Red Robin
Well-known member
38dollars per pair per month or per year? Both seem absurd.
I spend my hay money in fertilizer. I fed .3 bales per cow . I used most of that as bedding calving on snow. We are open with decent grazing all winter long unless you over stock.Denny said:Most of mine is $15 per pair per month 6 months of grazeing hay around here varies low meadow hay $10 pretty good alfalfa mix $40 dairy alfalfa $55 to $65 a bale 1000#s.I figure my hay at $25 per bale 6 bales per cow per winter we feed some silage or distillars so our hay is in the 4 bale range.
Northern Rancher said:If your going to carry some debt I'd rather have it in cattle than in iron-liquidity and cash flow are pretty important in todays cattle business. If you could find some lease to own deal it might work out too-calf share leases on cows are a disaster waiting to happen -I've seen a few friendships ended over them throughout the years-cash lease is probably better-but in reality if you can make a lease payment you can make a loan payment. If you took cows on lease if the owner just culled them as they go and you replaced with heifers you own it might get you in the business. By the way do you know the guys at MillIron Livestock from Buffalo,Wy-good friends of mine.
movin' on said:milliron,
I am in the same situation as you. I have been wanting a ranch lease so bad I about can't stand it for 5 or 6 years now. I don't see any way to make land pay for itself either and I really think leasing is the only way for us to go. I started buying cows about 11 years ago and am currently over 100. It does take a while to grow the herd, but the limiting factor for me has always been lack of grass/stalks/calving ground. I absolutely refuse to calve cows in a dry lot so I have to find grouind all year long. The part of Kansas I used to live in was very farm-i-fied and finally moved out to western Kansas where there is a lot more opportunity. Best thing I've done, too!. Keep looking for that lease and keep heeding peoples advice on this website. Taking in someone elses cows is a good idea. Never, ever sacrifice on quality. $40 a head premiums at whatever stage you sell your calf crop might enable you to stay in the business when other people have to sell out or enable you to pay a little more for a lease!. We'll find something if we keep looking. Good luck.
Oldtimer said:Just for informational purposes- the National Agricultural Statistic Service says that the average US value for pasture land for 2006 is $1000 per acre- which is a +22% yearly change and a +79.5% 5 year change...
Montana's pastureland value is $650 an acre - up 76% for 1 year and up 171% for the 5 year period....Don't think calves are up 171% since 2001 :roll:
Shouldn't gripe tho- they say Florida pastureland value has went up 305% in the last 5 years and is valued at $7500 an acre....
efb said:If you don't already own land I don't think there is any way you can buy it today and make it cash flow with beef cows. If you are buying it for appreciation maybe, or if you can average it with land purchased earlier, okay. Leasing is the only hope for starting or expanding a beef program. I'll bet that is true for Montana, Colorado, Nebraska or anywhere else. Example, land here is $2,000 / ac. plus. Takes 3 acres per cow. That is min. of $6,000 per A.U. At 6% the interest is $360 per A.U. plus about $5 per acre taxes. I can lease that same land for $20 per ac. per year. That's $60 per A.U. vs. $375. Some of the examples above in this thread aren't much different. Land at $600 per ac, run 30 hd per quarter, that is $3,199 per A.U. at 6% equals $192 per A.U. plus taxes. You indicated could lease it for $38 per A. U. In my case I can lease it for 5% of the ownership cost, the $600 land can be leased for 20% of the ownership cost. I know leasing can be a headache, but it's the one that will pencil...
Shorthornguy said:You might want to read "No Risk Ranching" "Custom Grazing on leased Land" by Greg Judy. It is available through "
"The Stockman Grass Farmer" Good Luck