I question myself everyday whether I still want to be a farmer “when I grow up” and I really appreciate you reinforcing my reasons for getting up everyday, going to work in the city, and striving to get my farm ready to support a diverse, regenerative farm.
Excellent, excellent video. One thing to consider that even though they made little to no money, 10 years later , a developer or large corp will come in and buy that farm for 5 million more than they paid for it. At the end of the day they did amazing.
I'm just getting started and only have one Jersey cow that is nursing a Charolais calf and a Charolais/Herford cross calf. Seeing your numbers is a big help. My goal is to raise healthy food and to make enough profit to justify the investment. But, even without any profit, I enjoy the work and the ability to bring friends and family out to the farm.
We are just starting to get into beef cattle we have poultry and dairy cattle and have experienced pretty much what you outlined numbers are different but the approach lines up. We are adding beef for our security and to provide good food to our community. We never thought this would be a way to add big money to our bank account but we enjoy the lifestyle and the people we meet. Our grandkids are learning tons just as you pointed out. Great video thank you for taking the time do this and to be honest. Appreciate you very much
Great video. I have family members in Central Illinois, who raise half a dozen head. More for a life and family experience like you said, learning the lifecycle creating work ethic and respect for the land and animals you raise. putting meat in your freezer. And at the end of the day, if you make a few dollars off the sale of your animals. Bartering is so important. This family will help other land owners with their needs. In return to get their hay cut and bailed for them. like you said it gives you a reason to get up and stay productive and hopefully stay healthy. A good work ethic is a healthy life. A lot of people misunderstand that.
Actually.....almost every single economic study will prove that commodity beef (cow/calf) is one of, if not the least, profitable animal ag enterprises. Poultry (all types), hogs, sheep & dairy (#1) are more profitable, year in and year out, than commodity beef sold through the local sale barn.
@@willbass2869 Yah, I know this video is about cow/calf but I wasn't referencing that with my comment. D2C grass fed private label. Maybe he will do that operation next. :)
Thanks for the video, what I understand from your video, this business is totally for hobby not for making money. 10 yrs of labor, possible market fluctuations etc. at this scale, this is just for fun. It might be considered as a real business only if you are doing this with 100+ animals. Imao!
All depends on preservative, does said person want to work a full time job and sell 12 beef on the side? In my opinion the big guy in this example still won because he gets to build his dream and not go to work for someone else building theirs. . . But not all people see it that way and thats fine, it takes all kinds to make this world go around. . . .
I’ve got minimal expenses I cut and dry my own hay with a zero turn with a bagger 2k for a 10 year old model all temporary fence so about 1/4 of the cost but I can move it to any where on my property or someone else’s but I started with less head than my land could handle bought 2 heifer calf’s 1100$ now their pregnant only 100$ for AI they graze all year except when it’s precipitating and freezing I’ll let them have access to the barn my labor I count as my quality of life and exercise their dairy heifers bred with angus so calf’s will either be for meet or heifers for my meat breeding I’m under 4k investment for breeding hogs and heifers chickens rain collection feed for 2 years I’m an extreme penny pincher I find enjoyment doing the most with the least anyone can farm can’t plow a field turning over in your mind gotta get up and do something today to benefit your tomorrow I’m not gonna see profit until this summer with my 2 litters of pigs and my 2 heifers coming into milk it takes time for sure but I think I’d rather have tangible investments than some numbers that don’t mean squat on a screen that you can’t touch for 10 years or more that aren’t guaranteed to still be there or worth the inflation of what you could’ve done with that dollar in the present. God bless and good luck to everyone getting in on food security for yourselves and those who support you
Error #1.... don't conflate cattle business with land business. Treat your cattle business like. . . . . a REAL business. Cattle must turn a profit (or breakeven) from day one. You can't run a hamburger stand or a welding shop or a legal practice without making a profit. Don't think cattle can either. Youre using your "town job" to subsidize a cowboy dream. Not to be harsh, but you're mixing or even equating "lifestyle" with business. They aren't the same. My unsolicited advice....with 21 acres you need to get out of the cow/calf biz and simply buy in weanling steers and raise them up to 800 pounds. They'll be ready for the feedlot. There is a large, well establushed mkt for just that animal. Maybe mix in 4 or 5 steers to grass finish and sell yourself. Your land base is too expensive to be used on low profit enterprises like cow/calf. Good luck
I agree and this is not our situation nor our numbers. We did use our “town job” to build the equity to get started and it took 4 years to pay that back because we continued to build, but our farm pays for itself and then some. We are currently between 8-10% profit every year, which is not as good as I would want to see in a full time business but for the other rewards it is not bad as a side hustle for us. If I ever felt like my engineering role was paying for cows and not going to my family I’d quit and buy 6-10 acres and just buy a few calves every year to raise our own beef. I agree with the stocker mentality on 20 acres and that’s what I suggested, but not the route they chose. Thanks for the comment.
I question myself everyday whether I still want to be a farmer “when I grow up” and I really appreciate you reinforcing my reasons for getting up everyday, going to work in the city, and striving to get my farm ready to support a diverse, regenerative farm.
Thanks for watching, I know exactly what you mean.
