Denny said:
Start with one cow and work up from there.Thats what I did.of course it helps if she's bred and then you need a bull.
And you can maybe sell the cow to get enuf $$ for down payment on the bull. This is called 'leverage'. 8)
Sorry--can't help myself, sometimes.
Ok--you don't need to own any land to be in ag. You need to control some land, to have access to it. Land has traditionally been a good long term investment----but rate of return is pretty small, interest can eat ya' up. You need a higher return on investment to get started, then hopefully find a house with some acreage--you gotta live someplace anyhow.
I'd suggest 'leveraging' the assets you have---youth and energy. Ag producers are aging---maybe look for somebody who needs some help, maybe he's got facilities and rough ground suitable for livestock, maybe you can trade work for this or use of land or equipement, or both.
Some of these people don't have anybody to carry on. And $$ ain't the most important thing to some of us. Maybe you work your way into a place.
Look for niches---One of my buddys moved into an area that is getting horribly built up---the bitteroot. He's a great farmer. All kinds of deals offerred him----weedpatch farms being held for develpement----very advantageous for the developer to keep it in ag--for now---property tax wise and get it cleaned up. His kid's custom haying small acreages and charging more for the service than the hay is worth---big hassle moving equipment, owners basically want it hayed for looks and fire hazard, maybe a little hay for their horses. Range is available, as lotsa the hay base is chopped up for subdivision, producers have sold out that and quit cows. Maybe find one piece of equipment/service that is lacking in area, offer it, do a good job---this should lead to more contacts and other opportunitys. You don't need new iron--ya need good iron, keep it up, have it ready, run it right----leads to all sorts of other opportunitys.
Put yourself out there---stop for lunch at the little local cafes with pickup trucks and dogs in the back---visit, tell your story, meet people, ask questions---all it costs you is lunch and you gotta eat anyhow.
Do a good job---can't hardly pick up enuf land around here to swing a cat---hard working neighbor kid leased a place 75 miles from here where it seems everybody in area had no kids or they all aired out---neighbors watched him a couple yrs, are now showing up at his house and offering deals.
You get started doing something, apples aint' necessarrily gonna start falling in your lap---we're conservative people, we like to watch ya' for a while---but we are observant.
The 'beginning farmer program' was mentioned-----I was on fsa committee, discovered in Montana we had--at that time, anyhow---about enuf $$ to set up one guy---in the whole state!--per year.
A lot of the stuff we do is pretty simple--or i'm pretty simple--take cows
You got 2 things, period, that influence them:
1. genetics
2. envirionment.
3 ways to make more money with any 'bulk commodity'--period:
1. sell more of them
2. produce it cheaper
3. sell it for more $.
We got so many minutes in our life--and we don't know how many. We get to spend them however we want----If this is what you want, go for it and good luck to ya'.