West Central Illinois | Albion2365 - 4/10/2026 09:33
Young guy starting out, wondering how bad of an idea it is to expand? Thinking adding 20-30HD of 5-6YO Fall Breds, currently own 15HD all bred to calve early September outright. How long is this ride going to last? Is it worth getting a Beginning Farm/Rancher Loan and expanding. I understand you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, but is now the right time?
No way would I take out a loan on bred cows right now, way too easy to get upside down on them in a couple years if prices slide back. I've been building a cow herd since 2022 started out with 16 hd i think that year and have grown that to around 70 by just buying a few cows every year and keeping some replacements, as I also have taken out little by little more and more crop ground to grass on the home farm and have rented a couple pastures adjacent to the home farm. I already don't sleep that great at night I don't think I'd sleep a wink if all these cows were bought on a loan. I know a lot of people will poo poo using your own savings to start farming and money from town job but it's helped me to grow at a more natural rate I feel and also more skin in the game, looking out the window now at our life savings grazing rye behind the house sure looks better than looking at money in an online banking app. |
is it worth expanding?
