small family farm

jimini0

Hi all, my dad has a small farm its mostly a hobby farm . He has had enough of it after one of his cows that was pregnant with twins died. He was devastated so he is packing it in.
I want to take it over as a hobby really I'm not expecting much profit. If it covers expences I will be delighted. I rece tly drained it but I'm over run with rushes. Dad got them topped slightly then licked last year but they are back stronger. A neighbour suggested to me that I should get them down bare and keep them topped. I don't have the money to pump into land reclaiming so I'm looking for the cheapest easiest way. Any suggestions would be great

TheBody

jimini0 wrote: »

Hi all, my dad has a small farm its mostly a hobby farm . He has had enough of it after one of his cows that was pregnant with twins died. He was devastated so he is packing it in.
I want to take it over as a hobby really I'm not expecting much profit. If it covers expences I will be delighted. I rece tly drained it but I'm over run with rushes. Dad got them topped slightly then licked last year but they are back stronger. A neighbour suggested to me that I should get them down bare and keep them topped. I don't have the money to pump into land reclaiming so I'm looking for the cheapest easiest way. Any suggestions would be great

A guy I know was in a similar situation to you. Small farm, around 30 acres and in bad condition with rushes and overgrown hedges. He simply didn't have the money or the machinery or manpower to fix it up. What he did was lease it to a neighbour who has a HUGE farming operation for next to nothing on the condition that the neighbour fix up the land. So that's exactly what happened. You should see it now. Such a difference. I'm not saying this would suit you but just suggesting it as an option.

stoeger

jimini0 wrote: »

Hi all, my dad has a small farm its mostly a hobby farm . He has had enough of it after one of his cows that was pregnant with twins died. He was devastated so he is packing it in.
I want to take it over as a hobby really I'm not expecting much profit. If it covers expences I will be delighted. I rece tly drained it but I'm over run with rushes. Dad got them topped slightly then licked last year but they are back stronger. A neighbour suggested to me that I should get them down bare and keep them topped. I don't have the money to pump into land reclaiming so I'm looking for the cheapest easiest way. Any suggestions would be great

Im in the same position as you im heading over to land tomorrow morning very early with my 135 and fingerbar mower its around 15 miles away ill have a days work before i even get there my plan is to cut rushes and lick them in a few weeks im in the possess of building a licker at the moment

buffalobilly

Get someone to spray them with mortone for u it will not be as expensive as topping them all the time

jimini0

TheBody wrote: »

A guy I know was in a similar situation to you. Small farm, around 30 acres and in bad condition with rushes and overgrown hedges. He simply didn't have the money or the machinery or manpower to fix it up. What he did was lease it to a neighbour who has a HUGE farming operation for next to nothing on the condition that the neighbour fix up the land. So that's exactly what happened. You should see it now. Such a difference. I'm not saying this would suit you but just suggesting it as an option.

Thanks for reply. My dad wanted to lease it out to nighbour but I said no as I want to keep it in family. As I said its only a hobby for me. At most there will only
10 cattle 4 cows with cales and a heifer or two. There is 28 acres owned and 14 rented so 42 acres in total. Out of our own 28 acres probably 10-12 is all rushes or partly rushes.

bbam

The days of tipping rushes to keep them down are gone. Diesel is just too expensive. The poster above me is right. It's a better job and over a few years will be more economical.

We don't spray, we weed lick with Gallup. Very economical and diesel consumption is low as the tractor it just ticking over and not driving any implement.

The day someone invents a commercial use for rushes I'll be wealthy, or more likely with my luck they'll start to die off naturally.

jimini0

Thanks for the replies. I'll get thinking over the weekend and put one of your suggestions into action.
If there was a good use for rushes half the farmers in the country would be rich.
Maybe we could sell them to the american tourists. We could brand them as authentic dried irish grass.

TheBody

jimini0 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I'll get thinking over the weekend and put one of your suggestions into action.
If there was a good use for rushes half the farmers in the country would be rich.
Maybe we could sell them to the american tourists. We could brand them as authentic dried irish grass.

