What to do with 30 acres?

snoozin boozin

Looking for suggestions as to what to do with 30 acres of land that is going to be passed on to me. I currently work full time in a business that is not agricultural releated and my agri knoweldge would be limited. However I do have some interest in it and would like to make a go of it. My question is what is the best approach to take with the 30 acres to make the farm as profitable as possible. The land is based in the west so think a few small fields with at least 7 acres with stone near the surface which may not be possible to plough. Also rushes are an issue with another 5 acres. All suggestions welcome.

mikeoh

A dozen store bullocks.....count then once a day and learn as u go....u won't get rich but the won't break u either

on the river

snoozin boozin wrote: »

Looking for suggestions as to what to do with 30 acres of land that is going to be passed on to me. I currently work full time in a business that is not agricultural releated and my agri knoweldge would be limited. However I do have some interest in it and would like to make a go of it. My question is what is the best approach to take with the 30 acres to make the farm as profitable as possible. The land is based in the west so think a few small fields with at least 7 acres with stone near the surface which may not be possible to plough. Also rushes are an issue with another 5 acres. All suggestions welcome.

Start with what you have and build on it.
A good 165 massey would be ideal for your farm.
Maybe buy in heifers and sell them on to factory after a few months.
Or sheep either

You could also lease out your meadow for summer or bale it your self and sell it.

Do what suits you and the time you have.

Good luck

_Brian

snoozin boozin wrote: »

Looking for suggestions as to what to do with 30 acres of land that is going to be passed on to me. I currently work full time in a business that is not agricultural releated and my agri knoweldge would be limited. However I do have some interest in it and would like to make a go of it. My question is what is the best approach to take with the 30 acres to make the farm as profitable as possible. The land is based in the west so think a few small fields with at least 7 acres with stone near the surface which may not be possible to plough. Also rushes are an issue with another 5 acres. All suggestions welcome.

I'm really not being smart but find a good tenant and get them onto a 5 year lease.

Round here some lads include a free portion on the first lease in exchange for works - drainage, reseeding, spraying or whatever is needed..

With the abizmal returns in every aspect of farming except dairy there is little else that makes sense. Even lads with substantial farming experience are barely making a profit !

snoozin boozin

If i was to consider reseeding some of the land how much roughly would it cost per acre.

ellewood

snoozin boozin wrote: »

If i was to consider reseeding some of the land how much roughly would it cost per acre.

300 bucks all in

freedominacup

snoozin boozin wrote: »

If i was to consider reseeding some of the land how much roughly would it cost per acre.

He's already hooked lads, we may as well forget trying to talk sense to him. Between 250&300 euro per acre depending on fert and lime requirements.

Mr_Red

I know nothing about farming but i will make a suggestion

As said above, why not lease it for 5 years and learn how to work the land from the person you lease it to. that way you will be ready to at least start on your own later with experience.


* im a Dub working in IT so i dont know how farming works*

kboc

I moved away from home (up to the wifes part of the world) and bought 20 odd acres fully intending to continue farming. Recently I have been sucked into the management side of things at work, which I enjoy and takes up alot of time, and it would cost alot of money to build sheds etc on the land I own.

I rent the ground out to dairy farmers who look after it better than I would, I put my hand out in the first week in November and lift more money than I would get with sheep or cattle.

I have a huge gra for farming but I am not breaking my heat and body with the hardships that farmers currently face.

Rent it out, but the key is find god men to rent it to.

Only my opinion.

Capercaille

Have previously rented out my land (25 acres). The tenant overgrazed, did not maintain fences and from the soil sample I took he didn't fertilse properly. Manage it myself now and eventhough it is more work (especially since I live a good distance away) I am happier with the situation now.

snoozin boozin

I would rather try make a go of it first myself then rent it out but if all else fails after a few years at least there is always that option.

sheebadog

Sell and move on. 30 acres ain't going to make you.

sheebadog

sheebadog wrote: »

Sell and move on. 30 acres ain't going to make you.

Excuses for being a bit glib.

on the river

Capercaille wrote: »

Have previously rented out my land (25 acres). The tenant overgrazed, did not maintain fences and from the soil sample I took he didn't fertilse properly. Manage it myself now and eventhough it is more work (especially since I live a good distance away) I am happier with the situation now.

I agree. Have a go yourself. A lot of tenants abuse the rented areas which would leave the owner with a lot of hassle and legal cost

Muckit

sheebadog wrote: »

Sell and move on. 30 acres ain't going to make you.

Great therapy in 30 acres. Anything over 60 and you are into the 'hardship' category.

Oldtree

Plant trees:

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantandpremiumschemes/

I plant my own with a view to wood for the house on a 10 year rotation, no grants. Leasing was a pain in the neck, with no respect for the place.

on the river

Oldtree wrote: »

Plant trees:

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantandpremiumschemes/

I plant my own with a view to wood for the house on a 10 year rotation, no grants. Leasing was a pain in the neck, with no respect for the place.

