Auctions sales

[highwayman]

Grrr the answer to that question starts with how
does one measure success. I'm sure the
yardstick for success will be different for
everyone. One of the most successful men I ever
knew passed on with meager financial means but
inspired most who ever knew him to be the best
that they could be. The way he lived his life giving
when he sometimes had nothing left to give will
always be remembered rather than the size of his
farm or bank account.

[bgmb]

You guys are totally ridiculous, you think individuals with what you deem to be "enough" should just sit back and do nothing not allowed to rent or buy more land cause it might upset the neighbors. If you don't want these operators to get bigger you better open up your checque book and out bid them.

When it came to the wheat market you were all for competition and the elimination of rules. Competition is great until someone is out competing you i guess.

[wheatsnowcanola]

A big mistake, would be to assume that ALL the farms running new iron are full of debt. Some run zero loan operations.
Good soil, luck with climate, timely decisions, good soil,all play a part.
Rather pay too much for good land, than be given poor ground.
Its the last 5 to 10 bu that is the profit.

[cottonpicken]

We are all playing the hand we where dealt.

Catch a dose of cancer and see how rich you are or
your kid,maybe you will take a sunday off or play
catch once in a while and maybe your kids will love
the place enough to stick around...important
investment is not monetary.

[fjlip]

Correct Cotton, just like Ted Cawkwell, huge operation, up to 14000 acres I heard. Cancer ended it all. Sons did not want to keep going.
However after the auction, rumors were little left after debts paid.
Agree lots of facade farms running on razors edge out there.
Working ridiculous hours, massive risk, lots of hired help and to what end?

[Hopperbin]

Or it could also be a problem of not paying any taxes before the shit hits the fan. Need to have an exit strategy.

[sumdumguy]

Fancy iron, piles of debt, do they expect the
taxpayer to bale them out when things go
wrong?

[farmaholic]

Horse: Jealousy, not but admiration yes. If I never got the break someone else got or willing to lean into it like some others that isn't their fault. Not everyone starts from the same starting line but how they finish is their choice.

sumdumguy: I don't see the railcompanies using steam locomotives anymore. Or many other industries(pipeline, forestry, etc.) using antiquated equipment. But some how because its a farm we are expected to make due--problem is I really can't charge for my product according to cost of production.

[ASRG]

The fact is we all quit sooner or later...one way or the other?
I hope all these sellers are quitting on their own terms and are looking forward to enjoying the fruits of their labour.
If the kids don't want it, or can't afford it, why not? No sense in farming until you are dead or too senile to do a good job?

[liberty]

An overlooked factor that is affecting farm size is average family size. Fifty years ago, it was common for farm families to have 5 kids. Because of that, there was a ninety percent change that at least one of the children would take over the farm. Today, most farm families have two kids. The chances of a family member continuing to farm are less than 50/50. If you have two girls, the chances of one of them taking over are extremely low.

I know of one large farmer in my neighborhood who has a boy and a girl. The girl is off to university and has no interest in farming. The boy is a teenager and while he doesn't complain about helping out on the farm, he's clearly not that excited about it either. Chances are he will move on to another career and the farm will be sold.

The major reason why Hutterites are often the ones buying up land these days is simple: they still have large families.