[Ox76]

Welcome. There is a huge amount of knowledge on here, I tell you what!

 

[veriest1]

My name is Larry and I operate a small hay and stock farm here in Central Texas. We primarily sell small square bales, round bales, and cattle (in that order). I joined to learn and maybe even share some information.

 

[somedevildawg]

Welcome to haytalk Larry....lots of folks here from the great state of TX.

 

[1965RU]

Good evening,

My name is Todd and I'm finishing up the last 5 years in my Navy career. When I finish I will have 30 years and a nice pension. My wife and I would like to move to the New England area, probably New Hampshire, and buy our forever home. I figure since I'm finally retiring, I'm going to do something I've always been interested in and try my hand at small scale farming. I'm looking for around 30 acres and would like to use half of it to grow hay. I'd like to learn as much as possible before hand so I set myself up for success. I'm not looking to make a huge profit, maybe just cover fuel and maintenance costs of the equipment. Any and all advice would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[FCF]

Welcome to Haytalk Todd. With only a small acreage you are wise with your expectations. You have come to the right place for answers, be sure to read as much as you can of previous posts and ask about what you don't understand or can't find answers.

 

[Shetland Sheepdog]

Welcome aboard Todd, here's a link for you!

https://www.farmsandbarns.com/

HTH, Dave

 

[Tx Jim]

Todd

Welcome to HT & thank you for your 30 yrs of service helping defend my life & my families lives & our countries freedom!!
Jim

 

[somedevildawg]

Thank you for your service Todd and welcome to Haytalk.....I just have to ask, why New Hampshire? Family? Climate? Seems available land is pricey up there, but I’m sure that’s not everywhere....maybe, hopefully?

 

[1965RU]

Thank you for your service Todd and welcome to Haytalk.....I just have to ask, why New Hampshire? Family? Climate? Seems available land is pricey up there, but I'm sure that's not everywhere....maybe, hopefully?

You hit the nail on the head. Both family and climate. We are looking at other areas including Tennessee but haven't totally locked in on anything yet. Besides those two factors, I also have to look at which states offer the best retirement benefits for military. The pension will be good, but a reduction nonetheless, so we have to do our best to maximize what we will have. To that end, I have begun to accumulate equipment and thus far have gotten two JD 1010s, a 1963 and a 1965. I have plenty of time so I'm hopeful a good deal as far as house & property will come along.

 

[somedevildawg]

Good luck, it’s a great way to live life! God, Family, Country! If ya’ go to havin’ any questions....there’s a forum for that! (We try to be up with the times )

 

[luke strawwalker]

Good morning to all. I grew up on small (very small) animal farm and wife on tobacco farm, many years ago! Mules were still used to some degree on both farms. Do enjoy farming greatly and do farm what is her family farm for the joy and to take care of it. Have worked to get it up to about 38 acres in cultivation and rest of the land here and on what is left of my families is in timber.

For now near twenty years planted row crops some peanuts (for those who are blessed to like boiled peanuts and to know the cry in the tobacco warehouses of years ago) but really corn and soybeans. I have been looking at moving from row crop to hay for about twenty years with no background (unless you county loading with pitch fork onto mule pulled wagon) did not find the support needed. Blessed to have a very good friend who now with a few years experience and the necessary equipment to do all the cutting and baling have taken my first major step and had fifteen acres sprigged with Coastal Bermuda this March. Boy and I thought i was ready!

Finding weed problems did not know we had due to use of roundup ready crops, especially Johnson Grass. My concerns at present are first controlling the Johnson Grass in three month old Coastal. Then storage for the hay. After that will be hay equipment. My first hay equipment I think I need is a system to know where has been sprayed (no rows to count) and system to load the square bales.

Have read a good bit here and really do like Hay Talk. Have read many comments on Johnson Grass and also Guidance systems. Not firm on either of those two issues yet or hay grapple for square bales.

Pray you have a safe and blessed season.

Kenneth

PS: insurance is my full time business mainly in life, health but a few years experience in property insurance. Not in any mode other than recommendation glad to help with any question.

Best thing to control johnsongrass in bermuda-- three words-- SPIEDEL WEED WIPER. Google it and get you one, use 33% Roundup solution in it run a foot above your bermuda. Works great on a front end loader. OL J R

 

[Big Blue Tractor]

Introduction- Hello everyone, I’ve been a Haytalk member since 2018, but the forums would never allow me to post until now! So I have been reading and absorbing the forum up until now. I am in Michigan by the Ohio border and I am a new farmer. I’ve been developing my farm for 5 years now. I reached a milestone and planted some Timothy last fall and I just got done planting some Alfalfa/ Timothy last weekend in my second field. I have never done hay before. I have been collecting all of the equipment over the last few years and have been doing lots of reading on soil, and maintaining the crop and making hay. I am very excited to get my first cut of small square bales. I understand that haying is an art and a science. I am using older equipment and I like my older equipment. I am up for the challenge. It’s good to finally be able to post. I have a lot of questions and I look forward to joining in the conversations.

 

[Vol]

Yes our old software had gotten to the point where the site was barely moving. Folks could not join or join in like you. Welcome

Regards, Mike

 

[Tx Jim]

BBT
Welcome to HT. I'm a computer dummy & I could post on the "old style" forum but I;ve been a member for few yr longer. I wonder what was keeping you from posting on "'old style but allowed you to post on new style"????

Oh well the important thing is you can now post to this forum.

 

[paoutdoorsman]

Glad you're able to post now Big Blue Tractor! Welcome to Haytalk!

 

[MikeBurker]

Hi there
My name is Mike. Finally got around to posting in this thread
Glad to be here!

 

[Tx Jim]

Mike
Welcome to HT
Enjoy the knowledge on this forum.
Jim

 

[PaulN]

Welcome aboard Mike!

 

[Fae]

Just an old retired ranch woman age 70 that does a daily 3 to 5-mile walk around alfalfa hayfields. Grew up in the Rocky Mountains on a large cattle ranch with 80 acres of alfalfa hay. As a teen, the hayfield became my job since I liked running equipment better than other chores.

 

[Tx Jim]

Welcome to HT