Most Lucrative Farm Types of United States

Contrary to what some might believe, only 1 percent of the population of the USA claims to have farming as profession while twice as much claims to reside on farms. Only 45% of farmers claimed farming as principal occupation.

The number of farms in the United States totals to 2.2 million which can be further categorized as small family and not-so-small (large family and non-family) farms.


Small family farms consist of:

• Retirement farms – operated by retired people
• Residential farms – operators report other means as major source of income
• Limited resource – sales fewer than $100,000 and net assets less $150,000
• Occupational but lower sales farms – reporting fewer than $100,000 in sales but farming as major income source
•  Occupational but higher sales farms – reporting more than $100,000 and less than $249,000  in sales but farming as major income source

Other (Large Family and Non-Family) Farms  

• Large Family Farms – reporting sales higher than $249,000 but fewer than 49,999
• Very Large Family Farms – reporting sales of more than $500,000
• Non-Family Farms – operated by organization or corporation rather than families

 The percentage of sales with respect to farm size can be analyzed from the graph below.

(The data is based on approximated figures of 2007.

Things to Remember When Looking for a Tractor

If you are new to the world of tractor, you might want to explore the market before buying the right thing. The tractors have been in the evolution process for more than a century now, so it might be tough for a first timer to spot the right deal in first instance.

But that shouldn’t discourage you from buying a tractor. here are a few points for you that will help you find the sweetest tractor deal available.

Function:

There must be a specific purpose or a defined set of purposes for a tractor. Do not compromise on that. If the machine is not complying with all your needs, look for another tractor. This is your first priority.

Spare Parts:

Look for a model whose spare parts are easily available in the market. You can find an exceptional machine but if it’s really rare, chances are you will not be able to find parts conveniently.

Engine Hours:

How much engine hours has it endured? And how much does it have left in the tank? Search the internet about the model you seek to know if the deal you are getting is the right one – especially if it’s a 2^nd hand deal.

Brand & Model:

Related to previous factors, see which tractor is most recommended and which one serves all or most of your purposes optimally. Consult friends and family, and search the internet.

Cabin:

How’s the interior? You will be spending a lot of time inside that equipment, so check out the cabin before you finalize the deal.

Power:

This is also one of the most crucial factors. You need to understand your power requirements and how much the deal in discussion is offering. Prefer 2WD for light duty or average jobs and 4WD for heavy duty work.

Agricultural Marketing: Merits of Agricultural Marketing

Agricultural marketing means to use marketing techniques in order to bridge the gap between farmer and the market. Ag-marketing uses good of both worlds. The process of bringing farmer closer to the market and the buyer has various benefits, some of which are following. 

• Modern marketing techniques help farmer with their yield. The increased yield in return raises their living standard.
• It has lessened the communication gap.
• Modern marketing opens new doorways for farmers and the prospect consumers.
• Marketing has taught farmers how to better target and sell customers.
• Agriculture marketing has made way for pickup facilities allowing them to sell at incentive prices.
• Agriculture marketing helps in maintaining the overall standard and quality of products.

Effective Marketing Strategy for Farmer

In order to make the most of agricultural marketing techniques, a farmer must carefully follow the tips.

·         Patience: A farmer must be strong patient and persistence in his approach. He must wait for the right opportunity to sell his products and avoid selling all of the produce for immaterial gains immediately after harvest.

·         Storage: To extract the most from his produce, he must store them so they can be sold at the right time and place for the right amount. For that he will require adequate storage facilities.

·         Market Knowledge: A farmer must be fullyaware of current market condition and prices so he doesn’t get ripped off.

·         Inexpensive Freight: With affordable freight, a farmer can explore new markets that offer more returns for his efforts.

·         Least Middlemen: There must be least amount of middle men so farmer can make profit while consumer can get affordable rates.

Tips to Help You Grow Corn

Corns are one of the most grown produces of United States. They look lovely and their taste is even more superlative. Americans love to have corn in their fields and gardens. Some grow corn for appearance, some for health reasons and some for the fun of gardening. 

