He Scaled His Farm Back and Doubled Profits (Wild Harmony Farm)

Рет қаралды 10,910

7 күн бұрын

Ben has found the sweet spot for regenerative farming. When he was told to diversify to make profits, he became burnt out and ready to throw in then towel. But he didn't want to quit so he found what wasn't working and cut it out. He made his way down from 12 species to 2. Focusing on only pigs and cattle has allowed him to find revolutionary ways of raising these animals for more profit with less work.
Wild Harmony Farm
Exeter, Rhode Island
________________________________
► Learn more about Wild Harmony Farm:
Website: wildharmonyfarm.com/
Facebook: / wildharmonyfarmri
Instagram: / wildharmonyfarm
► Video edited by: Paul Schoentrup
SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL ✅
► Subscribe: tinyurl.com/247yszpj
FOLLOW ME 📸
► Instagram: / breaking_new_roots
► KZfaq: tinyurl.com/247yszpj
► Facebook: / breakingnewroots
► Group: / 1767037963772419
NOTE 📝
► This description contains affiliate links for products and services that I believe you my audience might receive value from. Each purchase through an affiliate link gives me a small percentage of the sale.
Thank You All!!!
All rights reserved © 2024 Breaking New Roots

Пікірлер: 42

@dhansonranch 4 күн бұрын

He struck a chord with the diversification comment - something always suffers when you have too many irons in the fire. I learned, and am still learning, this. Interesting operation - I like how he has his pigs set up. Good interview! Well done!

@BreakingNewRoots 3 күн бұрын

Absolutely!!! My jaw was dropped most of our visit! He has some amazing ideas!

@dhansonranch 3 күн бұрын

@@BreakingNewRoots What I find so interesting in this and quite a few others is what folks gross earnings are...when I convert currency, it is really surprising and somewhat concerning. Different scope I guess.

@BreakingNewRoots 3 күн бұрын

@@dhansonranch on really? Discerning how?? Are you saying it’s higher than you expect or lower?

@dhansonranch 3 күн бұрын

@@BreakingNewRoots Way higher. If you convert the 500000 to CDN, that is $684,600. I just bought a half a cow and I paid 4.50 CDN (3.29 USD) a pound plus cutting and wrapping. The half was 350 pounds. So at 700 pounds hanging weight, to generate that kind of income, a person would need to raise 217 head of cattle. Granted there is more money to be made by doing value added. But even if a person were to charge double what live weight price is at moment (1.94 USD x 2 =3.88 USD or 5.31 CDN) to live weight of my animal (700 hanging = 1160 live weight), generating 6160 CDN, a person would still need to raise 111 head throughout the year. There is absolutely a number of factors at play, but that kind of income being generated makes me scratch my head - there must be something I am missing. Been wondering this for a while now. I am not discrediting what is being shared, just attempting to figure it out as it applies here. I still maintain there is great information being shared.

@BreakingNewRoots 3 күн бұрын

@@dhansonranch oh interesting.

@zekeshow3769 4 күн бұрын

This guy has got his operation fine tuned. There’s a lot to learn here. I’ll be watching again.

@BreakingNewRoots 4 күн бұрын

He really does!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed our conversation!!

@alanbercovitz3657 16 сағат бұрын

Awesome job Ben and Rachael!!!!!!

@jolenedanforth2056 5 күн бұрын

Sounds like Joel Salatin's information on farming this way is really spreading. He has been doing this for many years. Love it

@BreakingNewRoots 4 күн бұрын

Oh yes!! A lot of farmers we visit say they learned about Joel and took it from there. I love how everyone then puts their own spin on it depending on what their specific farm needs.

@jolenedanforth2056 4 күн бұрын

@@BreakingNewRoots I love it too.

@Grassfedpasturesfarm 3 күн бұрын

Great video, thanks for sharing!!

@BreakingNewRoots 3 күн бұрын

Thank you so much!! Ben was great! We are so glad to have met him!!

@jonathanmurdick4048 14 сағат бұрын

Outstanding interview and excellent advise. Your system can be complex but it shouldn't be complicated....love it

@BreakingNewRoots 14 сағат бұрын

Yes!!! I loved that part of our conversation!!

