Small farm ideas

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Thu, 04/10/2014 - 20:15 #1

Member for

10 years 7 months
37acres
Last seen: 04/12/2014 - 11:44
Joined: 04/10/2014 - 11:50

Small farm ideas

Gday all

I would like some ideas on how i can profit from my small 37 acre property,approx 20 acres of it can be used to grow something and i would like some ideas,i dont have irrigation only 2meg for stock and domestic,located in torrumbarry victoria 3.5km from murray river,have been thinking about dryland lucerne for sheep grazing and baling but not sure if this will be very profitable,id like to find the best profit making ideas for the size property i have with the least setup costs
Thanks
Matt

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Fri, 04/11/2014 - 08:14 #2
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

You have not really told us much about the place. What sort of pastures do you have? Is it all available for cropping? Has it been cropped? What are the fences like? What water points do you have? Do you have any dams/bores?

Now, in for a pennie's worth. I would look at dividing the place up with electirc fences and running some shedding sheep for the lamb market. Easiest fencing requirements, smaller animals so are easier to finish and handle, easier to transport and generally low cost.

Something to think about in the short term.

Cheers
Rob.

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Fri, 04/11/2014 - 10:04 #3
37acres
Last seen: 04/12/2014 - 11:44
Joined: 04/10/2014 - 11:50

Thanks Rob

approx 20 acres is available for cropping or grazing,fences are borderline to ok, I run 28 sheep at the moment just for own meat and helps keep the grass down to save slashing,water i only have 2megs for stock and domestic,there are 2 bores on the property but apparently the water is no good for drinking, not sure if the water any good for irrigation as ive never tested it, maybe someone can help me if they know where to find an underground stream map or something? As far as pastures go there is none just rye grass and normal grasses there is a fair bit of galvanized burr which grows some years and is very pesky to the sheep as it gets stuck in their wool, slowly getting rid of it but from what ive heard their is no easy way of getting rid of it apart chopping it by hand and disposing of the plant, the seeds even survive through fire or herbisides so you just have to get rid of it by hand (apparently) 

the 20acres has had ceral crops in it before which went ok except on a really wet year as its very flat and water lays on the paddock 

thanks for your response i have a mate who sells lambs for the meat market he has suggested i do the same thing before but just thought id put it out there and see of any other ideas.

cheers

matt

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Fri, 04/11/2014 - 10:45 #4
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Matt,

there is a product which will knock gavanised burr: check out the apvma website for Metsulfuron-methyl. It has a reasonable low toxicity but can cause skin and eye irritation if sprayed directly onto exposed areas.

The web address of Apvma is: apvma.gov.au. The product also works on Singapore Daisy. I was silly enough to plant it in my garden a few years back and it spread like wildfire into my paddocks and this was the only product which got rid of it- worked like magic!

I am a grazier and don't really know much about crop production, so perhaps Rob or Charlie may be of more help with your other questions.

Cheers,

Barb

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Fri, 04/11/2014 - 19:07 #5
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

Matt,

When they say the bore water is no good for drinking, do they mean human drinking or for stock? Sheep and cattle will drink water we will not go near.

Oh, and rotational/cell grazing please. If you hang around here long enough you will find I push that a lot as well as key lining and swales.

Cheers

Rob.

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Fri, 04/11/2014 - 20:11 #6
37acres
Last seen: 04/12/2014 - 11:44
Joined: 04/10/2014 - 11:50

Thanks again for a response Rob

not sure, I must get the water tested think for a memory my dad got it tested and it was fairly salty, i remember him saying it would not cost much for a de sal plant to treat it because it was only so many parts per million, (dad died 2yrs ago so unfortunately i cant ask him) I have no idea how much the bores will produce all i know is there are 2 of them with approx 5inch casings coming up about a foot above the ground, would love to know if there is a website which maps the underground water ways, mite have to do some searching and find out, 

not sure what you mean by swales either, rotational grazing i get but not the rest sorry im a bit of a green horn these days, 

cheers

matt

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Fri, 04/11/2014 - 20:52 #7
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Mat,

in his book, Introduction to Permaculture, Bill Millison says,:

"SWALES

Water absorption into the ground is usually achieved through soil conditioning, and by swales. Swales are long, level excavations, which can vary greatly in width and treatment from small ridges in gardens, rock -piles thrown across a slope, or deliberatley excavated hollows in flat lands and low-slope landscape.

Like soil conditioning or soil loosening systems, swales are intended to store water in the underlying soils or sediments. They work to intercept water flow, to hold for a few hours or days, and to let it slowly infiltrate as groundwater recharge into soils and tree root systems. Trees are the essential components of swale planting systems and must accompany swaling especially in arid areas (to reduce salt buildup). "

Matt, I can tell you one thing, if I had not had a number of them on my property during the drought we have endured in my area recently, I would not have survived as a grazing enterprise.

cheers,

Barb

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Fri, 04/11/2014 - 21:05 #8
37acres
Last seen: 04/12/2014 - 11:44
Joined: 04/10/2014 - 11:50

Thanks barb for both your posts

i had a look on the website you showed me about the galvanized burr,to be honest i couldnt find much specifically related to galv burr but didnt have time to have a decent look.

my property has a lot of trees already , big box trees , also has a depression through part of the main paddock where water lays after big rains,, only grows bull rushes grow there though at the moment, this is why i was thinking of planting some strain of dryland lucerene that can also suvive when water lays in spots, not sure if this is possible but thats what i was hoping for

cheers 

thanks again

Matt

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Sat, 04/12/2014 - 06:57 #9
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

Matt,

Have a look at this site for some info on galvanised burr http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/profiles/galvanised-burr .

Keylining is a systematic method of deep ripping to break up compacted pan layers common in old cultivation. It follows the "Keyline" and pushes water along the rip lines from the moist gullies out to the dryer ridges. The basic theory is that it's better to have the water in your ground and not running off. That, combined with Swales, really extend the productive period in dry times. Just do. Google search on either for lots of info, there is heaps on YouTube on both as well.

Cheers

Rob.

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