Starting to think Doc is right

[gaucho]

It is not without its challenges.... mostly people related.. have been reported us twice since last fall to Alberta farm Animal Care / SPCA. One for 2 thinner longhorn cows (it was their type) out of 150... we were actually on our way to bring them home before the call when we got it... cows are doing fine and were fed no different at home. Second this past week because we have not been feeding cows for 3 weeks now and the cows are out of feed .. I told my vet who called me that the cows are on stockpiled grass (fescue) which he had a hard time getting his head around. Needless to say I thought I woudl check them out last night and they are all relaxed fat and happy.... no shortage of grass to graze on... Its no wonder many never get anywhere in life, as I am certain it was other cow guys out there that reported us

[comtex]

I enjoy reading comments on ranchers who challenge the status quo, working with nature is so much easier. Agribusiness has so much to gain financially by selling ranchers the newest technology with their bottom line in sight with no regards of your profits or lack of.

[ALLFARMER]

So Doc if you plan to expand what is the sticker
price on the dirt? 50k went to 150k? 200k for
open stuff?

[gaucho]

Not where I have this place... bought another quarter there last fall $80,000... oil lease revenue is $3500 / year... that said you don't need to own it all ...let some other guy buy the land and then rent it off him at cheap prices... we picked up 7 quarters fenced and cross fenced at $8500 for the package on a 5 year lease... the guy respects how we manage the land and in tern he gets to hunt our land... there are many ways to run cattle without owning the land... we have a great relationship with DU in our neighborhood as well and what we do on each others land is win win. That relationship secures us 500 acres of grazing land a year with out having to own it

[ALLFARMER]

Another good thing about being a renter is often
you can get first shot at buying it when they get
in the mood to sell.

Your buddy here got his new Bourgault air drill
today. Sure looks sweet hooked to that new
500hp quad trac! First day on the yard and the
Canada flag is installed on the back of the
cart...nice!

[smcgrath76]

We have splurged this year and purchased
an alley and a chute. With our VBP
rebate it worked out cheaper than me
rebuilding our wooden setup that is 30
years old. I have an new syringe
budgeted as well.
We may even buy a new to us baler (1992
model). Unlike gaucho, we make most of
our hay on shares, as there is a pretty
limited supply of it available here for
reasonable prices. It works out well,
when you have no land or bale trucking
cost, and the neighbour doesn't have to
carry the labour or equipment.
With the sale of our existing assets
(eg:baler), it works out pretty well.
Around here if it doesn't reproduce
(cows), grow (grass/cows), or help
things grow (electric fence), I
generally strongly resent even owning
it.

[smcgrath76]

We also bought a legal for trade scale (I
don't resent that as it saves $ on the
sale side, and makes $ on the marketing
side).