But what if the tree company goes out of business and the trees go into disrepair.
My advice would be avoid this course of action as it will bring hardship for the present and future owner especially if the land is of good quality.

eorna

Do it the other way around..Have a go yourself, if it works you can rent more ground and expand if it doesnt rent or sell or whatever you want

Oldtree

on the river wrote: »

But what if the tree company goes out of business and the trees go into disrepair.
My advice would be avoid this course of action as it will bring hardship for the present and future owner especially if the land is of good quality.

I would suggest that if you go for a grant, then go for one of the larger tree planting companies with a proven record. Trees can give a good medium range return on lands, especially for a holding of a non viable nature for farming that the owner does not intend to farm. He/she will then be able to enjoy the fruits of his labour rather than worrying about someone destroying the place, as they tried to do in my case.

Perhaps you would like to take the time to have a read about Greenbelt who have been around for a while and they will put you concerns to rest.

http://www.greenbelt.ie/

I am really enjoying the fruits of my labour.

frazzledhome

Oldtree wrote: »

Plant trees:

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantandpremiumschemes/

I plant my own with a view to wood for the house on a 10 year rotation, no grants. Leasing was a pain in the neck, with no respect for the place.

Do not plant trees! The one sure way to devalue your land.

drdidlittle

If you were to go yourself how about herd numbers etc. Do they come with the land or would you have to apply for them?

Oldtree

frazzledhome wrote: »

Do not plant trees! The one sure way to devalue your land.

Greenbelt would disagree with that specific viewpoint:

http://www.greenbelt.ie/investments/why-forestry.html

Oldtree

drdidlittle wrote: »

If you were to go yourself how about herd numbers etc. Do they come with the land or would you have to apply for them?

You would have to apply yourself:

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/animalwelfare/registrationofpremisesanimals/

on the river

frazzledhome wrote: »

Do not plant trees! The one sure way to devalue your land.

I agree. A lot of hardship and cost will follow if you went back to grazing after cutting trees

snoozin boozin

In my opinion the land is of good enough quality so planting trees on it seems like a waste to me. What options are availble besides ploughing for resseding espically if there is rock near the surface

on the river

snoozin boozin wrote: »

In my opinion the land is of good enough quality so planting trees on it seems like a waste to me. What options are availble besides ploughing for resseding espically if there is rock near the surface

Fertilse and graze would be my advice

Galvium Irredentum

I inherited 25 acres (fair land) in Galway in 2010 - you won't make money from it; be happy if you cover yourself and look on things as a hobby. You might think I'm crazy (I am a bit); but since recently getting into beekeeping I'm becoming more disillusioned with so-called modern practices of farming and how sustainable they really are (they're not). I won't offer you any prescriptions - I'd just say you've only one life; you won't make money on 30 acres, but could you do a little bit of good in the way you manage it? Or don't abuse it at least.

frazzledhome

Oldtree wrote: »

Greenbelt would disagree with that specific viewpoint:

http://www.greenbelt.ie/investments/why-forestry.html

What else would they say?

Forestry 29 yo premium ended. Thinned 2 times, small income from thinning. 10 yrs to clear fell

Land value 4-5k timber zero. Only way to get full value is to clear fell and then sell land. It's something I'll never do again

Oldtree

frazzledhome wrote: »

What else would they say?

Forestry 29 yo premium ended. Thinned 2 times, small income from thinning. 10 yrs to clear fell

Land value 4-5k timber zero. Only way to get full value is to clear fell and then sell land. It's something I'll never do again

so you are suggesting that grazing or leasing out 30 acres of land with rock near the surface will be profitable?

moy83

Oldtree wrote: »

so you are suggesting that grazing or leasing out 30 acres of land with rock near the surface will be profitable?

Will you get grants/premium to plant land with rock near the surface now anyhow ?

Oldtree

It is an option at least worth exploring. However I did not go for a grant and do my own planting of willow/poplar/sycamore/ash. I am also planting an orchard (of my own apple grafts, rasberrys, etc) and hope to put in a few hives when it is all established.

Figerty

Oldtree wrote: »

Greenbelt would disagree with that specific viewpoint:

http://www.greenbelt.ie/investments/why-forestry.html

Land value does not go up. The value of the commodity growing on the land goes up.

Greenbelt would, naturally, put their best foot forward. I'd call it spin.

on the river

Seriously Oldtree you would think you worked for greenbelt in the way your expressing yourself.

Oldtree

I don't work for greenbelt, I simply have a different opinion to you.

frazzledhome

Oldtree wrote: »

so you are suggesting that grazing or leasing out 30 acres of land with rock near the surface will be profitable?

