need help starting with income producing animals

hisenthlay · #21 03/20/07, 03:52 PM

Ok, I can't really answer your question, but I thought of another question that might help other people help you.

How much money do you have to get this whole operation started? Seems to me that that will play a big part. Maybe beef cows (or whatever--fill in the blank) will make money the fastest, but if you don't have the cash for the initial capital outlay on cow/calves, fencing, vet bills (or whatever), then that doesn't help you at all. If there's no start-up cash, seems like only Uncle Will's suggestion will work.

lonelyfarmgirl · #22 03/20/07, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocM

It takes money to make money. Nobody makes money the first year. Or the second. .

sorry, I dont buy this for a second.

500$ a month rent, yes there is a house.

yes there is some start up money, yes I know about loss taxes.

the veggrower 'short course' thread as you call it was started by me, so Ive read it all.

again, long term things like cow/calf operations and such will be put into place, but I need to come up with a way to pay the rent now, as in steady cash flow by fall.

poultry I figured would be my best bet, with farmers market in second place, just was fishing for something I was maybe missing.

having seniority and exposure at farmers market is/will be taken care of.

marijuana? come on now. people here know Ive got a kid. not that dumb.

and the place is already fenced, with barn.

brreitsma · #23 03/20/07, 08:50 PM

Lamb can be very profitable if you have a large jewish or muslim population close by. Lamb can bring 2x or better what beef can. I would have some one kill it though. A jew or muslim so you could market it as being killed in a way that makes the meat acceptable to eat by the given group.

silvergirl · #24 03/20/07, 08:55 PM

I am in the process of reading a very inspirational little book with lots of ideas for the micro farmer - Micro Eco-Farming by Barbara Berst Adams... She presents lots of examples of folks with small farms - anywhere from a rooftop city garden to ten or fifteen acres - that have made a profitable life for themselves from their own land. Tons of ideas... almost too many lists and examples of money-making crops, profitable farm animal ventures, combinations of crop and marketing ideas... I haven't finished the book yet, but I am hoping she gets a little more concrete in the next few chapters. Overall, I have found it very exciting and satisfying to hear so many success stories! For that alone, it's been worthwhile. And I think I have an even better idea of where to go with my own ten acres...
silvergirl

jerzeygurl · #25 03/20/07, 09:47 PM

dairy animals are good for feeding out milk fed hogs

also people always in the market for family milker, raise and train them

lonelyfarmgirl · #26 03/21/07, 05:55 AM

thanks everyone for the suggestions, and those who have offered off forum advice, I will check out the book. thanks

chicamarun · #27 03/21/07, 06:31 AM

Another thought came to me...

Sheep - we've had them since we got here (almost 2 years ago) and this year is the 1st year they may actually pay for their cost.

Feeder Angus - we made our money back plus a decent amount extra off 2 steers. Arrived on the farm in March/April last year - off the farm late November (only because we couldn't get an earlier processing date). These really helped us earn the money we needed for the winter and additional stuff we had to buy to fix up the place.

Chickens - Free range eggs are our main $$ maker... hands down... we get $3.50/dozen and get a good 6-8 dozen right now a day from our birds with more birds being added. We use 1 50# bag of feed at a cost of $8.99/bag every day.

We did broilers early winter - and it was too much - we lost money because of the loss of birds - our fault and won't do again. But I expect them to make us some decent money once it's set up an rolling - can't guarantee it yet but it looks good.

We are adding hogs this spring also (in 2 weeks). I think they have good potential to make us some money in the long run - we just have to work it out and time it right in some areas (4-H pigs etc). Again - it's a shorter time frame and we are having them root up pastures we want rooted up to clear out some of the extra weeds - last year my son's 4-H pigs did a number on one of our pens and the grass is awesome out there now

Our vegetables do great - we sell out almost every week and with the addition of an extra market this season we should sell out.

My main thing is that I do not have to have to pay out the nose for feed.... so I plan accordingly for that - our steers and sheep are grass fed - no additional feed except a handful here or there to get them where we want them. The chickens are the only thing we need to feed and since they pay for it - they can stay

moopups · #28 03/21/07, 06:47 AM

Plant flowers, the ones the public come and cut themselves, averaging about $3.00 per 10 flowers, about 45 days after planting.

I don't know if this was mentioned above, I am short of time this morning and did not wade through the above words.

