Best Drip Irrigation System

There are many reasons why soil pH levels might be out of balance, such as application of chemical fertilizer or disturbance of the surface. For example, pH levels range from 0 to 14; a 7 is considered neutral while 0 is totally acidic.

However, with farmable land shrinking at a rate of 50 acres an hour, the demand for small tractors and small-scale farmers is rising. Curious, I decided to dig a bit deeper. A return to horse power could be slow, but it could be coming.

Put the chill on your winter feed expenses by planting cool-season forages for your livestock. Stock Up on Forage Stockpiling fescue can extend the grazing season up to 60 days, according to Gary Bates, PhD, forage specialist with the University of Tennessee.

Although we all eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring each year, we know that the transition from snow to dry ground comes with a price, and that price is an in-between “wet ground” stage known as mud.

Fly predators, aka parasitoids, are smaller than their foes and resemble ants with wings. No one option eliminates all flies, but a sustained effort using all of the tools at your disposal will significantly reduce them.

Pastureland Wilderness farms that contain pastureland and intend to graze animals upon it must ensure that they do not overburden the pasture by allowing too many animals to feed there.

Scotch Pine: which holds on to its bright-green needles even when dry. The Oklahoma Christmas Tree Association recommends that hobby-scale Christmas tree farmers plan to maintain no more than 2,000 trees per year to have a manageable work load, whereas...

There are other forms of farm-oriented co-ops, including credit unions and bargaining co-ops, but the ones detailed would be most relevant to small-scale operations. These can be all-encompassing in scale, as is the case in common milk co-ops: Trucks...

Planting directly into the stubble/residue from former crops also enhances the soil's ability to hold moisture, drain excess water and fight compaction. Want to save money on your irrigation-water bill?

Don't arrange them in a row with the twine sides touching, creating a water-absorbing valley between bales. Once opened and exposed to the elements, large round bales start to spoil.

Fallen logs or timber might be useful for cultivating oyster or shiitake mushrooms. Soil type influences the plants that can grow. Branching Out Your property has boundaries, but your woodland projects don't have to.

Examine these closely and correct problems in your irrigation system design.Proper irrigation practices can lead to major water savings. Let's take a look at proper irrigation practices that will save on water.Drip irrigation kits are available at most...

A mix of alfalfa, rye, clover and/or whatever else strikes you as having potential would improve damaged soil and produce a healthy, delicious pasture for future packs of pigs to wander through, dining on flowers and leafy shoots—and wrecking things...

Yet here in North America aquaculture is a relatively young industry. Much of the waters for aquaculture farming are yet uncharted! A pond A source of water Access to electricity An aeration device Seed stock Feed A ph tester SHRIMP Most small producers...

Tags hobby farm If done the right way, freshwater fish farming can be a great value-added opportunity for your hobby farm. To wrap your head around the construction of an aquaculture pond, use the diagram below to jog the pond-construction thought process.

American persimmons will ripen in late fall and drop when the weather turns cold, so if you can get your pigs close to a stand of persimmons at the point you need a jacket for morning chores, do it.

Planting a drying bush bean between (or within) your corn rows can be an excellent way to feed your corn crop as it grows, shade out weeds, and make the most out of that space. Radishes Radishes might be the perfect intercrop.

You need enough plots to be able to rotate through each crop family that you are working with. Find a satellite image of your property on Google Maps, then print it and draw your garden on the printed page.

They are used in small amounts and in a specific fashion. It still operates today as the only Biodynamic certifying agency and is active in 45 countries. Much like a web, each organism on the farm—from the smallest microbe to the largest bovine—serves...

Building your sacrifice area on higher ground and building up the footing will go far in helping the space to shed water. Frequency of manure removal will depend on concentration of [animals] housed in the lot.” Depending on the footing you choose,...

“Well-managed forage helps control or keep out invasive plant species,” says Richard Straight, technology transfer leader at the USDA National Agroforestry Center's Forestry Service in Lincoln, Neb.

Now her fresh, certified-organic crops feed a successful CSA business with over 270 customers. Are they truly better for consumers, for the environment and for small farmers? A lot of organic growers are very open and willing to share with other growers—that's...

Haulers will pick up your manure, and some will pay for it. The basic premise of composting is to achieve a balance of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and moisture through adding the right mix of ingredients with regular aeration.

When you plan your garden, situate these plants in the sunniest spot, and near a wall or fence to act as a heat sink. The timing of natural cycles coincides with our own physical needs and energy level.

Forty-two species call American grasslands home, from smaller birds, like the Eastern meadowlark and Henslow's sparrow, to larger ones, including the ring-necked pheasant and the sharptail grouse.

Now, take that with a grain of salt. Water is one of the most important things your animals consume, so make sure you're managing it correctly! The most common cleanliness issue with water troughs is algae, and some of it can even be dangerous for your...

Then we called the extension agency to meet with a guy about how to raise them. It was more than their conversational brilliance that made me long for a bovine presence in my life—I wanted buckets of fresh milk and grass-finished steak on the dining...