Farming in the future, where will we be in 10 -15 years?

[norton17]

Noone even bids on land around here except big farms.

The 1000-2000 acre guys are biding their time to retirement, and the 10,000 acre guys are aiming for 20,000.

there is no guy starting from 160, trying to get to 1000-2000

Be happy that big farms are around, or there may be no farms around

[theplowboy]

Thanks guys, some good comments.
But how big is too big to manage well?
What is the right size for a single guy and family to make a decent living off?

[seabass]

Depends on your wants, needs,family size, level of satisfaction,etc. But I think u can run a 2500 acre operation with good equipment and have time for your family.

[freewheat]

A size to manage well? Well again, if
one farms too much, especially in damp
regions, you could have 17 combines to
harvest 140 acres, and not get the
weather to do it. Which isn't
management, it is simply the point that
WEATHER is king as to how much one can
manage.

That stated, for a single family, with
no parents, brothers, uncles, wife
working, and with young kids... It still
depends on where you farm, and your
particular cicumstances.

I started in 1992 with 70 acres of wheat
at age 16, renting it from my mother. I
finally have 1500 acres, am raising a
family of 4, and my wife stays at home.
I depended on an of farm business. But
when you have to start this way, and
learn along the way form experience, and
have no deep pocketed history, or co-
signing on loans, or a land base to back
you up, 20 000 acres of land could come
up and all you can do is watch from the
sidelines. Not that even 2 000 acres
have been available during that time,
but that is another story.

So I have a goal to farm a couple
thousand, and I know that is enough for
me at least to handle well on my own, to
make a decent living. More later.