Well I have 96 acres and still buy 150 to 200 bales of hay along with some feed. We only have between 8 and 15 goats. The goats pay for their own keep and even make a small profit. I could probably get by feeding less or none but prefer the convenience of having the does in milk in or near the barn for easy milking. Also ther milk tast better and consistent when feed hay vs browsing who knows what. Like a cows milk if it's put out on fresh spring grass with lots of onion Gras the milk will have a garlic after taste vs a hay dust after tast if feed hay. Of course that of its consumed raw not processed.
I misunderstood your making a living off small acres to mean profitable income not self sufficient and producing all your own feed.
No farm is self-sufficient some are more then others but all buy off farm inputs. So when I heard make a living I automatically went to feeding the family and making a profit off the farm. Currently I would be money ahead if I were going by that criteria on small acreage of 5 to 10 vs the 96. I would have more in the bank not buying so much land, I would have much less expense in upkeep and need less and could get by with smaller equipment and I would have a lot more time not keeping up with so much land. I could spend more time and have a smaller area operating much more efficiently.
I think many people drastically underestimate what can be done on even just a single acre.
That said economics has litle to do with me wanting even more land. I can expand and the prices just keep climbing. Since my off farm job supports my aspiring farm business I spend 4 times what the farm has made last year just working on building infrastructure and developing markets. Im also always shooting myself in the foot ( like looking at a 20month old jersey that's supposed to be 6 months breed today on line) I'm not ready for it at all but my wife has wanted a jersey milk cow for several years and I'm thinking about surprising her with it. The cow is currently a want not a need and an expensive want with on going expenses. It can pay for its self I'm sure if it calfs with no complications. Especially if like most farmers you don't put a price on your time or severely under value your time.[/quote]
Very true , I remember onion tasting fresh milk , and still would prefer it to store bought milk.
It's hard work , and the feeling of owing and being tired enough to sleep deep , is worth it.