So if you like growing them as much as the rest of corn lovers; read on for some useful tips on how to grow them.

Planting and Harvesting

Corn is wind pollinated and must therefore be in blocks, 23-24 inches apart. Before you plant, remember that you have to keep them 3-4 inches apart from each other and around an inch deep. Also note that crowding affects its size or formation.

The ideal time to reap corn is when its ears fill up and you can notice milky white as you pierce the kernel. Another sign that you’re ready to harvest is when the silk turns brown.

Tips for Productive Growth

·         Use rotted manure to prepare the soil as it increases overall productivity.

·         Feed them heavily because corn requires it.

·         Use soil with pH between 6-6.7

·         Plant them at about knee height.

·         Side-dress with nitrogen.

·         Give them plenty of sunlight, but don’t get carried away.

·         Give them substantial moisture.

·         Control weeds. You can use mulch.

·         Remember to water more in drier days.

·         Protect them from frost in chilly days.

Do not forget to exercise these tips as you grown corn, bean, parsley, pumpkin, pea, or cucumber the next season.

What to Look for When Buying a Compact Tractor?

A compact size tractor is the key requirement in certain industries. Small hold farming, sports field maintenance, small scale construction work and horse stable maintenance are the areas which do require employing the compact size tractors. On the other side, there are chances that you don't need the tractor for routine tasks such as you have to maintain or mow your house lawn or to maintain your farm house where you visit on holidays. Before investing your precious money, you must know about what to look for when buying a compact tractor.

Whatsoever the requirement is, the main thing is that the tractor you purchase must be designed according to fulfill the exact use of yours.

If you do not have the know-how about what to look for when buying a compact tractor, keep reading this article as we have described below what you should know and what things to check.

Note: This article is about compact tractors, if you are looking for farming tractors, look here.

Mobility

Compact tractors are mostly designed to operate in restricted spaces such as gardens and lawns with boundary walls. The ability to move freely within these narrow spaces is important for a tractor. According to your needs, you must check for their mobility. Some tractors can move up to 75 degrees which may save the time and improve the working efficiency.

Tractor Power

Compact tractors are designed with various horsepower which range from 23 to 46. The simple rule to remember here is that the more you have to use it, the more horsepower machine you should buy. Most of the tractor machines are manufactured with 3 or 4 cylinder designs. This increases the fuel efficiency of the machine. You should always seek the machines having larger cubic-inch displacement as such machines produce the required horsepower with very low effort and time. 

Many compact and sub-compact tractors are designed with front-wheel drive system. This is positive for you especially if you have to work in bad traction land. Front wheel system decreases the chances of wheel slip and increases the drawbar pulling ability. Also if you go for a heel pedal lock, it is a good choice. It locks both of the back wheels if traction is lost.

Transmission

There are two main types in tractors: Synchronized shuttle shift gear transmission and hydrostatic transmission.

• A Synchronized shuttle shift is suitable when you are moving the gears forward and reverse frequently. Having the gears and levers synchronized, SSS transmission allows you to change the gears without stopping.

• Hydrostatic transmission is the most suitable option. It allows you to operate the tractor very easily. You can easily control the speed, change the direction using the foot pedals (forward and reverse) without having to use the levers or clutch. In most cases, people choose HST transmission tractors.

Flexibility for Various Uses

The most important thing you should look in a compact tractor is its flexibility for various uses. A flexible compact tractor is able to work with backhoes, forks, ploughs, sack barrows, rollers and loader buckets. It will allow you to switch between these tractor accessories very smoothly just with a single hand action. Also remember to note the size of the bucket the tractor can manage. The larger the bucket size the more time you will save.

What's Next?

In addition to all these things discussed above, it is a better approach to reach a local expert around you. Approach him, discuss your requirements, take his guidance and finalize your choice in the light of your findings.

Now you must know what to consider while buying a compact tractor for your specific uses and this knowledge will definitely lead toward making the right choice.