Any ideas for crops for a 50 acre farm?

[Treezibum]

We are growing wheat and beet on our little farm but we're losing money each year. It's our last year for beet as its a no-goer which is a shame as we've grown it for many years. Our machinery is pretty antique now though. What else could we try, that doesn't involve any expensive investment or special equipment to harvest it? Any ideas would be very welcome!

 

[Fuzzy]

Rent it for wind farm or solar park ??

 

[multi power]

spuds n veg, for retail

 

[Andy26]

Grow maize for an AD plant.

 

[Blue.]

Grass,simples.

 

[JNP]

Rent it out and put your feet up..

 

[Niels]

Nice to see someone from Stowmarket on here . I'm afraid pretty much all crops require specialist and expensive bits of kit? Of course there is always two sides and you can still do a good job with older kit. I don't know how involved you would still like to be on the farm, or not at all? Renting could be an option of course, or putting the farm down to grass or maize for an AD plant. Plenty of contractors around looking for maize?

Or diversify with vegetable as has been said before or do a maize maze etc.. involve the public. If your near Stowmarket it could be worthwhile? Rent bits of land out for vegetable plots.

 

[Post Driver]

Ganja

 

[multi power]

poultry or pigs

 

[sleepy]

Hashish

 

[Daniel]

British garlic

 

[choochter]

What about milling oats?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Rent it out

If you have large dairy heard nearby offer it to him 3 cuts that way you have no stock to hassle you

 

[JP1]

Rent it out

If you have large dairy heard nearby offer it to him 3 cuts that way you have no stock to hassle you

You need rain or irrigation for that over here FT

How about grass seed, seeds hay ?

 

[Devon James]

Polytunnels and mini veg, "as seen in tv".

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

Sell it and retire

 

[Badshot]

You need rain or irrigation for that over here FT

How about grass seed, seeds hay ?

That grass seed isn't a daft idea, 3 years cropping from one establishment. Then you get to have keep sheep on it all winter, and being new ley it'll grow like stink, you could take a cut of silage before you leave it to go to seed too. Then you'll have the seed and the thrashed Hay too. Be worth a look at.

Oh and you'll be giving the ground a rest and clean up so next time you plough it up it'll have more fertility and less weeds.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

You need rain or irrigation for that over here FT

How about grass seed, seeds hay ?

right place for seed hay but there is to much to lose if you dont get it right. high risk crop

best thing for him then is let an arable man crop it

 

[JP1]

right place for seed hay but there is to much to lose if you dont get it right. high risk crop

best thing for him then is let an arable man crop it

Barenbrug have a local grower of grass seeds here and the hay is a useful by product

 

[multi power]

Barenbrug have a local grower of grass seeds here and the hay is a useful by product

very popular feed for dry dairy cows in nz