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Eradicating Cheatgrass in Rangeland Operations

Cattle ranching plays a crucial role in global food production, providing a significant portion of the world’s meat supply. However, one of the persistent challenges faced by ranchers is the encroachment of invasive species, notably cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), on rangeland. Cheatgrass is a highly adaptable and aggressive grass that not only competes with native vegetation […]

Virtual Fencing: The Newest Innovation in Livestock Containment and Range Management

If you take a drive through the modern-day New England countryside, you will still find stone walls lining the edges of historic farm properties. These charming walls were very labor-intensive to build, as stones were removed from farm fields out of necessity; this created an opportunity to repurpose those stones for the containment of livestock […]

Montana’s New Game-Changer: House Bill 635 and Four Other Proven Strategies to Maximize Hunting Opportunities for Non-Resident Landowners

In one of our more recent Land Investor Podcast episodes, Montana Hunting Tags: Resident and Non-Resident Applications, my co-host Matt Henningsen and I dive into the strategies accessible to a non-resident landowner aiming to enhance their chances of obtaining a general license or special permit for big game hunting in Montana. Before I get into […]

Wyoming: Past, Present, Future – Crafting a Legacy

If you have embarked on a drive through the American West, the exploration will likely include the State of Wyoming. The state echoes with the whispers of its past, stands proudly in the present, and tirelessly builds its future. From the rutted tracks of the Oregon Trail to the cutting-edge frontiers of energy, Wyoming provides […]

Strategic Investments: Practical Improvements to Enhance Your Property’s Value

As the fiscal year winds down, you may find yourself in the fortunate position of having enjoyed a prosperous year on your ranch or farm or through other business ventures. Now, you’re contemplating reinvesting in your property. This is a great position to be in, offering the potential opportunity to offset income for tax purposes […]

2023 Letter From The Publisher & Market Update

Fay Ranches experienced some milestones in 2023, and we continued our thoughtful and strategic growth. We also celebrated our great fortune to live and work on the land, meeting new customers and working and recreating with clients we’ve known for decades. After 31 years, we’re just getting started. Our strategic alliance with Republic Ranches of […]

Investing for Now: A Ranch Broker and Interior Designer Discuss Common Hurdles Facing Modern Ranch Investors

Since the pandemic, we’ve seen a shift in the needs and wants of buyers. Pre-pandemic buyers typically wanted to buy bare land and build their own dream as opposed to buying into someone else’s. But that narrative has shifted. Buyers are looking for ranches they can enjoy now to serve as a refuge for their […]

Seasons of the Southeast: Fall is in the Air

The signs are here, and the mornings and evenings start to carry a cooler breeze. The dove fields cool down both in temperature and action. The days are still warm, but the cycle of Autumn is upon us. Soon, there will be a changing of the leaves along the plateaus and mountains and a cooling […]

Three Compelling Reasons to Invest in Costa Rica

Costa Rica sits in the southern part of Central America. It offers miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, 28 National Parks, and temperatures that stay favorable year-round. Being easily accessible by air from a wide range of destinations and offering extraordinary scenery and adventure has made it a thriving […]

Social Capital in the Rural West

Welcome to the West! Maybe you have already been fortunate enough to purchase the ranch you have been dreaming of, or perhaps you are considering a move and searching for the perfect fit. You may already know that such an investment requires learning about water rights, mineral rights, river accretion and avulsion, carrying capacity, federal […]

FENCING CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR NEW RANCH

When buying a new farm or ranch, it can be easy to overlook the potential cost, time, and effort ofpersonalizing fencing applications. Fencing needs will vary widely from property to property, basedon the previous operations of the farm or ranch, how the fencing was kept up, and whether or notthe fence is on the property […]

COLORADO RIVER: LIFEBLOOD OF THE WEST

“Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting.” You’ve heard this proverbial quote before, and today you hear it louder and more often in the Colorado River Basin. Western water law, western states water compacts, water policy, and decisions about how this limited public resource is allocated will continue to be extremely complex, and will […]

Why You’d Love Central and Eastern Oregon

Considering a move, but not sure where the ideal location might be? Check out Central and Eastern Oregon! When people picture Oregon, they often think of the coastline, beaches, sea life, and warm, wet climate. However, Central and Eastern Oregon have a more varied geography and climate. These areas feature multiple mountain ranges, valleys and […]

5 Things All Landowners Should Know About Renewable Energy Opportunities

In 1820 the United States Government started selling publicly held land for $1.25 per acre. This event allowed citizens in urban areas new opportunities, but buying land in unsettled areas was only practical for some. Later, Congress was urged to offer free land to encourage more settlement in these unestablished regions. The Homestead Act was […]

Selling Your Ranch: How to Prepare and What to Expect

My career in selling land began in 1986, and I founded Fay Ranches in 1992. Over the years, I’ve been involved in some of the most significant land transactions in several states, including farms, ranches, timber, and plantations. I’ve seen and learned a few things over the years. This article will hopefully help you understand […]

How to Grow Sustainable Profit Through Analyzing Ranch Performance

In late August 2021, as the world settled into the bottom half of the Covid pandemic, the sale of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card in near-perfect condition grabbed headlines when it sold for a staggering $12,600,000.00, making it the largest amount ever paid for a piece of sports memorabilia. In my last article, […]

How to Build Wealth by Renovating and Upgrading Ranches

Renovating residential homes has been a hot topic for many years. Television has promoted the process of upgrading real estate through multiple shows across several networks. However, did you know upgrading and renovating farm and ranch properties has also become popular? The rising price of agricultural land has made it difficult for the average producer […]

Grasslands CRP Program

It was once said, “The best thing about the land is the landscape.” A good point, but what is also very rewarding is an additional return on your investment through special programs designed to protect and preserve that landscape. Many landowners are unaware of ongoing incentives for maintaining or enhancing certain portions of their property, […]

Succession Planning

To Sell or Not to Sell? After decades of ownership, generations of family succession, years of toil, blood, sweat, and tears, drought, floods, fires, depression, great successes, failures, and everything in between, you now have arrived at the point of needing to create a plan that guides the future for your ranch and your family […]

Browse Ranching

Through my years of ranch real estate, one thing that has become very apparent is the expectations of what a cattle ranch should look like in the eyes of a buyer. Most buyers picture waves of knee-high grass, lush, irrigated hay meadows, mountains of stored hay, and live water running through the ranch. Although this […]

Seasons of the Southeast – Spring

Winter in the Southeast always leaves us wanting more, one more duck hunt in that flooded corn field or timber bottom, one more chase in the field where geese feed, one more day at duck camp with friends and family. Snow goose season still lingers, while quail season is over, and the weather is warming. […]