Farming Smarter, Not Harder: Lessons from Hobby Ag Farm

Hello from Hobby Ag Farm!

Nestled in the Eastern U.S., we approach farming a bit differently than the cowboy traditions of the American West. Over the past four years, we’ve learned a lot about managing our cattle and sheep—and we’re still discovering something new every day!

Lessons from the Pasture

Our fencing approach is simple yet effective. For our cattle, a single strand of electrified polywire does the trick, but our mischievous sheep need at least two strands. A wise farmer once told us, “Your best fence is their forage,” and we’ve found this to be true. By keeping our animals well-fed and rotating them to fresh pastures daily, we maintain a peaceful and productive environment.

Things You Should Do:

• Daily Rotation: Move ruminant animals to fresh pasture daily. It keeps them healthy and the land productive.
• Provide Shade: During the heat of summer, make sure your animals have access to shade, whether from trees or a mobile structure.
• Fresh Water Access: Ensure your animals have 24/7 access to fresh water. It’s a non-negotiable!
• Move with Care: When handling animals, stay calm and move slowly. Each species reacts differently—observe and adapt accordingly.
• Temporary Fences: Use temporary fences as much as possible. They’re quicker to set up and maintain than permanent ones.
• Family Involvement: Get your family involved in the farm work. Encourage their input and creativity—after all, they’ll be the next generation of farmers!

Things You Shouldn’t Do:

• Hauling Mishaps: Don’t try to haul a full-grown beef cow in a 2-horse trailer! (Want the full story? Just hit reply!)
• Avoid Hauling Water: Don’t carry water if you can pipe it instead. With around a mile of black poly pipe and quick couplers, we’ve made water management a breeze on our farm.

That’s a slice of life from Hobby Ag Farm! If you have any questions about our stress-free, grass-based farming methods or how we produce nutrient-dense products you can trust, just hit reply—we’d love to hear from you!

Your Friendly Homesteading Neighbor,
Farmer Raymond

P.S. In the spirit of our unique approach, here’s a little ditty we’ve come up with to capture our style:

I don’t need no cowboy boots, just a pair of crocs…
I don’t need no quarter horse, just a little diesel sweetheart.
I don’t need no leather saddle, just a tractor seat.
I don’t need no lasso, just a bit of wire.
I don’t need no spurs, just a visegrip…
I’m just a polywire cowboy! He-haw!