How do you see yourself?

[grassfarmer]

It was interesting to find out when "shopping for land" in a new country the close correlation in value between different beef producing countries let alone different areas of Canada. It is all linked when you compare on a $ per cow capacity basis. Price per acre just complicates the picture given the differing production potential.

[grassfarmer]

grassfarmer, I think that the price of land in Alberta is directly linked to the development potential.
Anyone trying to buy farmland for agricultural purposes near urban centres, highway 2 corridor or anywhere with a view of the mountains will pay five times what they will pay for land away from the mainstream....and that is due to the development potential and nothing more, doesn't have anything to do with the price of cattle, grain etc.

[grassfarmer]

Urban development is a world wide problem too. Stripping away the values attached to this in higher
"desirability" areas still gives you values you can compare with south America or Europe. Beef production by definition is a low value land use suited to extensive areas of poorer quality land, maybe it's time more beef producers looked to moving onto cheaper land.
Certainly no one would consider grazing beef animals in Holland on any great scale, when the land suits growing vegetables and intensive operations like pigs, poultry and dairy you simply can't afford to.

[grassfarmer]

Grassfarmer, that is why the areas of west central AB are so well suited for cow/calf production. Clearwater County, the west end of Wetaskiwin and Ponoka Counties, Brazeau County and Yellowhead County are all excellent areas for forage production and pasturing cattle. Land is not cheap but compared to land values where cowman and Randy live it sure is a bargain.

[cswilson]

There is an unbelievable amount of land up for grabs up in my neck of the woods-two recent deaths-a couple divorces and some guys just packing it in. A guy could put together land for a thousand cows pretty easy right now. First time I've ever seen land available and nobody wanting to rent it.

[cowman]

I wonder about how much stress people can take before they break? I wonder if your "couple of divorces" were a result of financial stress? Lets face it, farmers are kind of tied to the land and are likely to try to hang in there as long as they can? That would certainly put a lot of stress on any relationship? Especially if the spouse realized that no way is this thing going to turn around!
I have a friend who is basically going through this whole garbage right now. I can't really fault the wife, as he isn't looking at this whole thing realistically, but it is going to bring this whole thing to a head! Personally I hope the bank gets screwed in a big way!

[cowman]

Cowman, it takes a whole bunch of work and committment to make a marriage work at the best of times, and the stress level of so many of our agricultural producers now is just horrific.
But, believe me, the crisis in agriculture sure doesn't hold the monoply on marriage breakup. Its to the point that if you don't see somebody for a couple of years you don't mention their partner by name when you ask how they are doing, because there is about a 40/60 chance they have a new one !!!!
Neighbour doesn the road has six kids, the only one that hasn't had a divorce is the one that has never bothered to get married, but he has a couple of kids anyhow !!!
I guess the upside to all this is that folks in the cattle business can't afford a divorce these days !!!!!

[cswilson]

I actually think it may have been an overactive libido lol. But it's the first time the big guns up here are passing up land-who'd a thunk it.

[cswilson]

I actually think it may have been an overactive libido lol. But it's the first time the big guns up here are passing up land-who'd a thunk it.