Are you optimistic about ag's future?

[SASKFARMER3]

Ag More Than Ever asked Canadian agriculture leaders if they're optimistic about ag's future. Hear their thoughts on why the future has never looked brighter.
Is this all just a big smoke screen of getting young guys interested in a industry that makes every one else rich and gives the primary producer peanuts.

Are all these expert types late to the ball game like always. Spouting about ag when the boom is done.
We farmers proved again world wide the world is far from out of food.
The buyers live day to day and only panic if their plants have to shut down.
Simply why not tell our young that want to farm the truth.
Its a long hard road, you will sacrifice way more than you gain. The last 8 years of great prices were nice but might not be back for 8 more.
Every thing from Railways to buyers to companies hocking stuff will try to get the most they can from you.
A simple 10 year plan is one awesome crop 3 not bad two ok and three that will break even or loose money and one that will almost kill you.
Hell hand them over your last 10 years of income tax and let them see how well it was. If you are out of the flood area let them see the 1990 to 2000 returns. If in the flood show them those. Show them how much Support one gets from fed or prov.
Tell them the rules change by every one from Govt to grain companies to railways. you try to Adapt to each change.
News today!
Hedge funds cut bullish wagers on soybeans as forecasts for record global inventories sparked the biggest price slump in more than six months, says a post on agrimoney.com.
The net-bullish position in soybeans tumbled 66% to 14,520 futures and options in the week ended Jan. 13, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission data show.
“It’s all about fundamentals, and at the moment we have enough,” said Mayer Cherem, who helps manage $9.5 billion as the head of opportunistic investments at Pacific Alternative Asset Management Co. “There is a lot of downside from here for soybeans, and there will be a continuation of the downtrend. The picture is bleak.
But on the positive side their is nothing finer than watching a crop start from a small seed and grow to a crop that you harvest. Harvesting a great crop gives you a pride like nothing else. Bags and Bags for rows is a awesome sight.
So yes Ag is great but from this realist please show your Children and tell your children how it really is.
Ah Farming.

[SASKFARMER3]

Im not down on Ag. Its just over and over they talk about how their is no place like it out their.
Why not show the reality.
Or simply why not Kick your kids out after high school let them sow their wild oats get a trade or degree and then decide if its the path they want to take.
Realists adjust the sails in the wind and the wind has just changed a full 180.
Ah Farming what a game.
I like that saying Charlie.

[SASKFARMER3]

When I say kick them out, I mean you provide the funding for University or Tec.
If its what they want after that bring them in. They will be a great asset with what they learnt from being away from home. Their real world educated.

[charliep]

You have lived in both world - salary working for someone else (government) and a business (a farm). Which activity contributed more to growing your wealth/net worth? Which gave you more career provided satisfaction/gave you a reason to get up in the morning?

I won't comment on farming but there are a lot less young people going into agriculture as a career. I have no problem in recommending this career alternative. It remains a fun business to be involved with and career that requires imagination and innovation - things that make me wake up every morning. But maybe I am an optimist.

[SASKFARMER3]

Basically the first 22 years with salary gave me a living and way to expand a farm. Land could be bought and paid for from farm living was covered from work.
But this notion that farming is the be all end all lets hold hands and sing is bull shit.
Show the realities how every day something is happening and you have to adapt or die.
Today the funds are pulling out of soy and its dropping but yet SA has no rain for another week and its hot fricking hot.
Oil is dropping and taking ever other thing with it down.
Adapt or your done.

[farmaholic]

You better had a good constitution and thick skin if you want to farm. If you're a control freak and want everything you're way, stay away. If you can't handle risk, stay away. If you think you will be treated fairly just because you operate under high moral standards, you'll be disappointed.

If you grow better than average or average crops year in year out, you'll be ok. If you consistently are below average you will have a tough time or get squeezed out. We are expected to operate in a system of producing something with the cost of supplies out of our control and turn around a sell our produce at prices basically out of our control. If a neighbor grew a canola crop at break even prices and you only grew half as much, what are the odds of you getting twice as much money for your canola to break even? Go ahead and ask more, good luck.

There are easier ways to make a living. There is no glory in the vocation anymore and maybe never was. I do admit, it was alot simpler when I started farming over 3 decades ago. I am old enough to have used a horse and stoneboat for chores. Now instead of good a good horseman you have to be an electronic technician to get the chores done. Times change. Would I want to go back to that, no, but I don't want to be a second class citizen to the average working class person either.

If the public thinks farmers are a bunch of rich whiners, have at it. For the amount of risk we take, the rewards when there, should be high. It is a very high stakes poker game, tell them how much money you bury in the ground every spring without any guarantees of getting at least the amount you have in the crop back. Show them how much to tools of the trade cost. And don't give me that shit about getting by with older/cheaper stuff, for you to buy that equipment someone had to buy it new. And secondly, what other Industry player didn't forge ahead with advances in equipment and technology, I don't see the RRs burning coal in steam locomotives and the old network of wooden elevators have been replaced with high throughput concretes, so no I don't want to chore with the horse and stoneboat anymore either.

In the end it was MY choice to do this, no expectations or demands were put on me and none will be placed on the next generation. It's their choice as well, they were all presented with options and opportunities...

Agriculture, **** whatever....

[SASKFARMER3]

I agree with the point. I wasn't pushed into this or told I will be taking over, or promised this is yours when Im done.
I left so did every other family member. Two returned after years away and were educated etc.
Rest live throughout Canada.

Simply I do see a promise of good times returning to some degree just about three to four years out. Till then hang on boys its about to get interesting.

[seabass]

Your a poet farmaholic. Couldnt have said it more true. There arent too many town kids that what do what we do. Hard on the nerves for sure.

[ColevilleH2S]

Agreed, ➡YOU'RE⬅ a poet farmaholic

Signed:
The grammer nazi;-)

[freewheat]

I assume we are talking about the good old traditional farming. The one where we keep doing the same thing, expecting different results?

Honestly, regarding this kind of farming, where neighbors compete feircly to lap up the remaining land, where machinery costs are amazingly high, where you have zero control over your end result whether it is prices, or the weather:

That kind of farming? I am not optimistic, particularly for new entrants, unless they are backed up by their parents and long paid for land, or first year inputs paid for them etc., which is kind of general around here at least.

Which is probably why I am pessimistic on traditional grain farming...Tough to compete with that kind of boost.

Where I see optimism in farming, is doing things differently. Some guys raise crickets, some raise cabbage. Some raise free range hogs, quail for eggs, sheep dairies, etc.

So much less capital and flash and iron is needed for these types of farming, and the demand outstrips the supply. Weather worries are eliminated as well.

So yes, I see a very positive future in agriculture, OUTSIDE traditional farming, which relies on weather, expensive machinery, relatively more land, railway companies, grain companies, seed companies, and is producing items that we have too much of already.

Been burnt by weather. Been burnt by dad's death, been burnt too many times to make me feel positive on agriculture. At least traditional ag... But that is just me.

I do see how some of my neighbors and other may be positive on ag. I would be too if I had free father labor, a free first year of inputs, a bunch of land equity thanks to grandpa, to back up my new iron dreams.

I see both sides. Under certain circumstances, one may be positive, and I see why. Under others, one may be negative, and I see this too. Regarding traditional larger scale grain farming at least...