Alpaca Farm Days 2009

The last weekend in September you will find alpaca farms all over the United States and Canada opening their gates to welcome the public. This annual event is a great opportunity for us to share information about the breed and for you to get a better look at these wonderful animals. Alpacas at Tucker Creek will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on both Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th.

During the weekend you will have the opportunity to see the daily activities involved in working with alpacas including cleaning the barn and pastures, feeding, toe nail trimming, shearing and breeding--depending on your time of arrival. There will also be farm tours and fiber spinning demonstrations. We are fortunate to have local fiber artist, Peggy Boisvert, joining us for part of the weekend. Alpaca yarn and finished products are available in our farm store--a great way to start your Christmas shopping.

Please join us as we love sharing these wonderful animals with visitors. Refreshments will be served and there will be drawings throughout the day. The only cost for admission is a nonperishable food item for the Clatsop Community Action Regional Food Bank or the Clatsop County Animal Control Shelter. Look forward to seeing you there. Please follow this link for directions.

Business Start Up Package under $100,000--Cash, Credit Card or Terms

We have just updated this package to include another junior herdsire and to expand the terms available for purchase to include Cash, Credit Card and terms to be determined by your needs. The entire $98,750 is eligible for Section 179 treatment when you file your 2009 tax return. The cria at side are too young to be considered "placed in service" by 12/31/2009 so they could be valued at zero for 2009 and receive full capital gain treatment upon their sale. 7 of them would qualify for the 50% bonus depreciation deduction as they would be considered "new" at the time of purchase. Review the summary below and consider the tax benefits it could provide as well as the giant step it would represent in your overall herd development.

5 females bred for 2009, 2 come with their 2009 cria at side, 6 females ready for breeding for 2010. Contact us soon and you can select their breedings from the males available on our farm. All (but the female cria) are or will be bred to Studmaster™ herdsires. 9 of them are Studmaster™ progeny. The purchase of each of the males in the package represents a 1/2 interest. You have full possession--we retain 1/2 interest so we can maintain our breeding rights.The purchase entitles you to the full benefits of the Ideal Alpaca Community--the only operational Alpaca EPD program in the country. Your purchase also includes a fully operational website and inclusion in our mentoring program. This price does not include transportation charges. Package includes agistment until all adult females are bred and ready for transport to your farm. And, don't forget, 90 days qualifies as a cash sale.

Price: $98,750

Alpacas included in package: (15 alpacas) (click alpaca name to view details)

Bella - Huacaya, Female, White
Strong, beautiful and second generation Studmaster™. Buy her today and even though she is a 2009 cria she comes with a breeding to any of the herdsires available on our farm when she is ready (not including transport charges). She is also available in a package with her mother, Tucker Creek's Cheyenne....Read More

Cheyenne - Huacaya, Female, Pattern
Beautiful female from elite lines. Cheyenne's fiber has a soft silky handle with 4 to 5 crimps per inch. Her fiber continued to be in the low 20's for the 2008 shearing season. She stands proud and tall and has proven to be an incredible first time mom.Cheyenne comes with a breeding for 2010 and is also...Read More

Clearwater - Huacaya, Female, White
Clearwater is a perfectly white female out of a gorgeous dark brown dam. Her grandsire is El Toro and her sire is Hemingway's Bogart. She is an incredible second generation Studmaster™ female capable of bringing color, density, crimp and great conformation to your herd.An early August breeding to Glacial...Read More

Destiny's Child - Huacaya, Bred Female, Light Brown
Strong, energetic female with half Accoyo pedigree. Her fiber is dense, crimpy and fine. Her blanket is solid . . . the only white is on her head and chin. Her half brother was 2007 Fawn Color Reserve Champion at the California Classic. She can bring the same quality to your herd.She is currently bred ...Read More

Elana - Huacaya, Female, Dark Brown
Elana is a beautiful chocolate brown female. Fantastic coverage with a gorgeous head and a dense fleece. She is a wonderful proven mom having delivered four incredible females to date . . . one dark chocolate and two perfectly white and the fourth a lovely toffee color. Elana has given us four gorgeous fe...Read More

Jewell - Huacaya, Female, Medium Fawn
With the gentle spirit of Eloisa and Sun Tzu and the quality genetics from each of her parents Jewell will be a wonderful addition to your herd. As a second generation Studmaster™ progeny you will find in her the density, crimp and fineness we all seek....Read More

Katrina - Huacaya, Bred Female, Medium Silver Grey
What a beautiful grey female with a sweet disposition. She is an excellent mother. Her fiber is consistent throughout and she has a good handle. She is currently bred to EC Sun Tzu for a estimated July delivery. ...Read More

