Raised on a milk farm in Minnesota,, wanted to get away, went in military for 30 yrs,, now back on same farm by myself , being a hay farmer, and loving every day of it
I just discovered your channel and enjoyed it very much! The world needs more good people like you. Farmers are a special positive spirit. Looking forward to more videos. God Bless!!!
My biggest struggle getting into and establishing a farm is land. I have equipment, I have experience, and I have resources. What I don't have is land. I have rented land, and without a home base it's impossible now in my area to pencil it out. I own my half acre in a small town with my home, we just don't have land coming available in our area. I have been transitioning into being more flexible, so if land comes available further away it can be a consideration.
Grew up in south central Wi. Dairy, chickens, tobacco farm. Lots of hard work.. a lot. They were the best days of my life but I wound up in NY and still order my cheese from Wi. Also taught all my girls how to grow gardens, make repairs, keep their own cars running. Farming makes a person. Thanks guys for bringing it real.
@@philrogers8160 I don't doubt that. I've just found that Wisconsin cheese keeps me grounded to my roots and I still haven't found any other place that makes a good aged brick like Wisconsin.
Your dad is instilling information in you boys that will last a lifetime and help you to help others. Thank you for feeding all the rest of us, some of us really appreciate all the hours and hard work and risk of your finances you put in !! God bless !!
I grew up on a 45 cow dairy farm in northeast Iowa. Much of what you do is similar to what we did when I was growing up. My observation is as we have depopulated the rural areas, there are fewer and fewer young people to,help,do,the work on farms. I was an ag lender for nearly 40 years so here are a few observations: 1) the easiest money to spend is borrowed money 2) be careful who you are watching and copying. 3) what you see others doing is often misleading 4) I was often asked, “what are those people thinking.” I would reply, “Maybe they aren’t thinking.”
It's great the way you explained all aspects of farming it's important for peaple to understand where there food comes from and great folks like you that are willing to do it
I just bought a dairy farm in East Central Wisconsin, ill be a 1st generation dairyman there vs the 5th generation here in Minnesota. Im only 24 so its re assuring listening to your father.
Thank you for another great video. I could listen to your dad all day long. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and explaining why you do what yo do.
You are smart farmers. The Hoard’s Dairyman recommendation is spot on. It reminded me that I need to subscribe again! I sincerely don’t believe you can start up a dairy these days but you guys (and others) prove that sensible, calculated small dairy farmers can survive. God Bless you all and keep the videos coming.
Great videos! Just found your channel. I'm about a hour north west of you guys it's nice to see a farm on RUclips that doesn't have brand new everything for most in this area that isn't reality.
The biggest take away from both QA. Is when your Dad said it isn’t what you made, it is what you have at the end. My late father said his uncle who was an ag dealer, and sale barn owner said the same thing. One thing I enjoy is the fact your family makes that size dairy work. Here in NC we lost so many dairies of your size, because of the pressures you mentioned. Of course having family in the dairy business even to this day I can understand what and how it works. It’s really a sad thing to see how the dairy industry has changed around us.
My family has been prudent with the sale of our land, my grandmother was born on a 160 acre homestead in the Eustis Nebraska area in the 1880's and my dad and his brothers and sisters and cousins that farm was left to grandma and one of her sisters. It was sold in the 1980 to local farmer who had been renting it. They also sold 560 acres that my Grandparents had aquired to a local farmer in 1980 they turned down one or two offers from foreign investors in order to do so. I sold my 80 acres to a local farmer 2 years ago. We always tried to sell to active farmers in the areas that the land was located.
Very interesting to see the similarities and differences between farming in US and the UK where I'm from. My dad was a dairy farmer in SW England and I had the advantage of growing up on the farm.
What a great video. Grew up on a small farm in the UK. Know exactly what you mean with everything you talked about. Farming is alot of hard work but you can't beat it. All the best 🇬🇧.
It seems you are good at preventing trouble thru your maintaining equipment and animal health program and that saves time and money and makes everything work smoother.
Thank you for taking the time to do these Q & As and all of the other videos you have done. I have watched every one of them and I have enjoyed each one of them.
