Proud Castle Farm

Berne, NY, Schoharie County

For Lease Other Tenure Agreement
Updated

Acres Available

288

Open Tillable Acres

200

Wooded (or other) Acres

88

Infrastructure

  • black outline barn icon Barns - Equipment Storage
  • black outline electrical icon Electrical access
  • black outline tractor icon Equipment
  • black outline house icon Farmer housing
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Crops Permitted

  • black outline of a carrot Vegetables
  • black outline apple icon Fruits
  • black outline of a flower Flowers or Ornamentals
  • black outline of a wheat germ Grains
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Livestock Permitted

  • black outline cow icon Cattle - Beef
  • black outline dairy icon Cattle - Dairy
  • black outline horse icon Equine
  • Black outline of a sheep Goats/Sheep
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Condition & Current Use

Dairy farm until 2019, now raising heifers and dry cows on contract basis for another farm.  Corn, hay and soybeans are primary crops. Freestall and dry cow barns, along with equipment storage areas, hay storage areas, garage, pole barn, shop facilities, milking parlor in the barn is in place but most pumps and equipment are not. While currently field crops and pasture, excellent opportunities for grazing.  Good for greenhouses and other diversification of crops.

Soil Types

17.5 acres Prime, 37 acres statewide importance, 56 acres prime if drained, soil map attached

Farm History & Past Use

This has been a farm since about 1790.  It has been a dairy farm from the 1930's until about 2019.  We now raise heifers and dry cows on a contract basis for another area farm.  Crops are currently corn, hay, and soybeans.  We are looking to find innovative ways to diversify the farm into other crops or farm activities, but not intenisve agri-tourism. We are interested in moving away from dairy or dairy support and would like to explore more grazing, small livestock, and other crops.

Tenure Options

Tenure Options

For Lease Other Tenure Agreement

We are open to exploring innovative and diversified uses on the farm to maintain as an active farm. This would include long-term leasing and other tenure agreements.  Land is not for sale, but we would like to offer a long term arrangement to the new farmer. Depending on farm type,  infrastructure would have to be improved or changed. Open to leasing to multiple farmers. Open to leasing small or larger parcels. Would also be open to making some of the wooded acreage to be available for silvapasture/agroforestry. We have barns and sheds that can be adapted for new uses. 

Are you willing to mentor a new or beginning farmer?

Yes

Do you require a farmer who qualifies for agricultural assessment?

Negotiable

Production Preferences

Livestock / Crops Description

The farm has long been a dairy, and now dairy support, but we are looking to diversify and interested in grazing animals, other field crops, grains, use for hoop houses, etc.

Crops Permitted

  • black outline of a carrot Vegetables
  • black outline apple icon Fruits
  • black outline of a flower Flowers or Ornamentals
  • black outline of a wheat germ Grains
  • black outline hay icon Hay
  • black outline other crops icon Other Crops

Livestock Permitted

  • black outline cow icon Cattle - Beef
  • black outline dairy icon Cattle - Dairy
  • black outline horse icon Equine
  • Black outline of a sheep Goats/Sheep
  • Black outline of a bee Bees
  • black outline llama icon Other Livestock

Farm Infrastructure

  • black outline barn icon Barns - Equipment Storage
  • black outline electrical icon Electrical access
  • black outline tractor icon Equipment
  • black outline house icon Farmer housing
  • Black outline of a fence Fencing
  • Black outline of a water drop Water access

Equipment

Farm is fully equipped with tractors, hay, planting, disc, round baler, etc.

Fencing

Several active pastures are fenced in with electrified high tensile fencing.  One pasture hasn't been used in several years along with a hay barn, and also has high tensile fencing.

Water Access

Barns all have water; pasture has water tank, other ponds on farm would allow expansion of water.

Barns for Equipment/Storage

Free stall barn sized for ~120 cows, but it could be adapted for other animals.  Dry cow barn and heifer barn available.  The 1950's barn was converted to a milking parlor, but it is not in use now.  Portion of the barn an original 1790's Palatine Barn, still in good shape. Has commodity buiding with concrete floor, sides, roof.  Also several pole barns for equipment and hay storage. Willing to adapt as needed.

Farmer Housing

Housing available.

Additional Property Information

We prefer practices that will improve soil health, carbon sequestration, cover crops, no-till, and other similar practices.  No concerns from neighbors or land use laws.  

Is the Property Conserved

No

Is the property located in a NY Agricultural District?

Yes

Can the public be on the property as a part of the farm business?

Negotiable

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