If we could buy 1000 acres or more, who would join us?

[Tod]

East or west? Because Yellowstone is desert as all get out. The NE corner is prime grassland and a bit of mountain forest.

Look at the pictures under "explore" in this section of Google Maps

https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d8055!2d-104.6486856!3d44.4518104

I drove across the whole northern part of the state, from where 20 enters the western border, across on 14 (and 14 alt) to Sheridan, and then 90 to Gillette and the rest of the way east to the SD border. Compared to Ohio and NH, it is all very arid.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

I drove across the whole northern part of the state, from where 20 enters the western border, across on 14 (and 14 alt) to Sheridan, and then 90 to Gillette and the rest of the way east to the SD border. Compared to Ohio and NH, it is all very arid.

Believe it or not, rich grasslands generally grow crops better than deciduous forests.

 

[Carlybee]

My concern again would be the winters. Especially from a farming standpoint...although I am no expert on farming.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

My concern again would be the winters. Especially from a farming standpoint...although I am no expert on farming.

Yeah, the problem being that anywhere we could go that was warm enough (southern enough for a long solar growing season) for a very long crop cycle will either already be overpopulated, or desert. The seasons could be augmented with greenhouses.

 

[Tod]

Believe it or not, rich grasslands generally grow crops better than deciduous forests.

Ohio ranks 17th for total agricultural production while Wyoming only ranks 38th.

More info here:

Ohio: http://stuffaboutstates.com/ohio/agriculture.htm

[TABLE="class: standard"]
[TR]
[TH="class: thtitle, colspan: 4"]Commodity groups cash receipts - 2004[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: thtext"]Product Group[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]Value ($1,000)[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]% State total[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]State rank[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]All commodities[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]5,459,380[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]100.0%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]17[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]Livestock & livestock products[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]2,072,104[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]38.0%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]21[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]Crops[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]3,387,276[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]62.0%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext, colspan: 4"]Source: USDA:Economic Research Service[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



Wyoming: http://stuffaboutstates.com/wyoming/agriculture.htm

[TABLE="class: standard"]
[TR]
[TH="class: thtitle, colspan: 4"]Commodity groups cash receipts - 2004[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: thtext"]Product Group[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]Value ($1,000)[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]% State total[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]State rank[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]All commodities[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]1,104,702[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]100.0%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]38[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]Livestock & livestock products[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]950,956[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]86.1%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]36[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]Crops[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]153,747[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]13.9%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]44[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext, colspan: 4"]Source: USDA:Economic Research Service[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]




And when you take into account the difference in size of the states, well.....

 

[Carlybee]

Yeah, the problem being that anywhere we could go that was warm enough (southern enough for a long solar growing season) for a very long crop cycle will either already be overpopulated, or desert. The seasons could be augmented with greenhouses.

I think the desert is out for water reasons. There's tons of cheap, cheap land in the Big Bend area of Texas but no water unless you drill deep down and the dirt is hard. Plus it's too close to the border for my taste anyway. North of there in the Alpine area is still desert but with some hills and more water, but more $$$. It does have a bit more moderate temps at higher elevation. Same I am guessing with Nevada...probably some good deals but no water. (plus missile testing etc.)

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Ohio ranks 17th for total agricultural production while Wyoming only ranks 38th.

More info here:

Ohio: http://stuffaboutstates.com/ohio/agriculture.htm

[TABLE="class: standard"]
[TR]
[TH="class: thtitle, colspan: 4"]Commodity groups cash receipts - 2004[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: thtext"]Product Group[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]Value ($1,000)[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]% State total[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]State rank[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]All commodities[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]5,459,380[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]100.0%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]17[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]Livestock & livestock products[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]2,072,104[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]38.0%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]21[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]Crops[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]3,387,276[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]62.0%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext, colspan: 4"]Source: USDA:Economic Research Service[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



Wyoming: http://stuffaboutstates.com/wyoming/agriculture.htm

[TABLE="class: standard"]
[TR]
[TH="class: thtitle, colspan: 4"]Commodity groups cash receipts - 2004[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: thtext"]Product Group[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]Value ($1,000)[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]% State total[/TH]
[TH="class: thnumb"]State rank[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]All commodities[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]1,104,702[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]100.0%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]38[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]Livestock & livestock products[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]950,956[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]86.1%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]36[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext"]Crops[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]153,747[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]13.9%[/TD]
[TD="class: tdnumb"]44[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: tdtext, colspan: 4"]Source: USDA:Economic Research Service[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]




And when you take into account the difference in size of the states, well.....

Wyoming is also sparsely populated, and half the state is desert. More accurate would be crop volume per acre of active farmland.

 

[eduardo89]

My concern again would be the winters. Especially from a farming standpoint...although I am no expert on farming.

Temperatures in Wyoming aren't actually as cold as you might imagine. Lows of 12° in January and lows of 50° in August with highs of 32° in January and in the 80°s in August. That's comparable to Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.

 

[Carlybee]

Temperatures in Wyoming aren't actually as cold as you might imagine. Lows of 12° in January and lows of 50° in August with highs of 32° in January and in the 80°s in August.

