Retired at 64 and my wife says let's move to the country, grandkids will love it.
Now Five years later, my son and grandkids have moved to California, and I'm a new farmer pushing 70 years old!
We have 40 acres in central Va. 20 acres of pasture, 4 acres house, yard, pond and the rest is wooded with lots of standing dead trees ,thanks to the beech blight, that I am slowly cleaning up to make more pasture.
When we bought the place, it had no stock, and hadn't for some time. Pastures overgrown and fencing in bad shape. Spent the first two years mowing, clearing brush and fixing fence and had an automatic waterer put in the pasture that had no access to the pond. Bought two bred angus heifers and a yearling heifer in 2021. First two calves born spring of 22. Currently have nine head on the place. (3) bred cows, (3) three bred heifers and (3) calves going to sale next week. According to the local USDA guys I can maintain (7) cows if I get the pastures in good shape and implement rotation grazing. My ,hopefully, (6) calves will come April/may.
So now you know the back story. I know I won't get rich on 40 acres, but I don't want to lose my a$$ either. My issue is economy of scale. I have been lucky with calving and no sick cows. But even with such a small herd I still need to spend on improvements. Right now I am looking at buying a squeeze chute for tagging, vaccinating, etc. My vet said don't buy a tarter, too light and not safe. But $6000 for a quality chute makes no sense for a (7) cow herd. Any advice from those with experience with small operations.
Now Five years later, my son and grandkids have moved to California, and I'm a new farmer pushing 70 years old!
We have 40 acres in central Va. 20 acres of pasture, 4 acres house, yard, pond and the rest is wooded with lots of standing dead trees ,thanks to the beech blight, that I am slowly cleaning up to make more pasture.
When we bought the place, it had no stock, and hadn't for some time. Pastures overgrown and fencing in bad shape. Spent the first two years mowing, clearing brush and fixing fence and had an automatic waterer put in the pasture that had no access to the pond. Bought two bred angus heifers and a yearling heifer in 2021. First two calves born spring of 22. Currently have nine head on the place. (3) bred cows, (3) three bred heifers and (3) calves going to sale next week. According to the local USDA guys I can maintain (7) cows if I get the pastures in good shape and implement rotation grazing. My ,hopefully, (6) calves will come April/may.
So now you know the back story. I know I won't get rich on 40 acres, but I don't want to lose my a$$ either. My issue is economy of scale. I have been lucky with calving and no sick cows. But even with such a small herd I still need to spend on improvements. Right now I am looking at buying a squeeze chute for tagging, vaccinating, etc. My vet said don't buy a tarter, too light and not safe. But $6000 for a quality chute makes no sense for a (7) cow herd. Any advice from those with experience with small operations.