My parents have a 350 acre ranch. They have only had it for 2 years and aren't living there full time. My dad currently leases 23 head of cattle. I have thought about starting to help him work the land and with the cows. However I need to do something else to have income untill my dad starts doing this seriously. I have a business degree and am trying to figure out how that might help me find something. I want to try to find something ag/ranching related so I can start learning the basics.
2006-10-14 16:04:22 · 9 answers · asked by michaelpatterson24 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Does the climate give the land more than 30 inches of rain a year? Consider a specialty crop for restaurants (Belgian endive or asparagus etc). Consider large commercial hen houses raising chicken for the commercial chicken business. If the business is cattle and only cattle, your family is going to need to sell 200 head of cattle a year in order to stay afloat -- does your dad have the land for that? If not, he needs more land because what he has is a "hobby ranch" rather than a working ranch.
Does your degree allow you to teach at the school or work at the county courthouse? If not, strongly consider an urban job in the nearest big city and a chance to move to the hobby ranch when you are financially secure. If you "burn" your degree by doing ag work for years, you won't be able to reclaim it for a business or teaching career.
2006-10-14 16:11:12 · answer #1 · answered by urbancoyote 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to get started in the ranching business, you should definitely stop by your local office of the US Department of Agriculture. There is usually an office located in your local county seat. The people there should be able to provide you with all sorts of information about how to start a ranch. There are even USDA loan programs available, which can help you to start and operate your ranch.
As far as getting a non-ranch job using your business degree, I don't know quite what to tell you. Many agribusiness firms are large enough that they might have a need for someone with your skills.
You ought to know, however, that the vast majority of family farms are operated by people who have jobs off the farm. These people need these jobs, in order to make ends meet, because the costs related to farming can often be greater than the income received from farming (or ranching) activities. If you are serious about becoming a rancher, you have to think of ranching as a business, and devote every ounce of creativity you have, to making that ranch profitable.
I wish you the very best of luck.
2006-10-14 16:54:58 · answer #2 · answered by Larry Powers 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Raising cattle is not a quick way to make money, I love raising cattle,but if you do not already have a herd started you will have to buy them and they are higher know than they have been for a long time. It will take a lot of money to get a nice herd started.I love to raise cattle and horses, but it is hard to make it in farming or ranching know a days. It really sucks because people who want to farm almost has to inherit the business and you have to still work outside the farm to even make it. I wish it was like the old days when things were not as complacated as they are today. Hope it all works out for you. I commend you for trying, most farmers are giving up were I am from, they are selling there land to sub dividers. I can remember when my dad could buy calves cheap and we would vac and worm them and we would put a couple hundred pounds on them and resale them, but it is hard to do that anymore.
2006-10-14 16:47:27 · answer #3 · answered by Amanda B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was going to start by saying buy a cow.
Consider trying to tie your dad's possible venture to a retail ended business. Sell ranch fresh beef over the Internet.
Most ranchers have a tough time making a profit due to multilevels of profit taking. They are at the bottom. Tie that production to processing and keep all the profit.
Is there a small butcher shop near your ranch? Partner with them to start out. You market the product and supply the beef they butcher it. Work out a profit split. You might find your dad gets into the business faster and you train as a butcher.
Heck, sell steak on eBay.
2006-10-14 16:12:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get cattle and a ranch
2006-10-14 16:06:10 · answer #5 · answered by Carlos 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Move to Texas, buy some land, buy some cows. Seriously.
2016-03-28 09:42:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy a cow and a bull.
2006-10-14 16:11:13 · answer #7 · answered by Thanks for the Yahoo Jacket 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
raise calves,and eventually you will have cattle
2006-10-14 16:15:29 · answer #8 · answered by stalkin ya 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy more cattle ... it's that easy !
2006-10-14 16:07:48 · answer #9 · answered by Jonnie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