I would actually like it..I hate hot weather but my hubby hates the cold. I have been to Wyoming in August, camping out and was not prepared for how cold it was at night. My concern with the sparsely populated thing though is access to medical facilities, etc. I guess it will be hard to find something that fits what everyone wants though.

 

[Tod]

Wyoming is also sparsely populated, and half the state is desert. More accurate would be crop volume per acre of active farmland.

Okay.

Ohio has 14,609,700 acres in agricultural production, or 56% of the state.
That amounts to $373.68/acre overall

Wyoming has 34,435,600 acres in agricultural production, or 55% of the state.
That amounts to $32.08/acre overall

Those figures only include land that is in agricultural use. (in other words it isn't counting Wyoming's desert). This further highlights the difference in agricultural productivity. Of course, New Hampshire probably fares pretty poorly too since the Appalachians run through it. I'm half tempted to see what it's figures come to.

 

[eduardo89]

Tod, huge amounts of Wyoming are used as grazing land instead of growing crops, yet that counts as agricultural land.

 

[Carlybee]

Is this in redneckville? lol http://www.landwatch.com/Franklin-County-Tennessee-Land-for-sale/pid/244273501

 

[Origanalist]

Is this in redneckville? lol http://www.landwatch.com/Franklin-County-Tennessee-Land-for-sale/pid/244273501

It looks like a slice of heaven to me. But I do understand there are those that need better access to medical facilities.

 

[Pericles]

I think the desert is out for water reasons. There's tons of cheap, cheap land in the Big Bend area of Texas but no water unless you drill deep down and the dirt is hard. Plus it's too close to the border for my taste anyway. North of there in the Alpine area is still desert but with some hills and more water, but more $$$. It does have a bit more moderate temps at higher elevation. Same I am guessing with Nevada...probably some good deals but no water. (plus missile testing etc.)

And the projected path of the NAFTA super highway to link in with I 20. We decided anything south of I20 was undefendable.

 

[Tod]

Tod, huge amounts of Wyoming are used as grazing land instead of growing crops, yet that counts as agricultural land.

I realize that....and that further highlights the fact that the land is unable to support much. How many acres of land does it take to support a head of beef cattle in Wyoming? Here in Ohio, we figure on about an acre per head, with some of our good land. However, our land is so productive that instead of allowing cattle to graze, it is almost always planted to crops while the cattle are kept in a barn because it is a more efficient use of the land. Same with hogs and dairy cows. There is also very little irrigation done, because we normally get enough rainfall.

It looks like irrigation is necessary in large areas of WY, and is done mainly around the Platte River basin: http://waterplan.state.wy.us/plan/platte/atlas/above/above_agricultural_irrigated_acreage.htm

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Is this in redneckville? lol http://www.landwatch.com/Franklin-County-Tennessee-Land-for-sale/pid/244273501

Not a bad area, it's on the Cumberland Plateau so that's a good thing. A bit close to Chattanooga and the population issues that could bring in a SHTF; and it's not a dry county, so that's nice. It's a semi-dry county, so no liquor buying on Sundays.

In a SHTF you might get foot traffic off of I-24 and US-64

 

[Origanalist]

Not a bad area, it's on the Cumberland Plateau so that's a good thing. A bit close to Chattanooga and the population issues that could bring in a SHTF; and it's not a dry county, so that's nice. It's a semi-dry county, so no liquor buying on Sundays.

In a SHTF you might get foot traffic off of I-24 and US-64

ock Spring Ridge is located on Keith Springs Mountain in Franklin County just outside Winchester Tennessee. Scenic views, creeks, and streams are just a few of the natural amenities spread across the large parcel. The topography of this acreage allows for long range mountain views of the Cumberland Plateau and beautiful creek gorges. With a total of 4,800 acres and an abundance of wildlife, this is an exceptional hunting and recreation tract with endless potential at only $1,275 per acre. Power is available close to the entrance of the property.

I could live there, no problem.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I think the desert is out for water reasons. There's tons of cheap, cheap land in the Big Bend area of Texas but no water unless you drill deep down and the dirt is hard. Plus it's too close to the border for my taste anyway. North of there in the Alpine area is still desert but with some hills and more water, but more $$$. It does have a bit more moderate temps at higher elevation. Same I am guessing with Nevada...probably some good deals but no water. (plus missile testing etc.)

Depends on what part of the desert. Arizona has some fine rivers and folks have built very good dams and such. Droughts take their toll like anywhere else, but farmers around here are good at what they do. If there are rivers, it's doable.

 

[Tod]

Depends on what part of the desert. Arizona has some fine rivers and folks have built very good dams and such. Droughts take their toll like anywhere else, but farmers around here are good at what they do. If there are rivers, it's doable.

That explains how Arizona came to be known as the breadbasket of the nation.

 

[Carlybee]

And the projected path of the NAFTA super highway to link in with I 20. We decided anything south of I20 was undefendable.

Honestly, with drone technology you have to wonder if anywhere is really defendable.