Starting a Farm From Scratch (First Year Recap)

First-year of farming is over and we're on the 2nd year. I just wanted to go over and review some of the mistakes I made along the way, some of the luck that's come throughout the year with commodities and what's planned for the 2nd year. Also, Brian, the legendary mechanic, got the 8110 fixed from an oil leak, valve adjustment, and all fluids changed. He even waxed the front of the ole girl. We put her on the PTO dyno and it did 181 at the PTO. Spencer's going to be spending more time helping also (now that he's done with school), so we're gonna try and get some of the farms cleaned up this year.
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First Video- • I Bought My First Farm!

[@benfields7556]

Looks like a great video! Could you do a video on how we could start a farm or like a series maybe? Cause that's my dream and I look up to you!

[@granthilbert5632]

Yeah I could maybe do a vid with a couple of ideas on how to start! IowanFarmer's got a real good video on it also- kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZbLfqyZpNqbbK8

[@benfields7556]

@@granthilbert5632 Cool thanks so much grant! Can't wait for the suprise!!

[@Merryfarm_ranch]

@@granthilbert5632 you should look into a small self propelled sprayer

[@jonesfarm6501]

@@Merryfarm_ranch or a pulled one

[@peterhuehn6137]

Clarke farms has a video on starting a farm on his channel.

[@tristanfarms]

It makes me smile see someone fulfill there dream of really truly becoming a farmer. It is great inspiration and I appreciate the videos thank you for all of your hard work farming is not just driving tractors!!

[@LtdES7638]

It is so cool to see you start out on this journey, thank you for bringing us along. Look forward to seeing what next season brings. No worries on keeping your $$$ private, it's none of our business. You share enough. Cheers, Good luck to you and Spence.

[@thomasbritten7216]

One idea for you - buy an older tractor that is still big enough to pull both gravity wagons (4850, 4960, 8400), then buy a 600 bushel grain cart for the 8110. Wagons can be rolling on the road and grain cart can stay in the field to keep the combine moving. Grain cart could have scales to track your yields using weight, rather than an approximation on the combine.

[@reinckeoutdoors2319]

I second this, and then use it for tillage as well, then the 8110 can plant, spray and pull wagons. It’d be a lot smoother in the long run, and also for when you pick up more acres. It always benefits to be able to do more at once, Spence does tillage, you plant behind him.

[@fazeobama8872]

probably wanna go for something fast then tho, an old jd powershift will only do 30kph /18mph ish so that would slow you down loads

[@chadsimmons6347]

Looks like they are better spenders than money makers, bankrupt in 5-yrs!

[@fazeobama8872]

@@chadsimmons6347 then its a good thing he has the other business to take money from..

[@chadsimmons6347]

@@fazeobama8872 Nothing used for the "first-yr-millionaire" he aint getting his hands greasy, if it breaks, call the junkyard.

[@brianmauss9039]

Grant---your 8110 is one of the cleanest 8x10 series machines I've had in my work bay. Great video, great channel and great seeing you guys at VanWall. Do not hesitate to call with any qs or concerns. Make sure Spencer keeps it waxed up for the 22 season!! Ha. Thanks, Brian.

[@granthilbert5632]

Thanks for working on it Brian! I'll make sure he keeps it spotless😂😉

[@jimmcginty2344]

Thanks for the 2021 review and what you are looking to do in 2022. Spencer; I bet it feels great to have college behind you. Really enjoy seeing how well you both work together. Job well done gentlemen

[@ericawagner6240]

Grant you’re a inspirement for anyone who wants to be a farmer/ rancher when you grow up. I’m 12 and I believe this next year will be even better. Keep up the great work Grant. ( I would of watched the video earlier but I had school and Basketball)

[@fooddude411]

Another awesome show Grant! Thanks for the recap of the season. Can't wait for you to dig into the soil this spring. Thanks for your channel.

[@danielelliott3406B]

I’d buy a small auger to fill semi’s…. And then rent a semi from your local co-op during harvest all you have to do is use the gravity wagons to shuttle grain out of the field….. we use to do that when we did corn and it worked out pretty good.

[@anthonydolezal6627]

Congratulations on your first year. It's a lot of work! Your doing good. Stay optimistic. Can't wait to see what happens this year. Keep Smilin!

