Selected Alternative Ranch Plans Developed by Small Groups
No Cows
· Sell cows and bulls.
· Raise wheat for grain (150 planted, 75 harvested)
· Nov-May stocker steers at $2.50/cwt/month
· Rent out grass ($5/acre)
· Sell bluestem hay
Tallgrass Ranch Company
· Hunting at $5/acre on native range
· Delay calving until late April-June (2/3 reduction in purchased protein)
· September weaning at 425 lb. average. Run 2 months on native grass and feed 1 pound of protein/day. Go to wheat
· 2% death loss
· Quit feeding 704 pounds hay/cow
· Run 71 stockers 450 pounds, 700pounds at sale (1.67 pounds/day, brahma x)
· Don’t spray weeds
· Sell 8 cows
· Purchase fence at cost of $4,700
· Sell hay equipment
Hunter’s Paradise
· Sell cow herd, Ford, baler, swather, chisel and equipment
· Rent out cropland at $40/acre
· Fertilize grass for hay.
· Don’t spray weeds
· Custom swath and bale half of grass in strips and sell from field.
· Lease grass to quail hunters for season at $5/acre. Lease pasture to 5 deer hunters for all season at $500/gun.
· Sow wheat in pasture for deer in October - 299 acres, no fertilizer
· Rusty takes off-farm job (gross pay = $1,500/month)
· No stockers
CLICK HERE to view the financial evaluation of each alternative.