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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:04:28 PM EST
[#1]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Roundup is the cheapest input on the farm other than airborne CO2. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:07:42 PM EST
[#2]
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While dairys around the country go broke at a fast clip there is A 30K cow Dairy being started up here to the tune of over $100M. Obviously someone thinks there is money to be made in this oversupplied industry. I work part time for a farmer that doesn't own hardly any land and concentrates on doing custom work for others. He told me once... If the payment on that piece of equipment is 50K a year but I can make 70K a year with it I'll buy it. He has millions in equipment and just as much debt. Commodity farmers frequently get hosed as price takers not makers. We live in a world of excess not a world of scarcity and that is reflected in commodity prices. Farm subsidies need to end and everyone will be better off for it. Money will flow from weak hands to strong. Farming is a business but lots of people want to treat it as a lifestyle. If you farm the way your grandad did 50 years ago your going to go broke with no one to blame but yourself. You need to find a niche, get some scale and vertically integrate to survive. You can make money with expensive equipment if you run it across enough acres and buy your inputs by the rail car and not by the bag. One guys break even is the neighbors raking in cash ETA: your numbers are inflated https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/dairy/easterday-family-plans-to-re-open-state-s-second-largest/article_f865bd7e-9f49-11e9-ad7c-5febdb96b54c.html |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:08:33 PM EST
[#3]
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One of my kids went to a local church based preschool for a year, as it was petty close to the house, in a farming area. We had gone to a fundraiser one evening, and felt underdressed parking a 3 year old Jeep in a parking lot full of high end pickups and suv’s. Now, go inside and it’s western shirts and wrangler blue jeans, women dressed modestly...parking lot, looked like a Hollywood truck dealership. But they had an auction, after a potluck dinner where they brought in a dad and two sons who do the old fashion auction chanting...the first up was a dozen homemade blueberry muffins, that I bid as high as 50 bucks, but it went insanely out of my league to 3 or 4 thousand bucks. We stayed for the entertainment of it, but I made sure I didn’t even scratch my nose as it might been seen as a bid, but pies were going for 10, 12 thousand dollars. I get it, they probably write off that as a church contribution, but this was not some mega church, but just a hokey little one...and there was some serious money being tossed around like hay bales for 2 or 3 hours. Quote HistoryQuoted:
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Like gun shops and car dealerships, farmers have convinced the populace that they don't make any money. But they had an auction, after a potluck dinner where they brought in a dad and two sons who do the old fashion auction chanting...the first up was a dozen homemade blueberry muffins, that I bid as high as 50 bucks, but it went insanely out of my league to 3 or 4 thousand bucks. We stayed for the entertainment of it, but I made sure I didn’t even scratch my nose as it might been seen as a bid, but pies were going for 10, 12 thousand dollars. I get it, they probably write off that as a church contribution, but this was not some mega church, but just a hokey little one...and there was some serious money being tossed around like hay bales for 2 or 3 hours. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:14:35 PM EST
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
300 acre farmer might be stuggling, but that guy out on 3000 acres with the new 9620R not so much. Ron McMartin Jr. expanded over 30 years to become one of the biggest crop farmers in North Dakota. When his finances took a turn, it took just a couple of years for 50,000 acres to drop to zero. https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-brothers-tied-to-the-land-face-wrath-of-americas-farm-bust-1513615986 I know of another major farm that is also in trouble. And at these prices? They just aren't getting any room for error. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:17:50 PM EST
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Farmers receive the largest portion of government transfer payments out of any group in the country. Transfer payments are welfare. Farmers live of the gov tit more than any other group. Not all of them, but the #s don’t lie.  Attached File |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:23:58 PM EST
[#6]
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Crop insurance costs more than people realize. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I am going to lose six figures this year because of the rain. No crop insurance. No subsidies. We will make it to next year because my wife has a good job Edited to add I am a sto. Small time operator |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:31:07 PM EST
[#7]
Farmers I have dealt with over the past 20 years have never been struggling. They work hard, economics may cut in to their profits, but at the end of the year they always come out far ahead. But keep in mind it is no cake walk. When they need to work it is all there is all day every day. One thing about a farmer is that in they're mind, nothing is ever good. I never understood that. I would probably stroke out if a farmer actually said "This year is going great".