My father started farming in the 40's with Massey Harris. By the time I come along Massey Ferguson and Oliver dealers were few in the area. International and John Deere were the primary sellers with an Allis Chalmers dealer starting up. John Deere dealer always stood behind his equipment except the manure spreader.
Fantastic video. When you speak about being nervous to buy your farm that brings me back to when I decided to go from renting the auto shop to buying my very own. There were many many nights that id pencil out the costs versus income. Many different scenarios, different costs, etc. I'll be honest it makes a person fairly nervous
Superb video.Watching from Devonshire in the UK,i've worked with dairy cattle for many years, it is wonderful to have an insight into your farming life,i find it reassuring that you are just like us,i'm sure i could lean on a farm gate and talk cows,land and tractors with you as if you were from the next farm in the valley.looking forward to the next instalment.
It's very hard to make a living but, you can make a pretty good life though. It's more a lifestyle than it is a way to generate wealth depending on your definition of wealth.
I love the way you guys farm. It's a lot of hard work but if it's in your blood there is nothing you'd rather do. As for round balers I have had pretty good luck with new holland. I had an old hesston years ago it wasn't bad but not great either, it was a little worn out when I got it.
i so agree with your Dad about the paper work that keeps coming and yes i find it insulting about what you do on your farm , i think as well rear beef cattle here look at the animals, that is the proof you need if the look well growing , shine on their coats and content you are doing it right , over here in the UK we have a thing called Red tractor , which proves you're doing thinks right but its turned into now masses of paperwork that the farm has to do and an inspection once a year , they don't look much at the cattle it's all paper work it's just ticking box exercise and you pay to be in it , it's just rubbish really and expensive , same price if you rear 10 cattle or 1,000 it's so unfair and a waste of time , sorry for that rant but your Dad is so right
Another great video. I wish I had paid more attention to the goings on in town when I was younger. The egg plant, dairy, grain mill and railroad(both passenger and freight) are closed up. There's still one dairy farm in town and some beef farms. I worked on a couple farms during hay season when I was in grade school. Used to be lots of small surface and underground coal mines too.
I recently found your channel and have been enjoying your content. These Q & A videos have been great. I feel like I know you now. I'm from the Madison WI area. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes for continued success. Deb
Actually the tech college would be a good place to go if you have any questions they can also lead you in the right direction and how to find the stuff that you're looking for
Massey Ferg's are popular here because of a local MF dealer. It's my understanding that local dealers tend to focus interest in a particular brand based almost strictly on proximity. But, like you say, they're all pretty good nowadays. I remember that the smaller 60's--70's Masseys used British Perkins diesels and enjoyed a good reputation for fuel economy and reliability. But the Green machines seem to enjoy the most loyal "brand-specific" owners. That "zero-down, zero-interest for 72 (or even 84) months" probably has a lot to do with initial purchase decision. Smart business on JD's part, as it has influenced many to purchase their brand of equipment. IMO you may as well have a useful piece of kit since the bank isn't going to pay you (much) for the use of your money.... I've always been able to pay my note with local odd-jobs with mowing, tilling, etc. (Plus I didn't have to pay someone else to come do my work when needed) and "compact" or "utility" tractors definitely hold their value over time. Always enjoy Gierok Farms videos!
everything that goes on it has to be between 10 & 4!!out here, there is a lot of gas wells going in on these farms, they already know how to farm without money, now they are going to find out how to farm with money! I'm kind of an old John Deere guy, but I run a lot more than JD! Farmalls, Olivers, Allis Chalmers, Massey Fergerson, even an Empire!
