Why Are So Many Ranches For Sale In NM?

[dread Pirate]

Found this kind of interesting and somewhat concerning. Lots of large ranches are for sale all over the county, but New Mexico seems to have a whole lot on the market. I will note that Bezos is the 4th largest land holder the state behind Ted Turner.

Some listings here,

Land for Sale, Ranches for Sale in New Mexico - Land.com

1 - 25 of 184 listings - Browse New Mexico ranches for sale on Land.com. Compare properties, browse amenities and find your ideal ranch property in New Mexico

www.land.com

With all these ranches for sale and the push for less beef production buy the morons,,, Just got me thinking and thought I'd open up for discussion...

 

[SJP]

I would imagine escalating costs for everything OPex / CAPex. Finding labor make it really hard to make sense of anything more than a very small hobby ranch. Just the way uncertainty of regulations coming down that would wipe you out in a blink. 3rd generation farmer that has moved away - not a doom gloom post.

 

[whiteworks]

Ranching and ag is a way of life, as these places turnover to 3rd and 4th generations they just want to cash out, take the money and go sit on some island where staff people bring them drinks with little umbrellas. The sad reality is that a lot of these folks are property rich and cash poor. Kinda hard to go shovel shit everyday to make ends meet, all the while knowing you have a net worth of $30M if you cash out.

 

[2Driver]

AZ has some cool stuff too. I like searching this site

We are still looking to retire to a condo in 2,000 acres

Search for ranches and land for sale

Search for properties ranches and land in the entire United States. Looking to buy a ranch in the United States? Search for land or ranches in our database.

www.landbrokermls.com

 

[dread Pirate]

Ranching and ag is a way of life, as these places turnover to 3rd and 4th generations they just want to cash out, take the money and go sit on some island where staff people bring them drinks with little umbrellas. The sad reality is that a lot of these folks are property rich and cash poor. Kinda hard to go shovel shit everyday to make ends meet, all the while knowing you have a net worth of $30M if you cash out.

"Land rich and cash poor"
I fit this description on a smaller level..

I worry these large land holdings will just get subdivided and be lost forever..

 

[whiteworks]

"Land rich and cash poor"
I fit this description on a smaller level..

I worry these large land holdings will just get subdivide and be lost forever..

I don’t think there is a big push to chop up and develop New Mexico just yet

 

[rrrr]

There have been several sales of huge Texas ranches in the last two years, and when I say huge, that's accurate.

The Brewster Ranches consisted of 420,000 acres priced at $320 million in 2020, but the owners were amenable to slicing off smaller parcels.

Massive Far West Texas ranch on the market is priced at $320 million

A West Texas ranch that’s as big as Texas is up for grabs with a price tag to match. Brewster Ranches sprawls over 420,000 acres on the north side of Big Bend...

www.dallasnews.com

The W. T. Waggoner Ranch, a 540,000 acre spread, sold for $725 million in 2016. It is among the largest private property sales in American history.

W.T. Waggoner Ranch Sells for $725 Million

Billionaire Stan Kroenke has been approved by a Texas court to purchase the historic W.T. Waggoner Ranch.

www.drovers.com

This September 2022 article lists the ten largest ranches in Texas. They cover 3,900 square miles of land.

10 of the largest ranches in Texas

Discover some of the biggest ranches in the United States, including famous dude ranches and working cattle ranches covering millions of acres of land.

www.landsearch.com

In November 2022 the 142,372 acre 6666 Ranch, which was featured on Yellowstone, was sold to the show's producer for $200 million.

6666 Ranch | Chas S. Middleton

Explore the legendary 6666 Ranch, one of the largest ranches in Texas. This historic property was established 150 years ago and is available for the first time.

chassmiddleton.com

This December 2022 Texas Monthly story lists some of the biggest Texas ranch sales in the last twenty years.

Texas’s Big Ranches Are Still Selling for Big Bucks

Even when interest rates are high, people want a place where they can hunt actual bucks.

www.texasmonthly.com

The largest ranch in Texas, and one of the largest in the US, is the legendary King Ranch. It is spread over 825,000 acres in South Texas.

Home - King Ranch

King Ranch continues to foster a culture of uncompromising quality, stewardship, and authenticity—a true testament to Captain King’s integrity and commitment to the land.

king-ranch.com

 

[Singleton]

My FIL sold the family farm 15 years ago.
Best decision he made for his family. He still lives in the town, but now is the GM of Clovis Sign.
Family farming is not easy and not one of his children wanted to return to the farm and take it over. My wife and I thought about it, but when I reviewed the financials, it was scary as hell.