God if only!!

tommylimerick

you should plant the land that is growing rushes in forestry , I planted 3 acres in forestry on some awkward ground
now getting 500 in cash to grow tress ,
keep farming the rest of it

I use to hate animals dying too often wondered about when I would call a vet
if it was a free service you might use liberaly

bbam

The answer for rushes is work on them.. Unless the land is awful there is no need to plant it.. A bit of perseverance, weather and some money will see it improve..

jimini0

Forestry is not an option but thanks for the suggestion.
As bbam said a bit of hard work will be the best option.
I also need to get a tractor somethin small was thinkin of a 2wd international.
I have about 3k for that. Got topper , fertaliser shaker, and box from elderly neighbour in exchange for some work I did for him.
Later next year I hope to get a couple of galloway cattle.

bbam

IMHO there is no commercial outlet for Galloway cattle... Maybe someone can correct me on that ??

In your first post you mentioned hopefully making a profit... You need to think of a product that has a commercial market for it. Otherwise you'll need a good job to support your new rather expensive hobby.

moy83

bbam wrote: »

IMHO there is no commercial outlet for Galloway cattle... Maybe someone can correct me on that ??

In your first post you mentioned hopefully making a profit... You need to think of a product that has a commercial market for it. Otherwise you'll need a good job to support your new rather expensive hobby.

I dont know bbam , maybe a few galloway cows left to their own devices on a bit of rough ground running with a limo bull would be cheap kept .
The heifers from them would make nice suckler cows I think and the bulls should finish pretty well off any good grass and minimal nuts .

iliketomoveit

bbam wrote: »

The days of tipping rushes to keep them down are gone. Diesel is just too expensive. The poster above me is right. It's a better job and over a few years will be more economical.

We don't spray, we weed lick with Gallup. Very economical and diesel consumption is low as the tractor it just ticking over and not driving any implement.

The day someone invents a commercial use for rushes I'll be wealthy, or more likely with my luck they'll start to die off naturally.

Bedding

e.g.

http://www.donedeal.ie/find/farmproduce/for-sale/Ireland/rushes?filter%28max_price%29=Max+Price&filter%28min_price%29=Min+Price&source=all

€5-10 a bale, bale and cut as your doing your own silage, no need for wrap

jersey101

iliketomoveit wrote: »

Bedding

e.g.

http://www.donedeal.ie/find/farmproduce/for-sale/Ireland/rushes?filter%28max_price%29=Max+Price&filter%28min_price%29=Min+Price&source=all

€5-10 a bale, bale and cut as your doing your own silage, no need for wrap

and then the seeds from the rushes are going to your land, no thanks

Sam Kade

http://www.donedeal.ie/farmproduce-for-sale/net-wrap-bales/5546088

No time wasters little did he know that by baling rushes and trying to sell them is a total waste of time :rolleyes:

Conmaicne Mara

Rushes are easy brought under control with the right mindset. You need to kill the bulk of them quickly, two methods already mentioned do work, weedlicking or spraying. Where the mindset comes into it is it's a long haul, I said control not eradicate. They'll have deposited lots of seeds into that ground and you're going to need to keep after them in the future. A few acres might look intimidating but when you make a good start on them and they start dieing it'll look a lot better. You'll get there in the end, have at them and enjoy killing the feckers

iliketomoveit

jersey101 wrote: »

and then the seeds from the rushes are going to your land, no thanks

It is a commercial use though, and its not your own land if your sellin

jimini0

bbam wrote: »

IMHO there is no commercial outlet for Galloway cattle... Maybe someone can correct me on that ??

In your first post you mentioned hopefully making a profit... You need to think of a product that has a commercial market for it. Otherwise you'll need a good job to support your new rather expensive hobby.

I am going to buy a couple of galloway heifers because from what I have researched they thrive on rough land. I'm not going into breeding them I'll get them in calf with maybe an angus or limosine. Then sell off calves at end of year. It might be expensive to buy them originally but I think it might work. As I have said its only going to be a hobby and if I clear expenses I will be very happy.

jimini0

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Rushes are easy brought under control with the right mindset. You need to kill the bulk of them quickly, two methods already mentioned do work, weedlicking or spraying. Where the mindset comes into it is it's a long haul, I said control not eradicate. They'll have deposited lots of seeds into that ground and you're going to need to keep after them in the future. A few acres might look intimidating but when you make a good start on them and they start dieing it'll look a lot better. You'll get there in the end, have at them and enjoy killing the feckers

I can get the use of a tractor and sprayer from a friend. Do I need to top the feckers first or just spray away?
Then after spraying what do I do?
Obviously I'll keep the cattle away from land while I'm at it.

jimini0

Well I sprayed the buggers. Gave them plenty of mortone.
What next???
Do I wait for them to die and spray again in the spring?