[@evanrollin6968]

Congrats on completing your first year farming! Hopefully 2022 will be a better year (no downed corn! lol)

[@alexbersie2755]

I like the explanation on your thoughts behind the farmland market. Certainly something you have more insight and knowledge on than most

[@erikjohansson4390]

Spencer should buy a farm near yours and he could buy the second tractor, then you do "teamwork" with all the equipment in spring/harvest etc 🙂

[@granthilbert5632]

I agree!

[@jjffarmsjoshuaflees911]

Keep up the outstanding work as always! I always appreciate you taking the time to make these videos for us! I always enjoy seeing these videos especially when they relate to farming and good content!;-) I hope you keep doing the cold start camera view! You've come pretty far woth the farm and it doing great!I hope the farm and family are good and hey have a good one!YEEYEE,:-)

[@uncarbonated88akakoolzuurv54]

Keep living the dream man! You and your little brother.

[@Brian-ov1rj]

2022, keep moving forward with your farm. Wish you both nothing but the best.👍💰

[@jakebrady4133]

Awesome recap video. Love the progress y’all have made over the first year It’s awesome that y’all are working together keep up the good work. Oh and Spencer, nice tractor🤙🏼

[@charlieromeoh]

I was just thinking last night that had been a while since you posted a video, hope things are lining up for another good season for you !

[@mattshell7753]

Another great video and congratulations on your 1st year of farming and how far you've came along so nice to see your building in the clean machine real put away getting ready for the next season we're not too far away thanks again Spencer and grant LOL

[@tylerhogie4915]

Grant and Spencer I have always loved watching the farming Sim videos and I am very glad yall put it so much work and got the real deal Farm you guys are doing great keep it up

[@FarmandSpeed]

Grant, Congrats on your first year! You've taken on a lot buying ground, equipment and putting up a nice building! That's something not many 1st Generation Farmers can do in a single year. If you can rent ground reasonably and make a profit, go for it! You defiantly need at least a 2nd maybe even a 3rd tractor. (small 100hp, medium 150hp, large 275hp) I run an IH 986, 1586 (wish it was a 1486, 3speed vs 4 speed trans) and a 4786 on 100 acres. Murphy's Law on a farm, its only a matter of time till there is an issue and you'll be glad to have another tractor. Keep in mind it doesn't need to be super new and paint doesn't make it run or drive any better. A lot of the 70's and 80's deere tractors are cheaper. Keep looking for good used equipment, maybe a small grain cart this way you can keep wagons parked on the road or in a farm drive way. Maybe a 10k bushel bin to dry corn down and store for better prices. Also with the down corn and beans. Use more Potash, more potash means stronger stalks.

[@blueonblack3971]

Good job young man, you should be very proud of your accomplishments.

[@kodacraft8579]

Grant seriously hearing you lay out numbers like you do is so impressive. I don't consider myself dumb by any means but compared to that wealth of knowledge you've got I'm years behind lol. Happy for you man im jealous that I can't get some land for working just yet

[@Malte1996]

Hyped for the next Season wish you all the best :) Love seeing the Progress

[@alexmikhael5061]

GOOD LUCK !! hope your future harvests are all abundant and plentyfull!!!!

[@duaneamos4413]

Nice video....I think your doing pretty well for your 1st year....own land and some really nice equipment. Looks like your off to a good start. Good to see young folks getting into farming. We have a small cow/calf operation and do it on the side but would love to be able to make it full time.

[@ericjenjohnson]

I know someone who farms over 3000 acres and just uses gravity wagons like you. Since your not hauling to far they make perfect sense for your operation. If you need a truck there are plenty of companies you can contract with to haul for you. Yes there is a cost for that but it’s still has to be cheaper than owning than truck and paying for maintenance on it. Best of luck to you in 2022!

[@pauldownes5345]

Well I think you and your brother are doing well so congrats and look forward to more videos with you both 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@geedubb2005]

Hey Spencer, nice tractor, drone, skid steer, trailer and dually. Congratulations guys, you’re earning it.

[@epicdomain2293]

Great job. keep up the great farming.

[@eugenealton7270]

Great video guys looking forward to watching more of your success with your farm I am a truck driver And I also worked on a farm so I know a little bit about farming

[@philipforee]

Had no idea you guys were brothers.....that's really cool. Very proud of you Men. Onward and upwards

[@stevesmith775]

We use VHT flame proof spray paint on the exhausts. It works well for being a cheap solution. Congrats on a successful first year! Can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you!

[@alcast4774]

Good job. Best of luck going forward.