It was an average size farm, where you took high 6 figure loans out each springs (land is the collateral) in hopes you pay off the loans and make enough to survive when you harvest.

Today - some new taxes are being proposed (STEP as an example) that would tax a family farm to death when passed down a generation.

The other kicker - my wife and I would not be the property owners. That was in trust that would be divided across all three kids. Did not sit well, I work the farm but only get 30% when it sells.

 

[C_J_J_C]

Ranching and ag is a way of life, as these places turnover to 3rd and 4th generations they just want to cash out, take the money and go sit on some island where staff people bring them drinks with little umbrellas. The sad reality is that a lot of these folks are property rich and cash poor. Kinda hard to go shovel shit everyday to make ends meet, all the while knowing you have a net worth of $30M if you cash out.

This nailed it.

Also property taxes are killers on ranches. Recently these ranches exploded in value, like Havasu houses, and now the property taxes are doubling or more. A rancher can kill himself just to give it back to the land or government or cash out... I don't blame them.

 

[rrrr]

My FIL sold the family farm 15 years ago.
Best decision he made for his family. He still lives in the town, but now is the GM of Clovis Sign.
Family farming is not easy and not one of his children wanted to return to the farm and take it over. My wife and I thought about it, but when I reviewed the financials, it was scary as hell.

It was an average size farm, where you took high 6 figure loans out each springs (land is the collateral) in hopes you pay off the loans and make enough to survive when you harvest.

Today - some new taxes are being proposed (STEP as an example) that would tax a family farm to death when passed down a generation.

The other kicker - my wife and I would not be the property owners. That was in trust that would be divided across all three kids. Did not sit well, I work the farm but only get 30% when it sells.

Farming in Eastern New Mexico has always been a tough way to make a living.

 

[Singleton]

Farming in Eastern New Mexico has always been a tough way to make a living.

You don’t make a living farming in eastern NM. You survive is what my FIL always said. He was the 3rd generation to work the farm. He now has a small ranch that my daughter summers at. She is the only grandkid that helped papa last summer, her 2 cousins were connected 24/7. Her work paid off. She got a great surprise ($$$) at the end of the summer.

 

[playdeep]

Living here...just spitballing,I'm thinking the political landscape.
Nuevo Mejico is getting more liberal by the day.
We're being overrun by California libtards.
They're paying stupid money for eeverything here..

 

[dread Pirate]

Living here...just spitballing,I'm thinking the political landscape.
Nuevo Mejico is getting more liberal by the day.
We're being overrun by California libtards.
They're paying stupid money for eeverything here..

Basically a replay of Montana.

 

[HNL2LHC]

I have 40 acres out side of Kingman. Will go raise what I need if the day comes. Crazy times never thought I’d see the day. But now can see it happening any year now. @wash11, @monkeyswrench and a few others in farming threads from time to time is making me think tha tI need to get something going ASAP.

 

[dread Pirate]

I have 40 acres out side of Kingman. Will go raise what I need if the day comes. Crazy times never thought I’d see the day. But now can see it happening any year now. @wash11, @monkeyswrench and a few others in farming threads from time to time is making me think tha tI need to get something going ASAP.

I'd recommend getting infrastructure in. I have several things I wish I had done differently. I'm paying a lot more for stuff now than I would have 20 years ago.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Living here...just spitballing,I'm thinking the political landscape.
Nuevo Mejico is getting more liberal by the day.
We're being overrun by California libtards.
They're paying stupid money for eeverything here..

It's the reverse of a custody battle:
"You take 'em"
"No, you take 'em"

Sorry you're getting the ones that drove through here...

 

[HNL2LHC]

I'd recommend getting infrastructure in. I have several things I wish I had done differently. I'm paying a lot more for stuff now than I would have 20 years ago.

Yeah, I wish that they in-laws did not sell the other 120 acres that adjoined the property that was built on. But the wife said sell it ALL. Good thing the MIL listened to me when I said no you never know where things will be in 20 years and here we are. Something is better than nothing.…..

 

[steamin rice]

AZ has some cool stuff too. I like searching this site

We are still looking to retire to a condo in 2,000 acres

Search for ranches and land for sale

Search for properties ranches and land in the entire United States. Looking to buy a ranch in the United States? Search for land or ranches in our database.

www.landbrokermls.com

How about 150 acres on the Agua Fria?

5950 W Table Mesa Rd, New River, AZ 85087 | Zillow

5950 W Table Mesa Rd, New River AZ, is a Single Family home that contains 4991 sq ft and was built in 1951.It contains 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The Zestimate for this Single Family is $6,837,800, which has increased by $27,513 in the last 30 days.The Rent Zestimate for this Single Family is...

www.zillow.com

 

[Canuck 1]

How about 150 acres on the Agua Fria?