You guys do amazing job I love how are you guys are a family farm Homestead and I loved growing up on a dairy my mom ran out milked for about 15 years we started by relief milking my mom did collecting calves and then when we got up to like 50 we knew we had to start looking for a dairy so we found one to rent then we bought 60 cows from somebody we knew and then we started from now and we ended up with 300 cow's we milked two on each side so it was only four cows at a time but we could let them out individually we could get about 70 cows out an hour I'll milk was really good I think I'll raw was the one a pi was a one and sell 17 to 40 we got our milk picked up every day and goes like 87,000 gallons we have to quit in 2010 the big farmers pushed a lot of small dairies out in 2010 and 87 farmers quit we couldn't compete with the big Dairy Farmers which is really sad it was the hardest thing we had to do restore kept our cows we milked them for a little while at another Dairy I still have a lot of my cows at another Farm and they pay me and they try bye my cows I do a lot of cross reading keep up the good work on your videos I love them
It seems that a families proclivity to have many male offspring is an important factor in farming. Makes for good help early on but complications later. However, many siblings will dilute the inheritance later on and often times destroy the farm. Sibling rivalries are a problem also. This happened to my family farm, DeKalb Co., IL circa 1852 - 1906. Grandfather moved to town and became a successful machinist but always missed farm life. (P.S. One son and a son in law lost in the Civil War.)
i worked on a small dairy up north 40 years ago ran all kinds of equipment today im not sure i could even start a new tractor with all the new electronics they pretty much drive themselves from the videos i have seen
You guys doing amazing job you remind me of my grandpa and Dad he was a hard worker he taught us in life if we want something we have to record in life for it he passed away I really miss him he was always there for his kids we have seven kids in our family and my grandma was always there too she passed away too so it's holding not having that support around so my mom wasn't really there for his kids so I love how you guys are doing for your own kids and you guys do amazing job on everything unless how you take care of your animals and how you guys work together is such amazing thing to do and keep up the good videos
His dad will never say it because he doesn't need to. The channel will grow well because of great, honest content. Just keep watching and we'll all see.
there is much more than just Dairy, in 2020 the USA & Canada Governments both set up a program for young farmers to start raising pig, sheep or goats, a 1 million dollar grant is given each year for 5 years, we got the one for pigs, still today this program is still available but only to raise meat Goats. non farming people that want to start farming think big, i am sure they want to have or drive one of those big huge green or yellow or red or even black combines, but a start up farm from scratch would not have the money to buy a $300,000 combines or a $450,000 tractor and high speed planter, we our farm with 37,600 pigs still use combines and tractors from last century and just last winter bought 17 tractor that were built in 1965, a john deere 4020 we made them each as a power generator for each hog barn in case of a long power outage. kids play these farm simulator games and think they can grow things just that easy. We hire alot of people. what we find is alot of city people find out they have dust Allergies . one lady came to work for us, our pig or hog farm, we raise pigs and just like human people they poop, this lady kept saying gee something stinks in here, she could not get used to the smell, every farming person, child, teenager or adult can not even smell the poop on their hog or dairy or chicken farms. at least thats what some people say. some say pig poop stinks, while i think cow poop stinks worst.
One of the smartest things I've heard in a long time, it's not how much money we make, it's how much we don't have to make.
Raised on a milk farm in Minnesota,, wanted to get away, went in military for 30 yrs,, now back on same farm by myself , being a hay farmer, and loving every day of it
You answered a ton of questions just by talking back and forth. Both be proud of each other. I sure am. Godspeed
Old Man Gierok is so knowledgeable
I just purchased 40 acres 2 miles from my farm so I have 82 acres now and rent140 acres and milking 24 now
Just a few acres farm has a really good video on farm start ups
Great Q and A. Its great to hear about your family . Thanks for sharing!
I just discovered your channel and enjoyed it very much! The world needs more good people like you. Farmers are a special positive spirit. Looking forward to more videos. God Bless!!!
My biggest struggle getting into and establishing a farm is land. I have equipment, I have experience, and I have resources. What I don't have is land. I have rented land, and without a home base it's impossible now in my area to pencil it out. I own my half acre in a small town with my home, we just don't have land coming available in our area. I have been transitioning into being more flexible, so if land comes available further away it can be a consideration.
Could listen for hours.......class acts. Need more folks around like you guys.
Grew up in south central Wi. Dairy, chickens, tobacco farm. Lots of hard work.. a lot. They were the best days of my life but I wound up in NY and still order my cheese from Wi. Also taught all my girls how to grow gardens, make repairs, keep their own cars running. Farming makes a person. Thanks guys for bringing it real.
try NY cheese a milk plant nearby wins awards at state fair.
@@philrogers8160 I don't doubt that. I've just found that Wisconsin cheese keeps me grounded to my roots and I still haven't found any other place that makes a good aged brick like Wisconsin.
