No Farmers... No Food...

[Torvy]

Agree. The amount of younger Americans taking up farming has got to be at an all time low. I know of just a few around here.
Might sound controversial, but I think it’s the low pay, long hours, everyone must go to college and the smart phone that destroyed farming.

Nothing wrong with going to college and farming. My most successful farming cousins have bachelor's degrees. Certainly not required, but you will not be a great farmer if you aren't smart.

 

[Hay Dude]

Nothing wrong with going to college and farming. My most successful farming cousins have bachelor's degrees. Certainly not required, but you will not be a great farmer if you aren't smart.

I know, I went to college (bachelors of science in business) and farm.

 

[ponytug]

Like any other profession, I think if you don't love it, it is a tough job. Long hours, hot and dirty often, lots of things not under your control, and critical equipment breaks down just when you need it to work.

If you love the life, it is great, though it seems to be one of the harder professions to retire from. Old farmers seem to just keep on going...

All the best,

Peter

 

[ArlyA]

Farm sizes have been increasing for the past 10,000 years, give or take.

 

[jyoutz]

Agree. The amount of younger Americans taking up farming has got to be at an all time low. I know of just a few around here.
Might sound controversial, but I think it’s the low pay, long hours, everyone must go to college and the smart phone that destroyed farming.

I think it’s more about the cost of land than anything else. If you don’t inherit, you can’t afford to buy it and get set up. If dad decides to sell out, the next generation will never farm. Also, the U.S. grows far more food than needed domestically and much is intended for export. The U.S. is secure in food production, primarily importing winter vegetables and fruits from more tropical countries.

 

[Hay Dude]

Look, I have family farms around here where the farmers kids could carry on and make 6 figure incomes. All the land, homes, farm buildings and equipment is all set in place. They don’t have to pay a dime. They even get massive property tax breaks and gubmit subsidies.
And most of them STILL don’t want it because nobody is into 12 hour days of dirty work.
They are happier with a million+ dollars now than a life of long, hard hours for maybe 100-grand a year.

 

[jyoutz]

Look, I have family farms around here where the farmers kids could carry on and make 6 figure incomes. All the land, homes, farm buildings and equipment is all set in place. They don’t have to pay a dime. They even get massive property tax breaks and gubmit subsidies.
And most of them STILL don’t want it because nobody is into 12 hour days of dirty work.
They are happier with a million+ dollars now than a life of long, hard hours for maybe 100-grand a year.

And there are situations like that for sure. In the west, many of the ranches get broken up by dad, leaving no economical operation for the next generation. Or broken up/sold when the estate is settled. In my own family, my father in law’s ranch has to be sold because subdivision so that each of the 8 sons/daughters receive a share will not retain enough land and operating equipment/livestock for each to have a viable operation. This works best when the farmer/rancher only has 1 or 2 children.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Look, I have family farms around here where the farmers kids could carry on and make 6 figure incomes. All the land, homes, farm buildings and equipment is all set in place. They don’t have to pay a dime. They even get massive property tax breaks and gubmit subsidies.
And most of them STILL don’t want it because nobody is into 12 hour days of dirty work.
They are happier with a million+ dollars now than a life of long, hard hours for maybe 100-grand a year.

I think Hay Dude hit the nail on the head. It would be hard to pass the payout for a lifetime of hard work.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Another new twist on this story is the potential upending of the migrant/undocumented workers system that are the true backbone of our agricultural machine. Not trying to get political here, but it is a thing that we will have to watch over the next 4 years.

 

[ponytug]

Many of the farmers that I know have moved to incorporated business entities that enable fractional ownership changes to transition to the next generation (plus other advantages). Of course, families are all different, and not everyone is reasonable, so the best laid plans can and do go sideways.

All the best,

Peter