5950 W Table Mesa Rd, New River, AZ 85087 | Zillow

5950 W Table Mesa Rd, New River AZ, is a Single Family home that contains 4991 sq ft and was built in 1951.It contains 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The Zestimate for this Single Family is $6,837,800, which has increased by $27,513 in the last 30 days.The Rent Zestimate for this Single Family is...

www.zillow.com

Seems to have everthing but land

 

[Canuck 1]

There have been several sales of huge Texas ranches in the last two years, and when I say huge, that's accurate.

The Brewster Ranches consisted of 420,000 acres priced at $320 million in 2020, but the owners were amenable to slicing off smaller parcels.

Massive Far West Texas ranch on the market is priced at $320 million

A West Texas ranch that’s as big as Texas is up for grabs with a price tag to match. Brewster Ranches sprawls over 420,000 acres on the north side of Big Bend...

www.dallasnews.com

The W. T. Waggoner Ranch, a 540,000 acre spread, sold for $725 million in 2016. It is among the largest private property sales in American history.

W.T. Waggoner Ranch Sells for $725 Million

Billionaire Stan Kroenke has been approved by a Texas court to purchase the historic W.T. Waggoner Ranch.

www.drovers.com

This September 2022 article lists the ten largest ranches in Texas. They cover 3,900 square miles of land.

10 of the largest ranches in Texas

Discover some of the biggest ranches in the United States, including famous dude ranches and working cattle ranches covering millions of acres of land.

www.landsearch.com

In November 2022 the 142,372 acre 6666 Ranch, which was featured on Yellowstone, was sold to the show's producer for $200 million.

6666 Ranch | Chas S. Middleton

Explore the legendary 6666 Ranch, one of the largest ranches in Texas. This historic property was established 150 years ago and is available for the first time.

chassmiddleton.com

This December 2022 Texas Monthly story lists some of the biggest Texas ranch sales in the last twenty years.

Texas’s Big Ranches Are Still Selling for Big Bucks

Even when interest rates are high, people want a place where they can hunt actual bucks.

www.texasmonthly.com

The largest ranch in Texas, and one of the largest in the US, is the legendary King Ranch. It is spread over 825,000 acres in South Texas.

Home - King Ranch

King Ranch continues to foster a culture of uncompromising quality, stewardship, and authenticity—a true testament to Captain King’s integrity and commitment to the land.

king-ranch.com

Cute little ranches....Look up Anna Creek in Australia

 

[scottchbrite]

I have several friends in NM that are dairymen or farmers. All are transplants from Chino. @troostr would be a guy to ask about this. A good friend of both of ours closed up shop last week and sold his heard. He got out debt free. There’s a lot of reasons why, like water levels, lack of good workers, milk prices, shit politics, and more that I don’t really understand. It’s a shame. These are some real hardworking people.

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

Scary to think what will happen when all those ranches and farms are sold off.

 

[DWC]

Our Havasu neighbor had a large ranch in Montana. They sold off the last part of it a few years ago. None of their kids wanted it after being in the family for generations. Kinda sad.

 

[River Runnin]

Scary to think what will happen when all those ranches and farms are sold off.

 

[JJ McClure]

Bill Gates. Duh

 

[SJP]

Ranching and ag is a way of life, as these places turnover to 3rd and 4th generations they just want to cash out, take the money and go sit on some island where staff people bring them drinks with little umbrellas. The sad reality is that a lot of these folks are property rich and cash poor. Kinda hard to go shovel shit everyday to make ends meet, all the while knowing you have a net worth of $30M if you cash out.

Well said.

 

[Orange Juice]

You’re going to need a few things other than land and a good back.

2018 John Deere S780 Combine - $234,500 | Machinery Pete

2018 John Deere S780 combine. Browse the most popular brands and models at the best prices on Machinery Pete.

www.machinerypete.com

 

[whiteworks]

Well said.

Another thing to consider is there may be multiple siblings and their children involved in these generational transitions, that can really complicate things once the HNIC isn’t around to keep everyone in check.

I have a buddy who is 72 years old, he and his brother were partners on a large family farm in Iowa that they have been leasing out for 50+ years since the family moved to California. He has no children, his brother does. They have some sibling rivalry issues that have been going on for ever, his older brother has been fucking him around since they were children, and dragging his feet on liquidating the all the farm property’s hoping he would die first and everything would be nice and tidy for his children to inherit the estate.