Loki - Huacaya, Female, Medium Fawn
Loki is a beautiful fawn greatgranddaughter of Peruvian Hemingway. She has a bit of color in her background including grey. She has a nice soft handle with ample staple length. She is scheduled to be bred in late June to Sun Tzu. That is the same breeding that last year produced Tucker Creek's Heath. H...Read More

Milagro - Huacaya, Bred Female, Medium Brown
Another gorgeous female out of Octavia . . . with Glacial Storm as dad. ...Read More

October Fest - Huacaya, Bred Female, Medium Rose Grey
October Fest is stunning with soft handling fleece. Interesting mahogany/coffee roan gray with beautiful profile. October Fest is currently being sold along with 1/2 interest in her 2008 male cria, Tucker Creek's Rocky Road. This includes full possession of the male cria. At his current age it is too soon...Read More

Tiffany - Huacaya, Female, Dark Silver Grey
Tiffany is a flashy dark grey female with light grey polka-dots. Her fleece is a rich color with high frequency crimp, super nice handle and the brightness you'd expect coming from two suri parents. Check out her histogram . . . pretty good, especially for grey!Tiffany delivered a beautiful male cria out o...Read More

Victoria - Huacaya, Bred Female, Medium Brown
An incredible Hemingway granddaughter. Victoria is a beautiful girl from Award Winning Studmaster™, Hemingway's Tequila. She is a wonderful mother. Her 2007 cria, Tucker Creek's Revival, is currently available as a young herdsire. Each year we select the male cria we feel have the most potential and Revival made...Read More

Revival - Huacaya, Male, Medium Brown
Another excellent example of the success of the Studmaster program. Revival is a second generation Studmaster progeny. His dam is out of MSA Hemingway's Tequila and his sire is EC Sun Tzu. He already is exhibiting many of the personality traits of Sun Tzu along with the density and crimp you would expect from h...Read More

Revolution - Huacaya, Male, White
Revolution has all the characteristics you hope for in a male--square conformation; low micron count; good staple length and a great attitude. He is strong and has the ability to bring rose grey into your herd along with the Accoyo attributes of his sire, Pacific Crest Accoyo Paul Revere.The photo of his ...Read More

Rocky Road - Huacaya, Male, Medium Fawn
Another gorgeous Sun Tzu male--vigorous and curious.1/2 interest in Rocky Road is currently included in a package with his dam for the current list price of the dam. This includes full possession of the male cria. At his current age it is too soon to tell if he will have a future as a herdsire. This is a g...Read More

Fuego - Huacaya, Male, Dark Rose Grey
And last but not least, we have just added Tucker Creek Fuego. As with all the males, only 1/2 interest transfers--but he will be on your farm full time. He is a gorgeous dark rose grey with more grey showing up all the time.

Annual "Buy One Alpaca and Get the Second for 1/2 Price" Sale

Annual "Buy One Alpaca and Get the Second for 1/2 Price" Sale

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act extended the 50% Bonus Depreciation & increased Section 179 deduction ($250,000 maximum) through 2009 making this year the best year to begin or expand your herd.

Pick out your favorite alpaca and match it up with another of an equal or lesser value.

Match up as many combos as you like.

Cash, credit cards and terms.

Additional 5% discount for cash transactions (90 days is the same as cash).

No interest if paid off within one year.

Free transportation within Continental US.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

August is here; soon school will be back in session and before we know it the holidays will be upon us. This is just a reminder that during 2009 many new tax provisions were introduced. Follow this link to the IRS published summary of the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The ones which tend to have the greatest impact on us relate to net operating losses and depreciation related deductions. The new law allows any small business the opportunity to carry a net operating loss back for five years as opposed to the prior law of two years. Farming operations were already allowed a five year carryback--this is just a reminder to not forget this provision when you are considering your alternatives.

The tax planning opportunity here is that depending on your particicular situation any of the following could be to your benefit:

to take bonus depreciation in order to create a net operating loss which could be carried back;
to take a current year Section 179 and bonus depreciation deductions which could be carried forward to a year when you anticipate sufficient income;
any combination of the above which maximizes your tax benefits.

When you consider the limitations on this year's deductions you can easily see the impact they could have on your potential tax liability. The bonus depreciation is only available on NEW assets with a life of 20 years or less. It can be used this year to offset current year revenue; can be carried back five years to offset prior income or can be carried forward to future years. There is no limit on the amount of property which can qualify for this deduction. Section 179 is available on new or used property, is limited to $250,000; is reduced dollar for dollar if your eligible purchases exceed $800,000; can be used currently or can be carried forward--but is NOT eligible for carry back.