[@johnperry5102]

good video glad to have you all back

[@tarheelpatch3386]

Grant I'm very proud of you.I have followed you from day one.Not many young men would have had the guts and will power to start a farm.Many children raised on a farm don't want to have anything to do with.Great job my friend. Well you seem to have a good business sense about you. I would look at things to improve what you have ,such tiling land last year you some issues with drainage in spots,start working on that issue.Look at improving your technology to learn your fields such as where you need various minerals,fertilizers, nitrogen etc.Investigate varieties of corn and beans that are more resistant to wind damage or pest etc that you had problems with in 21.Your learning your equiptment now learn and tweak your methods to help your production. I also wanted to mention time Mgt.If it can be done do it ,don't put it off.You never know what tomorrow will bring.Your tech savvy there are several successful KZbin farmers in the Midwest ask them questions I feel sure they will help.Something to always remember if farming was easy everybody would be doing it.Looking forward to 2022 for you.

[@adamtheredneck5898]

Hey grant just wanted to say I love the vids and you are my inspiration. I want to do exactly what you do someday! Keep up the great work.

[@piet6259]

Again ... well done bud. You motivate alot of people with your channel.

[@chadb5819]

Love the channel guys, I appreciate seeing new farmers feel it all out for the first time, makes me think I may have a chance to do the same!

[@waterskiingfool]

Was cool to see how they Dyno a tractor. Can't wait to see how it goes this year

[@jeffslaven]

A really great video guys! The next year will be easier, as you know now from year - one.

[@koxi2468]

I wish you only the best in this year. Thanks for your amazing content :-)

[@mrporkey8350]

Never realized I was older than you guys. Way to go on a good first year man. Congrats

[@lynpostlethwait3083]

Very great new video on the new farm and have a great year

[@Farmer_logan06]

I'm really enjoying this series, I loved the fs series but this one takes the cake. I'm also happy that farming is working out for you because other than Gavin Spoor, I haven't heard if anyone else who's made money farming on their first year

[@joemueth4077]

Just found your You Tube site, looking good my man. Love your choice of machinery color. Have a great year.

[@onecrazytruckinfarmer]

That 8110 is a sharp tractor. I was surprised to see 180 pto hp not bad. Man it’s insane how high ground is going for. With the fluctuations in the market I don’t think I’d be picking up any ground this year. Stick with what ya got. Keep up the great work Grant and Spencer.

[@onecrazytruckinfarmer]

Spencer should pick up like a 6,000 series or another 7,000 series tractor. I was thinking a 6410 or something that could run a sprayer and a wing mower. Also if any improvement maybe put up a 15,000 - 20,000 bushel bin for corn storage. Play the market

[@fineganfarms5124]

Good to see your back with the vids

[@terrynickelo1024]

hey grant and spencer glad to see ur guys video and happy to see yall working together

[@jonl3837]

enjoying your channel. wishing you a great success. keep vlogs coming

[@brandonm6052]

One thing we've always done on our pallet racking is each piece of equipment gets its own pallet and then all relevant parts go on that pallet . We also buy heavy duty totes to keep the small parts in, this helps as you can then set the whole pallet or tote in/on the pickup when going to the field and you have the stuff with you. You said the shed is "too big", that's just because the scope of your farming thought is only at a certain point. Give it time, you made a good decision. The saying is, build twice as big as you need and go half again bigger than that. You add a truck or so and another couple pieces of equipment and boom you're full. I am a Farm Manager/ Real Estate agent in Nebraska for Farmers National Company and you are exactly right about the effect of C**id and the land market. We have seen a lot of 1031 exchanges but farmers still account for 60-70%+ of the land purchases.

[@SpecCustoms1308]

hey grant, a little tip is keep the land you have now and keep on farming until you got enough money to buy better stuff like tractors, combines, cultivators, planters, ETC and when you got better stuff then you can buy more land and I mean one land plot at a time and don't rush things or you might get stuck in a problem you might not be able to get out of.(love all of your videos on this channel and the other channel and my birthday is coming up on this Sunday. the day before valentines day and i hope you have a good valentines day)

[@rodneyspencer5158]

Great video grant you and Spencer are lucky that you guys get along well enough to work together grant maybe you should look into getting like a 4250 or 4450 for your small jobs but hay great work hope you guys have a great year this year

[@trentgrimes3276]

Hey Grant speaking of dynoing your tractor, we have a pulling tractor and pull in the Lucas Oil series across the Midwest. Our engine builder and dyno guy is Joe Busch Ag repair in Boone Iowa. When we dyno in about a month you should come out and video and check it out! Great videos and congrats on a successful first year!