CountryHaven · #29 03/21/07, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelyfarmgirl

If this all pans out (I will know within a month), I will have a window of maybe 3 months, then I need to be bringing in something. at the bare minimum enough to pay the rent.

That section of your post would scare the crap out of me. If in three months time you aren't going to be able to pay the rent without income from the property you are cutting yourself WAY to close. It's one thing to do things on a shoestring budget, but if you have to make a profit right away to provide for you basic needs like not being evicted, and loosing your entire investment because you're going to be foreclosed on you need to step back, save for a little while longer until you have more secruity. No matter what you choose, and it's potential for quick turn-around -- ----- happens. Animal or vegetable, farming is almost always one step away from hazzardous ruin. It seems like feast or famine many times. That's the real hazzard here, which one will it be in three months? You have to have enough money to tide you over if a crop fails, or if livestock falls ill and you loose a season. You have to be able to pay the rent and feed yourself when times are bad. I hate to be a downer. It can be a great life, but not if you're so stressed out because of loosing pennies that you get ulcers... and definately not if you're in danger of loosing your home because of it.

fantasymaker · #30 03/21/07, 07:57 AM

I agree this is cutting it close.

PET Vacation boarding The timing is right its a somewhat seasonal thing. Go to the big cities near you and visit the groomers . Ask to put up a flyer explaining your "Pet Dude RancH" have pictures and be sure to state something like limited to 3 pets at a time. Charge AT LEAST $15 a day (lots of groomers get $30) tell them you can pick up and return pets left 2 weeks or more (set time related to distance from you)and that they are welcome to drop off and pickup in person if they want to . (some might want to drop off to see the place)
Explain confidentaily to the groomers that its a family atmosphere and the dogs will be sleeping in your home.
A lot of groomers do this in their own homes so dont be suprized if they are not real excited about it but be clear that you would like to help with any "over Flow' they might have. Many groomers will have offers for 20 to 40 dogs a day during the peak vacation season and thats too much for anybody. post the flyer at your farm market stand Be sure to ask how the dog gets along with others.

lonelyfarmgirl · #31 03/21/07, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryHaven

It's one thing to do things on a shoestring budget, but if you have to make a profit right away to provide for you basic needs like not being evicted, and loosing your entire investment because you're going to be foreclosed on you need to step back, save for a little while longer until you have more secruity.

for one, I said it was a rental.
for two, if everyone in this country could step back, and save a little while longer, no one would be poor or out of luck.

I never said I had 3 months to eviction. I never said in three months I will be out of money. I dont even live there yet, but if I am doing some farm income something, and at three months I havent made a dime, but am still shelling out money, there is something wrong with me.
Having a regular job is right away profit to provide for basic needs, which is how 3/4 of the country lives everyday. I just cant have a regular job, so I need to choose something else.

I am well aware of risks, and maybes involved. that is not the point. I want to hear experiences on investment, turn around time, and earned money.

the pet vacation thing is an interesting idea, except that I would never let strange dogs sleep in my home. That would put my kids and my own animals at risk I think.

fantasymaker · #32 03/21/07, 08:50 AM

Their own room?

fishhead · #33 03/21/07, 08:51 AM

It all depends on the market. I would first find out what people want and then find what from the list you want to do/raise.

I would also try to secure a plan B as in an outside job because what your are attempting is farming and that's a game of averages. In 10 years you might have a reasonable average but one year it's nothing and the next one is great.

I wish you luck!

lonelyfarmgirl · #34 03/21/07, 07:55 PM

yeah, the market is the easy part. a city of 5 million, virtually untouched by csa's. there are a few organic groceries, and less than 20 farm markets.
One raw milk dairy in the whole state. no csa's in the city at all. a few deliver in from way out.
very culturally diverse population.

I think, if this opportunity presents itself, I will start with horse boarding and farmers market for vegetables, and some turkeys for thanksgiving selling.
these for immediate money.

for longer term money, I believe I will start a laying flock, to be laying mid fall for year round production, and start plans to have range beef next year, and maybe lambs too.
plus plant berry bushes, and start an orchard.

thanks all.

terri46355 · #35 03/23/07, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle Will in In.

I'd cash rent it to a local farmer for around $150 per acre, and collect half the rent the first of April, and the second half the first of November. Fastest turnover with the least investment I know of. Works for me.

