Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[sara1226]

Hello everyone,

Forgive me if you feel I am posting this question in the wrong area, but I can't seem to find an answer anywhere else. I am curious about what exactly qualifies as a "farm" in Wisconsin. We have 20 acres (yes I know that isn't a lot), chickens, and several other animals, and my neighbor told me all we need is one more different type of animal and we would qualify as a farm, then our taxes would be different.

I'm not sure if that is true, and I have searched online government pages, but I can't find any information on farm classifications.

Any knowledge anyone can share with me is greatly appreciated!

Thanks and have a great day!

Sara

 

[jvls1942]

Hello everyone,

Forgive me if you feel I am posting this question in the wrong area, but I can't seem to find an answer anywhere else. I am curious about what exactly qualifies as a "farm" in Wisconsin. We have 20 acres (yes I know that isn't a lot), chickens, and several other animals, and my neighbor told me all we need is one more different type of animal and we would qualify as a farm, then our taxes would be different.

I'm not sure if that is true, and I have searched online government pages, but I can't find any information on farm classifications.

Any knowledge anyone can share with me is greatly appreciated!




Thanks and have a great day!

Sara

Hi Sara, it does not matter what animals you have,,
one of the main qualifications is that the majority of your income is farm generated..
I would contact a tax person who does peoples taxes..
that question should not cost you anything ..
I would go in person ,, not a telephone call..
don't make any promises, like; " if you answer this question, you can do my taxes.."
just ask the question..

,,,,,,,,,,jiminwisc..........

 

[Firstchic]

Molting takes anywhere from a month to two or maybe even 3. Mine don't lay much at all (if any) during that time. It's a yearly thing that happens just when I want to bake more. Try not to handle them too much and keep their stress level down.

Molting takes anywhere from a month to two or maybe even 3. Mine don't lay much at all (if any) during that time. It's a yearly thing that happens just when I want to bake more. Try not to handle them too much and keep their stress level down.

Well, I should have known this before I moved the new hens over to the big run cause now everyone is stressed.......too late, but, I will keep this in mind for next year.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote: it takes a lot to stress a chicken,, just moving them from place to place won't do it..

real stress is more like not having feed for days, or no water..

an animal attack wears off within a few minutes.. unless the chicken gets injured, then it might take about a day.. or if the wound is severe, it may take a few days until the chicken starts to heal..

 

[Firstchic]

it takes a lot to stress a chicken,, just moving them from place to place won't do it..

real stress is more like not having feed for days, or no water..

an animal attack wears off within a few minutes.. unless the chicken gets injured, then it might take about a day.. or if the wound is severe, it may take a few days until the chicken starts to heal..

Oh, OK, what do they look like when they are stressed. We moved them into the run with our other chickens and everybody started running, and puffing up their feathers, and kind of panting thru their beaks. We had filled water and feed before we put them in. It was on Sunday which was really hot.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote: that all was normal behavior,, the running around on a hot day caused them to pant with their mouths open.. normal reaction to exercise in the heat..

I don't know if they look any different if they are stressed.. never had the problem..

I doubt that you will ever have the problem, so I wouldn't worry too much about it..

I think many people get stressed and then assume that the birds are also..

 

[momgille]

Nice Packer win....

OK, I'll give it up!

These must be made in glass containers, either gallon or half gallon and can be spears or sliced rounds for burgers.

In your jar layer, fresh dill, sliced onions, whole garlic cloves to taste (4per gallon) 3"- 4" cukes cut into spears, or slicers.

The brine for a gallon ( simply mix, no cooking)

2 cups white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup canning salt
mix in a quart jar till completely dissolved and pour over your packed jar; then add cold water to the very top.....cover tightly and mix well tipping over and back. Allow to sit on the counter out of the direct sun for 3 days to the hour they were packed....then refrigerate for a couple weeks....

Simply cut the brine in half for half gallons

1 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup canning salt
2 garlic cloves

They turn out crispy and last forever.....

bigz

Thanks Brett

Gary will like these as there is not much sugar in them and they sound easy peasy!

 

[Firstchic]

that all was normal behavior,, the running around on a hot day caused them to pant with their mouths open.. normal reaction to exercise in the heat..

I don't know if they look any different if they are stressed.. never had the problem..

I doubt that you will ever have the problem, so I wouldn't worry too much about it..

I think many people get stressed and then assume that the birds are also..

I am tending to be OCD with my birds......probably just need to chill.

 

[Firstchic]

good morning,

last night we had a whole meal from the garden,,
cuke slices, potatoes, corn and chicken,, ( she should have run faster)

the chicken was one of them that we butchered on Sat.unfrozen,,
. fall off the bone tender and very good tasting.. she dressed out at 5 pounds..
these meatie pullets were raised free range and fed no commercial crumbles..
Just ground oats and corn , 50/50 ratio..

some of the chickens pester the dogs when they are fed.. Annie said she could not taste dog food in the chicken we ate .. LOL

It is iffie today for butchering,, we need an hour of no rain..
she wants to do 11 today..

my water thermometer doesn't work.. last week the water was too hot at first..
I like it to be 140* F..

the old way to test water (Annie's Grandma taught me this )
is to QUICKLY dip your finger in and out 3 times.. if it "bites" a little on the 3rd dip, it is hot enough..
If the water is rolling boiling, it is too hot,, and then DON"T stick your fingers in..

.. .......jiminwisc.........

Speaking of hot, I am babysitting my DGS(not quite 2) he has been warned about touching the stove(several times). He touched my canner today.....bet he has learned his lesson. Sometime experience is the best teacher.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Hello everyone,

Forgive me if you feel I am posting this question in the wrong area, but I can't seem to find an answer anywhere else. I am curious about what exactly qualifies as a "farm" in Wisconsin. We have 20 acres (yes I know that isn't a lot), chickens, and several other animals, and my neighbor told me all we need is one more different type of animal and we would qualify as a farm, then our taxes would be different.

I'm not sure if that is true, and I have searched online government pages, but I can't find any information on farm classifications.

Any knowledge anyone can share with me is greatly appreciated

I believe you also have to be on land that is zoned AG. Just having the land zoned AG makes a huge difference with your property taxes.

We are on AG land, and we are not in any of the federal farm programs or anything. The land was farmed at one time, so the fields are in the USDA database, but it is not currently farmed, so not eligible for any programs.

Being on AG land has its problems also - we almost lost out on this place because it was AG zoning. We already owned a place and could only get a mortgage for this place as a "Second Home" mortgage. We had a hard time getting non-farm insurance but the mortgage company wouldn't accept farm insurance because the coverage is different.
Being labeled as a FARM is a pretty generic term.
Why do you want to be a FARM? Are you looking to get into the farm programs through the government? ie: crop insurance, farm loans