Categories
Homesteading

Best pig breed for a Homestead

Best Pig Breed for a Homestead. Tips for raising pigs on your small farm.
Best Pig Breed for a Homestead. Tips for raising pigs on your small farm. Photo by Suzanne Tucker.

Whether you’re a hobby farmer or just starting your homesteading journey, raising pigs can be a fulfilling and worthwhile pursuit.

With appropriate fencing and shelter, most pig breeds can mature rapidly, making them an ideal protein source for small farms.

To ensure success, it’s crucial to determine the best pig breed that aligns with your homestead’s unique needs and conditions.

By selecting the right breed, you can optimize meat production and enjoy a variety of delicious cuts, including bacon, ham, and pork chops, all while contributing to a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle.

When raising pigs, ensure their well-being by providing proper nutrition, a secure enclosure, and a comfortable shelter with outdoor space. By addressing these essentials, you’ll be well-equipped to raise healthy pigs that contribute to your homestead’s productivity.

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Homesteading

The Best States for Homestead

Man with lamb in homestead ground. Idaho is one of the best states to start a homestead.
Man with lamb in homestead ground. Idaho is one of the best states to start a homestead. Photo by Zoe Schaeffer.

Are you looking for the best states for homesteading? Not sure if there are favorable homesteading laws in the states you’re looking into?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll reveal the top states for homesteading and provide essential information to help you make the best decision for you and your family.

We understand that everyone’s preferences and needs are different, so we’ll discuss various factors you should consider, including:

  • Homesteading laws
  • Property taxes
  • Geography and climate

So, let’s dive in and explore the best places to start your off-grid, sustainable lifestyle!

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Farm Feed

A Guide to What Most Farm Animals Eat

A cow on a field eating grass. Photo taken in Texas.
A cow eating grass on a field. Photo by Thomas Park.

If you’re a small farm owner or a homesteader, maintaining the well-being of your farm animals is crucial.

Ensuring they receive proper nutrition not only contributes to their overall health but also plays a vital role in providing us with essential carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and proteins.

This post will dive into various farm animals’ dietary requirements, focusing on small-scale farm and homestead animals.

Join us as we explore the importance of a balanced diet for our hardworking farm friends, and gain valuable insights to help you optimize their care and productivity. Let’s get started! 

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Farm Feed

Grow your own Livestock Feed with Crops

A recently harvested cornfield in Smithville, OH, with freshly cut corn stalks glimmering in the sunset light. Photo by Leslie Saunders.
A recently harvested cornfield in Smithville, OH, with freshly cut corn stalks glimmering in the sunset light. Photo by Leslie Saunders.

Raising livestock and poultry may be very rewarding and offers many benefits—homesteads, however, frequently run into issues with the cost of the feed.

What can you grow for your own livestock feed? This might have crossed your thoughts if you have a tight budget or are just starting.

Not only does growing your animal feed help you save money, but it also improves animal health and provides a safe, organic livestock diet.

Let’s discover what you can plant for animal feed and how to prepare it to grow livestock feed easier!

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Farm Supplies

Gates for Dog Owners

Dogs (and farms) sometimes need protection for their own good.
Dogs (and farms) sometimes need protection for their own good. Image source: Rover.

Sometimes, it’s essential to create boundaries around our homes to ensure our beloved pets remain safe and secure.

The best dog gates enable you to designate off-limits areas for your pet, whether it’s to protect them from newborns, guests, your bed, predators, or even for training purposes.

However, there are instances when a farm gate might be overkill for a situation that could be resolved with a baby gate. Baby gates offer a more economical solution, acting as an excellent farm supply, as they tend to be less expensive and easier to install.

These options are perfect for indoor spaces and smaller areas where a full-sized farm gate isn’t necessary. Additionally, baby gates are often more lightweight and portable, making them a versatile choice for dog owners who need a temporary or adjustable barrier to keep their pets safe and secure.

These gates are also easier to install; simply lock them in place. They grant your dog more freedom while alleviating the responsibility of dog-proofing your entire space.

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Farm Animals

What Are the Common Diseases of Farm Animals?

A healthy cow eating grass.
A healthy cow eating grass. Photo by Christian Burri.

Farm or agricultural animals are reliable when it comes to putting food on the table for farmers and consumers alike.