So start now to plan for your 2009 taxes. Consider the impact of buying new or used equipment or alpacas while the deductions are still available. Section 179 is scheduled to continue but next year it will be reduced to an amount probably in the range of $135,000 to $140,000 as it will be based on $125,000 adjusted for inflation from 2007. It is scheduled to be reduced to $25,000 in 2011. Currently there is no provision for the bonus depreciation deduction to continue beyond 2009. So you can see where these provisions alone make 2009 a great tax planning year.

Am I Behind on Cria News?????

The summer is just racing by. Can't believe we are already on cria number eight and I have only reported on two. Well here goes the update:

River Rock's Tiffany delivered a medium fawn Sun Tzu male on June 11th. Had some wonderful suggestions on his name but Korynn and David won't allow any changes. His name is Tucker Creek's Bungee Buuud. Very soft and crimpy.

On June 14th two more Sun Tzu progeny appeared in our pasture from Tequila's Marcella, owned by Oregon Coast Alpacas and RGA Cordelia owned by Jim Supple of Cool, CA. Marcella had a beautiful dark brown female named Tucker Creek's Collie. And Cordelia had a very busy medium fawn male by the name of Tucker Creek's Cordelia's Cordial--Cord by his friends.

Two days later Queen Amidala, AOO, delivered a gorgeous rose grey Sun Tzu male named Tucker Creek's Sun Tzu Warrior. Very strong weighing in over 20 pounds. Beautiful fiber. He pretty much rules the cria pasture--just like his mother--always in

control.

All of the crias to this date were shorn on shearing day so we had a wonderful opportunity to check out their fiber. Sun Tzu has done well--as usual. If you would like to see samples, just email or call Peggy.

One week after shearing on July 7th Queen Amidala's opinionated daughter, Tucker Creek's Jasmine, gave birth to yet another Sun Tzu baby boy. A very dark energetic character by the name of Tucker Creek's Oscuro (dark in Spanish). You may call him Oscar if you prefer.

And the most recent addition born on July 23rd is Tucker Creek's Sun Fuego out of Coastal Moon's Katrina and Sun Tzu. A handsome dark rose grey male. Just love all the rose grey babies this year.

Don't look at the male to female ratio (two out of eight) as I am convinced it will turn around here any day. THINK PINK!!!

Alpaca Client Does Commercial with Subway

There is really nothing more to say . . . the commercial says it all. This couple is awesome and it was so fun to see them in this commercial. Our path in life may take many twists and turns . . . it is fun to see how the friends we make along the way got from point A to B. Jeffrie Sue Carver and Clinton Brooks own C & J Alpaca Ranch in Fort Collins, CO.

http://fittoboom.msnbc.msn.com/?source=permalink#/home/video/9/0

Enjoy!

What Does a Herd Dispersal Sale Mean to YOU?

This topic was created out of a question asked by a new breeder in the midst of creating his business plan. To be perfectly frank, I hadn't given it a great deal of thought until he posed the question. AATC currently has room for more alpacas but buying alpacas doesn't fit in our current business model. We are currently fortunate to be agisting 35 alpacas for our clients, are planning on 17 more cria (about half of those for clients) for the 2009 birthing season, have 17 members of our foundation herd and 23 alpacas for sale.

So, I sincerely had to give it some thought. Bottom line there is no simple answer. Dispersal sales are designed to sell off an entire farming operation or group of livestock in an expeditious manner generally brought about by an event such as retirement, health issues, death of an owner, financial necessity, market fluctuations--the list can be endless. Whether it is a good opportunity for the buyer remains to be seen. Nothing can take the place of your own due diligence. A great deal is no deal at all if you have registry problems; if the herd has health issues; if you can't get them bred--and there is no one left at the farm to honor the contract. The dispersal sales you see on-line and in your mail box are an opportunity and a risk. You are the only one who can define what level of risk you are capable of withstanding. As with any purchase of breeding livestock you must make sure the animal is registered, that the seller you are buying from has a right to sell the animal, and that the breeding animals come with live birth and reproductive guarantees. If there is a guarantee will the seller be in a position to honor that guarantee after they retire from the business?

Do not get me wrong--there are many reputable alpaca breeders out there selling their herds--and you can be comfortable in buying from them. But be sure to do your due diligence. Being a retired CPA, I like a good deal. But a good deal could be the purchase you make from a breeder who is not going out of business; who may be charging a bit more than the dispersal farm; but will still be in business after you have taken the animals home. That is a decision only you can make.