Is Ag. going backwards

[agchat]

As probably being in the top on here for age, and yes as some would say old fashioned and hates change, a trip to Regina yesterday made me blurp something to the wife. When i first started farming, where i lived I had about six choices to haul my grain, all within twenty to thirty minutes of each other. Now i have an elevator 30 minutes and sixty minutes from me. However a small city like Regina, and just to take one store as an example Home Depot, people west side there had to drive across small Regina to get there, now one on both ends of town. Makes this old ****er wonder, is ag really progressing? Go ahead now, give me shit.

[agchat]

Oh ya, and may I ad, saw two locomotives pulling about 100 oil tankers along thirty three highway, they use to pull grain cars along there. Is ag really progressing?

[farmaholic]

Depends who in the Industry you're asking. RRs and GrainCos seen some terrific gains(consolidation and efficiency gains) at our expense.

[bucket]

No.

Super Bs in a line is no different than 3 tons 40 years ago.

Some call it progress. I don't. And the highway bill is coming due.

It's not sustainable. But local councils will take the highway back for a bit of money the province throws at them. No vision.

[farmaholic]

"It's not sustainable. But local councils will take the highway back for a bit of money the province throws at them. No vision."

I warned our local community about such a plan by Highways to turn over a service road to the village after it was repaired. Why would they take that responsibility(snow removal and future maintenance) off the hands of Highways?

Sorry to go off track...

[hobbyfrmr]

I Agree with farmaholic, the "industry" seem to be doing well. Grain companies, retail suppliers, machinery companies have been through consolidations in the past and seem to be strong now. Railroads are doing excellent in share values.
In my area the farmer producers who expanded when no one else would do it , look to be doing well. They have modern updated equipment, lots of good men and a balanced work/family life.

[Horse]

Dont know if backwards but severe change for sure. I am to old and tired to realy care anymore and no one to carry on farming, should sell but I guess I will leave that up to the kids.
HF as for those that expanded and seem to be doing well, how could anyone tell as fartmers are notorisly ****ing liars when it comes to disclosing any financial info.

[freewheat]

I am relatively young, and I do not enjoy all the change!

I reminisce a lot of better days, and I am only 39. I worry about my sons. they seem to want to farm. Not having been passed a generational farm, or land, even though I am the third generation. I do hope to be able to pass it to them better than it was passed to me. I hope to heck they do not have to pay for this land for the third time.

Honestly, on a personal level, yes farming,( regular old grain farming), has been going backwards. The passion has gone, the stress has never been so high. A few good years will go a long way, and shifting into something I DO like a lot, the animal side of farming, should help me better my attitude.

I am too young to be this perturbed with farming!

[GOODRUM]

Agriculture debt load at around $80 billion , growing every year, tells the tale don't it?
Used to be $5 billion in 1972 , I said it before we are the ones being farmed, raised for profit.

[freewheat]

GOODRUM. But everything is just great, isn't it? Land values have gone up, so the equity is there. Never had more fancy or efficient machinery, so it is worth the debt. Never put so much into a crop, pencilling in fungys, preahrvest, pre seed, micro nutrients, seed treatments, etc. as a matter of course.

Nope, nothing wrong out there, everything is all good.

lol

[fjlip]

Lots going the wrong way, but certainly getting bulk grain on the rails with minimal road impact was the perfect system, 1200 elevators, and short hauls. Now all grain is on the highways for 10 times the miles and they wear out faster than $$ are found to replace. Rough patched surfaces is all we have left. No vision at all.

[sumdumguy]

We are real Einsteins.

[tstep]

Who do you blame for all this. Farmers have moved forward with less tillage, better ways of seeding, and being more efficient. It's the grain companies that have fallen. Closing elevators. Railroads not wanting to put in 25 cars. Had to be at least 100. Govt for letting this change to happen. No vision. All for the all mighty buck and so called efficiency of the grain co and railroads.

[agchat]

One thing I do remember, when Art Mainil started the Weyburn Inland terminal, the one quote i will always remember, and at that time this person was NOT some old timer, said " I am not saying it is a bad thing, BUT if we as farmers start to show our government, grain companies, and railroads that we ARE willing to haul our grain any distance, then grain handling and hauling will become our worst nightmare in thirty to forty years."
You do the math on the time.

[fjlip]

I think 41 years, and that man got absolutely bang on! All gone to hell, elevators, rail, and roads. I say the nightmare is just beginning. Time to exit and let young invincible guns go for broke.