3 Things to Consider When Investing in a Ranch
Owning a ranch can be incredibly exciting, fulfilling, and profitable, especially if you intend on passing the ranch and its traditions onto your children and hope to have it in your family for many generations. However, this type of investment is not one that you should take lightly, as there are many responsibilities that come with the ranching profession.
When making a large purchase like this, it is crucial that you do your due diligence from the get-go. With that being said, here are a few things that you should take into consideration when looking at real estate ranches for sale.
Land Size
Some will tell you that there is a specific amount of acreage per number of cattle that you will have, while others will tell you that there you should just eyeball. Ultimately, you just need to keep in mind that excessive use of the same land will result in the depletion of food resources for your animals as well as the increase of soil erosion. Therefore, you want to ensure that you have plenty of land that will allow your animals to roam and that will provide you with the opportunity to rotate them on different areas so they don't overuse one area of the land.
Zoning
Research your local laws to find out whether farming and ranching are permitted in your local jurisdiction. In some cases, there could be restrictions on the construction of new homes, or it may be required to obtain a zoning permit for the land to be used in the way that you want. When zoning laws are violated, hefty fines may be imposed, and in some cases, you may be imprisoned.
Soil Type
Another thing that you should consider is the type of soil of the land that you are looking at purchasing. Will the soil support the plants and fodder that your cattle will consume? Don't forget to look into the depth of the soil, topography, as well as the availability of water.
Ideally, you want loamy soil, since it has sufficient moisture and is fertile. You want to steer clear of rocky and sandy land, as it will be unable to yield adequate plant growth for grazing, causing you to spend more money on commercial feed to ensure your cattle are healthy. Soil testing is the best way to be able to get the information you need about the soil before you buy.
For more information about ranches for sale and what type of information you need to know before you invest, contact a realtor in your area.