How to get started with agtech and farming investments?

Hi everyone. Just wanted to clear up a few things based on the questions being asked:

- If you go with a 2x3m spacing per acre, you’re looking at 1,650 trees, not
just 900 (the previous guy was just eyeballing it and got lost)
- An 8x8m spacing is really more suited for walnut trees meant for production, rather than timber.
- Ideally, a walnut tree should be at least 40 years old, maybe up to 70 (which is why
they say you plant them for your grandkids)
- If someone owns a single 28-year-old walnut tree, they shouldn't
expect much in terms of lumber quality. That wasn't its primary purpose;
it was grown to have a wide canopy and produce nuts.
- Regarding the initial investment per $20000/acre, if a single
sapling costs roughly $33... then 100 * 1650 = $55000 plus
soil prep and all that extra stuff.

I recall some discussion on this forum about a fast-growing Canadian variety, and another one that has a weak canopy and just grows straight up. If anyone happens to know more about those... ☕

Elizabeth Thompson7 said:Hi everyone. Just wanted to clear up a few things based on the questions being asked:

- If you go with a 2x3m spacing per acre, you’re looking at 1,650 trees, not
just 900 (the previous guy was just eyeballing it and got lost)
- An 8x8m spacing is really more suited for walnut trees meant for production, rather than timber.
- Ideally, a walnut tree should be at least 40 years old, maybe up to 70 (which is why
they say you plant them for your grandkids)
- If someone owns a single 28-year-old walnut tree, they shouldn't
expect much in terms of lumber quality. That wasn't its primary purpose;
it was grown to have a wide canopy and produce nuts.
- Regarding the initial investment per $20000/acre, if a single
sapling costs roughly $33... then 100 * 1650 = $55000 plus
soil prep and all that extra stuff.

I recall some discussion on this forum about a fast-growing Canadian variety, and another one that has a weak canopy and just grows straight up. If anyone happens to know more about those... ☕

I agree, though I have some doubts about the seedling prices. $33 Grafted walnut seedlings meant for actual production are much more expensive than just planting seeds, which usually end up being around $6.75/unit. Besides that, they’re actually pretty "easy" to grow on your own.

Brian Nelson4 said:CNN from this weekend's resource investment conference... Turns out, the future is in wheat.

Can I get a link?

stormyangler12 said:Can I get a link?

Not happening. I was actually on the ground at the World Economic Forum in Phoenix, AZ this past weekend.

I won't bore you with the details, but if you look at the wheat futures charts, things start making sense. We're looking at astronomical growth. And this isn't some overnight flash in the pan. More people in China are eating better these days, and a huge chunk of that demand eventually trickles down to wheat—both for people and for livestock feed. It’s basic math: wheat prices are going to stay elevated for the long haul (think 10 years).

It’s not that I’m a skeptic, but when I study this chart, that one, and let’s say this one, I can’t help but feel we're looking at nothing more than a temporary blip
.
I mean, look, it’s not like it won't eventually leave us all high and dry—and as someone working in American agriculture, I know exactly how fast things can go south
.

stormyangler12 said:It’s not that I’m a skeptic, but when I study this chart, that one, and let’s say this one, I can’t help but feel we're looking at nothing more than a temporary blip
.
I mean, look, it’s not like it won't eventually leave us all high and dry—and as someone working in American agriculture, I know exactly how fast things can go south
.

The era of the farmer is finally here. Big names like Warren Buffett and Jim Rogers have been pivoting into agriculture for a while now, whether it’s buying up tool manufacturers or investing heavily in fertilizer production. These aren't just chasing hype; they're value investors looking for long-term plays, not passing trends. Even if you don't follow ag, you can see bread prices climbing. Personally, I don't touch farming. I usually hit these conferences for precious metals and mining. Back in the early 80s, commodities were a joke, but we're seeing a massive macro shift starting around 200x. Paper pushers are out; real assets are back in. That was pretty much the mantra of the conference.

Steven Ruiz13 said:I agree, though I have some doubts about the seedling prices. $33 Grafted walnut seedlings meant for actual production are much more expensive than just planting seeds, which usually end up being around $6.75/unit. Besides that, they’re actually pretty "easy" to grow on your own.

I am right there with you regarding the pricing... even that guy on TV mentioned that if you just want a tree to grow a trunk, the cost is incomparably lower. We could be looking at anything from $20 to $10....
If we were actually going to try growing them ourselves, what specific walnut variety would we need, and what’s the actual process? Do you grow them directly from the fruit? Is that even something you can find out in the Black Forest?
Sending my best to everyone!

Here is what I managed to dig up...
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...es/DD0505.html

There is a bit of substance to be found here as well.

Does anyone here actually run their own orchards? My dad’s got a small setup—about 100 trees that are roughly 18 to 20 years old now. I'm curious to hear what your experiences have been like...
Specifically, I'm trying to figure out the best timing for pruning and what kind of gear or methods actually work. Any advice would be appreciated.

How should I be looking after my young walnut trees? (Planted back in the fall of 2007)
-What kind of sprays should I be using?
-And how often am I looking at doing that?
-What about pruning?

I thought I should weigh in on this discussion as well... Last year, I decided to plant a walnut orchard covering about five acres here in the States. I went with the Chandler and Jupiter varieties. My process involved digging holes roughly 20 by 20 inches and placing some manure at the bottom before backfilling with soil, which helped me be a bit more efficient with my fertilizer usage. For the layout, I used an 8 by 6 spacing, but I also planted a small grove of about 250 black walnut trees using a tighter 1.5 by 2 pattern. I actually raised those black walnut seedlings myself from seed. Since we dealt with such a dry stretch last year, I found myself watering quite frequently... I managed to save almost all nine of my main trees, though I did lose three to some deer that came through the area. As I am still relatively new to this whole endeavor, I would truly value any seasoned advice or wisdom you all might be willing to share...