[@curtisrick]

Grant you can set your seed pallets on the shelves. We set all of our chemical pallets on shelves just like the ones you have. Pallet of chemicals is 5 30gal barrels per pallet

[@Rebelgamer-1111]

Squad we have 2 tractors and not even 60 acres and I'm telling you rn there is always justification for a second tractor even if it's just a little

[@gussoefje6430]

I’m not a row crop farmer but I wouldn’t get another tractor or probably even upgrade any equipment till you get more acres. Maybe like a 3pt sprayer and some other things you actually need. But in all reality you don’t need another tractor until you start getting more and more acres. Good video Grant and Spencer

[@xBrodeurguyx]

For the algorithm. Likes, comments, shares, and subscriptions help your content creators more than you realize. Keep it up Grant!

[@keegancavanagh9216]

As a future video, you should make one long video of different moments from your first year farming. It can go all the way from just having a skid loader and tearing out fence to what you are doing now. Keep up the good videos!

[@landonhaas3801]

Is that your camper? I'm loving the videos and congratulations on making it through the first year of farming, I really enjoy seeing how you started a farm by yourself and how successful you have become

[@jared2168]

You can get a 1000 gal sprayer for a decent price. It definitly pays for itselfs quickly. I farm 500 acres with one tractor (8320). Switching implements isn't a big deal. Of course working with your brother, it would be nice having two tractors and everything would get done a lot faster with tillage and planting running at the same time. Or being able to pull out your brother when he gets stuck in one tractor.

[@PickAxSimulatorGaming]

Man , that's a nice tractor . can't wait till planting season.

[@Bwww1234]

Yes I've been waiting for this! I cant believe all that has happened and when you have 100 million subs I will be able to say that I was there since the start lol

[@dbaineboy6974]

I'm not really one that knows what farm equipment is best, but I would recommend if you are able to, get a decent dump truck, no to big, but what ever size you think would work for you with a little bit of room for improvement for when your farm starts to grow. I worked on a farm that used a dump truck to haul grain and it worked great for the smaller fields.

[@countrycreeklife4079]

I think it would be really cool to see an old 4020 on the farm to run around and maybe do spraying or spreading fert if it had a cab, also the 8110 is looking mint👌

[@TheDulle92]

Nice video Grant! Is fun to watch, how you start a farm. I'm living in the Netherlands and it is hard here to start a farm from scratch. It is we wish to have a farm. I work at a agricultural contractor.

[@jacksonrabern9012]

Best move for another tractor in my opinion would be an older JD4840. Legendary, reliable, and good power.

[@brycewassmann7136]

Hey Grant for moving things as ingrain what my family does is we use a dump truck so then we can also hold material for people and make extra money like that

[@hibro2184]

love the videos. keep up the good work

[@dclug1]

Make sure you adjust your tire pressures if you are going to take the weights on and off. And if you are taking weight off to reduce compaction, you need to lower your tire pressure and that will help a lot. On our 7130 I run 18psi front and 15 psi rear.

[@joshbarrowcliff3019]

1. Keep the rear weights on. 2. Find a rockbox that weights as much as your front weights. 3. 8300 or 8400 would be ideal tillage tractor. Just my 2cents. Good job farming your 1st year, always a big learning curve.

[@silas_brugger_yt5708]

Good to see you're chasing the American farming dream

[@timothykapler3122]

Little did we know back when he had the 1980s series on farming simulator he was planning to make a farm. 👍👍 looks good

[@cedricbroussard8738]

Love your videos and Spencer's too!!

[@tyrankin2767]

We have a little bit bigger shelving in our shop that we store skid buckets and salt pallets on then they are slick and convenient

[@bigcheese370]

Nice you got the dealership doing work on it. Surprised to see it getting dynoed.

[@TheBoatman11]

GREAT JOB

[@cartervedrode437]

You're awesome! I'm 13 I look up to you, keep up the good work

[@zacnelson0051]

That's a nice tractor Spencer!

[@VERMrunner]

On the wagons you should look into a older 4 wheel drive like an 8630, it be on the cheaper side. Made to pull plus you can do your tillage with

[@Jonathan_From_TT]

Being waiting for a good starting from scratch video

[@Cetaneandpoontang]

Love the 6.0.