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:40:46 PM EST
[#8]
Quoted:
I was reading a "news" story about how China is going to stop importing US agricultural products, and how already struggling farmers were going to be hurt by it. I grew up in the Central Valley of California, and I remember farmers being pretty damn well off. Do farmers really struggle? Doesn't the government pay them to NOT grow certain foods? |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:42:04 PM EST
[#9]
Go to a dirt track race. You’ll see all of the big trucks and trailers with ****** farm on it. They are pillaging.
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:42:24 PM EST
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Farming's expensive. If you spend a million to earn 2 million, your RICH! If you spend a million and can't sell anything, you're fucked. Farming is risky. It's also lucrative if you don't fuck it up. I grew up in a farming community. Most everyone I knew that farmed had money and lived a pretty decent life. Some were VERY wealthy. I knew almost no one in 35 years of living there that lost their farm, or suffered any real hardship that was lasting beyond a few years of some calamity. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:43:33 PM EST
[#11]
Farmer or landowner?
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:44:22 PM EST
[#12]
I don't know. They keep farming despite going broke every year, so I'm gonna go up $0.50/acre next year because I really ain't makin' any money!
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:44:28 PM EST
[#13]
Farming is no different than any other entrepreneurial business. Some people are good at the business and make good money. Some people aren't good at the business and struggle. And just like other businesses it is sometimes who you know and being in the right place at the right time.
The only difference I see is that in other industries when the entrepreneur cannot turn a profit that is satisfactory the person normally gives up and gets a "job" or moves on to another business idea. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:52:11 PM EST
[#14]
Some do, it depends on the productivity and quality of the land. Around here most farmers are 3rd or 4th generation family business worth tens of millions.
rent can be $250 bucks an acre and they still make a killing... Some do go bust, but it is usually from incompetence or poor money management. We are in sugar beet country, a government protected commodity. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:52:12 PM EST
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Go to a dirt track race. You’ll see all of the big trucks and trailers with ****** farm on it. They are pillaging. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 9:59:56 PM EST
[#16]
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Yakima? What family? My uncle does about 1k there between leases and owned. Mix of everything apples, grapes etc. Nowhere near 450mil. The one that sold is towards Walla Walla . |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 10:03:38 PM EST
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The bigger you are, the harder you fall. Especially if it's debt financed. Ron McMartin Jr. expanded over 30 years to become one of the biggest crop farmers in North Dakota. When his finances took a turn, it took just a couple of years for 50,000 acres to drop to zero. https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-brothers-tied-to-the-land-face-wrath-of-americas-farm-bust-1513615986 I know of another major farm that is also in trouble. And at these prices? They just aren't getting any room for error. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
300 acre farmer might be stuggling, but that guy out on 3000 acres with the new 9620R not so much. Ron McMartin Jr. expanded over 30 years to become one of the biggest crop farmers in North Dakota. When his finances took a turn, it took just a couple of years for 50,000 acres to drop to zero. https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-brothers-tied-to-the-land-face-wrath-of-americas-farm-bust-1513615986 I know of another major farm that is also in trouble. And at these prices? They just aren't getting any room for error. My company has cut its long term debt by 4 million in a little under 2 years. We also cut our revolving debt by about 2 million in that time. Given, we’re getting ready to take on another 5-7 million in long term debt. But gotta pay the old stuff down first. I’m typically around 15-17 million in debt at anytime.
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Posted: 8/9/2019 10:10:12 PM EST
[#18]
Potatoe farmers in northern Maine certainly dont have it tough. They are some of the most well off guys around. All quite plump, live very well and have loads of toys. Most of them have new equipment and have contracts with French fry companies or frito lay.
