Hessian
Well-Known Member
Last year I purchased 12+ acres of former tilled field-up in NY. It is mostly flood plain (100 yr flood zone) and was probably farmed 4-5 years ago. It's been bush hogged since then...once a year.
I have made an offer to a neighboring farm: go ahead and put in straw/corn etc. in exchange for bush-hogging the non tilled area.--No cash changes hands.--I still pay the taxes.
I am wondering is there a better way to manage the land (from a distance).
Is one crop preferrable to another? I assume Straw gets a better price than hay--two cuttings a year?? or only one? How many bales would you expect per acre of rich flood plain?
If I move up there---should I have a movable pen--for goats?/Llama's?
Are there some weeds I should target as being too invasive?
Would it make more sense to start a tree Farm?
Is it worth it to put in ponds & stock them...or is that a pipe dream?
I just want to be wise in using the land...not have to fight overgrowth by neglecting it...nor wasting money on sensitive crops with minimal yield.
Although sympathetic to the needs of animal rescue...I don't have the funds to dedicate to vet care & special diets--however my daughter would love to tend abandoned/injured animals.The land would be well suited for that--but that can tear at the heart-strings too.
I have made an offer to a neighboring farm: go ahead and put in straw/corn etc. in exchange for bush-hogging the non tilled area.--No cash changes hands.--I still pay the taxes.
I am wondering is there a better way to manage the land (from a distance).
Is one crop preferrable to another? I assume Straw gets a better price than hay--two cuttings a year?? or only one? How many bales would you expect per acre of rich flood plain?
If I move up there---should I have a movable pen--for goats?/Llama's?
Are there some weeds I should target as being too invasive?
Would it make more sense to start a tree Farm?
Is it worth it to put in ponds & stock them...or is that a pipe dream?
I just want to be wise in using the land...not have to fight overgrowth by neglecting it...nor wasting money on sensitive crops with minimal yield.
Although sympathetic to the needs of animal rescue...I don't have the funds to dedicate to vet care & special diets--however my daughter would love to tend abandoned/injured animals.The land would be well suited for that--but that can tear at the heart-strings too.