Excellent, excellent video. One thing to consider that even though they made little to no money, 10 years later , a developer or large corp will come in and buy that farm for 5 million more than they paid for it. At the end of the day they did amazing.
I'm just getting started and only have one Jersey cow that is nursing a Charolais calf and a Charolais/Herford cross calf. Seeing your numbers is a big help. My goal is to raise healthy food and to make enough profit to justify the investment. But, even without any profit, I enjoy the work and the ability to bring friends and family out to the farm.
We are just starting to get into beef cattle we have poultry and dairy cattle and have experienced pretty much what you outlined numbers are different but the approach lines up. We are adding beef for our security and to provide good food to our community. We never thought this would be a way to add big money to our bank account but we enjoy the lifestyle and the people we meet. Our grandkids are learning tons just as you pointed out.
Great video thank you for taking the time do this and to be honest. Appreciate you very much
It’s nice to meet people who are so passionate about providing for their families and communities.
Always enjoy listening and learning. Great vid . Keep them coming.
Great video. I have family members in Central Illinois, who raise half a dozen head. More for a life and family experience like you said, learning the lifecycle creating work ethic and respect for the land and animals you raise. putting meat in your freezer. And at the end of the day, if you make a few dollars off the sale of your animals. Bartering is so important. This family will help other land owners with their needs. In return to get their hay cut and bailed for them. like you said it gives you a reason to get up and stay productive and hopefully stay healthy. A good work ethic is a healthy life. A lot of people misunderstand that.
I’m a big believer in bartering and trading services.
What's crazy is cattle is one of the most profitable farm businesses. Def. for the lifestyle. Thanks for the video.
Actually.....almost every single economic study will prove that commodity beef (cow/calf) is one of, if not the least, profitable animal ag enterprises.
Poultry (all types), hogs, sheep & dairy (#1) are more profitable, year in and year out, than commodity beef sold through the local sale barn.
@@willbass2869 Yah, I know this video is about cow/calf but I wasn't referencing that with my comment. D2C grass fed private label. Maybe he will do that operation next. :)
Great video
Great video, very well stated.
Thanks for watching.
That was very helpful, thanks!
Glad to help, thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video, what I understand from your video, this business is totally for hobby not for making money. 10 yrs of labor, possible market fluctuations etc. at this scale, this is just for fun. It might be considered as a real business only if you are doing this with 100+ animals. Imao!
Pay off your property with your day job and you can retire early if you wish is the main goal for a lot of us
All depends on preservative, does said person want to work a full time job and sell 12 beef on the side? In my opinion the big guy in this example still won because he gets to build his dream and not go to work for someone else building theirs. . . But not all people see it that way and thats fine, it takes all kinds to make this world go around. . . .
so all the cows these novices bought were fertile for 10 years?
I’ve got minimal expenses I cut and dry my own hay with a zero turn with a bagger 2k for a 10 year old model all temporary fence so about 1/4 of the cost but I can move it to any where on my property or someone else’s but I started with less head than my land could handle bought 2 heifer calf’s 1100$ now their pregnant only 100$ for AI they graze all year except when it’s precipitating and freezing I’ll let them have access to the barn my labor I count as my quality of life and exercise their dairy heifers bred with angus so calf’s will either be for meet or heifers for my meat breeding I’m under 4k investment for breeding hogs and heifers chickens rain collection feed for 2 years I’m an extreme penny pincher I find enjoyment doing the most with the least anyone can farm can’t plow a field turning over in your mind gotta get up and do something today to benefit your tomorrow I’m not gonna see profit until this summer with my 2 litters of pigs and my 2 heifers coming into milk it takes time for sure but I think I’d rather have tangible investments than some numbers that don’t mean squat on a screen that you can’t touch for 10 years or more that aren’t guaranteed to still be there or worth the inflation of what you could’ve done with that dollar in the present. God bless and good luck to everyone getting in on food security for yourselves and those who support you
Error #1.... don't conflate cattle business with land business. Treat your cattle business like.
.
.
.
.
a REAL business.
Cattle must turn a profit (or breakeven) from day one. You can't run a hamburger stand or a welding shop or a legal practice without making a profit. Don't think cattle can either. Youre using your "town job" to subsidize a cowboy dream.
Not to be harsh, but you're mixing or even equating "lifestyle" with business. They aren't the same.
My unsolicited advice....with 21 acres you need to get out of the cow/calf biz and simply buy in weanling steers and raise them up to 800 pounds. They'll be ready for the feedlot. There is a large, well establushed mkt for just that animal. Maybe mix in 4 or 5 steers to grass finish and sell yourself.
Your land base is too expensive to be used on low profit enterprises like cow/calf.
Good luck
I agree and this is not our situation nor our numbers. We did use our “town job” to build the equity to get started and it took 4 years to pay that back because we continued to build, but our farm pays for itself and then some. We are currently between 8-10% profit every year, which is not as good as I would want to see in a full time business but for the other rewards it is not bad as a side hustle for us. If I ever felt like my engineering role was paying for cows and not going to my family I’d quit and buy 6-10 acres and just buy a few calves every year to raise our own beef. I agree with the stocker mentality on 20 acres and that’s what I suggested, but not the route they chose. Thanks for the comment.