A+ video. Thanks 😊.
Your dad is instilling information in you boys that will last a lifetime and help you to help others. Thank you for feeding all the rest of us, some of us really appreciate all the hours and hard work and risk of your finances you put in !! God bless !!
I grew up on a 45 cow dairy farm in northeast Iowa. Much of what you do is similar to what we did when I was growing up. My observation is as we have depopulated the rural areas, there are fewer and fewer young people to,help,do,the work on farms. I was an ag lender for nearly 40 years so here are a few observations: 1) the easiest money to spend is borrowed money 2) be careful who you are watching and copying. 3) what you see others doing is often misleading 4) I was often asked, “what are those people thinking.” I would reply, “Maybe they aren’t thinking.”
It's great the way you explained all aspects of farming it's important for peaple to understand where there food comes from and great folks like you that are willing to do it
I just bought a dairy farm in East Central Wisconsin, ill be a 1st generation dairyman there vs the 5th generation here in Minnesota. Im only 24 so its re assuring listening to your father.
Enjoy your videos and insights on the various challenges in todays farming environment. Thank you!
Thank you for another great video. I could listen to your dad all day long. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and explaining why you do what yo do.
Bravo! Love your flagpole! Salute.
You are smart farmers. The Hoard’s Dairyman recommendation is spot on. It reminded me that I need to subscribe again! I sincerely don’t believe you can start up a dairy these days but you guys (and others) prove that sensible, calculated small dairy farmers can survive. God Bless you all and keep the videos coming.
Thanks. You both do a very good job in these discussions. Appreciate your taking the time for this.
Great videos! Just found your channel. I'm about a hour north west of you guys it's nice to see a farm on RUclips that doesn't have brand new everything for most in this area that isn't reality.
I remember when I was a kid there was 11 dairy farms on our ridge where I grew up now there is maybe one
The biggest take away from both QA. Is when your Dad said it isn’t what you made, it is what you have at the end. My late father said his uncle who was an ag dealer, and sale barn owner said the same thing. One thing I enjoy is the fact your family makes that size dairy work. Here in NC we lost so many dairies of your size, because of the pressures you mentioned. Of course having family in the dairy business even to this day I can understand what and how it works. It’s really a sad thing to see how the dairy industry has changed around us.
👌 You guys are the fun to listen to. I can tell you are very knowledgeable in the farming community. Look forward to your videos.
interesting and informative.
My family has been prudent with the sale of our land, my grandmother was born on a 160 acre homestead in the Eustis Nebraska area in the 1880's and my dad and his brothers and sisters and cousins that farm was left to grandma and one of her sisters. It was sold in the 1980 to local farmer who had been renting it. They also sold 560 acres that my Grandparents had aquired to a local farmer in 1980 they turned down one or two offers from foreign investors in order to do so. I sold my 80 acres to a local farmer 2 years ago. We always tried to sell to active farmers in the areas that the land was located.
Very interesting to see the similarities and differences between farming in US and the UK where I'm from. My dad was a dairy farmer in SW England and I had the advantage of growing up on the farm.
Very interesting video. Thank You for sharing
What a great video. Grew up on a small farm in the UK. Know exactly what you mean with everything you talked about. Farming is alot of hard work but you can't beat it. All the best 🇬🇧.
I think your farm is awesome
It seems you are good at preventing trouble thru your maintaining equipment and animal health program and that saves time and money and makes everything work smoother.
Thank you for taking the time to do these Q & As and all of the other videos you have done. I have watched every one of them and I have enjoyed each one of them.
I love watching the channel especially with older equipment yall run....
what a great series please have more thanks😀
Keep it simple, newer isn’t always better.
My father started farming in the 40's with Massey Harris. By the time I come along Massey Ferguson and Oliver dealers were few in the area. International and John Deere were the primary sellers with an Allis Chalmers dealer starting up.
John Deere dealer always stood behind his equipment except the manure spreader.
Good ol' manure spreader joke. Like the brake mechanic who will stand "in front of" his work....
Your dad always is looking for used equipment at sales! Good shopper!
