Irrigation System Manufacturers

This is certainly more involved—for example, you might have to dig a trench big enough for a downhill pipe, and then bury the pipe while keeping the ends free of obstructions and debris—but this can be a more long-term solution for eliminating troublesome...

These products have been tested and proven safe for use near livestock and farm pets. When you think of perennials, you probably envision flowers rather than flies, yet both appear with the onset of outdoor warmth and moisture.

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.

Christmas tree farms preserve open land by offering an income source for farmers and landowners. If you're thinking about starting your own Christmas tree farm, find your state association of Christmas tree growers and use their resources.

Don't reinvent the wheel! Your local cooperative extension agent should have a considerable amount of documentation and information on how to start a farm co-op . Farmers are, in general, a pretty independent lot.

“[A]n average silt loam soil holds about 2 inches of plant-available soil moisture per foot of soil,” says the UNL extension. Traditional tilling methods, however, turn the soil, bringing the sub-surface moisture to the top layer, where it can easily...

Plastic twine resists weathering, insects and rodents better than natural-fiber twines. Choose a building on an elevated, well-drained site. Space adjacent rows at least 3 feet apart so water from one row doesn't run off onto another.

Once you can give names and meanings to parts of your woodland, collect some materials for a craft project. It may be the start of a productive relationship with unusual benefits. Traditionally, farmers kept woodlots for timber and firewood supplies,...

Consider a drip system for outlying shrub borders and raised planters, around trees and shrubs, and in narrow strips where conventional above-ground systems would result in water waste.

Do Your Research Of course, the plants listed above are neither exclusive nor exhaustive. If you've ever seen a pig root out a mouse nest, you'll understand how this inclination can be beneficial, especially considering the animal's proficiency at clearing...

He started at the age of 17 on the insistence of his grandfather who– concerned that he was going to turn into a ne'er-do-well teenager–managed to get him interested in the aquaculture program at Kentucky State University.

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.

After reading that European farmers of old routinely finished hogs in persimmon groves, we ordered and planted a bunch of persimmon saplings around our property. Young seedlings can even be transplanted with success, and taking a permaculture-preservation...

As for cut lettuce, this is a crop that we've found does well with long-season onions, leeks and green onions. It gets a little stuffy amongst corn rows and difficult to maneuver, but it's definitely possible if space is limited.

Rotating plant families through your garden reduces pest pressure, improves soil nutrition and increases your harvest. Some crops will be in the field for more than one season. Divide Your Garden Into Plots Parson's 2-acre farm is divided into 13 separate...

“It really requires a keen sense of observation and willingness to broaden one's consciousness and the willingness to change and learn continuously.” He also believes that, with the right inspiration, hobby farmers and home gardeners can readily adopt...

A great sacrifice area will have well-drained footing built up to reduce the mud that your animals will inevitably end up standing in. Avoid locating the sacrifice area near wetland areas and other surface water flows to reduce potential impacts to these...

“The goal is also to create synergy, symbiosis and sustainability.” Silvopastures provide multiple income sources, and they generate revenue at different intervals during production to fill in gaps between the harvest of one crop or another.

When Carkner and her husband, Dick, bought their 20-acre property 22 years ago, the farm had been a conventional raspberry monoculture since the 1940s. Integrity means so much. “The challenge is how to get there,” he says.

Regardless of the weather, manure should never be spread around waterways, wellheads and active floodplains or on steep slopes. If there's one constant in farming, it's poop —and a lot of it.

“In the fall, I had spectacular greens, a very diverse array in the brassica family,” Maddock says. Handing down heirloom seeds that were bred in the field—not in a laboratory—used to be common practice.

Grassland birds are a cornerstone of Great Plains ecology. Here are a few ways to promote grassland bird habitat on your farm without hampering your farm's production. Finally, warm-season grasses native to your area will likely be hardier and less susceptible...

Obviously these situations aren't always possible, but if you can implement at least a few of them you'll save some time having to scrub buckets out. I'm talking about visual cleanliness—if the trough looks gross and you wouldn't be tempted to drink...

Focus on seeding warm-weather grasses (C3 species) in one pasture during the waning days of winter to establish a grass crop for cows to enjoy during the summer months. The idea of having different pastures for different weather conditions is meant to...

If you manage a small-acreage horse farm where boarders take on “self care”—daily care of their own horses—you might primarily be responsible for farm and facility maintenance but little feeding or stall cleaning.

Trellises A common choice, trellises can be made of wood, metal, plastic or various fabrics, including cotton and nylon. Added Variety Besides opening up more area by going vertical, you can also take advantage of the open space below plants with foundation...

Draft animals produce manure , which is a free source of fertility for your gardens. Draft animals are a bit like plants in that they do better in the area they are adapted to, though another notable advantage to acquiring horses locally is having someone...