Last year we purchased a hobby farm. When we purchased the property, there were 20 head of cattle already on the property and the vendor gave us the option of purchasing these cattle aswell. So we purchased the 20 head and we have just recently sent 7 of these to the meatworks (March 2014). The payment we received from these was approx $8250. We are sending the remaining 13 cattle to the same meatworks at the end of this month (keeping in mind that some of these remaining cattle aren't as big as those sent in the first lot).

Hi,

I don't have any questions but just wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little about my farm journey so far...I decided to make my first home, a home in the country. It took nearly 18mths to find my perfect home, but at last, I found my little piece of heaven in the Southern Downs region of QLD.

My aim is to be self suffiecent, "live off the grid" as much as possible and to one day earn a small income to live comfortably (ie. pay those bills we can't get out of).

Hello,

I will soon need to change a diesel pump from manual operation to completely autonomous. It pumps water from a creek into a tank, from where I use a solar pump for drip irrigation. This all has to happen unatteneded.

The diesel pump is completely conventional: it has a key-operated electric starter, fuel tap, throttle and decompresison switch. All of these things need to be set to the proper position, and of course it has to be set throttle-off to stop.

We have recently made the move to the country on a beautiful 5 acre block in West Gippsland. We have no experience of farming but have a gardening background. We are yet to experience a winter here but are really keen to get on top of a couple of issues before we do. We know that a lot of water moves across the block as there are open easements through the property and severe pugging in the paddocks. We are desperate to improve the state of the paddocks and work with what we have in a more effective way rather than fighting against it.

Hi,

My wife and l are only new to this and by no way do i think lm a farmer just some who likes a challange. l look forward to this and will share our experiances and hopfully learn a thing or too. 

Hi,

I am new to farming and would appreciate some advice.

I am looking at buying a 15 acre farm in the Ballan, Victoria area. I dug a few holes and found rock  in the soil.

Total of 5 holes where dug approximately 30cm wide x 30cm deep. I found 2 fist sized rocks in four out of the five holes.  In the 5th hole there was a handful of 20 mm rock. Pretty much in most places on the property that you dig with a shovel you hit rock of some sort.

Hi all,

i recently (about 2 weeks ago) got a cow for my backyard (almost 2 acres).  She's a 14 mo miniature Galloway (we think). She has adapted quite well, and seems to like me. She lets me pat her head, neck, tummy, back and front legs. I haven't gotten to her back legs yet. 

Hi all ,