cars will be electric in 20 years - What's the future impact to Ethanol Industry?

Replied Dec 4

How hard is it on everyone with all the markets crashing?

Replied Dec 4

Conference coming up

Replied Nov 16

 

Kentucky Farmer Working in Tennessee...

nights, weekends, and holidays...

I was raised on a 650 acre beef cattle, tobacco, and hay farm in southern Kentucky. After graduating high school, I attended the University of Kentucky. While there, I majored in Agricultural Public Service and Leadership and was an active member of FarmHouse Fraternity, the Soil Judging Team, Agribusiness Club, and the Agronomy Club. I also worked for the National Agricultural Statistics Service as well as the Natural Resources Conservation Service while completing my undergraduate degree.

Upon college graduation, I moved back to western Kentucky to farm. I now farm 200 acres on my own and keep about 60 angus cross brood cows. I raise my own fescue/clover mix hay and usually roll about 300 rolls of hay per spring. After the first cutting, I rotate my cattle to graze all of the hay fields but one. I mow that one hay field so I can keep some square bales on hand. I also have some boer goats that I keep in the barnlot so it stays mowed down (besides that, they are entertaining to watch!).

I now work off the farm for USDA with the Tennessee Farm Service Agency. I really enjoy my job and being able to interact with other farmers on a daily basis. Since I have an off farm job, my farming is only done on nights, weekends, and holidays. I sure enjoy it though!

If you ever plan on being through Kentucky or Tennessee, give me a shout. I love to meet new people and learn new things! I'd also like to meet some people that would like to show off their farms whenever I get a chance to get out and travel.

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At 8:29am on December 7, 2009, Brian.Graber said…
We started combing this last weekend and this the latest we have ever had to wait.We had our first snow fall and it been around 18 to 20 degrees during the day. we have off about 200 acres of corn so far. This week we are going to have a big blizzard and get 4 to 6 inches of snow.
At 12:02am on December 6, 2009, John Irelan said…
A few black stars, some reds, a bunch of RIR, enough cornish roasters to pack my freezer in January (can't wait. can't stand those birds), couple easter egg layers (americauna?) Kind of a variety pack. And already have another order placed for March for another variety pack.
At 5:25pm on December 5, 2009, Kevin Wright said…
alfalfa is a lot of fun hard work, not to mention its fairly profitable especially here the bluegrass with all the horse farms. and yes we only raise burley, ive not heard of anything else raised in this are but other methods do interest me.
At 4:43pm on December 4, 2009, Leigh Picchetti said…
Hi Grant! I am interested in all aspects of agriculture! I grew up in Iowa where my paternal grandparents and maternal great-grandparents farmed for much of their lives. My dad was a long-time employee of Successful Farming magazine, and I recently joined the Farm Credit System to provide communications support for this nationwide network of borrower-owned agricultural lending institutions. Ag has always been a big part of my life.

Since I joined Farm Credit I have had the privilege of being involved with launching the System's new national Web site at www.farmcredit.com. To date, that has been one of the most gratifying parts of my new job. Now there is a single place for information about Farm Credit for job seekers, customers, sponsorship applicants and more. As a result, I am very interested in how producers (especially young, beginning and small producers) are using technology. I thought this forum might be a good place to learn more about that. And, Farm Credit has been the primary sponsor for Farmers for the Future since it first began. Thanks for welcoming me to the network!
At 4:31pm on December 4, 2009, Brian.Graber said…
No we don't but some farmers around use do. We grow corn,soybeans,and oats.
At 4:13pm on December 4, 2009, Brian.Graber said…
I think that is great because my grandparent told me a lot of story's of how are farm came from 120 acres in 1868 to now at 2,100 acres today. When I was young my grandma always said that you should take over the farm when we pass on but I never thought that intell I was about 15 years old.
At 3:35pm on December 4, 2009, Eric Augsburger said…
I am not sure how many students are enrolled in the college of Ag at Penn State, but i know that it is the best college on the east coast for Agriculture. I am only a freshman and will graduate in 2013, so i haven't been very active in the Ag club yet, but am looking to get more involved as i am slowly getting used to college life.
At 12:48pm on December 4, 2009, Eric Augsburger said…
Haha, yes sir, we are right in the middle of amish country. fortunately buggies don't come into the picture too often while hauling manure. I read that you went to the University of Kentucky, that's sweet man, i am currently at Penn State majoring in Ag business. After i graduate i am looking to take over our family farm
At 7:54am on December 2, 2009, John Irelan said…
I grew up with a small flock of about twenty and then my family moved into a medium sized town. After moving out on my own and getting married, my wife found out we were allowed hens, but no roosters, where we love now so we have a flock of around 40.
At 11:24am on November 26, 2009, Martin Lautenschlaeger said…
I am the 5th generation on the family farm, I just started 2 take over the farm 2 years ago but still farm with my dad, mom, and fiance we currently farm 7600 acres, and have a 150 registered Simmental cow calf herd.

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Grant Hildabrand's Photos

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Grant Hildabrand's Blog

Grant Hildabrand

interesting year.

well, I hardly know where to start when beginning to discuss how this year's growing season turned out. I guess the truthful progression would be: wet, wetter, wettest.

since April 1 of this year, we have had an astonishing 15 extra inches of rain. I applied my fertilize this spring while my tractor was in 4wd. I mowed, raked, and rolled my hay between 35-50% moisture and wrapped every roll to let it ensile. I normally bush hog my pasture once, but not this year! it got clipped 3 times.

of cou… Continue

Posted on October 15, 2009 at 7:00am — 1 Comment

Grant Hildabrand

I'm going to Beantown!

I've never been to the northeast before, but I'm going to Boston for my birthday/vacation. I'm flying out of Nashville late on Thursday, July 16 and returning about noon on Sunday, July 19. I'm pretty excited, plus I'm going to get to see a couple of friends that are up there.

Anyways, I did get about 5 acres of hay mowed last night before the Kubota got a little too hot. I'm going to drain the radiator this evening and see what comes out of it. I might also change the thermostat, because I aim… Continue

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 7:00am —

Grant Hildabrand

Finished setting tobacco!

The last of my dad's tobacco was set yesterday afternoon before I even got off work. That's alright with me though, as it meant I had time (and help) moving the tractor, mower, and the hay I baled Monday afternoon from one farm to another. I really don't know what I'd do if my daddy didn't take the time to help me!

I am still trying to decide whether or not wrapping the hay will be cost effective. I have never wrapped my own before, but I have helped other people wrap their's. My main reason fo… Continue

Posted on June 11, 2009 at 7:00am —

Grant Hildabrand

Setting Tobacco & Establishing a Clover Hay Field

Good morning! Our tobacco setting is going rather well, other than we are running just a little shy of plants. We lack about 30 trays having enough. Oh well, I think our supplier has some extra so we only have the inconvenience of making another trip to the other side of the county... So far, we have about 4 acres set. If the weather holds and we get plants this morning, we should finish setting tobacco this afternoon.

On a different note, I tried to establish clover on a farm I just rented for… Continue

Posted on June 10, 2009 at 7:00am —

Grant Hildabrand

FINALLY getting 2009 fieldwork started...

...I spent the majority of the spring traveling during the week and farming on the weekends. We have had the wettest spring in recent history in my part of western Kentucky. What time I was home, my father and I worked on fencing off 4 ponds and installing concrete watering troughs. That was an experience I'll talk about in another post though...

Last week, I serviced my Kubota M8200 that I bought back at the beginning of April. It took 3 gallons of oil, which I considered to be a pretty large… Continue

Posted on June 8, 2009 at 7:00am —

 
 



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