I sure wish we could get that much rent for our pasture! We get $600 per year for 27 acres of pasture (with ponds) and are happy that it covers our property taxes.

DalRaidan · #36 03/23/07, 12:53 PM

What city of 5 million? Indy has 750,000 people and it is incorporated.
Or are you speaking of Chicago? Anyways, some of the specialty herbs sold in metaphysical stores go for a premium. Dried or fresh and they can be sold over the internet. Wreathes made frome these can be sold for $40 or more for small ones.

Jason

QUOTE=lonelyfarmgirl]yeah, the market is the easy part. a city of 5 million, virtually untouched by csa's. there are a few organic groceries, and less than 20 farm markets.
One raw milk dairy in the whole state. no csa's in the city at all. a few deliver in from way out.
very culturally diverse population.

I think, if this opportunity presents itself, I will start with horse boarding and farmers market for vegetables, and some turkeys for thanksgiving selling.
these for immediate money.

for longer term money, I believe I will start a laying flock, to be laying mid fall for year round production, and start plans to have range beef next year, and maybe lambs too.
plus plant berry bushes, and start an orchard.

thanks all.[/QUOTE]

Spinner · #37 03/23/07, 01:59 PM

A "pick your own" farm?

I once stopped to get some blueberries and they had a set up where you take a basket or box and go out and pick your own blueberries. I talked to the owner a bit and was amazed at how much money they made. They said people will pick things you would never try to sell. When baskets were brought back to be weighted they would have cute sticks, pretty rocks, and lots of dirt in them. It would have been much cheaper for the people to buy the berries picked and cleaned, but they liked the idea of picking their own and it paid off well.

Maybe do a project where a city dweller could purchase a chicken, duck, goat, etc. and you would raise it for them. You could charge them a monthly fee for your labor to raise it to butchering weight. Then you could charge a fee for delivering it to the butcher where they would pick it up. This would have a risk of the animal getting hurt or dying so there would be some details to work out.

You might try growing several things such as strawberries, fruit trees, blueberries, blackberries, maybe some veggies and a salad garden. Depending on your location, you would probably have people flocking to the garden to pick fresh veggies along with rocks, sticks and soil.

Do some classes where people come out to learn how to plant, weed, and care for a garden and various animals. You get paid to teach them, and as a bonus you are getting a lot of work completed.

You could plant some "cut your own" Christmas trees for winter income. Not to many, maybe 5 acres of them, if you have special grown trees it will keep the price higher due to the ratio of supply & demand. You would have to train the trees to grow into the proper "Christmas Tree" shape so they would be highly desirable. Also wreaths made from evergreen trees that don't have the proper shape for a Christmas Tree.

I would try to incorporate several different types of income that change with the seasons.

lonelyfarmgirl · #38 03/23/07, 02:25 PM

Ok, I overestimated a bit. what I meant was the metro area. One can drive from the west side of danville, clear thru to greenfield and never be 'out' of the city. and from top to bottom, one can drive from the north side of westfield, clear to franklin, and never be 'out' of the city.

I double checked, and the population is actually just shy of 2 million for Marion County and the seven counties that make up the continuous metro area, and that doesn't count all the stubborn people like me who refuse to fill out a census form, and all the illegal hispanics, and good lord there are thousands.

plus there is the bloomington market in the opposite direction, and who knows what the rotating population is there.

2 million plus is still an enormous market none the less.

Mel- · #39 03/23/07, 09:25 PM

I was wondering about your 5 million number since the entire state of indiana only has about 6.6 million

bloomingtons population used to be about 65k AFTER you took out the student population. doubt if they will be in your target market.

you might talk to Jena. she was about 100 miles west of indy and in some ways was doing what you are thinking of (though I think she had twice the acreage). sold pastured chicken, beef, etc.

lonelyfarmgirl · #40 03/24/07, 07:20 AM

the lady that I am..excuse me..might be working with is already established in the bloomington market. she says the weird stuff is what goes big there. I mean non traditional items, such as duck eggs, weird salad greens, etc..

she used to do indy, but got tired of driving there and bloomington every week, so at some point she decided to just stick with bloomington.

I would be more focused on indy, personally, because I know the area, and the market. Ive only lived here most of my life.

maybe I will talk to Jena. if she WAS doing it, I wonder why she now doesn't?