Needing some advice ( i mean lots of :)

5 posts

Member for

8 years
Last seen: 03/04/2020 - 19:17
Joined: 03/28/2016 - 20:35

Needing some advice ( i mean lots of :)

Hello Everyone, 

 

We have a 19 acre property currently fenced as 6 paddocks.  Needs a little work to have sheep but overall in good shape. 

We live on the property and are keen to turn the property into a organic farm to create enough income to pay the bills.

 

I was thinking of the following but dont have enough info on what to do/ where to start and also numbers to see if its viable.

 

Option 1: Buy dorper ewes ( 30 of them )  and a ram to run on the property and sell the lambs ? ( not sure of numbers , costs to manage them organically and would love advice or a document that i can be pointed towards )

 

 

Option 2 : Invest in chicken caravans and have 300 chicken to sell organic / bio dynamic eggs ( looking to hire someone to help move the chickens on the pasture, collect and move the eggs to carton ready for sale ) 

 

 

Option 3: Continue with horse agistment at 25 dollars a week. However this will requirement in me investing considerable sum into resurfacing the menage, fix the barn and also invest in a lot of re-fencing work.

 

I really welcome some thorough advice please and any pointers so I can start and enjoy farming.

 

Thanks in advance.

Vee.

Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Vee,

If you want to grow organic fruit, vegetables, meat and so on for sale, then you will neeed to have organic certification first.

Off hand I cannot remember the web site, but there is an organic certification organisation in Australia who will test the soil and water for a fee and then if all is O.K issue the certificate. However it is not cheap, but if that is the way you wish to go then you will need the certification to be done before you can market any of your produce as certified organic.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Barb

 

Last seen: 06/01/2018 - 17:08
Joined: 11/11/2016 - 09:58

It is good to start with horse agiestment because it will give you cash flow in the begning and it dose not have any huge investment except to lookafter your pasture, then go on sheep and earn money from there and then invest in carvan for chicken, horse would not take your time a lot , and sheep will continue to grow by themselve you do not have to do a lot as chicken, for chicken you need to collect the eggs everyday and care is intensive as well. lot of work in chicken farming, so it is good idea to start with low risk factore commodities and keep your cash flow up.

Last seen: 01/26/2017 - 20:59
Joined: 01/26/2017 - 18:55

Hi

If your after a low cost breed of sheep, that is not a wool producer have a look at pure bred Damaras, not cross breds.

People have cross bred them to get a meat sheep to try and get wool off them as well and stuff the breed.

For eggs look for someone who will take them in bulk, like a local baker. Or sell them from home or at local market by tray.

 

Hope this helps

Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 06/02/2016 - 11:49

Hi Vee,

There are lots a questions that need to asked, thought about and discussed with partner(s) when starting a new venture.

This process needs to be put down on paper (hardcopy) to help facilitate the process / clear communication and can also give clear reference points to refer back to.

There are many ventures that start out as great ideas but fail in the first couple of years, mainly due to poor research and planning.

A good plan should include: aims, strategies, business description including, enterprise mix, a SWOT, budgets, risk-management, key performance indicators (KPIs), marketing and a detailed action list.

The above plan also needs to be combined with a production plan. To prepare this plan you also need to have good knowledge of the enterprise(s) you are considering.

Important points:

> Liking what you are contemplating because you are more likely to make it a success.

> Source outside help. All successful business / ventures do.

> Use your head to help achieve what your heart wants.

 

Hope this helps, Mal (FarmStyle)

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