I Want to Be Successful as a Tractor Rancher
We want to help you understand how to run a more successful ranch.
And as a quick aside --- we are here to help you purchase a new tractor when the time is right.
Let’s get to it.
Do you own a ranch?
Are you interested in buying one?
Do you want to turn it into a profitable business?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this article will prove to be a well-timed and important read.
Here are some guidelines from successful ranchers, so you don't have to learn the hard way.
Team
Running a ranch is a lot of work and you will need good, smart, effective help. Finding a good team is not easy and takes a lot of vetting. It is worth the time though.
At times you are going to need expert help. There are many local and online resources for great information. You will need an agronomist, accountant, lawyer, banker, insurance broker, and livestock nutritionist ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Put the best professionals on your team. They will ultimately save you a lot of money and anxiety.
Friendships
Small rural communities are tight-knit. They are built on support and fellowship.
It is smart to be on good terms with your neighbors.
They can be helpful when it comes to fires, getting through tough times, and as a good source of advice, information, and companionship. When disasters happen, there’s nothing like a community of tight neighbors.
Many of your neighbors may be good ranchers. Spend as much time as you can with experienced ranchers in your area. Their advice is invaluable. There’s nothing like real-life experience as opposed to consulting books and websites.
And remember to also be of help --- not just someone who asks for favors and things. That is the ultimate win-win relationship.
Priorities
There are things on a ranch that cannot be put off whether you like it or not.
Not doing them will have dire consequences.
As a rancher you must prioritize and plan accordingly. Failure to plan and act on the plan, is a recipe for disaster.
Set up a schedule for your important tasks. Stick to it. If you do not want to do certain things, then hire someone to do them for you.
When things break, they need to be fixed right away or they can be far costlier. When you need to tend to your livestock, it must be done. If not, the results could be catastrophic.
Details
Always look for ways to improve your ranching operation.
Small savings here and there can add up to quite a bit.
There’s a snowball effect to consider. For instance --- good management of your pastures could add up to a huge increase in beef yields.
When you make mistakes, you need to figure out what went wrong. Then you need to avoid doing it again.
Ask for advice when necessary.
You also need to identify the things you should stop doing. This could help you increase profits. For instance if you have a milking herd that is not bringing you significant profits --- you could consider crossing those cows with beef bulls to produce calves for meat instead.
Everything is in the details.
Save
Ranching depends on nature.
Sometimes nature is not very kind --- especially when it comes to weather.
Make sure you save a percentage of your income for lean times.
You can experience an unexpected fire, flood, drought, or your livestock could die from illness.
Always plan for the worst-case scenario.
Make sure to calculate costs versus revenue. While planting forages for your cattle typically saves money --- it would not always be the case in a drought-prone area.
Therefore it is important to save money for a rainy day --- as you will likely get many.
Livestock
If you take care of the land and your livestock, they'll take care of you.
It’s an adage that holds true.
Spend time learning as much as you can about your herds. You do this by being around them.
Study their genetics so you can make informed choices. Always invest in the best bloodlines you can. Well bred, well-fed livestock will repay you many times over.
Invest in as much land as you can. This gives your herd space to roam. Overgrazing can destroy your farmland. This means you should not increase your herd beyond what the available space can easily bear.
Manage your pastures meticulously. Your pastures are the lifeblood of your business.
Also be sure to always conserve and preserve your water.
Needs
Ranchers make money by prioritizing their land, livestock, and ranch.
You must watch your spending and learn to discern between needs and wants.
Unfortunately, many ranchers do not do this and end up broke.
Perhaps you can make that old truck last a bit longer instead of buying a new one. Maybe that luxury cruise can wait until after you raise some more livestock.
Needs must come first.
Repairs
Learning how to repair your machinery and home are vital skills.
Using these skills can save you time finding an available service person and save you a vast amount of money.
Learn to be your own handyperson and mechanic. This will be a huge cost savings for your ranch.
Others
Your ranch will likely take up a lot of your time.
Plus as we discussed, they can be very costly.
Is your partner or spouse ok with this? Their support will be helpful for keeping things running at home while you are busy working the ranch.
Many rancher’s spouses are very active --- managing the household and keeping records or even working with the livestock.
So are you ready to take on the challenge of being an effective rancher? We hope so.
Hopefully, this brief article has helped you understand how to be more successful with your ranch.
If you need any further help, or have any questions about running a ranch, tractors, or anything else, please contact your dealer, local mechanic, or call us at 602-734-9944. Please ask about our current new and used tractor supply.
Team Tractor Ranch - #1 Tractor Dealer in Arizona. We sell and service most major brands of tractors including Yanmar, Kubota, John Deere, TYM, Mahindra, Kioti, Case, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Ford, Deutz, Case IH, Farmall, International Harvester, Branson Tractors, LS, Shibura, Claas Tractor, McCormick Tractors, Valtra, Solis, YTO, Montana, and Nortrac.
