Sad to hear ...

[the big wheel]

These weather problems assist the big plan don’t you all see what the plan is? First the big corporates and other countries actually own the seed rights rhen next they will own all the land just be workers for corporations and other countries and hutterites. Input capital, oil companies,China, Africa,Monsanto bayer etc etc.

[macdon02]

Ultimately this Industry needs a delousing on several levels!

I'm tired of being the host of the parasite party.

Maybe it's time for someone else yo cinch their belts tighter, get leaner, and shave costs.

Id hate to see the numbers for 2019 but i can guarantee tax is not any lower.

[FarmJunkie]

U got it big wheel. They got guys to buy into the big spend and now that they are in it balls deep there’s no way out. Price of grain stays low because the bills have to be paid no matter what. Farmers continue to shoot themselves in the ass by making bad decisions. Prime example is machinery. Who the hell in their right mind buys half million dollar or more equipment and finances it or leases it over 5-7 years and expects things to go just peachy every one of those years. The system is setup up like a Vegas gambling casino. Eventually the house takes it all the longer u sit at the table.

[jazz]

I am not saying I have all the answers but being small acres I had to do some little tricks to improve my bottom line.

Couple of the things I do are financial. My land payments are due Aug 1 and I have an open LOC for inputs. Sometimes if I think prices look pretty good, I will sell earlier than usual and invest some of my gross returns in the stock market for 6 months or so. Its a margin trading account so I can borrow against the investments to charge up the returns a bit for a few months. Other times when things look flat, i take the cash advance, pay off my inputs and liviing expenses and market most of it in Q2 of the following year. Have done very well selling in that window before the new crop is established. I never ever sell off the combine.

My land mortgage is set up as a line of credit so every time I make a payment, it opens up some interest free room on the facility at prime rate. I take that each year and invest it in the market for a 3% arbitrage. Called Smith maneuver. Its a way to convert secondary debt into a new asset. And the interest charges are deductible and personal dividends up to $50k untaxed.

I have been experimenting a bit with intercropping and cover cropping on a small scale. have tried Clearfield lentils and canola together. In 2016 after watching my lentils hailed out, I noticed volunteer lentils came up very fast and didn't fully terminate for almost 3 months afterward. So this year we drilled lentils back into lentil stubble right after harvest. Goal was to build some organic matter and N for next yr. If our lentils could come off their usual time next year, there might be an opportunity to establish a fall cover crop that could perhaps be cut for forage.

Have knocked around investing in rental or commercial real estate as well for a different income stream.

[blackpowder]

Just remember. There should be no shame in knowing when to quit. And be at peace with it. Everyone here is only human.
Why give your retirement $ to the suppliers???????

[fjlip]

Just remember. There should be no shame in knowing when to quit. And be at peace with it. Everyone here is only human.
Why give your retirement $ to the suppliers???????

Hmmm, but was told QUIT ON A GOOD YEAR....this is far from good. 53 years actively operating every machine, 47 years of income farming, is that enough? Not alone I am sure, I never left the home farm, brothers and parents left me here. Almost everything is DEJAVU, many times.

[Guest]

Well this is depressing. I can't imagine how the guys operating on the edge are going to manage this. Does everyone have shit grain? How much?

RENT: ya some rates are out of hand but why does the adjustment for costs have to come from the life-time farmer who rented his land out for retirement income? I don't give a fúck about the investors....let it go to weeds! I'm not even too sympathetic towards kids who inherited land but chose not to farm! Wasn't good enough for you before....I guess I don't care if you think you're not getting enough rent.....ROI on something free can be zero as far as I'm concerned.

Have a nice day!

we have very good fair landlords ,that understand the challenges, I'm talking about the ones that think $120-140/ac is do able
they are about to receive an ass reaming

[blackpowder]

Rents won't go down here I don't think.
Also, land paid for 30-60 years ago.

[furrowtickler]

Furrow who's quitting ??

Really wise guy ?? On a public forum ?
There are several, but was just pointing one example.
You want to go rent his land ? Lol wow

[makar]

Really wise guy ?? On a public forum ?
There are several, but was just pointing one example.
You want to go rent his land ? Lol wow

I half quit this year, losing my other cheek as we speak.

[furrowtickler]

I half quit this year, losing my other cheek as we speak.

Unfortunately there are lots , and the whole industry thinks all is good