I'm 18 and just getting into walnuts. I want to know which variety is best for yield versus which one grows best as a tree. How long until they actually start producing? Also, I’ve got some large walnut trees ready to be cleared and I'm looking to sell them. Who would even buy that... where do I go?? 😕

I know a guy, Marjan Č, over in New York City who works with walnuts. Is that you?? Cheers!!!!!

The market price for walnut timber fluctuates anywhere from $1,100 to $1,450 per cubic meter. I know this firsthand because a close friend of mine makes his living in this industry; he actually buys up entire walnut trees, digs them up with the root systems intact, and sells them. That specific price point is what he’s currently pulling from an exporter who ships the stock over to Italy. Now, I’ve seen some folks on this forum mention they only cleared about $300 for a single tree—which is more or less the ballpark figure being paid out to the actual landowners. This tells you one thing very clearly: if you own a significant number of these trees, you absolutely have to find a direct buyer and bypass the middlemen. If you don't, those dreams of making millions will vanish into thin air before you even realize what happened. My outlook on walnuts is that prices are going to climb even higher. We are seeing far more harvesting than replanting; people are selling off trees that took 70 or 80 years to mature for just a few hundred bucks. Regardless, planting them isn't a bad move, whether you're looking at the crop or the timber itself. It’s almost a guarantee that someone will eventually see a return, though I'll be damned if any of you newcomers will live long enough to see the kind of astronomical figures I've read about. Those numbers were a total fantasy ten years ago. For context, I personally have about 40 trees that are roughly 25 years old, and believe me, they aren't anywhere near ready to be sold for top dollar yet.

Blueberries
At the start of this discussion, I see some debate over whether blueberries or walnuts are the better bet. Look, blueberries can be quite lucrative, but there’s a massive catch: you need serious manpower. In my neck of the woods, folks are out here managing dozens of acres. I know someone who back in 2007, working just about seven acres, pulled in roughly $75,000 from his blueberry crop. At that time, prices were hovering around a dollar per pound. Because the harvest season stretches out, prices fluctuate wildly—you usually see the highest peaks right at the beginning and the very end of the run. The gap between walnut farming and blueberry farming is astronomical. With blueberries, you are constantly hunting for pickers, and let me tell you, they are hard to come by. A single picker might manage to grab maybe 200 pounds in a day if the berries are large and high-quality; otherwise, you’re lucky if they hit 100 pounds every other day. To get those premium, large berries, you absolutely have to invest in irrigation. Any serious producer in the States is running a drip irrigation system; that is the only way to extend your season and guarantee quality. Now, regarding pricing—that was 2007, and those were stellar numbers. Prices aren't dictated by local farmers; even though we have major exporters, we are at the mercy of global markets. Competitors from places like Mexico, Canada, or Eastern Europe all jump into the fray, driving down the global market price. Most of our supply heads straight to the USA or over to Europe. But, for the optimists out there, consider this: just a few years ago, blueberry prices plummeted to as low as $0.20 a pound. When you factor in paying your pickers—and you have to provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner because nobody wants to work on an empty stomach—you quickly realize you're staring down the barrel of a loss. It's simple math. If a picker earns $40 a day, you have to calculate the actual cost of labor in your specific region, not to mention the layers of wholesalers and middlemen who all want to take a cut while sitting in their climate-controlled warehouses. For perspective, frozen blueberries in major US supermarkets can retail for around $5.00 per pound.

Yo, if anyone out there knows the deal, where can I snag some black walnut seeds? Looking for a high-quality variety that’s actually ready to get planted right away. Thanks!

Here’s another one asking about planting walnuts...

Basically, I’m a total newbie when it comes to growing walnuts, but I’m seriously interested. I own a few acres of land near Springfield—it's pretty hilly terrain—and I really want to make something of the place. I'm looking into walnut farming, so I was hoping you guys could give me a quick rundown on a few things:
- Am I even heading in the right direction? Is it actually worth investing in walnuts for an area like this?
- Also, is there any kind of government assistance for planting walnuts? (I know some of you mentioned it before, so I get that it exists, but is it actually worth the hassle? Should I be looking at local grants or federal ones?)
- Can anyone point me toward the right resources or organizations if I decide to go pro with this?
- You guys mentioned those Canadian varieties before; since I'm focused on the harvest, is that specific type the best way to go?

Anyway, any extra info would be a lifesaver! Thanks!

Brandon Harris2 said:Yo, if anyone out there knows the deal, where can I snag some black walnut seeds? Looking for a high-quality variety that’s actually ready to get planted right away. Thanks!

Check out Displantarium over in Old Petrov selo, call them at 035 387 182.

Regarding subsidies and other info for walnuts...

Most of what you need is on the USDA website or the Department of Agriculture pages. It’s also worth checking the Federal Register.
A quick call to your local agricultural extension agent specializing in orchards might be the best first move.

Thanks for the heads-up! 👍🙏

Hmm... Now I'm overthinking these varieties. The guide says mixing different types is the way to go...

Anyone here actually planted specific ones yet?
Just curious, based on what you've actually grown—what’s the winning combo? (Obviously depends on the soil type or whatever)...

Tnx!

Here is another nursery carrying walnuts
I assume they’ll be willing to provide the basic specs