Fantastic video. When you speak about being nervous to buy your farm that brings me back to when I decided to go from renting the auto shop to buying my very own. There were many many nights that id pencil out the costs versus income. Many different scenarios, different costs, etc. I'll be honest it makes a person fairly nervous
Superb video.Watching from Devonshire in the UK,i've worked with dairy cattle for many years, it is wonderful to have an insight into your farming life,i find it reassuring that you are just like us,i'm sure i could lean on a farm gate and talk cows,land and tractors with you as if you were from the next farm in the valley.looking forward to the next instalment.
You guys are great!!! I so enjoy your videos and insight.
It's very hard to make a living but, you can make a pretty good life though. It's more a lifestyle than it is a way to generate wealth depending on your definition of wealth.
Thank You for the Buckets of Wisdom. Kinda new here but LOVE your content. Mid-Coast Maine
We love you guys!! Grateful to what you guys do !!!
So interesting to watch the 2 of you bounce off each other.
I agree all my equipment I paid cash for
Of course my newest tractor is a 1977 4430
I love the way you guys farm. It's a lot of hard work but if it's in your blood there is nothing you'd rather do. As for round balers I have had pretty good luck with new holland. I had an old hesston years ago it wasn't bad but not great either, it was a little worn out when I got it.
i so agree with your Dad about the paper work that keeps coming and yes i find it insulting about what you do on your farm , i think as well rear beef cattle here look at the animals, that is the proof you need if the look well growing , shine on their coats and content you are doing it right , over here in the UK we have a thing called Red tractor , which proves you're doing thinks right but its turned into now masses of paperwork that the farm has to do and an inspection once a year , they don't look much at the cattle it's all paper work it's just ticking box exercise and you pay to be in it , it's just rubbish really and expensive , same price if you rear 10 cattle or 1,000 it's so unfair and a waste of time , sorry for that rant but your Dad is so right
Hoards Dairymen has an excellent library of dairy cow oriented booklets.
Another great video. I wish I had paid more attention to the goings on in town when I was younger. The egg plant, dairy, grain mill and railroad(both passenger and freight) are closed up. There's still one dairy farm in town and some beef farms. I worked on a couple farms during hay season when I was in grade school. Used to be lots of small surface and underground coal mines too.
Oliver is a great tractor.
I recently found your channel and have been enjoying your content. These Q & A videos have been great. I feel like I know you now. I'm from the Madison WI area. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes for continued success. Deb
Actually the tech college would be a good place to go if you have any questions they can also lead you in the right direction and how to find the stuff that you're looking for
God Bless Farmers!
Massey Ferg's are popular here because of a local MF dealer. It's my understanding that local dealers tend to focus interest in a particular brand based almost strictly on proximity. But, like you say, they're all pretty good nowadays. I remember that the smaller 60's--70's Masseys used British Perkins diesels and enjoyed a good reputation for fuel economy and reliability. But the Green machines seem to enjoy the most loyal "brand-specific" owners. That "zero-down, zero-interest for 72 (or even 84) months" probably has a lot to do with initial purchase decision. Smart business on JD's part, as it has influenced many to purchase their brand of equipment. IMO you may as well have a useful piece of kit since the bank isn't going to pay you (much) for the use of your money.... I've always been able to pay my note with local odd-jobs with mowing, tilling, etc. (Plus I didn't have to pay someone else to come do my work when needed) and "compact" or "utility" tractors definitely hold their value over time. Always enjoy Gierok Farms videos!
Enjoyed both of these Q&A Great Job
Another great video! Thanks!
everything that goes on it has to be between 10 & 4!!out here, there is a lot of gas wells going in on these farms, they already know how to farm without money, now they are going to find out how to farm with money! I'm kind of an old John Deere guy, but I run a lot more than JD! Farmalls, Olivers, Allis Chalmers, Massey Fergerson, even an Empire!
