Hay Farmer!

[JD4430]

Hey there. I too really like your enthusiasm and you sound a lot like I did a few years ago. You are trying to fullfill a dream! This is a good thing but you have to start small or smaller. I am from West central NJ, pretty close to you. I am 23 and just started farming not too long ago. I thought long and hard about my decision but absolutely had to keep my day job until I got established. I attended college and learned as much as i could growing up in 4-H etc.. I did not grow up in a farming family and had little knowledge of crops or haymaking. I worked for a few farms around the area and fell in love with it.
One big thing that will help you is friends! Make friends with local farmers around the area and more than likely they will help a young farmer out like you! Start out smaller, I started with a few sheep and lambs and found a niche in selling lamb to restaurants towards NYC. Eventually we grew larger with the livestock and sold eggs for top dollar as well. This enabled me to gain some income and profit and use as a stepping stone to buying equipment. When I got into hay I knew there was a need due to the booming horse industry and small hobby farm industry in NJ. Farmers are a dying breed in NJ but someone has to supply the Hay to the small equine or livestock farmer. The first year I farmed around 70 acres with all borrowed equipment from a good friend! that was a huge plus and I was able to show FSA that i made a profit and was now ready to buy my own equipment and farm more land. All the while I was still working full time off the farm. I rented and still rent most of my barns for storage and won't put my own up until I am financially ready. I warn you Haymaking can and will be stressful, especially the first few years, there are alot of variables involved and I always say that I learned more in that first season than I have ever in all the years of my life!! Start slow and go to FSA for a youth loan to get started the rates are low and terms are good! Don't assume you are going to make a huge profit the first few years if any! I think we could all make more flipping burgers at McDonalds! LOL But it is a lifestyle and you have to love it or you will hate it!

[jonfrahm]

find a custom hay bailer in your area see if they need summer help learn from them is a good start

[tw30]

im also young 19 yr old and want to become a hay farmer but im going for 215 acres looked at smaller like 15-50 acres but it cost more than buying large landage .
equipment

tractor-10-20k
rake-1-5k
mower-15k
baler-1-3k
landpayment 300$ month try owner finnacing if possible someone who will work with you banks will not
seed drill -2k
fertilizer ,seeds , baler wrap , & fuel .and im sure i forgot somthing lol
the weather hear usally pretty dry and calm ,
i plan on buying the rake ,mower baler etc 1 month apart then somtime next year finniace the tractor.

[mlappin]

And Alfalfa is not a big gamble


And I don't have my eggs all in one basket.DIVERSIFY.I grow corn,beans and alfalfa in rotation

This^^

Corn, beans, Alfalfa, wheat. I also sell Clearspan buildings, make custom hay when time permits, and do repair work on the side. If you ever need a Cat dropped into an antique International or Dodge grain truck to replace the original gas motor, I'm your man.

No matter how well an operation is managed, when all the eggs are in one basket, count on the basket handle breaking.

[kfarm_EC_IL]

This^^

. If you ever need a Cat dropped into an antique International or Dodge grain truck to replace the original gas motor, I'm your man.

mlappin, That cat thing ain't cheap! I got the cats to supply your side job in repair.

In our area the majority is solely row crops. And I would agree this tends to leave a person exposed to a lot of risk. Verse being able to survive (unlike our cat) and live to fight another day with the other enterprizes carrying the load. Spread risk!

My thoughts for our farm
Mark