House on Blocks

[FRENCHMAN]

Roly ..Did you buy a farm in Sask or Manitoba.?

[FRENCHMAN]

horse, are you trying to tell us you are an old boy ???? Kind of gave that one away when you mentioned the STAIRS !! ( Geez, don't get mad I am just kidding !!)

[cowman]

Roly: I doubt you would want to live in town and commute if you intend to keep sheep? There used to be a bumper sticker around a few years ago that read "Eat lamb, 50,000 coyotes can't be wrong!" Don't know if you have considered our little furry friends when you contemplate raising sheep?
I would think Emeralds suggestion of a mobile home is a good one? A good quick solution that you can change somewhere down the road when you make your fortune farming in Canada!
Don't be discouraged by my sarcasm! Despite all the problems here in agriculture, if you keep your nose to the grindstone and take care of business you can do okay. We all came here from somewhere else sometime and despite guys like Horse(who believes he is the landed gentry!) complaining, very few of us are starving!
I believe grassfarmer has a pretty good plan for an ag-venture...although I hesitate to say that here as it might go to his head! He is from the UK and might be helpful with some advice?

[cowman]

good suggestion cowman. Grassfarmer has an excellent understanding of the type of agriculture roly is used to, plus has certainly adapted to the type of agriculture found here on the prairies.

[grassfarmer]

Thanks guys, it is probably easier for me to understand where roly is coming from on a lot of issues but I still don't have the experience of Canada that others on here do. I've never been east of Strome either! Roly does correspond by email with me as well as here on Agriville.

[grassfarmer]

glad to hear that grassfarmer. Relocating to a new community is a challenge when faced with different type of farming methods, growing seasons etc., but starting out in a new country is not for the faint hearted. I am pleased that roly has someone to chat with about things, and certainly with your experiences in both countries you are an ideal source of information, and it doesn't matter whether you have been east of Strome or not !!

I know that roly has received a large cross section of ideas from all of us here, so I hope we haven't totally confused you roly, we are all trying to offer some good advice based on our own experiences or firsthand knowledge !!

[kato]

If you are in the Yorkton area ... my cousin bought a RTM home (Ready to Move) from a company in Yorkton. I don't know the name of the builders, but it is sure a nice house. It's not a trailer either, it's a full fledged house. They've been in it for a few years now, and are very happy with it. I don't think it would take much checking around to find them.

[WoolyBear]

Going through Yorkton last fall there were atleast 5 builders (plus another in town) on the east side. All were within shouting distance of each other. There are lots of family run outfits too. Mostly Mennonite families that have craftsmanship that is very outstanding in my opinion. In fact when the lottery comes in, theres an order going in to one of them near Roblin.

[WoolyBear]

a family member moved into their new manufactured home last fall, and it is one of the best built manufactured homes I have seen. They chose to go with more expensive items such as a fireplace, large oval bathtub on their ensuite and a walk in closet at the back entry as well as off their bedroom.
They also had a large sink and vanity installed in the utility room at the back entry.

They had a choice of several price ranges for cabinets, floor coverings etc. I think their home came from somewhere in Sask.

[roly]

posted Mar 16, 2006 4:52
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Hello Agra-friends, The farm is in between Yorkton & Saskatoon and I am moving there at the end of May, if the sale is straight forward. I will probably be too late for spring seeding this year, but I can't get there any earlier as I have commitments to finish in the UK. I've got to work out whats the best thing to do about a house. I may just bite the bullitt and borrow a little bit and put a ready to move house on. I think the farm should be able to sustain a small mortgage. I would appreciate your comments, my situation will be 1000 acre farm, half bush/pasture, half cultivated. 100 cows, 50 ewes, second hand machinery (enough to run the farm) without any borrowing. I would have thought a small mortgage for a house - the farm should be able to handle this. I really appreciate the help that the people on Agri-Ville have given me, and I hope I can carry on asking for your help.

Thank you,

Roland.

[roly]

roly, you are more than welcome and we all are ready and willing to give you any advice we can.

The income you make on the farm will depend on two things:

Weather and commodity prices. I don't know what crops you plan on growing but I would sure get advice from some of the experienced Sask. grain farmers on this site.
100 cows will provide a decent living if you have very little debt. I know that debt is scary but a mortgage on your home isn't a luxury, specially if you are going to be debt free with the rest of the operation.

I don't know if you are considering taking on some off farm employment or if you have a spouse that is able to do so. If so, you may be able to bring in some additional income that will help with utility bills, etc.

Good luck and don't be shy about asking advice....we aren't always right but most of us have learned by our own mistakes.

[cowman]

And I suspect emerald just might give you advice whether you need it or not! Don't worry she'll have you whipped into fine shape in no time and have you a true blue Tory before you know it! Just don't say anything about the "manure police" or rural subdivisions and you'll probably be okay! LOL

[cowman]

cowman, you are in a fiesty mood this morning.

I am heading out to Edmonton, no time to do battle with you now, but don't worry, I'll be back in fighting trim before the day is over !!!