Conmaicne Mara

Wait a month or six weeks, lets the chemical get down into the roots and get a good kill. When you can easily pull them out of the ground by hand you can cut again.

Sharpshooter82

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

have at them and enjoy killing the feckers

thats fighting talk

Conmaicne Mara

Sharpshooter82 wrote: »

thats fighting talk

Experience, I had quite the jungle at one time.

jimini0

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Wait a month or six weeks, lets the chemical get down into the roots and get a good kill. When you can easily pull them out of the ground by hand you can cut again.

Cheers for that.
I must go now and find a tractor to buy. Can't be borrowing other peoples machinery for much longer. Thinking of getting an international 584 or 674. Hope to get a nice one for 2500-3000. Fingers crossed

Sharpshooter82

jimini0 wrote: »

Cheers for that.
I must go now and find a tractor to buy. Can't be borrowing other peoples machinery for much longer. Thinking of getting an international 584 or 674. Hope to get a nice one for 2500-3000. Fingers crossed

good hunting

Figerty

jimini0 wrote: »

Cheers for that.
I must go now and find a tractor to buy. Can't be borrowing other peoples machinery for much longer. Thinking of getting an international 584 or 674. Hope to get a nice one for 2500-3000. Fingers crossed

Ford 4000 would do you as well. Loads of them on Donedeal.

Spraying rushes is the best way, topping just keeps them at bay for a while. It's a plan for a 10 year campaign against them.

just do it

Will you outwinter or have you housing? It's just coming back to the galloway breed if they produced such a good weanling sure wouldn't we all have them. There is a dramatic difference in price received for an average weanling and a quality weanling. From what I can see traditional breeds best suit a system where you also finish them. I'm not so sure how many buyers there are for galloway X weanlings.

just do it

Re rushes, I've sprayed off one particular 5ac field that is badly poached underneath the rushes around 3 weeks ago as well. At this stage of the year I don't see the point in topping them as they'll disappear into the ground over the winter anyway. Instead I'm considering rolling the field while it's dry enough. The rushes will also protect against ruts from the tractor wheels. Seemingly when they die they become quite brittle and break up easily.

Next year I plan to drain the field as that is the only realistic long term solution.

jimini0

just do it wrote: »

Will you outwinter or have you housing? It's just coming back to the galloway breed if they produced such a good weanling sure wouldn't we all have them. There is a dramatic difference in price received for an average weanling and a quality weanling. From what I can see traditional breeds best suit a system where you also finish them. I'm not so sure how many buyers there are for galloway X weanlings.

They will be outwintered we have housing but only use this if animals are sick or if weather is bad after calving we let the cow and calf in around the shed .
Dad has used a local cattle dealer here to buy and sell. I asked him at the weekend about getting a galloway cow. He said its not a bad idea but when it comes to AI time I should go for a good angus bull. He said there will be no problem selling them on. I'm going to get one and see how it goes. I will either learn from my mistakes or die trying.

just do it

In the burren where they outwinter alot the preferred cow type is shorthorn. Anyway just food for thought. Best of luck and keep us informed as to your progress

jimini0

just do it wrote: »

Re rushes, I've sprayed off one particular 5ac field that is badly poached underneath the rushes around 3 weeks ago as well. At this stage of the year I don't see the point in topping them as they'll disappear into the ground over the winter anyway. Instead I'm considering rolling the field while it's dry enough. The rushes will also protect against ruts from the tractor wheels. Seemingly when they die they become quite brittle and break up easily.

Next year I plan to drain the field as that is the only realistic long term solution.

I did our drains at the beggining of summer has dried up the land a bit will have to see how they work over the winter. Otherwise its back to the plant hire boys for another machine. I have the time to do these things but as always it come down to cash flow.

hugo29

jimini0 wrote: »

Well I sprayed the buggers. Gave them plenty of mortone.
What next???
Do I wait for them to die and spray again in the spring?

