Next round of heavy rain....

[agchat]

See that is why i do not worry about just crops, I see by my last post I should worry more about proper typing order !

[cottonpicken]

O ya,well i already went through something like that thank you very much.

Of course there are worse things and i doubt anyone here doesnt know that.

[farmaholic]

I am sure we are all grateful for our good health, family and peace of mind. To some since all those areas are good, this weather is at the forefront of their minds. Ask the business owner whose sales are slipping for whatever reason what he is thinking about. Potential is being eroded in the Eastern Prairies by the day. Efforts were made and money was spent and it sucks to see it diminished by what some people are experiencing with the relentless rains. Take it one step further and think about the ability to provide a living for your family in these conditions(for some people), can the debts be serviced, input bills paid and the kids play hockey and have a family vacation like the rest of society?

There is my Sunday Morning Sermon. Take Care.

[agstar77]

Times will change as more corporate farming takes over. It will only be a line item on a balance sheet. No one will care whether the crops fail, no pride or caring , the emotion will be gone.

[SASKFARMER3]

Amen! Brother!
Kansas is getting pounded also and on the bright side of our storm system no tornados!

[farmaholic]

agstar77. Consumers may care when food prices go up or those whose daily challenge is to get enough to eat. We are producing an essential of life for those who either don't have the ability or knowledge to feed themselves. Hunger can be a strong motivator.

[agstar77]

There is very little awareness in the public as generations are more removed from ag. They are more concerned about gmo and organic because no one in the fat cat world goes hungry.

[agstar77]

We are on collision course with the GM effect where no one cares about the safety or quality of the product only the bottom line. We are basically doing it to ourselves in the rush to become larger , to the point where individuals and families will no longer operate the daily functions of farming but will delegate responsibility to employees some who care and others who do not. It is not an indictment , just a fact.

[grefer]

That all leads to an interesting area Agstar. If we were to concede that the end result you described is not desirable, how do we avoid it in a Democracy? Most business owners like to feel they are moving forward with their business,which in Agriculture often means more land, which means bigger machinery. Etc,etc,etc. At what point are family farms not family farms any longer?Is it when companies like Cargill own them or is when the operation is so large the owner/owners only manage the business? Will our governments get to a point that they will have to address this issue or will it already too late by the time the end result becomes evident?i have noticed many farmers put down large operations but at the same time strive to replace them. Time will tell as they say.

[mbdog]

desireable or not, governments role/actions, whether local or national IS the issue to address behind the issue, not what they should do to agriculture. Getting and staying in power, appeasing the masses is the root of the agriculture/producer participation-investment dilemma. Government should look there for the solution.

[agstar77]

There is no turning back, the next ag revolution is well underway. I guess we will manage like any other industry. Possibly training programs for managers and workers. Help for transition of land holdings to a rental operator and lease of equipment, new operating loan arrangements. It will become a major problem for the next generation.

[mbdog]

I agree agstar...well on its way. My point though is government involvement/broader actions have a larger influence in the confidence/participation/attitude to risk in the ag industry than any policy change or profitability/demand agenda they can do at this stage of the game.