[@mitchhinners1285]

Congrats in 2021, big things to come in 2022. Call jeff to weld a ramp on your tractor lol congrats finishing college spence

[@gavynheld3590]

4440 would be nice to spread lime with and to do other odd and end jobs

[@zackwalske1779]

I would recommend a 80s to 90s tandem it would be a great fit for you and they are decently cheap with the market!

[@jameseagleeye6546]

You guys do a great job on your video's. I didn't know you guys went 50/50 on farming equipment.

[@granthilbert5632]

Spencer was just saying 50/50 on a couple small items in the past. I own all of the equipment now. We were just talking about this new piece of equipment we were looking at buying- this piece would be 50/50.👍

[@spencersand2754]

Grant I’m not gonna tell you how to spend your money but it would’ve been really cool if you would’ve bought Larsons Farms 4640 and the 3pt sprayer that went on it plus you would’ve had a pretty awesome 40 series tractors so you could pull gravity wagons with run on the cultivator or even plant with it as well I feel like that would’ve been a good addition to your farm

[@jeremymullen5378]

🔥beauty tractor guyzz, 13-14th gear ⚙️ shift hard in all of that series of tractor, use to run a 8200 and she did it every dam time lol🔥👊🔥🏍🚜🛻🔨

[@w2fishing713]

Keep the tractor you got for planting and misc work. Get a higher horse for tillage. Then you got one that could be spraying and the other could be doing misc stuff and you don’t always have one tied up. Suggestion/personal opinion

[@OscarVaughn]

Livin the dream my friend, livin the dream...

[@willslagle7011]

I live literally 2 miles east of there and saw y’all on the road heading towards the interstate.

[@easternshorefarmer]

You two brothers work good together and if you two bought land together ur at the age where you could get big and be full time farmers and it would work out but it’s all in what you want and how hard ur willing to work for it

[@daneschlagenhauf8360]

“Let’s do it the MFer way” loved that!😂 keep making videos! Really cool

[@granthilbert5632]

Luv watching him!

[@robertharris3056]

I AM 78 AND A RETIRED HEAVY EQUIP. OPERATER {Construction equip.}. AND LOVE TO WATCH YOU W/ YOU TRACTORS --KEEPUP THE GREAT WORK AND DPO YOUR PART TO DRAFT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME FARMERS

[@walterlaubscherjr2011]

Great video Grant you and Spencer are living the dream can’t wait for this years crop season. Have found a suitable second tractor yet. I’d recommend a John Deere 4440 or maybe a Case Ih boxcar magnum

[@fanaticfarmer7094]

Can’t wait for the video titled we’re starting work on a silo

[@magnussenfarms9794]

Hey Grant, I am 15 and live and work on a family farm here in NW Iowa. I have been watching you for years on your other KZbin channel, then I saw that you started your own actual farm. I am truly impressed with how far you have succeeded at such a young age. I hope to follow in the same footsteps as you. Also, lately I have been watching a lot of Ag PHD on KZbin and TV. If you haven’t ever heard of them or seen them I think you should look them up. I have learned a lot about nutrients and chemistry from their videos. I think you could benefit from watching their videos. Sincerely, Tyler Magnussen

[@granthilbert5632]

Thanks Tyler! Hey been watching your channel for awhile. I think I started watching on one of your first harvest vids. As a kid I would watch pretty much every single harvest video on KZbin. I still do till this day, especially the Iowa ones. Love the vids- keep it up! I do watch Ag Phd. It's where I do all my AG Learning. I feel like everyone has a different opinion on how to grow corn/beans the best way, and there's so much "noise" from advice/ coffee talk on how to grow crops. I find it simple just to follow Ag Phd's advice and block out all the other "noise". (For now, when getting started).

[@magnussenfarms9794]

@@granthilbert5632 Thx Grant! I agree with what you said about Ag PHD, I have learned a lot from their videos. Anyways, I hope to meet you someday. Keep up the hard work on the farm and with the videos. I really enjoy watching them! 😁

[@Tlc214deb]

My name is Lynn. You can ask your brother about me. Just have in joyed watching his videos! Glad I found your site so I can watch yours also. God bless and have a great week.

[@richardheinen1126]

Maybe some grain bins would be a good idea this year

[@Jayhawk226]

Spencer nice half of whatever you went half in on.