The return to farmland and farms has been a growing trend among entrepreneurs, as well as retirees. Approximately 8 million acres across Virginia are in fact farmland, so narrowing down what farmland is appropriate for you, your needs and desires is extremely important. For this reason, an educated realtor is necessary for your search of Virginia farms for sale. The types of property for sale varies quite a bit across the state, from simply stated land for sale all the way full-scale cattle farms or horse farms for sale. Are you looking to begin a hobby farm, or simply want open land in the country? Your realtor can help you navigate these questions in order to find the ideal property for you and your family.
Virginia Estates is a leading real estate company in the state of Virginia. The knowledge base you will find common among their realtors about the farmland for sale in Virginia is vast and extensive. If you are looking to purchase a farm for sale in Virginia, or sell a farm in Virginia, Virginia Estates is ready to be by your side today through the end of that process.
Common types of farms you will find in Virginia:
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Equestrian Farms
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Established Farm Operations
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Cattle Farms
- Vineyards
Types of Farms
Virginia agriculture is a $52 billion industry annually. With over 45,000 farms across the state at an average of 180 acres, Virginia farms grow and raise a range of commodities. Livestock certainly takes the cake in Virginia, with broilers. Cattle, calves and turkeys all in the top five! Other items that have made their way into the top producers in Virginia are: milk, corn soybeans, greenhouse & nursery products, grain, and wheat. This isn’t the limit though, Virginia’s climate is super friendly for farming and the crops expand from potatoes to grapes, as well as playing a huge role in forestry.
Cattle Farms
If there were ever any doubt about the consumption of beef in the US, it was probably unwarranted. In the US alone, it’s estimated that the economic impact of cattle & calves sales in 2016 was over 67.5 billion dollars. With over 900,000 cattle operations in the United States, there’s no question that this is a thriving area of the economy with no threat in the foreseeable future. With that said, there are different types of cattle farms:
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Beef Farms & Ranches
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Cattle Feedlots
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Cattle Inventory (this includes milk cows)
Each herd is approximately 40 cows, and of these farms the majority are family-owned or individually owned. If you are interested in buying a cattle farm, or buying Virginia farmland for a cattle farm, Virginia Estates can lead you in the right direction, and help you every step of the way.
Cattle farming has been a part of Virginia’s history for many many years. With the ideal climate and rainfall to support these animals, it’s no surprise that this is the second largest animal industry in the state. There are many stages of cattle farms, here are a few details about each.
Seed Stock Farm
This is truly where it all begins. The breeding grounds of the cattle industry can be found here, where the cattle are also judged for their production capabilities as well as hardiness. The farmer here must pay close attention to the industry and follow the demands where they lead. I’m sure a look into the future would be their first wish, as they have to look four years into the future when the animals born that year will be ready.
These cattle are expected to be the cream of the crop, so to speak. Seed stock farmers need to pay acute attention to the herd on a national scale, this way the genetics can be guided in a way that makes these cattle elite.
If you are wondering what cattle make up the majority of mass produced beef, these cattle are it. From here they are purchased and continue to breed. Due to their exceptional genetic traits these animals are ideal because they are highly resistant to pests and sickness.
Commercial Cattle Farm
From the seed stock farm the cows & calves come to the commercial farm to live. Here the cattle will live out their lives until they reach the weight at which is deemed ready to wean. This weight varies and is anywhere between 500 and 800 pounds. At this point they will again be moved to another farm.
For this particular type of farm the land you need in order to proceed does not need to necessarily be as “high quality.” Further along the production line you will need higher quality forage for the cattle to eat, but at this stage in the game, less quality forage is perfectly acceptable.
Backgrounder Farm
Once it is decided the calf is ready to transition off momma’s milk, the backgrounder farm is a great place to guide the calf into the world of forage. Extreme attention is then paid to the calf and it’s individual process along this transition. This transition can be very stressful on the calf, and the attention given to the calf at this type of farm could be the difference between life and death. (For example, the calf would not have the luxury of receiving this individualized attention at the stocker farm.)
This will be home to the calf until they are thriving on their own. Throughout this process the backgrounder farm will ensure the calf is receiving all necessary vaccinations, as well as teach the calf to eat from the trough.
Stocker Farm
Stocker farms at where the cattle will due the majority of their growth after they have transitioned off of milk and are fully thriving on forage. This is where the bulking up is done, by feeds such as: forage, hay and pasture. At this point in the game the amount of labor per animal drops significantly because now the focus is on the overall herd. Here it is common to provide the herd with a round bale of hay for food.
Cattle Finishing Farm
Here is where the cattle go to spend the last few months bulking up on grain in order to attain the high quality beef that is so desired by the public. They arrive here once they have reached their target size, which can vary largely depending on the breed. The beef that comes from these farms is labeled “Choice,” “Select Grade,” or “Grain Finished.” Generally, they will spend about three months here.
The Feedlot
Here is where it all comes to an end. The cattle that are delivered to the feedlot have reached their target weight & bulk. They are slaughtered, butchered and prepared to be distributed to grocery stores and markets across the nation.
If you are contemplating buying a cattle farm, or perhaps buying farmland to begin a cattle farm, Virginia is a great place to do so. There are a multiplicity of options in types of cattle farms, as well as sizes. Virginia farmland for sale has so much to offer.
Check even more beautiful farms in located in wonderful Charlottesville Virginia- Charlottesville Farms