Andy Egger, and Draft Horses for hire mow hay at Swanton

Andy Egger mowing hay using draft horses for hire Jed and Greta at Swanton Organic Farm.www.swantonberry.com. Davenport, Located 9 miles north of Santa Cruz, CA

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Andy
• Egger
• randy
• clayton
• draft
• horses
• for
• hire
• swanton
• berry
• ranch
• organic
• california
• sustainable
• davenport
• roadhouse

[jakebarnes28]

Does anyone know the difference in "efficiency" between using horses like this for farming vs. machinery?

Lets factor in not only the amount of hay cut, soil plowed, etc, but also cost factors like fuel, food, and debt service (since I doubt farmers are shelling out $250,00 at once for a new John Deere).

Is it viable?

I'm hoping the answer is yes.

[davenport8]

@jakebarnes28 The answer is Yes, Jake.

[filly4billy2002]

Beautiful to see this kind of tradition still alive and well in 'busy' California. Thanks for posting! :~)

[lynnstromwall]

I think what ever Andy wants to do for HIS farm is wonderful. The horses love to work and they live longer lives having a purpose. The same is true for men and women. Don't you think? Love organic!

womenredesignyourlives

[laurabruland]

I love this video. We do some farming, skidding, ect with horses. We spend some evenings "cruising" You Tube and we always come back to this one. You caught the feel of everything--horses working, mower running well, the peace and teamwork of horses and driver. Thank you fpr posting this one!

[Crushedknee]

@jakebarnes28 Viable yes but it depends on what your per hour income needs are.If you have a large mortgage and a lots of land to work its not be practical cause you cant work Hundreds of acres without machinery.You Can feed a horse on about 1-2 acres of well managed Hay farming..Thats you fuel cost. About 4 tons of hay per year plus maybe a half ton of oats..$150. 500$ for harness..$4000-8000 for a good young trained draft..The equipment varies in cost

[wheelbarrow16]

whats the maintenance like for a machine like this?

i suppose you have to be constantly sharpening and swapping the knives - i wounder how far one knife goes before nedding sharpening?

[jakebarnes28]

That is good to hear davenport. There is a gentleman in Michigan who farms with horses and oxen. He opens his farm up to the public who are interested in this type of activity - his organization is Tiller's International. The Europeans have developed a sophisticated agri-tourism industry. I should think a farmer utilizing animal power could supplement their income inviting people to participate (yes, the lawyers will have to get involved :( ). Tillers International has cool YouTube videos.

[Doggitter]

@jakebarnes28 If you can afford the extra time it takes farming with horses is completely cost effective. I end up using all my available time haying with machinery and unfortunately can't afford to slow the process with the "nicer" horse drawn equipment.

[Menzimuckeli]

@jakebarnes28 it's depending on the work you have to do, on the costs of food, the vet, fuel, costs of hiring people for work, amount of unemployed people and sice of farm:

Read: Ch. Kendell - Economics of Horse Farming. Rural Heritage 3, 2005

My main argument for horses is, that a tractor is not reproductiv and a horse is eating this, what is growing on your field, no technology necessary to produce "biofuel", the maximum of independance.

[jdgreen4120]

I don't farm with horses or with large tractors.

All in all the video is great, and its good to see that some are still using the same way our ancestors used to farm and keeping the tradition alive. Thanks for sharing.

[nquadess7]

i dont know where youll ever find a good draft horse like that for $250. and yes its a great think to watch but you cant compare it to new age farming.