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Starting my first ranch/farm

J

JesseCarstairs

Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2012
Messages
9
I am 25 years old, looking to buy a ranch or to start one. Not sure where to start, i know i want to be able to grow enough agriculture to feed myself and all my animals. i want to be able live off what i produce. i would love input and suggestions. Thank you.
 
Age and experience: if you still are in school, are you involved in FFA. While none of my family has had much exposure to it, they did have excellent teachers on family ranches. With younger generations involved in FFA, and observing other families with access to it, it seems that is a great experience IF the advisors are top notch, and the student is willing and able to work and absorb the education and apply it. It gives a start, too, if there is family or friend/mentor willing to assist.

Best wishes for finding and using opportunities to lean and do regarding your dreams.

mrj
 
Where you want to locate is based mainly off of what you intend to do. If you're just wanting the type of acreage that feeds you, your little band of stock, and can be run by yourself, you're probably looking at one of the coasts where a small operation can be compensated by producing a value added (ex., oragnic, all natural, grass-fed, etc.) agricultural product(s). On the other hand, if you're more looking for a big acreage deal where you can run a lot of stock, I'd say you need to move towards the central United States. That requires some education, experience working on a large outfit, and considerable drive and passion for what you want to do.
Best of luck and welcome!
 
I am currently looking in Washington, Oregon, Wyoming and Montana. I would say my experience is a 2 out of 10. The only thing i have on my side is a couple bucks. The thing that worries me about the central US is water. I hear some farmer there live and die by the rain. Not what i want to have to worry about.
 
I haven't heard of too many farmers and ranchers that didn't live and die by water. There is more moisture in some places than others, but the land value is pretty much priced accordingly. Buy some pivot-irrigated land if you want to guarantee a rain. That is a costly investment as well in these inflated times.

I'm planning on winning the Powerball Lottery tonight so if that happens I'll let you run 50 cows for free for one year on my new, very large ranch until you get paid for your first calf crop. Wish me luck. :D
 
I'm planning on winning the Powerball Lottery tonight so if that happens I'll let you run 50 cows for free for one year on my new, very large ranch until you get paid for your first calf crop. Wish me luck.
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Good luck long lost brother. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
GM88 said:
I'm planning on winning the Powerball Lottery tonight so if that happens I'll let you run 50 cows for free for one year on my new, very large ranch until you get paid for your first calf crop. Wish me luck.
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Good luck long lost brother. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Daddy?!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
gcreekrch said:
GM88 said:
I'm planning on winning the Powerball Lottery tonight so if that happens I'll let you run 50 cows for free for one year on my new, very large ranch until you get paid for your first calf crop. Wish me luck.
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Good luck long lost brother. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Daddy?!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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High Plains has always been one of my closest pals and i would like everyone to know how much i appreciate him! :D
 
If you don't want to worry about water, I would go with camel ranching.

Remember in business, you need to get in front of the trends, not trail them. :wink:
 
High Plains said:
I haven't heard of too many farmers and ranchers that didn't live and die by water. There is more moisture in some places than others, but the land value is pretty much priced accordingly. Buy some pivot-irrigated land if you want to guarantee a rain. That is a costly investment as well in these inflated times.
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That's for sure the fact of the matter and it's becoming equally true of pivot irrigated land. Aquifers have been over appropriated throughout the west. Well regulations differ from state to state but the goal is the same, to try and bring sustainability between historic water levels (that support all water rights) and pumping interests. As always 'buyer beware', do your research in the area you are interested in ranching in.

I'm planning on winning the Powerball Lottery tonight so if that happens I'll let you run 50 cows for free for one year on my new, very large ranch until you get paid for your first calf crop. Wish me luck. :D
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Hey, no fair that was my plan too! Well, hope you did better than me... I'm 10 bucks poorer for the 5 tickets I bought. :cry2: :wave:
 
gcreekrch said:
Hopefully Jesse isn't just a hit and run.

I'm wondering if Carstairs is his last name or the town in Alberta that may be his home.
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With the details provided and response so far, it sure sounded to me like a kid wanting someone else to do their school homework for them.

If not, I will take back my camel recommendation- but who knows. If the US keeps a presence in the middle east and we go broke, the government might be interested in camels over hum v's. Think of the mark up if you had the market cornered on camel breeding stock.
 
I think I won. We had bought tickets...my wife has them and is late coming home this morning.....might not ever see her again.... :D :D
 
R A said:
I think I won. We had bought tickets...my wife has them and is late coming home this morning.....might not ever see her again.... :D :D
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Well, there WAS a winner in Missouri. :shock: I believe you'd still have claim to some money if she is now on the run!

RA, you're such a conservative individual that I don't know what kind of impact those lotto winnings would have on you. Possibly a conflict of lifestyle that you're used to :!: I bet you'd still be able to figure out how to make it all balance. Ha :!:
 

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