Young rancher needs advice

[JRDbuilt]

This isnt my first post but my second, so I first want to introduce myself. My names CJ Johnson and live here on the outskirts of Atlanta.

The advice and opinions I am looking for is I am wanting to try and get some land to start raising livestock. I have heard about Agricultural loans and programs from the government but have no idea where to look. Most seem to be more scam related then helpful. I have also heard about programs that tie Older Ranchers with younger guys like myself to help get going.


any advice would be great!

thanks for your time
CJ

[NMRANCHER]

Welcome to Ag.

You can talk to some of the older families in the area you are looking in and then you probably need to talk to the People at the USDA Farm Service office. I would talk to everyone in the building. It would help you try to get a real grip on the whole picture. You might also talk to the Banks or agencies int the Ag loan business. You will find that most comercial banks will run as soon as you say the following: Ag, Ranch, Farm.

I am not telling you not to try but I feel that the more information you have the better you can base you life desions on. When you find the place you want and finaly get it, please be real friendy with your neighbor, for they may know a few tricks that work in your part of the country if they have been there for 10 to 20 years.

There are many people here with more smarts and experiance than me and a few of the others but over all I have seen a lot of good ideas and some rather interesting way of doing things. So feel free to ask even the dumb questions get good responces. I have asked a couple.

Again Welcome and Good Luck

[Ben H]

Subscribe to Stockman Grass Farmer
http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/Subscribe.html

Read Risk Free Ranching by Greg Judy
http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/cgi-bin/page.cgi?id=360

Then read LAND , LIVESTOCK & LIFE, A GRAZIER'S GUIDE TO FINANCE
BY ALLAN NATION
http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/cgi-bin/page.cgi?id=599

Then read all other books on the Green Park Press
http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/Bookshelf.html

With those first two books, you'll learn that you don't want to jump in to buying cattle and land unless you want to go broke, this will get you on track to developing cash flow through managing other peoples animals on other peoples land. Then you can start thinking about getting your own animals/land with after tax profits.

[JRDbuilt]

Wow! thanks for the responses and the great links.

I have worked as a hand on quite a few of my friends properties and the comment about the people that have been in the area is actually my family and the people I work for. We have done more Farming than Livestock but Im more of a animal person.

I just really dont have the money to go and start something myself that Is why I asked my original question.

this wont be my only source of income... honestly I want to do it because I love the lifestyle and I love the work. If it grows to be something great then I couldn't be more thankful.

thanks again for the links.


is there any other links or books I need to look into?

thanks again... i really cant say it enough.


CJ

[jigs]

there is a program called Land Link in Nebraska. we looked at it when we first started out, but was too gunshy to try it....wish I would have now.....


FSA is a lot of red tape, but the low interest rates are well worth it.

[Ben H]

One thing that has really helped me is learning to work with the NRCS and the EQIP program to get funding for building fence and water on properties. I completed two projects this year and just got funded for two more. The first year and a half I didn't get anything, now I've kind of learned what to apply to get the best rating.

[JRDbuilt]

jigs thanks for the info and love the joke in the sig... its soo true

Ben. Im taken' alot of notes tonight!


thanks again!!!

[JRDbuilt]

What size of a ranch do ya'll think is smart to start out with to get a system down? Ive been workin 130 acres with 70 head of cattle right now so we pretty much just chores and let the cows graze.

[Faster horses]

Well, IMO you are on the right track with this comment: "we just let the cows graze".

The best advice that comes to mind from me: "Learn about cattle requirements nutrition wise. Too many producers spend money on supplements that they don't need." (P.S You won't learn cattle nutrition requirements at the feed store. )

Good luck to you.

[andybob]

Learn as much as you can about grazing management for your area, there are a number of training options available, here is a link to one of the better ones.
http://www.holisticmanagement.org/index.html

[JRDbuilt]

Thanks guys! glad the ranch im working on has a decent system. We do a management program here where we rotate the cattle between pastures. That way the pastures do not get over grazed.