However, livestock producers can only reap these benefits when the animals are alert, aware, and virus-free. In short, farm animals should be healthy animals.

To achieve this state, a farmer must ensure proper animal maintenance and care. It’s also important to know common diseases animals can get on farms, as these allow farmers to understand disease control and curing their animals.

This article is equipped with everything you need to know about animals on farms and the diseases that commonly affect them.

We’ll also look at disease prevention, cures, and outbreak control.

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Farm Supplies

Poultry Manure Pellet Machine, Why Do Small Farmers Need One?

Backyard chickens and rooster
Backyard chickens and rooster. Photo by Zosia Korcz.

Most people consider the manure from chickens, cows, horses, sheep, pigs, and other livestock waste. Yet, it serves as a valuable source of organic fertilizer.

To use raw materials as fertilizer, poultry farmers must dehydrate and ferment them. The machine for drying chicken manure can dewater chicken poo rapidly and effectively.

However, relying solely on native fermentation may not result in high-quality granulated organic fertilizer. This is due to unstable nutritional composition and a low supply of trace elements.

In the sections below, we’ll delve into the world of chicken manure pellet equipment, reveal our top pick, and guide you through the factors to consider when selecting the perfect chicken manure pellet machine for your needs.

So let’s dive in and turn that livestock waste into organic gold!

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Farm Feed

Fodder Types Explained and How to Know Which You Should Use

Bale of hay on a field. The different types of fodder explained for your farm.
Bale of hay on a field. The different types of fodder explained for your farm. Photo by Peter Kleinau.

Taking proper care of your farm’s livestock is of the utmost importance for their well-being and success.

Green fodder production can provide a cost-effective solution to ensure they get all the nutrients they need.

Cereal grains and legumes are ideal for growing nutritious fodder that will help keep your animals healthy and strong.

Not sure where to begin when it comes to producing green fodder? We’re here to help – our guide has everything you need to know about creating a nourishing feed for your animals quickly and easily.

With just a little bit of effort, lush, nutritious feed will be within reach in no time!

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Categories
Farming

Differences between Traditional and Urban Farming

Urban Gardening or Farming. Yellow onion and beetroots being farmed in backyard.
Urban Gardening or Farming. Yellow onion and beetroots being farmed in backyard. Photo by Markus Spiske.

We are now living in an era of great progress and urbanization. Places that are previously remotely populated are now bustling districts with towering skyscrapers and multi-lane expressways.

As more people are adapting to the urban lifestyle, it is imperative that an abundant food source and healthy living can be sustained.

This is why urban farming has become a staple in urban households all around the globe. But what is the difference between traditional and urban farming?

There was a time when the only means of growing food was through large-scale farming. Acres of land are planted with crops and come harvest time, the goods are delivered and distributed to towns and cities.

But as the population grows and more areas become urbanized, alternative means of sourcing food must be formulated.

In the urban setting, there are a lot more factors to consider when sourcing food. There is the matter of limited space, inaccessibility to agricultural districts, carbon footprint, and water scarcity.

The need for a more sustainable way of producing food has paved the way for urban farming.

Compared to traditional farming, urban farming only requires a very small space, needs smaller quantities of water, and emits fewer greenhouse gasses.

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Farm Supplies

What Size of Tractor Do I Need For My farm?

A John Deere tractor and bush-hogging attachment sit in a freshly cut corn field with an old barn in the background.
A John Deere tractor and bush-hogging attachment sit in a freshly cut corn field with an old barn in the background. Photo by Clint Patterson.

Choosing the right tractor can make a significant difference in the efficiency and productivity of your farm operations. However, with so many different options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is the best fit for your specific needs.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the multiple aspects you must think about before buying a tractor.

We will assess the various types of tractors available, their horsepower, optional attachments, and tools that can be used with them.

Additionally, we’ll discuss how your land size and intended purpose for using it should influence your choice when selecting one.

Choosing the wrong tractor size can result in overspending or being ill-equipped for the tasks you need it for. That’s why it’s important to do your research and make an informed decision.

Whether you’re a small-scale farmer or managing a large commercial operation, we’ve got you covered.

So, stick around to discover everything you need to know about getting the right tractor size for your farm, and more!

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