re: Small farms might be the way to go

Already setting one up. Quarter acre for my family.

I remember in the 50s we still had a local dairy in New Iberia that stocked the stores with eggs, butter and milk. Those places gradually shut down due to the post WWII construction of the interstate highway system. Big trucks could haul the cheaper stuff from giant Wisconsin dairies much faster than they could prior to the highways.

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Don't forget to register your farm with the government now. (You probably can guess how this will turn out for you.)

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Not to mention better use Monsanto seeds. Or they’ll sue you into oblivion when your crops get cross pollinated by the farmer next to you who does use them

A great way of life....and the world WEF wackos are super opposed to those who can afford it!

You would be surprised what 50 acres can produce in food, wildlife, and awesome clean living.

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Small farms aren't economically viable these days.

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That all depends on the crop ….

We are in the process of taking over father in-laws place. 60 acres with use of another 180.
Nothing other than the house has been maintained other than for deer hunting.
The key for us is to start small. Starting with chickens and a small (5 veg) garden. The ultimate goal is to raise 95% of our food and raise enough to cover the financial side where all is required is our labor.
Pipe dream I’m sure but won’t know till you try.

There is now a local Eunice-based meat company offering direct to consumer statewide. Good stuff.

Eunice-based Coastal Plains Meat Co., which launched a direct-to-consumer service in eight regional parishes earlier this year, is now available statewide.

The company’s service, Louisiana Beef Direct, is available thanks to a partnership with UPS, Coastal Plains CEO David Billings and COO Chip Perrin announced.

To kick off the development, the company will offer seven curated boxes for online ordering and delivery.

The service will benefit local cattle producers by connecting them with consumers looking for local products and variety, Billings said.

“The first of its kind in the state, Louisiana Beef Direct will benefit local cattle producers, connecting them to consumers that are looking for local product and variety,” said COO Chip Perrin. “It also helps streamline the marketing process benefitting herds of all sizes and provides another market outlet for local beef.”

Options include the Bold BBQ Box for grilling items, Louisiana Linked Box that will feature smoked sausage, boudin and andouille and the Slow-N-Low Box that will include gravy steaks and cuts meant to be cooked slow and low in a stove pot.

LINK

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but if enough people did and sold a little extra or simply shared their abundance, the megafarms would take a hit.

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No they wouldn’t. I’m speaking primarily about dairy because that’s the lifestyle I grew up in. The regulations are stifling for the little farmer and hobbyist# and favor those mega farms. You’d basically have to blow the entire US Ag department up and start over and that’s not going to happen.

I make my own maple syrup and legally could sell it direct to the consumer from my house. I can’t market it and sell it in stores without creating a bunch of headaches for myself that I don’t want. I cook mine over a wood fire. In order to sell it commercially I’d be inspected to make sure that my woodpiles do not have any mice in them. How in the hell do you keep mice out of a woodpile? ….yet traditionally cooked syrup over an open wood fire will always be much better than the commercially produced “pure” syrup you can buy in stores. Regardless of that, after using it to barter with friends and neighbors for stuff, giving it away to family members, close friends, the amount we keep for personal use, and donating a bunch to local schools and churches for their pancake dinners I’m still left with between 50-60 gallons per year that I’ll sell out of my house to people driving by.

I have about an acre and have about a dozen chickens and grew a lot of vegetables for a family of four..

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No they wouldn’t. I’m speaking primarily about dairy because that’s the lifestyle I grew up in. The regulations are stifling for the little farmer and hobbyist# and favor those mega farms. You’d basically have to blow the entire US Ag department up and start over and that’s not going to happen.

I make my own maple syrup and legally could sell it direct to the consumer from my house. I can’t market it and sell it in stores without creating a bunch of headaches for myself that I don’t want. I cook mine over a wood fire. In order to sell it commercially I’d be inspected to make sure that my woodpiles do not have any mice in them. How in the hell do you keep mice out of a woodpile? ….yet traditionally cooked syrup over an open wood fire will always be much better than the commercially produced “pure” syrup you can buy in stores. Regardless of that, after using it to barter with friends and neighbors for stuff, giving it away to family members, close friends, the amount we keep for personal use, and donating a bunch to local schools and churches for their pancake dinners I’m still left with between 50-60 gallons per year that I’ll sell out of my house to people driving by.

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True. Guess I'll stick to lead farming. Gettin' bout time for harvest.