farmers wanted

[tweety]

Depends on the spouse.

Absolutely, especially if they make 6 figures. That is the secret, marry someone with means.

[farmaholic]

if the older farmer lived that life style to pay from his land how do the new farmers expect a deal to buy their land and drive a new truck live in a new house and go on a sunny vacation every year.

...because they're entitled! Everything now!

[grassfarmer]

if the older farmer lived that life style to pay from his land how do the new farmers expect a deal to buy their land and drive a new truck live in a new house and go on a sunny vacation every year.

The new farmers I know don't. Saying that some of them have the smarts, "hunger" and work ethic to be more successful than the majority of current farmers. So these things could all be in their futures if they choose to spend their money that way.

From my perspective a starting point for this discussion should be defining what successful and sustainable agriculture looks like. I would argue that we have been fooled by "bigness" as a sign of success for too long. If farms need to farm more acres with each passing generation just to sustain the same family unit I'd suggest that is not success, but failure. Not personal failure by the people involved, but a failing of agricultural as a sustainable entity in business terms.

[farmaholic]

Grassfarmer, As I was chowing down on Sunday's leftovers and reading your post at the same time....I stopped reading to look down and load my fork and the gears were grinding how I was going to responde....but as I read on while chewing away you already validated my opinion......its an Industry failure not a personal failure.....the bastards just keep squeezing us.....at times.from both sides!

[blackpowder]

A Good topic. Broad range of responses. And I must say a good example of why
I wouldn't want to screen my posters after reading Mr. Grassfarmers contribution.

4Gfarms-It sounds like you're already addicted so... I hope you have good secondary, dual income.
And try not to put all your debt efforts toward machinery.

With or without govt farms will consolidate and cycle with the generations and macro economics.
No matter the industry, inflation will always increase the size of a stand alone unit.

Landlords, retired etc... I've seen a few. And a few good ones.

Maybe different tax breaks might help. But people cant deny their nature.
And Greed is a part of some natures. It seems sometimes, the more someone was given,
the greedier they are. I will say the elder generation today are the luckiest in history. All they had to do
was buy/inherit something and hang on. You know the old saying. "I made my millions the old fashioned way--I inherited it!"

Comments about the 50 somethings seemed the most insightful. It really is up to us. The clock is ticking louder. Do we want someone to flip a check in our casket? If we spent our best years fighting with no equity, must we force someone else to do so? The percentage of us to see 80 is still low. There would be no change without death.
So,... surround yourself with good hearts. And if no one wants your little hoard/legacy, so what? There's lots (pun intended) of those in the cemetery.

[4GFarms]

BP, if you mean I am addicted to farming you are correct. I love this. Dont get me wrong some days/times are challenging. I do not have a secondary income. I am trying to expand on what my family has started. I have been a farmer since I was a kid. It is really hard to justify some expenses (land and equipment) sometimes. I just dont have the right pencil for the way things are going but we just keep at it. I am not about to risk what my dad and his dad and so on had just to say I bought land. Low risk I guess. As the saying goes, "there is always next year".

[blackpowder]

4G. I sincerely hope your experience will be better than mine has been.
And, I bet it will be. Better times, methods, equipment, attitudes, mentors, partners.

IF there is enough to support everyone.
IF you can access old equity for leverage.
So many ifs. Between the l and the e in life.
Not complaining one damn bit. This post reminded me of every***thing I did wrong.
Worried me a bit when at first you said you 35 and no land. Saw my own repeating.
Good Luck.


Just erased a bunch more that was too identifying.
About naiveté, ignorance, innocence, parents, land, blah blah blah.

[4GFarms]

BP, as they say hindsight is 20/20. Its easy to see what should have been done after the fact. We seem to be doing ok. There have been tough years but some good ones as well. I dont know your situation but it seems you have some good experience in this industry. I just try to keep a level head and make some solid business decisions. that can be hard at times depending on the situation. Thanks for the comments and Best of luck to you in the future.

[mbdog]

Thx for comments. I'll categorise myself as one of the 50 something active grain producers that see's the need and opportunities for new producers/production. Don't have any intentions to pack it in just yet...just maybe have the means to help bridge startup risks. As I see and read the varied and increasing advertisers selling/promoting agriculture in all of its forms, be it livestock, veggies, value-add, fruits, hay/forage, service provision, etc...what's missing is the important message of the producers willing and able to help out.

[grassfarmer]

Don't know what it's like on a purely grain operation mbdog but something that's going to be important for me and I'm sure others once they hit the 50s is having "younger legs" helping out on what is still a fairly physical job when you're working with livestock. I see that as one of the big advantages of starting some type of succession at 50 where you are bringing in people 20-30 years younger than you - it might provide the means to let you continue to farm actively for another 20 years if you want to.

[farmaholic]

Apprenticeship farming?

[farmaholic]

What are the Parasites doing to ensure they have a new young host to feed off of for his lifetime?

Funny it should fall on the shoulders of those who fought the parasites all their lives.

[Rareearth]

Holy crap farma, you nailed it perfectly, "apprentice"
But...
What everyone that has something to transition with, and struggles with is, " what qualifications do you need for journeyman?"

[farmaholic]

Welfare farming?

[farmaholic]

Subsidized farming.....