Tossing around the idea of renting some acreage for a half dozen broodies so we can take a full year to completely re-seed and renovate their pasture. Unfortunately I don't have any spare land to rotate them to. I'm in southern Fauquier County, Virginia -- is anyone else doing this? What is the going rate per acre or are there other arrangements I'm not thinking of?
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I don't know of anyone really doing the leasing thing as most land advertised as "available" is just for direct sale to developers or the odd wannabe farm owner, but I'm sure you could find someone to lease from through asking around.Thus do we growl that our big toes have, at this moment, been thrown up from below! -
That was going to be my follow-on question -- how to find it! I'm seriously considering doing the 'knocking on doors' thing wherever I see an empty pasture because I'd like to keep the girls close by.Comment
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From what I know, people aren't really doing the beef thing around here with their pasture space, so I'm sure there's something out there. Why don't you write up a flyer and post it in a few places like the feed stores and farm-related shops where people would see it?Thus do we growl that our big toes have, at this moment, been thrown up from below!Comment
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There's an average cost of leased land somewhere in the UVA Ag Outreach system, I've seen it it read it a few times. Not sure where... I know it's the same place they have "pasture renovation" and other documents.Nudging "Almost Heaven" a little closer still...
http://www.wvhorsetrainer.comComment
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Sorry, VT, and here's a link to 2011's http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...52109249,d.dmgNudging "Almost Heaven" a little closer still...
http://www.wvhorsetrainer.comComment
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Example: Across from Great Meadow, which is a bit of a haul, but so you can see the cost.Originally posted by BarbaricYawp View Post
http://virginiaequestrian.com/main.c...view&ID=104704
Hi Barb!
Look at ads in Virginia Equestrian, Horse Talk, etc. then ask your veterinarian and farrier. Some of those spots will be word of mouth. Also, check craigslist under the Farm and Garden and Real Estate sections. Southern States in Midland is a great source--those guys know every farm in the county! Also the Co-Op on 17-- check with them.
Lex-- you are greatly mistaken about Fauquier County not being involved in the Beef Industry. It's #8 in the state for Beef production, #5 for Dairy production, and home to the most productive horse industry in the state.
Here's a list of the 2013 Cattle farms in Fauquier:
http://www.fauquiercounty.gov/govern...ction=farmlistComment
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I wasn't talking about full-blown cow farms. I was talking about people with pasture space. There's a distinct difference between the two.Thus do we growl that our big toes have, at this moment, been thrown up from below!Comment
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That's an excellent idea! May also post on VA Equestrian. And thanks to the other posters for resources on 'fair market value' for renting pasture-land. I'm literally looking for an open field of 5-10 acres. If it's close by I don't even need water since we can haul it when we check on the ladies, and I can provide my own run-in if it's a year long lease.Originally posted by LexInVA View Post
Does anyone happen to know if farm insurance can be extended to cover leased land?
BTW I did laugh at the cattle listing. There is one on there with 8 head. Maybe I'll get brave and list my half-dozen Milking Devons and crosses LOLComment
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Yes, farm insurance can be extended to leased land. We
leased a neighbor's hay fields for many years and included
those acres with the land we owned in our insurance with
no complaints or confusion on the part of our insurance
agent. Leasing land for crops and/or pasturage is quite
common among midwest farmers.Robin from Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WisconsinComment
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Originally posted by LexInVA View Post
That's where I got the idea-- Pasture Space. Not Office Space where humans spend their productive time, but where livestock (cattle, goats, horses) live.
ETA: Farm Bureau is a good place to call regarding insurance. A good agent is Michael Brown in the Culpeper office.Comment
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"We, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit." JFKComment
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No, I live nearby and visit people who live there on a semi-regular basis.Originally posted by katarine View PostThus do we growl that our big toes have, at this moment, been thrown up from below!Comment
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Indeed! Fauquier county is *so* fabulous we even draw visitors from hollowed out volcanos in the South Pacific...Originally posted by LexInVA View Post
To be fair, the county *is* changing, particularly the southern end, so Lex is correct in pointing out it's a little catch-as-catch-can when you are looking for land for ag purposes. If the recession hadn't bitten as hard as it did I think we'd already look more like Loudoun or Prince William County, but the lack of credit has slowed down both the big developers and the individual families who want to build their country dream home. We thought about buying before renting, but what's nearby is either really, really large (50+ acres) or really, really small (1-2 acres). I need something in the middle.Comment
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The only big development thing on the books that I know of - barring any major road construction that would allow for residential development - are some potential data centres, which would bring much needed income and tax revenue to the county and some desperately needed infrastructure upgrades that will bring more jobs and proper growth of industrial businesses that can serve the region. Not to mention the sweet sweet speed of fiber-optic Internet which will help the citizens get better wireless and land-line Internet. I think the county government is now interested in controllable industrial growth over commercial/residential growth and the county is prime real estate for data centres with all the unused farmland available, especially if they are clustered together to maximize efficiency.Thus do we growl that our big toes have, at this moment, been thrown up from below!Comment
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Originally posted by LexInVA View Post
Lex, put the crack pipe down. You don't even live in this region and you don't know anything about agriculture around here.
Agriculture is the primary and most profitable industry in this county. It is growing. Beef producers are everywhere. I am one of them.
Some beef producers direct market, others background or have feeder operations.
You can in fact lease land to raise crops or livestock. Farmers lease land all the time. The trick for the OP is finding land that is fenced already. Fenced the way she wants it. Most fencing for cattle is hog wire or barbed wire.
For the OP - I can assist you. Please contact me privately if you wish to pursue the matter.Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
-Rudyard KiplingComment
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Over the next 20 years the large farms in this area will be breaking up into smaller parcels. So don't snicker at the thought of a small holding being a real farm. Agriculture looks different on the urban fringe than it does in the midwest. Those smaller holdings (and the larger farms that won't need to break up) are best positioned to direct market to urban residents. That's how agriculture is changing in this region. And farmers are adapting and making money. So I wouldn't be so quick to ridicule. The example of the farm with only 8 head - that is a very profitable small dairy farm that makes cheese. You'll find their products in high end retail stores.Originally posted by BarbaricYawp View PostLast edited by JSwan; Sep. 12, 2013, 08:37 PM.Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
-Rudyard KiplingComment
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