@plainandsimple1 Сағат бұрын

This seriously hit home. My wife and I are getting super burned out over the last 5 years with so many different income sources/ animals. It's a lot, and we're considering completely down sizing too.

@BreakingNewRoots Сағат бұрын

I can so relate!! Talking with Ben really opened my eyes that diversity doesn’t have to be key on a small farm. It’s okay to niche down and focus on what you really enjoy.

@plainandsimple1 56 минут бұрын

@@BreakingNewRoots where does ben sell his animals to after they're raised? Does he have that many clientele to do all private sales? Or does he have a cattle/ hog dealer get his animals?

@BreakingNewRoots 47 минут бұрын

@@plainandsimple1 he sells the meat in private sales. I can’t remember if they do farmers markets or not.

@willbass2869 4 күн бұрын

The late Alan Nation, editor of Stockman Grass Farmer, intro'd the idea at one of their grazing classes to have ONE core centerpiece business and then a couple fewer temporary/seasonal/short term enterprises. If the enterprises can mutually benefit the other all the better. Ex. Cattle graze down a field partially (& leave manure) then poultry (seasonal turkey?) follow several days later and scratch through the manure pats just as the fly larvae develop. Turkey manure, enhanced by store bought feed, provide high quality fertilizer for the grass Cattle are permanent centerpiece while turkeys are a "put & take" enterprise. Buy them in late spring/process for thanksgiving. 5-6 months and then they're off the property. You dont even need to have turkeys every year ...switch to feeder pigs occasionally. Back & forth

@BreakingNewRoots 4 күн бұрын

Absolutely!!! I love how Ben is really working with that idea and especially the way he is raising his pigs to be a semi-seasonal/temporary animal on the farm! Such innovation!

@andrewmcdonald7077 4 күн бұрын

Thank you for this. Great data for planning.

@BreakingNewRoots 4 күн бұрын

Absolutely!! I loved his methods!

@JK-jf7xq 5 күн бұрын

I got some good ideas. Thanks.

@BreakingNewRoots 5 күн бұрын

Absolutely!! I learned so much from Ben and really enjoyed learning about his farm!! So glad you did too!!

@SJA-ox3hs 4 күн бұрын

To have to bring in half a million-$800,000 a year. You must have a whole Lotta debt to make so little profit. We have for several years, doubled, our profit, simply taking finished steers to the auction.

@BreakingNewRoots 4 күн бұрын

I don’t recall a conversation around debt but I do know that feed expenses, animal expenses, and land payments can easily add up to a large number. Also, Ben makes a point to say that he does pay himself a wage and has multiple employees that he pays well. Those too are not low expenses. I’m curious how you are doubling your profits on your farm by going to auction. Are you reducing costs elsewhere?? Sounds like you are really figuring out your sweet spot!

@SJA-ox3hs 4 күн бұрын

@@BreakingNewRoots

@SJA-ox3hs 4 күн бұрын

We have no imputes, only grass, no feed, no bills. We have 250 acres in Ava Missouri, we breed and purchase South poll cattle/steers they bred back great, are grass genetics based cattle, slick oil hide, approximately 1000/1200 pounds max, they are simply the cattle for no imputes. Example: 400 lbs steer at sale is approximately 800-900 pound, even if you purchase high when you double the weight at sale you double the profits. We don’t even have a tractor. You have to have forage and understand high intensity grazing. No hay let them eat it stomp it and fertilize it. No stress. All that the greats Salatin, Judy, etc. have the formula you just have to apply it.

@BreakingNewRoots 4 күн бұрын

@@SJA-ox3hs oh for sure! That’s a great system! I’m glad you are able to apply that on your land!

@mamabearj1564 2 күн бұрын

Question(s) How was he able to afford the time overseas and buying the land if he was so sick? I'm not trying to be negative, but I have to question this.

@jhost0311 2 күн бұрын

Why doesn’t he breed back the sows instead of leaving them unbred? Seems like it would be more efficient to keep breeding sows.

@BreakingNewRoots 2 күн бұрын

Yeah. That’s what I was thinking too. But that’s kind of his whole point. Instead of focusing on the traditional value of “production” he processes the sows, they only get bred once and when their piglets are weaned the sows are used for meat production. He does keep gilts back to breed for the next line but it’s not as much maintenance.

@user-kv2pt4lu9y Күн бұрын

Farrowing can be challenging.