Boom Loaders

[JBJ]

Normy, actually we have a "pretty" ragtag fleet of bee trucks, a Chevy 66, two fords 75 & 76, dodge 03. The Chevy has the biggest cargo but the dodge has the power and torque to happily move the forklift and bees. They sure don't build'em like they used to. It is definitely time to liquidate a couple of rigs.
JBJ

[Thom]

Michelle, Meat goats for profit? I spent a lot of time studying that and I've come to find that you'd do better by throwing money out into the wind. At least then you could possibly pick a few of the dollars back up. Of all the farms I visited and people I've interviewed, no one under 1200 head is making anything they can live on. You can do better with selling breeding stock...maybe.

[michelleb]

Whoops, I mean to say, "alpacas".

Just kidding.

Yeah, we've been doing our own research over the past couple years, Thom. Actually, we've cooled our heels a bit, mostly because the new property and land use proceedings have had most of our attention lately. From what I gather, there aren't any nearby processing facilities, and most larger-scale producers in this state are in southern or eastern Oregon, and even these pale in comparison to what's going on in Texas. Doesn't help that our friend with many solid contacts in the Halal food industry all up and down the west coast died suddenly two months ago.

There's a lot of hype that demand remains strong and supply is down and 80% of world cultures eat goat (but is it because they have to?) blah blah. Like with package bees, the "gap" is filled by frozen brush goat from Australia. With the smaller acreage we have now (fewer than 25 acres, much in production fir) we can't go big, but in any case we'll probably end up with a small herd of goats for our own use. Breeding stock for profit requires a lot of shows, and while we'd be all for working with 4-H groups, it's a whole 'nother ball of wax.

Goats are a LOT of work, as are bees. Until we're actually living where we hope to keep four-footed livestock (should we dare), we're taking our time figuring things out. We may end up relocating to a more appropriate area in the state in 4-5 years, at which time we'll better know what will work for us.
In the meantime, bees are looking pretty good, as long as I can still shoot enough weddings to cover the basic necessities. Thank Jahoodie for that. In any case, we're not looking for a get-rich scheme, that's for sure.

Back on topic: Theory is one thing, doing is another. We need more hands-on experience with a working outfit on the go. If anybody needs a hand for a few days this spring/summer, give us a shout. I'm usually pretty flexible during the week, and can get away for a few days at a time. Will work for bees or beer.

[Thom]

We were ready to take a chance this sprine with a mixture of Boer in one pature and fiber goats in the other. The thing that changed my mind was a show on RFDTV about the meat goat industry when they said that if your fence will hold water, you might be able to keep a goat in it.

There is the Oregon Meat Goat Association, and I think the Astoria and Scapoose branch is one and the same. Friendly group, but only one member is making any money at it. They have a cooperative sale, and there is a new goat processor moving to either Long View or Kelso as far as I remember.

Bees are by far the better choice for making at least some money and having good adventures along the way. I wish I had started when I was in my 20s. Now I'm too old and lazy so I make what I can with 10 colonies.

[michelleb]

Thom,

Wow, a new processing plant right across the river--that's good news. As far as fences are concerned, there are solutions that work--and those that don't. Maybe some time we'll chat about the ideas I had in mind.

I wonder how many people use goats as a tax shelter, or a means to keep their ag tax status? I've seen so many people fall into the trap of turning a hobby into a business, but forgetting to apply business sense to the endeavor. My sister's on that path with her horses, and I've seen waaaay too much of it in the photo biz.

I'll have to drop in on an OMGA meeting out there, if only to meet some more neighbors.

[Thom]

Michelle, here is their site
omgp.org/index.htm
go to the officers page to find your local contact. They have meetings in a different location every month.

I know all about fences, and what it would cost for my needs would stunt my profit for years to come. Fiber goats can't feel electric fences by the way. I like horses better, they respect a psychological barrier. Pull a string between a couple posts and they won't mess with it.

Anyway, back to beekeeping. I did this to show Claude that it is really OK to go off topic here.

[longarm]

Did someone say 'off topic'?
Well I always thought the Boom Loaders were a funk band..

[michelleb]

Thom,

What's the market for horsemeat here in the US?

When I was about 12, I had a stumpy little roman-nosed horse who--and I'm not pulling your leg--would open any unpadlocked stall door, then go about setting loose only his best friends from the two barns and several paddocks at our stable. He'd then proceed to herd them through the neighborhing housing development to the local elementary school. They'd graze on the ball field and wait for the kids to show up in the morning.

