Author: Noah Smith

I'm Noah. I'm a late bloomer when it comes to farming. I really enjoy working our land, especially when I get to fight weeds! I also really like my big truck.

I'm so happy I can share my love for farming and our farm animals with Zoe. It's great that we can wake up to fresh eggs and the sound of bees making honey every day!

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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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 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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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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Categories
Farm Supplies

The Best Types of Farm Gates: A Complete Overview

Best and Different Types of Farm Gates Explained
Girl standing at a farm gate.

Being a farmer, you must have heard of farm gates. It’s something that you ought to utilize to ensure your livestock’s safety. Also, to add a charming vibe to your farmland.

But is that all? Are all farm gates designed to fulfil this exact purpose all the time? Technically, yes, though there’s more to know about them. 

Farm gates have been around for centuries, and now, they’re an integral farm supply of any farm. With different types of farm gates to choose from, a farmer may purchase one based on the farm operation he would want to use it for. 

Therefore, this article will discuss how these different types of farm gates work and which one will be best for a farmer’s needs. 

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Farm Supplies

The Best Cutting Torch for Farmers: Top 7 Picks

The Best Cutting Torch for Farmers

Cutting torch kits are indispensable as farm equipment on a farm.

After all, much metalwork can keep a farmer busy — from metal signs and livestock holding pens to grain bins and silos.

Because of that, you’ll want a quality torch that’s right for your needs!

In this article, we’ve rounded up some of the best cutting torches on the market.

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Categories
Farming

A Complete Guide to Farm Irrigation Systems

Water Irrigation system on Texas farm

Water-hungry crops are bound to thrive when they access a constant water supply source. If you fail to provide it, your crops are destined to die. So, industrialists came up with a solution called farm irrigation systems.

Farm irrigation systems are a water distribution method that ensures adequate water supply to the plant roots. It’s technically designed to reduce manual labor-intensive and save water.

So, unlike in the old days, farmers no longer have to wait for rain until they can properly water their landscape. With the use of sustainable agricultural irrigation systems, the process has become more accessible.

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Categories
Farming

The Best Trees to Grow for Firewood

Burning wood in a fireplace.
Burning wood in a fireplace. Photo by Eugene Zhyvchik.

Do you have a wood stove or log boiler and some land? If so, you should plant trees that grow fast for your heating system in your house. Voila, you’re now gotten into farming.

Fast-growing trees must be considered when planting and managing because they have certain characteristics that make for good firewood.

If you are interested in growing your own trees for firewood or to resell, maybe as part of your way of starting a homestead, we have compiled a list below, along with their pros and cons.

So, which timbers are the greatest for woodpiles? The answer depends on where you live and what is accessible in your area of the world.

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Categories
Farm Supplies

Fertilizer Spreaders for Farms and Homesteads

Farmer spreading fertilizer over the meadow.
Farmer spreading fertilizer over the meadow. Photo by Etienne Girardet.

Farm supplies such as fertilizer spreaders play a crucial role in the even distribution of fertilizers, seeds, and herbicides on fields, lawns, and beds.

With two main varieties, drop spreaders and broadcast/rotary spreaders, these versatile tools are not only beneficial for farm-related tasks but also help minimize direct contact with fertilizers and chemicals.

Whether you’re aiming for uniform fertilization or efficient seeding, a fertilizer spreader is an indispensable tool in your arsenal of farm supplies.

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