I'm sure in other places it's a differentstory, but here they have ot made in the shade. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 10:10:32 PM EST
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
None that I know "struggle". They all seem to make major bank. Most are millionaires, and if they aren't millionaires now, they can easily sell their land and become one. A struggling farmer seems to be quite the myth. $500,000 equipment scattered throughout, and usually paid for, does not define "struggle". Hard work, ABSOLUTELY. Struggle? hell no. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 10:12:41 PM EST
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A lot of 200 head or less do. Especially in this market. Beans are down, weather SUCKS, and beef is down. Before the gas industry arrived and started paying gas lease money to the farmers, most dairy farmers around here were looking at having to give up farming. I don't know how the dairy farmers in NY are managing tp hold on. They're saddled with the same price controls that keep them operating at poverty levels and Emperor Cuomo won't let the gas industry work in NY. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 10:19:12 PM EST
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You guys talking about 1200 cow dairy operations being a big operation need to get out more...lol..... There's guys that have more fucking hospital cows than that.... 
The guys that look rich to you all are either balls deep in debt, 3rd, 4th, 5th generation in, sold property that became Urban development once upon a time, or a combination of any of those. I personally witnessed an investment group stepping off of a bus once upon a time at a dairy farm. Not Banks, just other people involved. Gets extra sporty when there's multiple Banks involved in the same operating note. I can't believe I have to explain this to most of you guys. It's all on credit, you guys that think it's actually all paid for simply dreaming. That's got to be like .87% of the farming population. The original post question is really kinda silly, farmers are like any other business group, some of us do well, some of us struggle. We do like to complain though. It's a self protection thing, if you convince yourself it's going to be a bad year, and it is, well "see I told you so". If it's a good year then you're pleasantly surprised. 
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Posted: 8/9/2019 10:53:59 PM EST
[#22]
I know plenty on both ends of the spectrum. My sister and BIL aren't poor but they certainly struggle
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Posted: 8/9/2019 10:55:46 PM EST
[#23]
Those that are bitching about the new trucks and equipment don't realize that it's mostly a tax dodge. The Government gives farmers so many years to take a loss or depreciate assets associated with farming. That is why you see so many luxury trucks and what not. The Government rules don't dictate that you must drive a bare bones work truck, just that you drive a truck that "could" be used on a farm. Same with the equipment, sure you see bright shiny equipment but you don't see the debt stacked up behind it. I relate it to those people that always have a new car but never a paid off car. There is a lot of hidden debt and if subsidies or credit dried up a world of hurt would happen for just about everyone.
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Posted: 8/9/2019 11:09:26 PM EST
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Same for small dairy farmers. The farm may bring in one million dollars in a year. But after expenses they would end up putting $30,000 or less into the farmer's pocket when all is said and done. Before the gas industry arrived and started paying gas lease money to the farmers, most dairy farmers around here were looking at having to give up farming. I don't know how the dairy farmers in NY are managing tp hold on. They're saddled with the same price controls that keep them operating at poverty levels and Emperor Cuomo won't let the gas industry work in NY. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
A lot of 200 head or less do. Especially in this market. Beans are down, weather SUCKS, and beef is down. Before the gas industry arrived and started paying gas lease money to the farmers, most dairy farmers around here were looking at having to give up farming. I don't know how the dairy farmers in NY are managing tp hold on. They're saddled with the same price controls that keep them operating at poverty levels and Emperor Cuomo won't let the gas industry work in NY. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 11:18:21 PM EST
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
While dairys around the country go broke at a fast clip there is A 30K cow Dairy being started up here to the tune of over $100M. Obviously someone thinks there is money to be made in this oversupplied industry. I work part time for a farmer that doesn't own hardly any land and concentrates on doing custom work for others. He told me once... If the payment on that piece of equipment is 50K a year but I can make 70K a year with it I'll buy it. He has millions in equipment and just as much debt. Commodity farmers frequently get hosed as price takers not makers. We live in a world of excess not a world of scarcity and that is reflected in commodity prices. Farm subsidies need to end and everyone will be better off for it. Money will flow from weak hands to strong. Farming is a business but lots of people want to treat it as a lifestyle. If you farm the way your grandad did 50 years ago your going to go broke with no one to blame but yourself. You need to find a niche, get some scale and vertically integrate to survive. You can make money with expensive equipment if you run it across enough acres and buy your inputs by the rail car and not by the bag. One guys break even is the neighbors raking in cash It works because they're chasing pennies while everyone else is chasing dollars, economy of scale and all. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 11:21:13 PM EST
