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Maybe it’s your lifelong dream to have your own small farm or you’ve noticed a need in your community for a source of agricultural products. Whatever the reason, most farmsteads start with a simple desire: a love for the land and a need to work it. Some folks see it as a way to live more sustainably, while others just want to make an honest living doing something they love. From an environmental ethics standpoint, some people feel that starting a farmstead gives them a way to contribute to the …

As a farmer you are probably aware of the perils you can see – tractor rollovers, auger accidents, livestock run-ins – but are you paying attention to one you may not see? A peril caused by something so small that, in its nymphal stage, is the size of a poppyseed? One that can steal your health for anywhere from a few days (if caught early) to many years (if caught late)? One that every farmer is likely at risk of nearly every day?Tick-borne illness.As the content writer and blogger for Tractor …

You have probably noticed photos and videos from Piney Grove Homestead becoming more prevalent on our social media pages lately. That is because Brad and Deb of Piney Grove Homestead have partnered with us to provide feedback and footage of the use of TTD equipment on their small farm.Seven years ago Brad and Deb started a journey towards building a homestead out of twenty acres of wild undeveloped land in North Florida. Their dream included having a variety of animals on their pastures, raising …

Most farmsteads are begun by people with a deep desire to connect with the land. Living sustainably has a very diverse definition to a very diverse following of people. When we talk about living sustainably, we are generally speaking of living in a manner that utilizes methods in harmony with nature, having the least impact on the environment, and maximizing stewardship of the land. Living sustainably is a lifestyle with no set rules. You can’t do it wrong.Many of you who are reading this have a …

Small-farm operators who are new to hay production are often unsure of the differences between tedding and raking when it comes to baling hay. They confuse the two processes thinking they are one and the same and/or that the same implements can be used to perform both tasks. Let’s discuss this here.Tedding is the act of fluffing and spreading cut forage to increase air and sun exposure and decrease drying time. Tedding is typically done after the hay is mowed and before it is raked into windrows …