I've been kind of busy and sort of ignored this thread. So many topics here rolling into one.
Much of this has to do with planning and expectations. Many old European farms were paid for over multiple generations with the debt being part of the land inheritance. The younger or non farming siblings became brick layers or immigrated to North American and became the backbone of our society. We have a greater expectation of traveling and generally doing something different in our retirement, so assets get dispersed to make that happen. Also as a result of diet and medicine we live much longer requiring a greater amount of passive income putting pressure on the factory.
I am not totally convinced the family farm is dead, however I am sure that my what used to be large operation is no longer considered so. Where do I go from here. Although not large by today's standards it is still profitable and provides income for both my wife and myself. In fact we used to be larger but during a budgeting exercise discovered that if we dropped most of our rented land and reduced our staff we would have more time and not be worse off. The result was we did have more time which we squander doing various things and our Net income increased.
Would my operation fit into the umbrella of a larger outfit? Sure and it would add value to it as well. Will my outfit be here for my kids? Yes but most likely they will be the ones joining a conglomerate or being a lawyer or some kind of professional with a hobby operation.
Do I think "Global Warming" has anything to do with this? No. Most of the farms in this area were paid for during the drought years of the early part of this century. Weather is variable, it comes and goes in cycles. There is a geological record of barley grown in what is now permafrost in Greenland. Just like weather, business models over the centuries also change. Do I personally like where this one seems to be leading us? Not really because it tears at the fabric of all small communities by replacing labor with machinery (we consider machinery a labor cost). Farms will always need good people who are treated right but with iron as labor certainly not as many workers are needed any more.
I have a friend and an acquaintance who work for OEF. I personally think they have a reasonable chance of success. As a land speculator (which most of us are) OEF might have created a model for others to get inspiration from and include some of our land in their operations.
As far as 36 paving the road for a new society. I'm not sure if it could possibly be the plan of this current crop of politicians but certainly it will change the landscape.
Much of this has to do with planning and expectations. Many old European farms were paid for over multiple generations with the debt being part of the land inheritance. The younger or non farming siblings became brick layers or immigrated to North American and became the backbone of our society. We have a greater expectation of traveling and generally doing something different in our retirement, so assets get dispersed to make that happen. Also as a result of diet and medicine we live much longer requiring a greater amount of passive income putting pressure on the factory.
I am not totally convinced the family farm is dead, however I am sure that my what used to be large operation is no longer considered so. Where do I go from here. Although not large by today's standards it is still profitable and provides income for both my wife and myself. In fact we used to be larger but during a budgeting exercise discovered that if we dropped most of our rented land and reduced our staff we would have more time and not be worse off. The result was we did have more time which we squander doing various things and our Net income increased.
Would my operation fit into the umbrella of a larger outfit? Sure and it would add value to it as well. Will my outfit be here for my kids? Yes but most likely they will be the ones joining a conglomerate or being a lawyer or some kind of professional with a hobby operation.
Do I think "Global Warming" has anything to do with this? No. Most of the farms in this area were paid for during the drought years of the early part of this century. Weather is variable, it comes and goes in cycles. There is a geological record of barley grown in what is now permafrost in Greenland. Just like weather, business models over the centuries also change. Do I personally like where this one seems to be leading us? Not really because it tears at the fabric of all small communities by replacing labor with machinery (we consider machinery a labor cost). Farms will always need good people who are treated right but with iron as labor certainly not as many workers are needed any more.
I have a friend and an acquaintance who work for OEF. I personally think they have a reasonable chance of success. As a land speculator (which most of us are) OEF might have created a model for others to get inspiration from and include some of our land in their operations.
As far as 36 paving the road for a new society. I'm not sure if it could possibly be the plan of this current crop of politicians but certainly it will change the landscape.
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