[JaredWoodcock]

This is the small bcs implement that has inspired me to try to make a horse drawn version. it is probably easier to use a small perfecta type thing but I still think it is a cool idea.

Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

I dont want to do the 3 point hitch. I was picturing something that looks just like the harrow on pg 72 of small farmers journal vol 38 no 3. In the process of this post I found a small 2 wheel version that is pulled by a 4 wheeler that might work even better. I had heard a while back that someone had bought a “very expensive vineyard harrow” at the small farmers journal auction and I was hoping that he was on this forum and could show it in action. I know that might be a stretch but maybe somebody knows somebody……

Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

I have done firewood in the past but I never hired a processor, thats a good idea, I still would like to find some creative markets for small volume sawlogs (but I guess so would everyone else)

Thanks

[JaredWoodcock]

Thanks Carl, I am more in the back of the envelope planning stage. I am a third generation “living on a little less than less” so I can relate to your definition of profit. My father managed our 60 acre wood lot and I learned to fell trees, limb them, and buck them up when I was about 5 years old. I started with a top handle trim saw (after graduating the axe) because that was the smallest saw my father had. Not saying I know it all but I am comfortable running a saw and I have some game of logging training. My knowledge of selling logs is minimum. I have a good relationship with my local saw mill, and we have 2 log yards close by plus a pallet mill about a half an hour away, but that is as far as I have gone for marketing research.
I like the idea of managing land owners small wood lots. Our farm and family have a good reputation in our community so I think I wouldn’t have a hard time marketing myself to landowners. I have a long way to go before I get to that point but I need to make it work on paper before I bite off another business on top of the farm.
We had to move from the farm we were leasing this spring because the landowner fell off… After the move I sold my horse to a friend that has a market garden because we had to scale down, now that we are settled I miss having horses around and I am basically just trying to justify a new horse or team…. I keep getting reminded that it is a bad idea but my wife is ok with me spending money on mountain bikes and rock climbing equipment, haha

Is anyone else doing any creative draft logging marketing?

Thanks again
Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

Thanks Billy that sounds easy enough.

Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

Is there a haybine/guard combo that can be used on a JD no4 big?

Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

I have a lot of grass and a small herd so having the extra head will help me graze it a bit better. I was hoping to take as many as a I can for a month and have him pick up a few when the grass slows, but we will see what he is looking for.

It looks like $1 per head per day seems reasonable.

Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

We have a huge range of feed costs depending on the pasture and the rotations, I raised a couple nice batches of tamworths from Matt Whalen in Tunbridge and on prime pasture with 1-3 day rotations plus some field peas and pumpkins we averaged about 500 lbs of feed per pig with a hanging weight of 160-210 in 7 months. The last batch I raised that were not bred as well and were foraging in the forest with weekly moves through about 5 acres ate about 1000-1200 lbs of feed with weak results 130-180 lb hanging in 9-10 months. We feed measured rations twice daily, no gravity feeders. The extra work put into mob grazing and planting forages is worth it, and well bred pigs go a long way too…

We feed a local grain that runs about 30 cents a pound, organic is a little over twice that, and we charge around 5 -10 percent less than sugar mountain, our prices are about the same as Jericho settlers farms prices on the website, I think they are the 2011 prices though. We charge $3.50 /lb hanging weight which does not include any butchering cost. Basic sausage is $8/lb, bacon $13.50/lb and cuts are everywhere between. Our butcher costs are 85 cents/lb, $45 kill fee, $15 box fee, $20 label fee, in the end pigs are not great profit.

Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

Ive worked with SVO and biodiesel for 15 years now and I agree with Andy, but using homemade equipment and used fryer grease has worked great for me on a small scale.

As for the hay I still think loose hay is the answer to all of this!!! As farmers we have more muscle than money.

 

Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

I am very interested Jim, do you have any pictures you could send me? I will give you a call tomorrow to talk it over.

 

Thanks

Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

Im still looking for a harness,

 

Jared

 

[JaredWoodcock]

I am trying to get out for the farm hack, should I rsvp now even if I might not be able to make it?

And do you need me to bring any tools?

 

Jared

[JaredWoodcock]

Thanks I always use notebooks too but now Im realizing that I have so much data that I would like to keep track of and be able to move around for my different parts of the business that a computer would make things a lot easier. I will still have notebooks but now Im hoping I can manipulate the info.

 

thanks for the info everybody

 

Jared

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