I grew up in the early 60s on a 30 acre small farm. We had 4 milk cows that we milked by hand 6 or so hogs and chickens and 20 acres tillable with a 2 acre family garden. It was a lot of hard work that had to be done but I grew up this way so it didn't seam hard to me. I learned a lot as a young boy that I still use this wisdom as I farm today.
One of the biggest things I can tell you is, Don't try to keep up with the Jones's! If you try you will go broke. My newest tractor now is a 76 model and I take pride in my old fleet that I farm with. With everybody having to work a full time job myself included, I found that what we did as a years ago still works today for several reasons. 1 we never had one crop a year to count on. We had 3, corn (to feed with) soybeans as a cash crop and wheat to sell and for bedding. We did all this in a rotation to help keep the ground built up and the manure would be spread on next years corn ground. 2nd reason is it gives you income more spread out over the year and most importantly it spreads your work out load out more evenly. Instead of trying to get 200 acres planted together maybe its 60 or 70 acres of corn followed by 60 or 70 acres of soybeans to plant. Come July 60 acres of wheat to harvest and bale or sell the straw to someone to bale. It will give you more time to do it right and do a better job with your crops. Last years $8 corn is this years $4 corn and last years beans at $14 are this years $12 beans. Well you get the point. Just don't put all your eggs in one basket, It never works out to good.
Being in your 30s and wanting to farm.... well there is nothing wrong with that and I give you my whole hearted support in wanting to. But you are going to have to find a balance for your life, Don't work yourself to death trying to do it. There is more to life than that and don't let life slip by because you have to go to work or the field, You will get to hating what your doing and that aint good.
Being a small farmer these day is hard, And getting started even harder. You have to pay more for everything so you have to make every dollar count. Phone calls are cheep and face time with seed and chemical reps can yield cheaper costs if he wants your business, Don't be afraid to ask for a cheaper price. As others have said a good mentor is always helpful but the bottom line is you, You have to make the final decision and live with it. So chose wisely young grasshopper.
Life is short, Do what makes you happy and live life don't let it pass by and have as few regrets as possible and you will do good. You sound like you are willing to work hard to get what you want and you want to farm, I applaud you for that. Especialy now with the give it to me generation. I would say all of us hear are behind you and want to see you prosper and make it. Bandit
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Chores - by Frank Young. The ceaseless passing of time! It is at once our friend and our enemy. It measures our progress and it makes us old. Like most features of our life, few things are all good or all bad, and most such judgments depend on our own perspective or viewpoint. In our particular hobby, we enjoy the nostalgic return to the days of our youth as we recreate many of the scenes that took place on the family farm that served as the stage for the first few acts of the play that is our live
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
Sell 1958 Hi-Altitude Massey Fergerson tractor, original condition. three point hitch pto engine, Runs well, photos available upon request
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