No I'm not, all I'm saying is that planting is a great way to devalue land and this is my experience.

Cork boy 55

Plant a Spanish Chestnut orchard

keep going

frazzledhome wrote: »

Do not plant trees! The one sure way to devalue your land.

This is so true, if you are reading about a farm thats for sale and it says that even a part of it is planted it gives the impression of poor land

tabby aspreme

Before you reseed get the p , k, and lime levels sorted first , this will increase your grass output considerably , if some of the land is rushy you could plant it with the likes of alder and get firewood for your house

have2flushtwice

Have u worked out your revenue bill yet?

snoozin boozin

I dont expect to make a living off the land and would see it as a hobbie but id also like for it to be as efficent as possible with what i have

Username John

Are you living on the farm now? Or how far are you?

What agri interests do you have - cattle? sheep? Growing veg?

snoozin boozin

I will be moving home in the near future and intend to live near the land if possible. Cattle is what i have most experience of but would be open the veg route also. Is the veg route viasble tho and would u need a steady buyer like a hotel/pub restaurant to make it work

Username John

Forgot to ask what age you were - but really the question is "are you over 40?"

snoozin boozin

Username John wrote: »

Forgot to ask what age you were - but really the question is "are you over 40

i am in my late 20's

Username John

snoozin boozin wrote: »

In my late 20's

The reason I asked about the over 40 bit, was there is a tax exemption when leasing farmland if yer over 40.
But this isn't applicable for you.

snoozin boozin wrote: »

Looking for suggestions as to what to do with 30 acres of land that is going to be passed on to me. I currently work full time in a business that is not agricultural releated and my agri knoweldge would be limited. However I do have some interest in it and would like to make a go of it. My question is what is the best approach to take with the 30 acres to make the farm as profitable as possible. The land is based in the west so think a few small fields with at least 7 acres with stone near the surface which may not be possible to plough. Also rushes are an issue with another 5 acres. All suggestions welcome.

I think these two statements contradict themselves.
You would make the most profit by letting it out - but I don't know if this is what you'd call "making a go of it"

snoozin boozin wrote: »

I will be moving home in the near future and intend to live near the land if possible. Cattle is what i have most experience of but would be open the veg route also. Is the veg route viasble tho and would u need a steady buyer like a hotel/pub restaurant to make it work

Why I asked the veg route is (and this is a bit sickening to say) the most the farm can offer you is a lifestyle improvement.
30 acres wont generate that much cash (even if you did let it all, it would be 3000 - 5000 / year)
I'm not knocking an extra 3000 / year, but I am saying that in monetary terms, it wont change your life.

You say you intend to live near the land. I think if you dont plan to live on the land at some point, then it detracts from any lifestyle improvements

If so - maybe it would be better to let it for now, rent out the 30 acres to a good farmer.
If your circumstances change, and you find yourself moving onto the land, then you could look to take some of it back and farm it in a small holding sense (think big veg garden, hens, maybe pigs - producing your own, rather than producing for factories)

That's my view, based on my own experiences.

Best of luck with it anyways, whatever you decide to do.

Cork boy 55

Tourism

Turn it into a beautiful nature reserve, put in a trail and charge people to enter.

.50 cent per person 30 a day gets 109,200 euros in 20 years

893bet

Cork boy 55 wrote: »

Tourism

Turn it into a beautiful nature reserve, put in a trail and charge people to enter.

.50 cent per person 30 a day gets 109,200 euros in 20 years

Not even sure if serious?

Capercaille

893bet wrote: »

Not even sure if serious?

I'm doing basically that. Have 25 acres and managing for Corncrakes. I get a grant from NPWS. Don't cut silage till mid-September and a bit of aftermath grazing 0.3 LSU/Hectare. Put in a few nettle/iris/umbellifer bed. Earn a very small profit, but the land is looked after and I get the satisfaction to listening to Corncrake on the farm.

Username John

Cork boy 55 wrote: »

Tourism

Turn it into a beautiful nature reserve, put in a trail and charge people to enter.

.50 cent per person 30 a day gets 109,200 euros in 20 years

Can you expand on the investment required to do this?
And what about the logistics - would someone not need to be there all the time?

Not sure how feasible this idea is really? Am willing to be proven wrong tho

Capercaille wrote: »

I'm doing basically that. Have 25 acres and managing for Corncrakes. I get a grant from NPWS. Don't cut silage till mid-September and a bit of aftermath grazing 0.3 LSU/Hectare. Put in a few nettle/iris/umbellifer bed. Earn a very small profit, but the land is looked after and I get the satisfaction to listening to Corncrake on the farm.

But if the OP isn't in a location where they can avail of the corncrake scheme, or similar, then what do they do?