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My cousin runs a small dairy and seems to get hammered by taxes, costs, expenses, etc. If his wife didn't have a normal job I don't know he could stay in business, and that's with a farm that he basically inherited. Most of the other dairy farms his size have closed up shop. Is a fucked business. That's why it's dying the way that it is. |
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Posted: 8/9/2019 11:42:21 PM EST
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Big debt is big money. My company has cut its long term debt by 4 million in a little under 2 years. We also cut our revolving debt by about 2 million in that time. Given, we’re getting ready to take on another 5-7 million in long term debt. But gotta pay the old stuff down first. I’m typically around 15-17 million in debt at anytime. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
300 acre farmer might be stuggling, but that guy out on 3000 acres with the new 9620R not so much. Ron McMartin Jr. expanded over 30 years to become one of the biggest crop farmers in North Dakota. When his finances took a turn, it took just a couple of years for 50,000 acres to drop to zero. https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-brothers-tied-to-the-land-face-wrath-of-americas-farm-bust-1513615986 I know of another major farm that is also in trouble. And at these prices? They just aren't getting any room for error. My company has cut its long term debt by 4 million in a little under 2 years. We also cut our revolving debt by about 2 million in that time. Given, we’re getting ready to take on another 5-7 million in long term debt. But gotta pay the old stuff down first. I’m typically around 15-17 million in debt at anytime. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 12:40:40 AM EST
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
McMartins are north of us, actually a distant relative of mine. He went broke due to criminal activity, dont know if he was charged or not, may still be an investigation. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
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300 acre farmer might be stuggling, but that guy out on 3000 acres with the new 9620R not so much. Ron McMartin Jr. expanded over 30 years to become one of the biggest crop farmers in North Dakota. When his finances took a turn, it took just a couple of years for 50,000 acres to drop to zero. https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-brothers-tied-to-the-land-face-wrath-of-americas-farm-bust-1513615986 I know of another major farm that is also in trouble. And at these prices? They just aren't getting any room for error. My company has cut its long term debt by 4 million in a little under 2 years. We also cut our revolving debt by about 2 million in that time. Given, we’re getting ready to take on another 5-7 million in long term debt. But gotta pay the old stuff down first. I’m typically around 15-17 million in debt at anytime. What kind of criminal activity? I understand there's some fraud/shenanigans with a lake place, but that's only $1-2 million. His bankruptcy was filed with $62 million in debt, and about $10 million in assets. So $52 million in hookers and blow? 
ETA: Jacking up land rents isn't a crime, though perhaps it should be 
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Posted: 8/10/2019 12:46:53 AM EST
[#29]
The full time farmers that I know work a lot of hours and realize they are making about minimum wage doing it. You can do things to speed up the work, but then you have debt and have to grow in order to make the same amount of money - someone joked round-up cost a lot of money. Roundup is pretty cheap, round up ready seeds not so much. It becomes a big vicious circle...
The more successful small farmers I know have figured out the only real solution is differentiating themselves from commodity producers. The remaining small dairy’s I know have downsized and started selling as much as possible direct to consumers. One also went into agri-tainment. The more successful small ranches sell breeding genetics... Anything to increase the margin. Myself - I decided to do it to maintain a family tradition. I am doing it because I can get satisfaction out of the lifestyle. I am doing it because I can get satisfaction knowing my sweat is helping keep the cost of food down for others. I might not be an American hero like military, or first responder, or LOE - But I can get satisfaction knowing in some small part, I am feeding the nation.. My wife does not really understand it. She donates time here and there, this is my donation of time. I could make a lot more money elsewhere - but I would be doing that only for myself. And honestly at this point, more money would not buy additional happiness. —— Was brush clearing today with a track loader. When pulling up a dead tree, disturbed a bumble bee nest. Was damn happy I was in a nice sealed cab when those little guys got mad and swarmed. Should be getting the cabbed tractor next week-it was the last major investment I had planned in getting the ranch operational. I am a bit paranoid about bees. Really don’t want to get deaded ranching because of stupid bees (seems killer bee’s have been killing about a person a month in S. Texas. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 1:11:50 AM EST
[#30]
All the farmers and ranchers in my family were poor. Ran old equipment till it died.