My buddy pulled up at my shop a few weeks ago in a brand new BMW with a shit eating grin on his face, I knew immediately that the farm auction had been a success

His plan is to spend every last penny and die broke or even better in debt leveraged up to eye balls. He had to pay an outrages capital gains tax bill as he wanted to take the money off the table and go enjoy his remaining days.

 

[EmpirE231]

1st generation does the hard work and builds and works the farm. 2nd generation milks the cows. 3rd generation slaughters the cows and sells the farm.

 

[Gramps]

Mistake I made in the 80's when we got out of California. We bought about 5 acres in southern Utah mountains and built a "vacation" place. We should have bought acreage then. Now I'm too damn old and broke to do acreage.

 

[troostr]

In Oct of '21 my dad and I decided to liquidate our milking herd here in SE NM. As a 5th generation dairyman and farmer, for me it was a gut wrenching decision. Decades of work on genetics of our herd, employees that had been part of our family, so many things that were heart breaking about selling out our herd. The Dairy economics here have changed of the years. Too many factors to get into in a short post. In short, labor, freight costs, some environmental, some regulatory (pricing and operational) are all factors. In some areas like Portales/Clovis, and into the TX panhandle the Ogalala aquifer has been dropping for decades far faster than the recharge rate, guys wells are drying up. Also, around the base in Clovis there is significant PFAS contamination in the ground water, and its spreading.
Since our liquidation, our farm operates debt free. This hasn't happened since just before we built our last dairy in 1997. We now feed 3-7cwt cattle for a couple feedlots in Tx, and continue to farm the 2500 acres that we grew all the forage for our own herd on, but sell the silages to a couple local dairies, our Alfalfa goes all over the place, and we grew a couple hundred acres of cotton for the first time (because previously everything we grew was to feed our own cattle). I was able to keep a dozen of my lifer, ride or die, like family employees, down from 40 when I actually had full shifts which wasn't common. Our stress level dropped from 11 to about a 2. My dad is finally back to playing in his toy barns, it's great to see!
I have friends that ranch, some on HUGE acreage. One on over 50 sections. He says the challenge now is primarily labor. Even the immigrant labor is adopting the "I don't have to work" culture that has chingale'd society.
I do know that there are several "new big money" players mostly from the oil and gas industry that are buying up these big ranches. Hunting leases can have pretty decent roi if set up right and in a decent at least area.

 

[Cole Trickle]

Dumb question but isn't farming highly subsidized?

Has that changed or been reduced in current years?

Tough business to be in. So much work and at the end of a season if things go bad you could end up loosing money. Everyone wants to be a farmer/rancher until it's time to do real ranch stuff.

 

[PlumLoco]

My Mother's sister married a third generation wheat farmer in central Oregon. They had 2,000 acres split down the middle by the highway. They would raise wheat mostly but sometimes barley, on half each year, giving the other side time to rejuvenate. The middle child, and only son, left to join the Fire Dept. as soon as he was able. Neither girl cousin wanted to continue farming/ranching after both parents passed on. They continue to lease out the land but it doesn't make them any money. They both have jobs in town to make a living.

 

[TPC]

 

[troostr]

Dumb question but isn't farming highly subsidized?

Has that changed or been reduced in current years?

Tough business to be in. So much work and at the end of a season if things go bad you could end up losing money. Everyone wants to be a farmer/rancher until it's time to do real ranch stuff.

Not subsidized per say, but there are a lot of gov't offered insurances. Crop type insurance. And yes, there are areas where those insurance offerings are taken advantage of. In the past the gov't has paid farmers Not to plant certain crops due to an oversupply or crop carryover from previous years. This is usually done to offset parts of crop insurance (that the farmer pays premiums on) to guarantee a minimum or break-even price.
Agriculture is really no longer run by the generation that quit school at 7th or 8th grade to go to work on the farm. That generation definitely knows how to work, and many of those learned there was actually a bit of business knowledge needed to be successful. Todays "active" and by that, I mean the ones that actually "work" are savvy in the tech of GPS and self-guidance systems on their equipment, market hedging to ensure profits, all the way to using social media to promote and educate about their operations (Peterson farm bros, Milkman and Milkmaid on insta just for example). There is all the agronomy work that makes things grow more efficiently by saving on water, fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides. It's no longer just pulling a plow through the dirt on your "Pop'n Johnny" and dropping in a little seed. Just like any industry, if you don't implement the most modern efficiencies, you can quickly get left "in the dirt".
Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana has a Really great farm tour experience! There's a John Deere Museum where you can see equipment from the old days to today's most cutting edge. There's a pig farm tour, dairy tour with a robotic milking display, The Farmhouse Restaurant is amazing, and there is a themed Fairfield Inn right there to stay a night or 2! If you're in the area, definitely something to check out!