decision

i spent the last few months planing farming on a small scale buying equipment for spring of 2013 as it gets closer my fears get stronger i have literaly no experience no help figure it out as i go i have been around farming but for someone else just helping from time to time i have the ground im not scared of work should i do it or just leave it alone? im scared to death of failing

Everyone is scared of failing, make sure you do not get over extended, and talk with your neighbors.

(quoted from post at 19:55:52 11/12/12) i spent the last few months planing farming on a small scale buying equipment for spring of 2013 as it gets closer my fears get stronger i have literaly no experience no help figure it out as i go i have been around farming but for someone else just helping from time to time i have the ground im not scared of work should i do it or just leave it alone? im scared to death of failing

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What? Do you not have ground rented for 2013 yet? If you don't it's a little late to find any. If you do, you need to find a mentor that will help you. If you were in MN somewhere nearby I would help you out. Why don't you think the guy you help already won't give you some advice?

Don't worry about failing, anyone can do that! Just get up and work everyday, think before acting, and it will all come together.
I quit my job of over 12 years as an electrician last spring after I had enough of the BS and started my own electrical contracting. I had the same thoughts as you, however after not knowing where the work was going to come from it is fall and I have been busy all summer. I know winter will be slow for me, but there are always part time jobs to help pay bills.
I have found out that most people are willing to help someone who is trying, but only pity those that won't get up and give it a whirl. It's good to see that you are trying to make something better for yourself and good luck.

Good point by Dalet, what ground have you rented, or own?

yes i have ground rented

Don't be afraid to share your concerns with a neighbor that has similar size farm. Odds are they will give you some advise. It is kind of getting late in the game already. Need to have soil samples in to determine fertilizer requirements.
Also need to get seed corn ordered so you don't get stuck with the lower yielding varities.
Suggest you start by asking a neighbor to breakfast.
Don't forget to return favors to neighbor(s) that help you.
This is how I got started when I was small scale (truck) farming while in college.

some of the ground is my own some rented hes past on

one other thing i should add everything is financed out of my pocket nothing borrowed the long hrs doesnt bother me its the things i dont no that does

Where are you at? Im in east central Wisconsin. I farm small scale up to 40 acres now and growing.I have freinds in the seed and spraying business and have a good relationship with the local co-ops and thats where most of your answers will come from. If you have any questions about equipment this forum is where I come to ask.Jim

im in southern illinois

If you can't handle the thought of failure how do you plan to have success? A dream without a plan is a wish.

JMHO

Vito

Best lessons you'll ever learn are at the school of hard knocks.

that type drought will not repeat. Work hard and be smart. Lastly, work in a safe manner.

I think of this quote, it seems dumb at times...

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
¯ Theodore Roosevelt

I started a tree farm in 2005 really not knowing chit about what it really took to grow/market trees. I was around equipment my whole life, family farmed, dad/granddad/uncle all machinists, race cars, welding, etc. All these things helped.

The tree knowledge I lacked, and still am by no means an expert. I have more business than I can handle since 2010, but it took 5 years to learn the basics and get going. I had a local apple orchard owner help me a lot. He wasn"t completely knowledgeable on landscape trees, but his orchard knowledge sure answers many questions. Then the two wholesale root stock suppliers answered the rest of my questions.

As others have said, ask for help. If you are willing to work people will help you. I invested quite a bit in 2004-2005, then in 2007 the recession hit. I figured I just wasted all that money and labor on the last two years, but it slowly paid off.

I have screwed up a few things along the way. I asked tons of questions on this site. There are a ton of people on here that grow corn/soybeans/wheat etc, you should get lots of answers. I couldn"t find a lot of help when it came to tree spade questions, they are not quite as common as a combine or a planter. Just keep asking, you find answer.

Start asking now, spring is close. I have my root stock on pre-order and my fields layed out for the next two years.

My thoughts,
Rick

You can do it. Learn and ask questions. Be helpful and polite to neighbors and farmers and they will be more apt to in your direction when you need help. I started with 8 ac and a farmall m. Sometimes it's hard to watch a BTO in his $250k tracked tractor and not be envious, but a tractor doesn't make a good farmer.

DO it! I remember the summer I tried to figure out how to hitch a Farmall H to a 3-point hitch to a JD 2-boottom plow.... I still laugh at myself, but when I sat there for weeks on end, staring at it, and finally figured out why it would not work and then how it WOULD work, it really boosted my confidence. How dumb old me could figure out farming problems.
DO it!
You"ll smile at yourself for years.

In the weeks before I started my distribution business, every now and then I would break out in a cold sweat, due to worries about failure. I would tell myself "Who do you think you are that you think that you can do this." Anyone who is not worried about making the leap is not serious enough to stick to it. You will do fine!