Same with vehicles. All had gardens and animals to eat. Took them a long long time to build up. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 1:15:56 AM EST
[#31]
Generational farms struggle to get by, that's why there's so few left compared to even 15 years ago.
The small farms around where I live turned to doing huge year round events with farming on the side. Of course, industrial ag makes money hand over fist, and if they don't they get .gov money.
A lot of people don't know the difference between the two. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 1:22:29 AM EST
[#32]
A poor farmer is a bad businessman. That was told to me by a farmer.
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Posted: 8/10/2019 5:56:14 AM EST
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
When the input to raise a good crop exceeds the return, yeah farmers will struggle. A large sum of farmers will be able to survive for a year or two depending on their financial standing. There are some successful farmers that have been farming a long time who have money and new equipment. And there are the following...... There are farmers that operate on a bank loan from year to year. This loan covers the farm operation and living expenses for the family during the year. This is because typically there is only cash flow one or two times a year and food bills occur more often than that. If the year is good, the farmer may get to put some money in the bank or be able to reinvest in equipment. If the year is bad the loan does not get paid, the unpaid portion gets rolled into next years loan and you hope that it will be a better year. The risks of farming are high and you don’t know what the payoff will be until the crop comes in. So for uninitiated, talk to farmer before spouting off here. Thank you for this post. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 6:05:12 AM EST
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
ITT, we learn who knows nothing about farming. After dealing with farmers over an 18 year period, some are well off, and others struggle. It really depends on the initiative and work ethic of the farmer. I knew one farm operation where they worked a total of 30 farm days a year. The rest of the year they spent with their hunting dogs. The only crop they handled was Round up ready Cotton. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 6:10:33 AM EST
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Subsidy Kangs https://farm.ewg.org And type in your zipcode to see which farmers in your area are getting the highest government (read taxpayer funded) subsidies (supply side). Also, keep in mind, that with welfare, EBT, Illinois Link Card, WIC, and SNAP, the government is propping up the demand side. Which in turn causes you honest working and taxpaying US citizens to pay more for your groceries. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 6:16:44 AM EST
[#36]
My dad was poor until he sold his farm. Now he's one of the richest people I know. Retired but lives a lavish lifestyle. He'll never have to worry about money. Just bought an apartment complex in cash. Land is worth a shit ton of money, and farmers have more than just about anyone. He still has over 300 acres. His only complaint is how much property taxes are.
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Posted: 8/10/2019 6:17:31 AM EST
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Those that are bitching about the new trucks and equipment don't realize that it's mostly a tax dodge. The Government gives farmers so many years to take a loss or depreciate assets associated with farming. That is why you see so many luxury trucks and what not. The Government rules don't dictate that you must drive a bare bones work truck, just that you drive a truck that "could" be used on a farm. Same with the equipment, sure you see bright shiny equipment but you don't see the debt stacked up behind it. I relate it to those people that always have a new car but never a paid off car. There is a lot of hidden debt and if subsidies or credit dried up a world of hurt would happen for just about everyone. You don’t “tax dodge” with a $70k truck when you’re losing $30k a year and going broke. That’s not how it works. I’m in to car stuff more than guns; race cars, hot rods, collector cars, exotics, etc. These poor farmers with no money sure like to spend a shit load of cash money in that sector. And I’m not talking thousands of acres or thousands of head of cattle. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 6:18:54 AM EST
[#38]
No shit, glyphos is about $4 an acre, my surface water taxes are around $40 an acre plus the cost of pumping it. Groundwater is $40 an acre foot for depletions to the the river during the 6 month call period, plus cost of pumping.
