I guess I look at it in a different way than someone in it for the long haul. I'm approaching the end of my farming days, not beginning or planning to continue. I enjoyed a long and mostly positive time owning cattle.
I quit grain farming shortly after the end of the CROW rate. Poor grain prices and high cattle prices made that decision for me!
All in all I have enjoyed farming and have done pretty good.
I think prior to BSE the cattle market was a bit more stable? 2002 was a bad drought year and that was a challenge. 2003 was BSE and that was a wreck for several years! 2009 was another bad drought year.
By 2006 I had made up my mind to start a 5 year plan to phase out of cattle and I have generally stuck to it. I think I might get lucky and sell my cows for a decent price.....at least compared to the last few years!
BSE did not make up my mind to exit the cattle business, but it sure "helped me along"? I guess it changed my whole attitude. I don't think anything could pull the rug out from under a business so fast as that did? It was particularily disturbing that the government refused to take any blame for their bungling of the whole situation. I think that was the first time I realized we really don't have much of a government. They really couldn't care less if we sink or swim.
I quit grain farming shortly after the end of the CROW rate. Poor grain prices and high cattle prices made that decision for me!
All in all I have enjoyed farming and have done pretty good.
I think prior to BSE the cattle market was a bit more stable? 2002 was a bad drought year and that was a challenge. 2003 was BSE and that was a wreck for several years! 2009 was another bad drought year.
By 2006 I had made up my mind to start a 5 year plan to phase out of cattle and I have generally stuck to it. I think I might get lucky and sell my cows for a decent price.....at least compared to the last few years!
BSE did not make up my mind to exit the cattle business, but it sure "helped me along"? I guess it changed my whole attitude. I don't think anything could pull the rug out from under a business so fast as that did? It was particularily disturbing that the government refused to take any blame for their bungling of the whole situation. I think that was the first time I realized we really don't have much of a government. They really couldn't care less if we sink or swim.
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