How To Buy Ranch Land
How does a person get started with owning a farm?
I have been very interested in starting a ranch/farm but I don’t have the means necessary to buy any land. Land is selling for between $800-$2500/acre (depending on the classification and type).
My credit is shot but I have experience in farming (did custom haying for 12 years as well as lived and worked on a farm for 8 years). Problem is my experience doesn’t qualify me for any starting farmer programs (must have at least 2 years farming managment experience). Most of the farmers in my area are looking at there farms as their retirement home/fund.
So making it simply put, I have no credit and not enough experience. Still how can I make my dreams come true of starting my own farm and ranch?
You start small and go from there. My credit is horrid thanks to my ex husband, and his brother (who stole my SS# & some checks).
My physco ex burned down the house we owned, instead of paying me the money owned in the divorce.
No money, no credit, no house (heck, I didn’t even have clothes!).
Lived with my Mom. I purchased 5 sheep, and 3 goats (already had my two horses). Stopped with the sheep, as they were too stupid, and kept drowning themselves.
I now have 45 acres, about 100 meat goats (numbers will tripple in December, when the does kid for the second time this year). I have a 20 hole rabbitry also.
I cannot keep up with sales, and currently sell myself out, as well as a fellow goat farmer who has 200 does.
The only way to gain, is start small, and hard work. I’ve worked for every customer, and they all return to my farm, because of my outstanding customer service.
Start small, and work hard. Set reasonable goals, atain them, and set new ones.
Starting small is a good way to go also. It allows you to make some mistakes, and not go into debt to do so.
By the way, 45 acres (looking at more land in the hundreds of acres) permiculture farm, make our own fuel, grow our own fodder for the animals, pretty much self suficient. My husband and I (extremely happily remarried) have NO debt, other than our mortgage.
If we cannot pay for it, we don’t buy it. That means all of our equipment (like our 4 tractors) all paid for with cash.
Another lady I know took out a $16,000 second mortgage on her house to get into meat goats (180 of them). She is now in serrious danger of loosing her home as the goats she purchased sight unseen were total culls. She is has lost almost 100% of her kid crops.
I started with three goats, and I’m still building my herd, but my animals are outstanding, and HEALTHY.
You can do farming if you have the will and the drive. You just need to keep seaking out the right chance.
Best of luck,
~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years
Windsor Valley Ranch
Tags: diy, home, how to buy ranch land, map, sustainability, tools
