General farming (3 years or less) - I've had my sheep for 2 and a half years. The chickens a little longer, but they dont really count
Other experience/agricultural/business training - C level welding certification
Do you have a business plan?
No - Not yet. Pastureland management, weed control, fire suppression are options?
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
No - No, just have the core sheep-flock as investment. Purebred (need to be registered) and commercial mixed-breed.
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - Grants are ideal over repaying loans. Community Futures offers loans?
Project
Farm Name
Still need a farm name. PaintedXIcelandic horns and hides? Theyre still just Scout's Sheep atm.
Farm Project Description
I just wanted to have a source for my own, grass-fed lamb, originally. Cows are kinda scary huge for one person to work with. So I went with sheep. I'm looking to raise up and grow out a few "trophy-class" horned hairsheep rams in addition to raising and harvesting and/or selling an appropriate amount of meat-lambs and hoggets to offset the horned-rams growing out (2-3 years?). The goal was to use as much as possible from the sheep once harvested, which is why I was looking for usable skulls with wide horns and colourful pelts/hides as well as meat. Producing lambs on a grass-fed/pasture based system with Rotational Grazing to help improve the overall health and quality of the land that they're on is the main objective, though. Painted Desert sheep and Icelandic sheep both have strong maternal instincts, and I was hoping to incorporate the two into a fast growing, grass-based commercial lamb with the heavier frame and fast horn growth of the Icelandic, with the parasite resistance and fabulous coloured haircoats of the Painted Desert. Both breeds are supposed to shed their winter coat, so even the crossbred ewes shouldn't require shearing the way most wool-over-hair crosses tend to turn out. Painted Desert ewes are also known to throw triplets, and quads on occasion, though I'd be plenty happy to see everyone twinning. The less bottle feeding and supplementary feeding I have to do, the better for everyone.
Preferred Arrangement
Registered Lease on Title -
Lease -
License -
MOU -
Business Partnership -
Duration of the desired agreement
1-3 years?
Ideal date to obtain land by
April 1st?
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
10-50 acres?
Wooded Area (acres)
Yes - Good for shade, sheep like to browse. Maybe 5? Depends on the trees.
Cultivable Area (acres)
1?
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - 10+? Depends on the land and vegetation.
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Grass pasture/hayfield would be ideal. Some alfalfa is ok. Native vegetation would likely require overseeding, but that remains to be seen. My goal is to improve the soil health from wherever it happens to be currently. Reduce noxious weed presence, like burdock and thistle. Whatever else needs removed.
Small cultivation area to maybe grow crops like squash and turnip, beet, radish to use as supplemental winter feed. Remains to be seen/dependent on soil conditions.
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - Sure? Dogs could be a challenge, though. Prey-drive things :(
Need farm buildings
Yes - Hay storage, and somewhere to lamb out in incliment weather when they arent lambing on pasture. Night security.
Need fenced land
Yes - Adequate to contain sheep would be ideal. Cattle fencing/barbed wire can be reinforced?
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - A tractor to handle large round-bales would be nice, but not necessary
Need established water source and infrastructure
Drinking water for sheep. If the quantity is sufficient to irrigate, that would be great. Not sure how water use translates.
Need on-site housing
Yes - Part time/tiny home? Particularly during lambing season.
Production type
Livestock - Sheep - Horned Hairsheep. Pure Painted Desert, with some Icelandic influence in the commercial ewes
Type of agriculture
Organic -
Conventional -
Other - Minimal inputs, as necessary. More natural, the better