You guys do amazing job I love how are you guys are a family farm Homestead and I loved growing up on a dairy my mom ran out milked for about 15 years we started by relief milking my mom did collecting calves and then when we got up to like 50 we knew we had to start looking for a dairy so we found one to rent then we bought 60 cows from somebody we knew and then we started from now and we ended up with 300 cow's we milked two on each side so it was only four cows at a time but we could let them out individually we could get about 70 cows out an hour I'll milk was really good I think I'll raw was the one a pi was a one and sell 17 to 40 we got our milk picked up every day and goes like 87,000 gallons we have to quit in 2010 the big farmers pushed a lot of small dairies out in 2010 and 87 farmers quit we couldn't compete with the big Dairy Farmers which is really sad it was the hardest thing we had to do restore kept our cows we milked them for a little while at another Dairy I still have a lot of my cows at another Farm and they pay me and they try bye my cows I do a lot of cross reading keep up the good work on your videos I love them
It seems that a families proclivity to have many male offspring is an important factor in farming. Makes for good help early on but complications later. However, many siblings will dilute the inheritance later on and often times destroy the farm. Sibling rivalries are a problem also. This happened to my family farm, DeKalb Co., IL circa 1852 - 1906. Grandfather moved to town and became a successful machinist but always missed farm life. (P.S. One son and a son in law lost in the Civil War.)
Great content guys.👍👍👍👍
i worked on a small dairy up north 40 years ago ran all kinds of equipment today im not sure i could even start a new tractor with all the new electronics they pretty much drive themselves from the videos i have seen
Thanks guys. Good stuff. Nice t-shirts, where can I get one?
You guys doing amazing job you remind me of my grandpa and Dad he was a hard worker he taught us in life if we want something we have to record in life for it he passed away I really miss him he was always there for his kids we have seven kids in our family and my grandma was always there too she passed away too so it's holding not having that support around so my mom wasn't really there for his kids so I love how you guys are doing for your own kids and you guys do amazing job on everything unless how you take care of your animals and how you guys work together is such amazing thing to do and keep up the good videos
Hi from mn love the videos great channel . Grew up on a farm about same size farm. Where in wisc u guys from
you guy are awesome
This channel is brilliant. Just wondering how many siblings there are and what are your names. Thanks
Would really like to know if you both ran "Running of the Beef" 5K this year? Since your both wearing the T-Shirt!!
It looks like they do the "Running of the Beef" most every day. :)
Great content
So great!
Awesome Video! Being a "working farm" do you ever open up and give tours?
Book by andy junkin tough times never last tough farm familys do. Banker gave me
How many of the boys intend to enter farming when they grow up ?
The older I get (40) , the more I appreciate old paid for equipment.
Since you’re in the agronomy business, do you see the seed and fertilizer prices coming down anytime soon?
Are you ever going to get your dad to say...hit that like and subscribe button? Your dad is awesome I get a kick out of him.
His dad will never say it because he doesn't need to. The channel will grow well because of great, honest content. Just keep watching and we'll all see.
@@8tomtoms8 well no doubt...and I hope so...it just seems like he has tried to get him to say it... if he ever does it would make me smile
I see wisdom does carry from father to son!!
It seems like you people are good Christian people and how to run a farm
Q: How do you make a small fortune farming? A: Start with a large fortune!! 🤣😂
Do you grow all your own grain?
Join the 4H club..
Start a podcast
there is much more than just Dairy, in 2020 the USA & Canada Governments both set up a program for young farmers to start raising pig, sheep or goats, a 1 million dollar grant is given each year for 5 years, we got the one for pigs, still today this program is still available but only to raise meat Goats. non farming people that want to start farming think big, i am sure they want to have or drive one of those big huge green or yellow or red or
even black combines, but a start up farm from scratch would not have the money to buy a $300,000 combines or a $450,000 tractor and high speed planter, we our farm with 37,600 pigs still use combines and tractors from last century and just last winter bought 17 tractor that were built in 1965, a john deere 4020 we made them each as a power generator for each hog barn in case of a long power outage. kids play these farm simulator games and think they can grow things just that easy. We hire alot of people. what we find is alot
of city people find out they have dust Allergies . one lady came to work for us, our pig or hog farm, we raise pigs and just like human people they poop, this lady kept saying gee something stinks in here, she could not get used to the smell, every farming person, child, teenager or adult can not even smell the poop on their hog or dairy or chicken farms. at least thats what some people say. some say pig poop stinks, while i think cow poop stinks worst.