Spring flax

[jazz]

Flax is frustrating at the best of times. Everybody has had a wreck in that crop.

You certainly arent the only one.

[Sheepwheat]

Flax is frustrating at the best of times. Everybody has had a wreck in that crop.

You certainly arent the only one.

I have had multiple wrecks is the problem.

Years of wrecks: 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019.

Those years saw either yields in the single digits, overwintered crops that ended up a disaster, or no yield at all due to not seeding due to too wet.

Prior to that, I would have classed myself as in the top 5 per cent producer.

[Sheepwheat]

The hardest part of making change is making the decision to change. Once you make that, the rest comes easier.

I’ve more than made the decision, but I don’t know how to seal the deal so to speak? Trying to do the sheep debt free. So it is hard to cash flow a bunch of fences etc. There are other factors involved that make things a bit dicey as well, but I am not gunna share a bunch of private info you know?

[GOODRUM]

It’s hard to keep your head up sometimes, more so lately. It’s not what she used to be.
Your not alone sheep

[Sheepwheat]

If you hate it that much I would re-focus on what you like doing.
There's more than one way to use land to make a living without supporting a bunch of parasites and still taking all the risk.
Ask Hobbyfrmr.

Totally refocusing. It is the how to get there part that I struggle with. But overall, it is a deeper issue, lots of things involved. When you are nearly weeping for a whole day out in the combine because you feel you have wasted 28 years of your life to end up with more kicks in the teeth, and you don’t even want to share with your wife anymore, because it stresses her out too, I thought I would vent on here. It has been helpful. Just to spew out my venom and anxiety. To someone. I have no one really to talk to around here, at least who might even sort of understand. Agriville is kind of the same. It is hard for folks, and don’t get me wrong here, but it is probably hard for those who have done quite well financially, had help all along, never worked alone, and I mean ALONE, to understand.

But still I vent, and I appreciate input regardless.

[Sodbuster]

Last flax I grew was in 2013, combined it in 2014, on a positive note it usually combines and burns great in the spring but you lose at least 10% by weight. Good luck with the rest of your harvest and don't let it get you down.

[Sheepwheat]

It’s hard to keep your head up sometimes, more so lately. It’s not what she used to be.
Your not alone sheep

Yeah, I hate that expression, keep your head up! Lol, I’m done keeping my head up. I want change, I am working towards it, I just don’t know how to do it smoothly and with quicker results.

[tubs]

Sheepwheat I feel for you. We all had bad years but it gets to you if you have them in a row all the programs in the world won't help you. I think your on the right track with the sheep marketing on your own. You don't need to make piles of money to be happy. Do something you enjoy!

[jazz]

Sheep do you grow canola?

Maybe the cost of production is not something you like but thats a crop that can take some weather. Rarely a wreck in that one and I have never seen a yield under 25bu yet even in the worst yrs. Flax is hard to yield out.

[zeefarmer]

Sheepwheat, you aren't alone. You can have good crops and still feel like pulling the pin.

2018 was the only year that has really been below average in our area. It's the rent, land and equipment part of the game that makes it hard here. Good crops and prices push land values to levels where you're still at breakeven levels. Hard to compete with big guys that have paid for land already that can justify making very little on renting or buying.

I contemplate walking away almost daily. There seems to be no room for a little guy, and I don't want to play the game the big guys do.

[Sheepwheat]

Sheep do you grow canola?

Maybe the cost of production is not something you like but thats a crop that can take some weather. Rarely a wreck in that one and I have never seen a yield under 25bu yet even in the worst yrs. Flax is hard to yield out.

I used to grow 50 bushel canola long before it was sexy, when seed prices were a buck ninety five a lb. lol then I had a wreck, like 6 bushels an acre wreck. Too wet to grow. Then another, too wet to grow, went about twelve. Then final nail was the year I left out half almost all my canola crop. Unlike sf3, it yielded pretty much nothing, and quality was unsaleable. It was at least a fifty bushel crop, was the best I had ever grown.

So I quit canola, because while crop insurance was helpful, after a few straight claims, things get dicey.

So I switched more to flax, to try and avoid the risk. I have always grown flax, and thirty isn’t too hard. At least it was in the past.

Good thoughts, canola just ain’t for me any more, it really, no grain crop is. I just simply hate it anymore.

[Sheepwheat]

Sheepwheat, you aren't alone. You can have good crops and still feel like pulling the pin.

2018 was the only year that has really been below average in our area. It's the rent, land and equipment part of the game that makes it hard here. Good crops and prices push land values to levels where you're still at breakeven levels. Hard to compete with big guys that have paid for land already that can justify making very little on renting or buying.

I contemplate walking away almost daily. There seems to be no room for a little guy, and I don't want to play the game the big guys do.

Yeah it’s hard. I o have neighbors with extremely deep pockets, and I will never get a quarter again anyway, so what is the point? They have pulled four away from me with stupidly high rents is refused to pay. I just can’t compete. I am fine with that, but, you know?