using 60-70 acres of land properly

Icyseanfitz

hi lads, first time posting here. My family has a little dry cattle farm going at the moment, around 30 animals. We have only been at it around 5 years so no real income to speak of yet from it as we have been building up equipment/sheds........and mostly knowledge :pac:

We only use about half our land for grazing and then bring the cattle in for the winter. the other half is used for silage mostly and thats it.
I am currently looking at how i can make an income from the land as hours in work are cutting back. Simply getting more animals isnt really an option as our slatted unit will be maxed at about 40. Are there other ways to make reliable money off of the land? i am open minded to anything really.

anthony500_1

Welcome to the site

A lot depends on land type, dry, wet etc could you buy calf's and out winter them the first year, sell them say in march at 12mts when there is demand for grass cattle could be a way of turning a few pound , sheep could be a great option for you, leave them out majority of winter only needing shed space at lambing, every farm is different so you will have to Tailor to suit your own situation

The part time boy

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

I am currently looking at how i can make an income from the land as hours in work are cutting back.

I hope I don't sound to pessimist here but ....

Are you looking to go full time farming . Or are your hours only cut back a small and looking for small top up

You be hard pressed to make a full time wage from 65 acres of dry cattle of sheep .

Cows done well probably only option if you need desent wage from farming . The big downside to this is the crazy investment it will take.

How if your only looking for a top up to your wages you have a few options

farisfat

Rent out the land and collect your 20 grand a year.....thats if land rental prices are the same as around here, which is madness.

Icyseanfitz

thanks for all the replies lads, tbh i just love working on the farm and with the animals, if i could turn that into a livelihood somehow its what i would do (as unlikely as that will ever be). Unfortunately i dont have the money or land to do a milking setup so thats out of the question for me. I wouldnt mind buying in a few calves, wintering them out and selling them on but what quantity would you be looking at buying to make any bit of reasonable money, and also quality? buy cheap at quantity or dear with less.

The land itself is decent land,limestone, dry for the most part, we have reseeded 1/3 of it but the rest has good grass growth too. I was looking at sheep but ive not an idea about them so id be hesitant.

if i could make a yearly income of 20k to 30k of the land id be happy as a pig in s***,

farmers markets with fruit, veg, chickens etc. any good?

cute geoge

If you are that interested in farming plenty of part time jobs with contractors and dairy farmers available .Slave labour i know but the hands on experience will wise you up to make a go of the land you have got

Dunedin

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Unfortunately i dont have the money or land to do a milking setup so thats out of the question for me.

if i could make a yearly income of 20k to 30k of the land id be happy as a pig in s***,

?

Well if it's not milk then you'll do very well to make that kind of money in total over 5 - 7 years, never mind one year.

Sorry to dent your enthusiasm but given you are only starting out and assuming that you have no single payment, or any other subsidy, I would say you will do well to break even

Icyseanfitz

ah we are at it around 5-6 years now (not a long time i know), we are breaking even on yearly expenses, I am just trying to figure out how make some bit of a profit from it. Im not naive enough to think it will ever be my only income as nice as that would be.

Whats the best way of finding contract work or dairy work on a farm?

Water John

Farm Relief Service (FRS).
Go and volunteer for a little while milking cows with someone to get to know the ropes of it.
Pick up a bit of money doing it at weekends.

The part time boy

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

farmers markets with fruit, veg, chickens etc. any good?

I no experience in the above but that might be better option than cattle to make 20 k . There would be a lot of work in it though

Water John

Depending on where you are, there is a big increase in healthy eating out.
This has increased the market for salad leaves. Worth checking out. It won't use the acres you have

arctictree

Do you have any payments at all?