[quote]ORIGINAL: yeoman
I have 15 acres of which 7 is a field in what has become a mostly residential area. Excellent cover, loads of deer including some bruisers, and excellent goose shooting. I am concerned I may lose my farmer as many of the property owners with 10-20 acres have eliminated the ag. on their properties and it may not be worth the farmers time to plant my field. I have never charged ground rents.[quote]
Just curious, was he growing and harvesting a crop? Why didn't you charge him? Would he plant food plots if you paid him?
[quote]I have a 1947 8N tractor, two bottom 12" plow, 1 row cultivator, disk and bush hog.
If I were to lose my farmer, what would all of you suggest be my method of doing the farming myself, and what equipment would I need to acquire?[quote]
I would think you should be able to handle 7 acres with your Ford tractor quite well. Just don't try to do it all at once.
[quote]I'd like to plant a combination of corn, beans and sunflowers each year. Shooting doves over the sunflowers, then panting that section in winter wheat for goose shooting and winter deer feed.
Currently my farmer rotates corn and soybeans. I disk and broadcast winter wheat in a section for geese during the corn years.[quote]
I would suggest Round-Up Ready corn and soys if that's the kind of beans you mean. You'll look like a pro farmer by keeping the weeds out with the round up.
Do I go no-till, buying equipment and would my 8N at 23hp handle it? Do I go conventional? That's a fair amounto f acreage to plow and disk....and a rough ride to boot.
Your input would be appreciated. I'm on Maryland's Eastern Shore with good soil. Thanks.
Isn't it fairly level now from the previous farming activity? And isn't it pretty well cleared out already? Using the round up you really shouldn't have to use the plow too much. Maybe just run the disk over it in the spring. I see no reason to invest in no-till equipment. You might need a seeder and something to spray with. I've been doing my spraying with a back pack sprayer but my bigggest opening is about 3.5 acres.