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How would you fully utilize a 1-acre farm? Some options I have gathered include raising worms to sell as bait, growing gourmet or medicinal mushrooms, creating fishing lakes for paying customers or raising specialty animals like llama, ostriches, or deer.

I think there is no definite yes or no answer to whether you should free-range your chicken; you should first understand the pros and cons of doing this. Again, since this involves allowing the chicken to access the outside, the space available is another factor. It may be safe to let them...

Just what I wanted to hear because I recently discussed this with a friend who vouched for the Nigerian dwarf goats. What you say about pygmy goats being aloof is true, though having other goat companions makes them happy.

I agree that there are many things to factor, and so it is not accurate to list the equipment without considering things like the size of the farm and the type of farming in question. Would you purchase machinery in anticipation of using them in the future?

Mechanization is a threat to unskilled labor and could soon displace it. The usual benefits include encouraging large scale production and also improving the quality of farm produce. There is also the threat of environmental degradation like pollution and social erosion. How can this be avoided...

I think that the biggest challenge to farmers is how to produce enough food for the growing population while at the same time utilizing technology and new farming methods. Charli1, what would you say is the main reason for some people quitting farming?

I have never given much thought to how useful pumpkin seeds can be. Thanks to this thread, now I have an idea of how to experiment. I have always known that they are full of valuable nutrients and high in fiber.

I think that it is a matter of preference. I know a farmer who's stuck with Farmall ever since. However, given a choice, I'd go with the former because they usually start easily and are easier to operate.

It can be difficult for a farmer to figure out what to buy when on a limited budget. However, some farm equipment can help the farmer maintain the farm more efficiently. In my opinion, a tractor(s),farm truck, plastic much layer, an irrigation system, and manure spreader are necessary to have.

Encircling the area electric fence is the most effective way. If you choose to follow this route, have one wire 4 to 6 inches above the ground and the other at 12 inches. Ideally, and for effectiveness sake, do the installation about two weeks before the sweet corn reaches the milk stage.

Many factors make a straight answer to this almost impossible, and just as you say, it depends on the price of and availability of funds. If any farmer had a choice, then it would be to purchase and put it into good use when ready.

Cattle can struggle in intensely cold weather, hence affecting weight gain or milk production. What are your remedies to keep them going during winter? For starters, there should be a continuous water supply as water sources can freeze during this time. Cattle need between 1 and 2 gallons of...

As soon as I saw the title, I got interested in reading the rest of it. A farmer reaps what they sow, and it is advisable to remember their obligations throughout the year.

I once was unprepared and woke up to frost on the garden. Some plants were damaged but not killed entirely. Don't start pruning right away as the plants you assume are damaged could soon flourish.

It is such a strong gesture from John Deere at a time when there is uncertainty as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. If more companies chimed in and contributed in whichever way, then the shortage of protective equipment could soon be a thing of the past.

Is drip irrigation only suitable for drought-prone regions? Yes, it can reduce a farm's water consumption by as much as 60 percent and increase crop yield by 90 percent, but does this net off with the cost of installation?

You've addressed a fear and curiosity that I have always had; when bees swarm the arms in their numbers. I think that the best way around this is for the farmer to keep bees so that standards can be set and kept. I recently managed to get hold of a beekeeper with excellent honey, sold straight...

There has been a surging demand for face masks, and now everybody seems to be selling them. You can incorporate unique designs and charge a reasonable amount then see how it goes. I feel like would-be clients are looking for some uniqueness and originality!

Seeing that Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race, do we now have better chances with Joe Biden? The key issues he has raised include investing in federal infrastructure, rebuilding the middle class, and tuition-free public universities. Michael Bennet is the only contender who talked about...

We also process the fowl at home, but we send all the other animals to the slaughterhouse. Slaughtering the larger animals requires some skill and more space, which I assume would be expensive to set up. What else would a farmer need to do?