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Posted: 8/10/2019 6:31:42 AM EST
[#39]
We found a milk check stub from the mid 80s in my grandpa’s desk after he died. Milk is only about $0.80/100 wt more today than it was then. Pretty easy to do the math on that one.
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:38:38 AM EST
[#40]
Like any other business, some do extremely well, others struggle. The larger farms definitely tend to the former and the smaller the latter, though some small niche farms can do very well.
Also like any other business, I for the life of me can't understand why they are owed a cent out of the taxpayer's coffers. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:41:06 AM EST
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
(snip) Everything has gone up in price except the price of the end product. Fuel, fertilizer, labor, equipment has all doubled or tripled in price. (/snip)  I bet ADM has a few politicians in their pocket. The small family farm...who is their lobby group? |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:44:01 AM EST
[#42]
the problem with farming is if you have a great year money wise then fertilizer, seed, gas, & all theessentials for next year go up accordingly
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:47:20 AM EST
[#43]
The farmers around here seem to do well. The smaller acreage guys are doing other things in addition to farming.
The Heritage Foundation did a report on this which concluded that farmers as a group are doing better than the average American and manage the risks inherent in agriculture by having multiple sources of income. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:47:22 AM EST
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
ITT, we learn who knows nothing about farming. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:49:17 AM EST
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: LOL You don’t “tax dodge” with a $70k truck when you’re losing $30k a year and going broke. That’s not how it works. I’m in to car stuff more than guns, race cars, hot rods, collector cars, exotics, etc. These poor farmers with no money sure like to spend a shit load of cash money in that sector. And I’m not talking thousands of acres or thousands of head of cattle. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:49:43 AM EST
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
the problem with farming is if you have a great year money wise then fertilizer, seed, gas, & all theessentials for next year go up accordingly Bette give them some taxpayer money. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:50:29 AM EST
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted: https://media.makeameme.org/created/its-all-part-1mmcsu.jpg I bet ADM has a few politicians in their pocket. The small family farm...who is their lobby group? That thought has ran through my mind as well. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:51:56 AM EST
[#48]
I know a few in my AO. They do ok. One guy is specializing in Hay for the local horse farms. He’s invested in sheds and handling equipment so that they don’t touch a bale until it’s tossed in someone’s barn. Labor is difficult to find so they automate what they can and do the rest themselves. That investment easy cost him $350,000. That’s a lot of hay bales he needs to sale to cover costs.
Another guy was trying to break into farming with out land. It’s tough. He got a good number of leases, but could only afford some pretty old equipment and was often suffering breakdowns. He probably was only getting by on crop insurance scams.  . He certainly seemed to have more failures than anyone else.
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Posted: 8/10/2019 7:59:36 AM EST
[#49]
Small apple farm here chiming in. We have a crop about every 4 years anymore - spring freeze for a couple days generally knocks us out.
A good year is $44,000 gross. Take out $18,000 for labor and direct expenses. Take the net and divide that out over the 4 years. We have retirement income from non farm careers. All our equipment is bought used and paid for by off farm employment. As for govt subsidies that must be for the big boys. We buy crop insurance that helps some. All in all, as apple trees die they are being dug out and not being replaced. I'd just as soon grow alfalfa - a lot less labor intensive. |
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Posted: 8/10/2019 8:02:08 AM EST
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
As a farmer, I can see a lot of people with a lot of misconceptions in here. Yea, some farmers make a lot of money. Same hold true for most of the country. Most farmers in my area are going out of the business, not into it. I'm the 2nd youngest farmer I know of in about 10 counties. There are a few of us (Maybe 25 out of 1000) that are under 40. Most people make enough money to work all year and pay everything back. Last year wasn't one of those years. This year probably won't be either. The Tariffs have destroyed a lot of people around here. Equipment, seed, chemical, labor, land/rent all keep going up Yields have plateaued or declined despite the BS that the USDA and Marketers want you to believe. Grain prices and softs have dropped 25+%. Thats an immediate lost of my gross by 25%, not my net. Nothing else has changed. If you guys have serious questions and don't wanna just badger me, I'll be happy to answer them to the best of my ability. |
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