CUT THE ****E OUT OF THEM TO THE CLAY in about 4-5 weeks,
if they start to grow this back end then spray again, otherwise spray in spring , check your soil and apply necessary fertiizer next spring,
and if you can afford it then subsoil this back end,
guaranteed results

just do it

Jimini

What's the soil like under the rushes? How far down to sub soil?

just do it

hugo29 wrote: »

CUT THE ****E OUT OF THEM TO THE CLAY in about 4-5 weeks,
if they start to grow this back end then spray again, otherwise spray in spring , check your soil and apply necessary fertiizer next spring,
and if you can afford it then subsoil this back end,
guaranteed results

When you cut them 4-5 weeks after spraying do they disintegrate?

jimini0

just do it wrote: »

Jimini

What's the soil like under the rushes? How far down to sub soil?

In one field about 2_3 acres its boggy ground. I have redone the old drains and dug a couple of smaller ones leading into them.
The soil in the other fields is pretty good a good covering of topsoil. Very good drainage as there is a wide drain all along one side that seperates us from neighbours. We used to cut silage in these fields years ago but they have been neglected the last 10 years.

just do it

jimini0 wrote: »

In one field about 2_3 acres its boggy ground. I have redone the old drains and dug a couple of smaller ones leading into them.
The soil in the other fields is pretty good a good covering of topsoil. Very good drainage as there is a wide drain all along one side that seperates us from neighbours. We used to cut silage in these fields years ago but they have been neglected the last 10 years.

Sounds like getting rid of the rushes and sympathetic grazing will see you right;) Consider overseeding in the early spring when the ground left behind by the rushes is open.

hugo29

just do it wrote: »

When you cut them 4-5 weeks after spraying do they disintegrate?

I topped them in march to the clay when they wer light and let them rot,
Then subsoiled, fertilised and sprayed the re growth, then cut silage and slurry and sprayed again, you would need to see the results to believe it,

jimini0

Well folks I'm back with an update.......
My fields are very wet. My diy draining last year didn't work as I hoped. I didn't factor in the sea taking away a bridge in the locality. My drains lead into a canal that used to run freely under the bridge. But everything is backed up now. Will have to get in a professional to dig more. Money is tight but I'll do it in stages.
The rushes died nicely but could not get in to top them. Will have to spray again and then top when things dry up. Then hope for a very dry summer

just do it

I've 2 acres under sea water as well if that's any consolation. Is the bridge the council's responsibility?

jimini0

Ya its the council and some other government body. Opw or parks and wildlife.
Hopefully they will clear the rubble out of the way soon so more water can get out.
Have you any way of getting rid of your sea water?

moy83

just do it wrote: »

I've 2 acres under sea water as well if that's any consolation. Is the bridge the council's responsibility?

Does sea water do the same damage as fresh water when it floods ? I was wondering this the last day , like would the sea leave any minerals in the land of any benefit ?

just do it

There's an outlet that needs to be fixed up. Damaged a few weeks but no point fixing it properly till the weather settles. Area that's flooded is never too dry anyway.

Not much grass grows there on an annual basis but the one thing is cattle wander back there each day. I reckon they like the salt/ minerals.

ABlur

jimini0 wrote: »

Well folks I'm back with an update.......
My fields are very wet. My diy draining last year didn't work as I hoped.

Don't forget we've had double the normal amount of rain in the west this winter so dont make hasty decisions based on what you see now, wait until late spring at least. This time last year I had a limespreader on my heavy land, this year I'd need a helicopter to spread it!

Conmaicne Mara

moy83 wrote: »

Does sea water do the same damage as fresh water when it floods ? I was wondering this the last day , like would the sea leave any minerals in the land of any benefit ?

Seaweed would be the most beneficial thing it'd leave.

Otherwise awful damage, throw up rocks from the shore, knock fences, knock and spread walls, sheds, even take the land itself down to the bedrock if it wants it.

jimini0

ABlur wrote: »

jimini0 wrote: »

Well folks I'm back with an update.......
My fields are very wet. My diy draining last year didn't work as I hoped.

Don't forget we've had double the normal amount of rain in the west this winter so dont make hasty decisions based on what you see now, wait until late spring at least. This time last year I had a limespreader on my heavy land, this year I'd need a helicopter to spread it!

A lot of the land is along and below the road so water just pours off the road and into drains but most of these drains have not been touched in a very very long time. The hedges have sprouted into them and generally just blocked up.
I can't do anything about the sea water until the council do something with the bridge but I can do the something with the rain water coming off the road.