 |
 Shared Ranch vs Private RanchWhat is a Shared Ranch? The Shared ranch concept is not new. It is more prevalent than it has been in the past, as more people want the ranch experience and lifestyle without the management and maintenance of a large tract of land. Shared Ranch or Ranch Preservation Communities as they are sometimes called allow a family the opportunity to enjoy a large ranch property when they want, with the assurance that someone else is managing the land and livestock. Amenities can range from minimal, say a barn and arena, to extensive including guest lodges, day spas, fishing guides & gear, managed horse facilities, even planned activities for the whole family. For an example of a fully amenitized Ranch Preservation Community see our tab about Marabou Ranch in Steamboat. For a ranch with fewer amenities check out the Creek Ranch tab. Very often the shared land within the ranches has been placed in a Conservation Easement. This protects the shared land for perpetuity as an agricultural environment. It can lower the property taxes that owners pay and at the same time allow the owners the freedom to roam a much larger plot of land that they could otherwise manage. Many of these ranches are in the thousands of acres. Why might it work for me? If you wish for a ranch home that you visit a few times a year, or just want a lot of space to roam with out the hassles of land and stock management then the Shared Ranch might work well for you. If on the other hand you prefer to call you own shots and get back to your Ranching roots (even if you don’t have any) then an private ranch is your best bet. So what is the real story of an independent ranch? Ranching by its nature requires full time management of both the stock and the land. Not only do the horses and cattle require good husbandry, but there are things to consider like irrigation and pasture management, weed control, hay or alfalfa harvesting and active livestock feeding in the winter when the natural grasses have died back. Fences have to be checked and mended from time to time, and irrigation ditches need to be cleaned out each spring when the water starts to flow. Equipment has to be maintained so that it is ready when you need it for a task. All of this requires an on site manager for the larger ranches and will require a great deal of your free time for the smaller plots. Realistically a 35 to 100+ acre plot does not require a great deal of time to manage even for a part time resident, unless you have year round stock to care for. If you are a hands on person or plan to hire a ranch manager, the private ranch is possibly the right match for you. How can we be of value to you? The first and most important aspect of looking for your ranch is for us to fully understand the property you envision. If you are reading this you probably have a vision of the type of ranch you want. Maybe it is a small horse facility or a cattle operation. It could be a hunting property, or even just a place to go and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Maybe you see it only as an investment property or it could be a legacy ranch you plan to leave the kids. What ever it looks like in your mind, we will help you find it. Once we clearly understand what you are looking for we can tap into the network of ranch owners and ranch brokers that we have developed over the last 25 years. Knowing where to look is as important as knowing what to look for. As we go through this process we will discuss the advantages of investment strategies such as 1031 tax deferred property exchange, conservation easements and programs like Conservation reserve program (CRP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and even possibly the US Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP). See Conservation Programs Tab for more detailed information and links on these programs. Here are some of the things to consider. What is the story on Mineral Rights? Mineral Rights are defined as “The rights to subsurface land and profits”. Often when a property changes hands the mineral rights go with the land. Just as often they are held back, or for that matter are not owned by the current land owner in the first place. These rights include but are not limited to 0il & gas, coal, metals, and gravel. It is very important to know what rights if any go with the land. We will work diligently with you to help you get a clear picture of what mineral rights if any will be transferred with the land at your purchase. We can direct you to mineral professionals that can clear up any questions that exist. What are water rights and why are they important? Surely you have heard of the constant battle for water between the cities of the west and the agricultural community. Water rights are very often a significant value of a working ranch. They are your priority right to irrigate your land. Colorado is a "Use it or Lose it" state, when it comes to water rights. If you do not use the water you are allowed annually, you can lose your priority rights. Understanding your rights and utilizing them is of paramount importance in maintaining the value of your ranch property. We will work closely with you to help you determine what rights are available and highly recommend using the services of a water attorney to verify that these rights currently exist and will transfer with the land. What is Live Water and how does it relate to Water Rights? Live Water is running water such as a stream or creek. Some are seasonal and only run in the spring and early summer. Other year round streams might benefit from a stream mitigation plan that helps the flora and fauna grow healthy and support wildlife habitat. If requested we can refer professional water biologist who can bring professional knowledge to your stream restoration plan. In several instances we have managed river and stream restoration projects through our consulting division. Can I build ponds on my ranch land? Building ponds and damning up streams are tasks that are highly regulated by Colorado State Water Law. There are requirements as to how high a damn can be without a permit, as well as, monitoring evaporation for stored water loss. We will work closely with you to put you in touch with the necessary regulatory agencies as well as consultants that are experts in the field. For more on water law follow this link: www.westernwaterlaw.com What about fencing? The fencing law in the west requires you to fence out someone elses stock rather than fencing in your own. That being said it is much better to fence in your livestock than to go looking for it when it wanders off. Fences can be beneficial for other reasons as well. Cross fencing is used to create separate pastures to control your stock from overgrazing any one individual area. It can be used to show the property boundary. However just because there is a fence near the boundary of a property there is no guarantee short of a professional survey that it is on a boundary line. Surveys can be costly but we recommend them in all cases so that you have a true idea of the property boundaries. For a more detailed discussion of Fence law click on the link below. asci.uvm.edu |
