Having nothing sucks!

FarmerDavid · #1 09/21/12, 12:01 PM

I've had cattle for two years now, basically starting with nothing. I've invested most of my available funds into cattle. So I have no stock trailer, no flat bed trailer to haul round bales, no squeeze shoot, a hand ful of corral panels but they are not really sufficient to work my cattle. I can't think of what else. I really hate have to beg and borrow everytime I need to do something.

Was going to start building some decent pens with a tub this winter, but now a neighbor is trying to sell me a few of his "older", mostly 8, 3in1's because he doesn't have the hay to get them through winter. If I do that I doubt I'll have any money for the pens. I hate being a mooch but most of the other stuff is just overhead the cows should make money, so starting out that's where I'm trying to invest.

I'm just down about being a mooch!

nosqrls · #2 09/21/12, 12:22 PM

Some times You Can trade cattle or beef for stuff like a used cattle trailer,lumber or work.
I pay for work sometimes in steaks or roast or hamburger for that matter. Paid for animals that way too. 525lb Yorkshire pig ---- he was tasty. Butcher a (1000lb+) cow put in the freezer if you need something and offer to pay for it with steak. I haven't been turned down flat out yet. Then your not a mooch if you pay.

G. Seddon · #3 09/21/12, 12:32 PM

FarmerDavid, why should you sacrifice your plans for his cattle? Just say no!

ycanchu2 · #4 09/21/12, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerDavid

I've had cattle for two years now, basically starting with nothing. I've invested most of my available funds into cattle. So I have no stock trailer, no flat bed trailer to haul round bales, no squeeze shoot, a hand ful of corral panels but they are not really sufficient to work my cattle. I can't think of what else. I really hate have to beg and borrow everytime I need to do something.

Was going to start building some decent pens with a tub this winter, but now a neighbor is trying to sell me a few of his "older", mostly 8, 3in1's because he doesn't have the hay to get them through winter. If I do that I doubt I'll have any money for the pens. I hate being a mooch but most of the other stuff is just overhead the cows should make money, so starting out that's where I'm trying to invest.

I'm just down about being a mooch!

I have a guy who hauls my cattle ......I trade him a yearling heifer or bull for so many hauls. It works out good I don't have to own a $10K flatbed truck and a $10K trailer. The extension office here rents out portable working chutes, but I have that already. i built some working facilities a few years ago with a tub etc. all I can say is just do a little at a time.

springvalley · #5 09/21/12, 02:29 PM

Boy I think you could build some good pens out of used material, you don`t have to have the best of the best. All it has to do is hold cattle, and hire a trailer when you need it, a good hay rack will haul round bales, and has many other uses. You don`t have to be a Rockafeller to have a good enough place to have cattle. Once you have a nice herd of cows, and are making more money, then spend it on buying better stuff. If you start out barrowing money and having everything nice, and things go south, you got nothing left. But if you start out with the basic needs, make money and then improve on that you will enjoy yourself so much more. I say buy the cows or part of them then use the money you get to get better next year. > Thanks Marc

Allen W · #6 09/21/12, 02:31 PM

If you have been borrowing from him and he wants to sell you cows he isn't bothered by your borrowing. Take care of what you borrow and be willing to lend what you have and help them out when needed and don't worry about it.

FarmerDavid · #7 09/21/12, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G. Seddon

FarmerDavid, why should you sacrifice your plans for his cattle? Just say no!

Ya I don't have to, and may not, but he priced them to me right. I can take my pick or all 10. I should be able to get 3/4 of my investment back on the spring by selling the calf.

I usually pick up someone's lunch if they loan me something. I've just never liked having to borrow something. It just seems it takes alot of money to do anything in agriculture right now, and it's frustrating.

FarmerDavid · #8 09/21/12, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen W

If you have been borrowing from him and he wants to sell you cows he isn't bothered by your borrowing. Take care of what you borrow and be willing to lend what you have and help them out when needed and don't worry about it.

I honestly don't think anyone but me is bothered by it.

Bret · #9 09/21/12, 02:44 PM

I don't think you are a mooch. Keep working your plan and don't be distracted. You are investing in all of the right places.

What you have to loan today is your time. That's a lot to offer.

Good work.

springvalley · #10 09/21/12, 05:07 PM

The only time I hate people borrowing things, is when they bring something back that is broken. > Thanks Marc

rancher1913 · #11 09/21/12, 06:31 PM

when you retire in 50 years you might have everything you need but not likely. been running cows for a lot of years now and have stuff from when my great grandfather ran cows on the same ground as well as all the generations in between and I still "need" things all the time that I aint got. been dreaming about a silencer hydrolic chute and the remote control tub to go with it, maybe someday.

genebo · #12 09/21/12, 10:08 PM

I bought my tractor from a salesman who warned me about overextending myself. Remarkable, huh?

He was a farmer who had bought a lot of equipment he needed, then couldn't pay for it. He ended up working as a saleman. No more farm.

So keep on doing what you are doing. I'm proud of the spunk you're showing in making something out of nothing.

It sounds like you are surrounded by a bunch of nice neighbors, who are willing to loan you things you need. Without friends and a social network, we are alone in the world. It sounds to me as if you are blessed.

Be a good borrower. Replace or repair anything you damage, and repay your neighbor's generosity in ways you can.

francismilker · #13 09/21/12, 10:14 PM

Even though a large portion of the farmers in our great country got their's the "old fashioned way" (inheritance) Somebody at some point had to start out with nothing and build it up slowly. Notice I said "portion" instead of "all" because most of us here on this board are buidling as we go.

It takes time and Rome wasn't built in a day so don't over-extend your credit or patience by getting in a hurry. There's an old saying I try to live by that says, "being a farmer doesn't mean your kids will inherit much but insures a good estate auction when we're gone." Most of the things that you'll acquire over the years will be nothing more than an eyesore to your spouse and kids and they'll sale them for far less than the blood, sweat, and tears you put into having them. That being said, try to figure out a way to spend less, feed less, and sale for higher prices and you'll be successful. When you get it figured out, please share with the rest of us that are working day jobs away from home to support the cows that never have to leave home!

Valmai · #14 09/22/12, 06:31 AM

Do you buy in or bale your own hay? Can you get small bales? Do you have a regular (car towed) trailer? Just load that up by hand and drive it out into the paddock. Start looking for bargains eg posts, railings, gates etc. Check out everyones "junk pile" you could find some treasures. Do you have a convienent corner in a paddock where you could use your panels/gates to make a yard?