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 | larryv
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 12 Rochester, NY 
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2003-08-10 61453
Folks,
I have just purchased a new place (21 acres) in upstate NY to move my growing family to. I have a FT job, but grew up on a "gentleman's" farm (chickens, goats, pigs, sheep, horses etc.) I have a 5 acre fenced field, and will soon be putting up a barn. My question is what to "farm" and I use the term loosely to generate some $$ to offset my toy purchases. So what generates the best $$/acre? I could go the pumpkin patch route, but over the weekend was thinking about sheep / Llamas for wool, but don't know the economics there of. Any suggestions on what generates the best returns?
Thanks in advance.
Larry
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 | harvey
Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 1550 Moravia, NY 
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2003-08-10 61454
Yes there is one good cash crop that has tremendous returns up here.
Several people try it every year. The lucky ones get to harvest it.
The unlucky ones get arrested.
Need I go farther.
BTW I am not a supporter of that crop. ....
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| larryv
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 12 Rochester, NY
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2003-08-10 61456
Not quite the model I want to set for my impressionable munchkins Harvey! Don't question the absolute returns, just the risk adjusted ones might not be that great! ;^) ....
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| harvey
Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 1550 Moravia, NY
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2003-08-10 61461
You are most correct Larry. I probably should not have posted that BUT it is a fact.
I have trouble grasping the concept of these people that do it knowing the areial survalance that is used to detect it. But they do it every year.
Anyway you asked a good question. I would say look at Organics check your market. There is a lot involved in order to use the term organic. But the return is there if you can stand the fussing with it.
If you wanna deal with them long haired things my neighbor does Lamas, sheeps, anything that grows long hair for spinning. She does all of her own wool and farms out a bundle of stuff. She has gotten so busy with it she hires help to do her Custom christmas Stockings.
If you want to know more about this offer you need to e-mail me private.
Harvey ....
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 | Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3034 Northern AL 
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2003-08-10 61462
I don't know of anyone making $$ the lamas or sheep wool, but spring lamb fetch a fair dollar in the city. Goats milk make a good return also but I am not too sure I would like to milk all the goats. ....
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 | JerryG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 54 NW AR
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2003-08-10 61463
harvey,
That is a very good cash crop. If you can pull of one crop you can retire. Last week, about a half a mile from my house the sheriff made a raid. They picked 13,000 plants.:) ....
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 | F350Lawman
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 411 Goshen, NY
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2003-08-10 61465
My wife's friend lives in NJ she does pretty well raising Alpacas and growing some fancy vegetables. She got in touch with NY restaraunt owners and sells them the fancy vegetables they feature on their menus. All things you typically can't find at the corner grocery but get charged an arm and a leg for when it's part of you entree' or appetizer at some chic restaurant.
If you further upstae perhaps their are markets for such items in popular ares like Saratoga/Albany/Buffalo/Rochester etc. She does not have large acreage devoted to this stuff but the prices are very high when compared to everyday items.
I can find out the items she grows if you like. ....
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 | DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2003-08-10 61479
NOBODY. And I do mean nobody is smart enough to cash in on one crop and retire. It is called DOPE for a very good reason.
Sorry. Old passions. They do flare. ....
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 | Misenplace
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 875 Michigan 
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2003-08-11 61488
I honestly think one of the best steps you could make to finding out that answer is to go to your local farmers markets. Not the big city markets where they buy the left overs from the local produce merchants and re-sell them but the true organic type where you see the folks selling their own wares. I have had people write and say hay Chef, how do I know that ? well if you see items that are not indigenous to your area you will have a pretty good idea that you might be at the wrong market, also avoid those that have fleas as well. The next step is to decide if you want to market your wares direct or wholesale. Ie, if you raise sheep are you going to innoculate, sheer, and sell wool products on your property and is your property in a proximity to the sunday drivers ? Or do you just want to sell the wool. The same is true for marketing to restaurants. Do the NYC chefs or local up scale restaurants want fresher herbs or mini veg ? baby zuchhini, summer squash patty pans etc have all been rather Chic as of late. I like the pumpkin idea, but then halloween is a favorite holiday. A huge new trend in my area is sod, the caveat is you need a lot of equipment and acerage. My family had sheep farms for years. I would think this a far better bet than Llamas or Alpacas but I always wanted to keep a couple of those guys just for fun. Another idea is cut flowers at the farmers market, mums in the fall, sunflowers are always a good seller. Go see whats missing in your area. Most regions have a few small upscale towns where the folks have enough $ to pay extra for better quality and theese markets are really becomming very popular. Kindest Regards ....
