I am still learning but I am sure you all agree all the rules change with each piece of land, climate and loan on property. Let me recap just to try to clarify but as was suggested I think it may be best to let this die and again... sorry i did not clarify enough...
1. I have 480 acres of dry not irrigated land if you want to check the annual rainfall you can access yahoo weather forecast and for the town of midvale idaho you can click on annual rain forecast and get an idea of how dry it is.
2. I was told by the john deere rep a guy needs at least 1500 acres to make a living and i think he meant to either have a wife and kids or a few cute sheep as living alone just aint cutting the mustard in my area. I also think the rep meant farming not ranching so maybe less land is required for ranching i don't know.
3. I was just recently told by the ranching expert government rep that a guess of a cow / calf pair per two acres is possible but i don't know if he meant laying ground aside for winter feed.
4. The locals tell me anywhere from 1/2 to one ton per acre of hay or alfalfa is possible to get off the local area. I was also told an average of 70 dollars a ton to sell the bales.
5. Also, in my area the season is short with higher altitude and spring moisture does not allow a tractor to stay above ground til around April. I know... i tried it. I sank almost to my knees trying to walk around my truck when it got stuck in a field.
There are nearby farms growing alfalfa and i hear they try and try to get a stand. Dryland farming is a real experience in my area. Lots of methods like plant in fall and hope it grows enough before winter, plant in winter and it won't germinate til spring and hope it doesn't frost, plant in spring after you can drive a tractor on it or air seed it which i tried but I didn't have a virgin to spare as a sacrifice to the Gods to ensure the rains. So, my ace in the hole was out of shear luck that i paid 450 and acre and my realtor says he wants to list it for around 1700 an acre. Some of the locals are the best i'll have ever met in my life and as for the others ... i have been looking them in the eyes and saying if you don't like my kind around how are you gonna like me bringing in a californian to take my place? No offense against Californians... they are like people from washington jealous that californians knew a good land deal when they saw it and bought up and raised the price of land in washington state.
Just a comment on disagreement comments. Although it may get a little touchy but remember that is pure freedom of experssion without censorship. and finally a joke...
Did any of you know my town Midvale, Idaho is where they invented the tooth brush? IF it were invented anywhere else it would instead have been called the teethbrush
Thanks for the replies everyone!