He also had a thing for biting my mom's boobs, so we didn't have him very long.

[Thom]

I think it is no longer legal to process horse meat in the US. This restriction is pretty new, since last year. The only place they were doing it was Texas (of course). It's still done in Canada and the meat is sent to France.

I'd take a smart horse over a stupid one any day. We have been horse shopping lately...I've seen them all.

[Claude Hachey]

"It's still done in Canada and the meat is sent to France."

I don't know about that one...but I did see a fella walking down the road today holding a dead frozen rabbit by the legs...

Speaking of horses, they had quite a problem with starlings nesting in the manes. The solution - sprinkling some yeast in the mane which worked to get the birds out...hence the saying...yeast is yeast and nest is nest and never the mane shall tweet. ;D ;D

Okay, back to thread. Just to put things in perspective Michelle, I built my colony numbers up to 500 before getting equipped with a boom. Many a night spent loading trailers by hand and many a sting. Bee equipment can be a real money pit and I always felt my cash was better spent on bees and supers that can create some cash flow rather than spent on a boom before it was needed or before the bees generated enough cash flow to justify buying one.
Besides, every successful beekeeper needs to attend the School of Hard Knocks before graduating.

[Bettis]

Dead rabbit?

You can't just leave us with that tid-bit.

This is a wonderful example of world views at work, Harry and Claude. It's these differences, that makes these discussions so valuable.

I couldn't agree more with the idea of working with an established beek to learn the ropes. No reason to re-invent the wheel.

Bettis

[michelleb]

For the record, I was totally kidding about horsemeat. Just funnin' with Thom. I had horses for years--best years of my life--and someday, if I haven't killed my back by being a cheapskate with my gear budget, I hope to ride again.

And Claude, that was adorable (the mane thing). And thanks for your own two cents on the topic.

Bettis, when I was a student I did no fewer than four full-time internships to learn my profession (and to explore another that gave me enough experience to know it wasn't for me). Every year, I mentor or provide an internship to at least one person, and this year I've got three. I find I learn as much through teaching as I did as the "grasshoppa".

[michelleb]

OK. So let's say I DO find a decent forklift or boom loader.

Do you recommend a Ford, Chevy/GMC or Dodge to do the hauling?

(michelle ducks and runs....)

[brian]

Since this is a post about booms, trucks, & trailers; I’m also looking for a bee hauling devise. For now I think I need a trailer & boom. But I would like to be able to haul close to 100 hives at a time. Some of the trailers look like they will only handle about 40 hives.

So what do I need in axle weight and trailer length? It might be that a person can’t (safe & legal) haul 100 hives via a trailer.

Bettis, I did a quick search for Jim Fruetel on the internet and didn’t find him. Do you have a number for him? I don’t have any old copies of ABJ. Also is there anybody in the Portland/Salem area that makes booms for beekeepers?

And for everybody, where is the best place to look for used equipment?

Cheers

P.S. Nice helicopter Norm!

[Bettis]

When figuring weights I just figure 100lbs/hive. For a trailer to haul a 100 hives at 100lbs would be a 10,000lb capacity trailer. You can figure about how much room that would take by doing the math. A truck large enough to pull this sized trailer (safely) would make a great bee truck and would haul close to a 100 hives anyhow.

The best places to watch are The Beeline, ABJ and Bee Source. I have seen booms advertised in all three.

I feel a little strange about giving out numbers of third parties on the forum. Jim lives in Salem...


Michelle of course the best bee truck would be a 4x4 FORD. Frankly there should be a law against trucks that are not 4x4. Larger trucks like these when empty can get stuck on a cow patty. No joke I speak from personal experience. To add some heresy to the debate everyone that I have talked to about this sized truck tells me that no one is making these trucks as well as FORD. Just look around and count how many heavy-duty flatbeds (contractors, landscapers, industries that really USE their trucks) you see on the road,what percentage are FORDs (70-80%)? Now to be fair, GM has only recently added 4-wheel drive to this sized truck so that percentage may come down in coming years, though right now I will argue that they're not proven.

Sorry about the GM bashing but my uncle had a 80's Chevy pick-up that was a lemon to beat all lemons. By the time he traded it in on a FORD, he had replaced everything but the body panels in the span of about 10 years. I will say that my family has a '65' GMC two-ton that runs beautifully.

Sorry Claude, that's what you get for picking on my beer.

Bettis


Bettis