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2003-08-11 61492
Rochester already has a huge farm market covering the area. As Doc suggested, the turf farm, you would be competing with Batavia turf farms and that is huge now. There are some things to consider, is your ground good enough to grow some thing unique? Cranberries? Is it steep, maybe xmas tree's as they are easy to maintain and look good. ....
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| boatman
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 49 Idaho
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2003-08-11 61497
Larryv, I suggest that you subscribe to American Small Farm Magazine for ideas. They have articles regarding your subject. See web link. ....
Link:
Click Here
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| Misenplace
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 875 Michigan
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2003-08-11 61509
Or try Hobby Farmer magazine. ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2003-08-12 61609
If you've got some time you might take a look at ginseng. Takes awhile to get to market (about 5 years) I think and some special conditions (doesn't like sun).
Like another crop mentioned here there is a bunch of fashion about it and it's value is related very much to where is said to come from and how old it is. A wild variety does grow in our bush around here and it is extremely fashionable. Apparently it's a real gold mine for a person who know where a wild stand is. However, even basic commercial grades produce very high $ value per acre. One of our former federal politician's family wealth is based on it I hear.
Because of its high value per acre it might be interesting as a hobby crop on small plots. I think there is an organized market for the stuff and it shouldn't be too hard to find buyers. There are 'how to' books around for growing it.
If the idea actually is to produce some excess $'s most small operations for anything commercialized is likely to end up as a recreational operation so it's a good idea to start with something that's pleasing to do. For example, working the operation is fun and Christmas trees are nice to look at.
The economics of small operations is that to make much you need heavy resistance for producers to enter the market. That's why crops that take a long while to mature are good. Organic farming qualifies since it takes 5 years to get a certification. Other than time, something that has location, requires unique skills or has special requirements is good. Pick your own berry operations tend to do OK and it's because of location. Berries don't store or ship well so markets tend to be local. I'd look for something that's fun but also difficult and fussy or has a small consumer market. The short-term bottom-line orientation of current corporate managers does provide opportunity for the rest of us.
....
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2003-08-12 61626
Larry, never mind 'putting the horse before the cart', I think were trying to decide where to drive already here.
Until you know what the land will support there is no use in trying to decide what to grow, the LAND will decide what to grow more than anything else.
I have seen all to many times, people trying to grow crops which were not suitable for one reason or another. Almost without exception the higher cost of production, whether because of specialized equipment costs, soil amendments, or just plain excessive labour, the returns were only the same as if they had grown 'regular' crops.
If you are looking for a crop to use as supplemental income then it is even more reason to stay 'low-tech', big investments (relatively speaking) are going to prolong the amount of time before you make anything.
Depending on the soil, climate, etc., and from a cost to achieve a yield point of view (cost efficiency) the number one crop today is probably potatoes believe it or not. They are dead easy to grow, require little maintenance, are very hardy, and require only minimum equipment if you already have a tractor. In commercial operations it is not too hard to achieve yields of 9+ tons per acre, for you home plot you wouldn't have a problem getting 5 tons to the acre with mimimum work or expense. If you sell them 'road-side' you can get pretty close to retail prices for fancy or organic product. If you figure 5 tons times 5 acres, that is 25 tons of spuds. That would be the equivalent of 5,000 ten pound bags, at only $2 per ten pound bag, that would be $10,000 worth. If you are, or have access to a competant welder, you could fabricate all the equipment necessary for under $1000 or just buy it, a small pto-driven harvester starts at about $3500, they make some nice little ones in Michigan.
Best of luck. ....
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| Misenplace
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 875 Michigan
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2003-08-12 61630
I think both art and Murf have solid points. There is a BIG gap between sheep and ground crops, Garlic or Angora goats. I guess we would also need to know how much acerage as well as topography and soil type,etc. Theese are all great points for any newbie to consider. ....
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| Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2003-08-12 61648
The easiest way for anyone to succeed is to do something you like to do. You might be able to make it doing what someone else failed at. Direction, desire and determination is what is required. You should look at how much time you have free to work at it. That will tell you which way to look to fill a day. Some people do well with u-picks, if you don't mind people all over your property. Some people use the summer markets that are open one day at a time in different towns. Options are great,wholesaling is not easy at all. ....
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