A Farmer's Worst Enemy?

[George2615]

IMHO, one of the worst enemies a farmer can have is himself. Failure to adapt to an ever-changing economy as well as resisting the use of new technology has sank many a farmer.

Ground hog holes just make you stay on your toes. Hit one with the front end of a narrow front tractor and you'll know just how bad a steering wheel to the chest can feel.

I have to agree with Farmwithjunk, Also, The older anyone gets (not just a farmer) the more complacent they become. Like not shutting the tractor off before clearing the PTO shaft or implement, or not setting the brake before getting off, not turning around before backing up, or I've always don't this before without any mishaps. It seems the more times you do something the less you pay attention to what you are doing.

 

[AllWaysBreakinSomething]

jimmysisson, Farmers are able to defer taxes on land for farm use and ultimatly not be responsible to pay them after a few years. Although the house they live in is assessed and taxed as normal with no deferral. Most farm houses aren't worth much and newer housing even on one acre is worth much more.

This incentive on taxes is to promote agriculture growth to the county.

Since this posting I have noticed more and more ground hogs in my area at the road.

 

[Mud Dr.]

I like a dog that hates ground hogs. The best one I ever saw was a Scotch Terrier, the longer legged version. I got to admit that a Jack Russel Terrier is a close second place. Before he took up farming, my Dad wouldn't shoot a ground hog before June. He said he didn't want the young starving. After he took over the family farm it was whenever you saw one, you shot it. Either way, or in combination, you never get them all.

I don't have ground hogs in south Louisiana, but Chloe our Jack Russell sure has fun with the squirrels. Here's a pic of her.

 

[Mud Dr.]

I have to agree with Farmwithjunk, Also, The older anyone gets (not just a farmer) the more complacent they become. Like not shutting the tractor off before clearing the PTO shaft or implement, or not setting the brake before getting off, not turning around before backing up, or I've always don't this before without any mishaps. It seems the more times you do something the less you pay attention to what you are doing.

Yes getting too complacent can cause accidents. I lost a good customer and friend when his starter went out on an articulated 4 wheel drive tractor. He jump started it with a screwdriver at the starter with the tractor in gear. It was a fatal mistake, and sadly one that would have been easily corrected if he hadn't been in such a hurry.
Looks like every time I've screwed up it was because I got in a hurry and leaped prior to looking.

 

[coolhl7]

as one poster in another thread stated : none of us own our land...we rent it from the government..if you don't believe it stop paying your property taxes and see what happens.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Yes getting too complacent can cause accidents. I lost a good customer and friend when his starter went out on an articulated 4 wheel drive tractor. He jump started it with a screwdriver at the starter with the tractor in gear. It was a fatal mistake, and sadly one that would have been easily corrected if he hadn't been in such a hurry.
Looks like every time I've screwed up it was because I got in a hurry and leaped prior to looking.

I LOVE listening to old Richard Prior comedy bits. One of his more famous "characters" is MUDBONE. In a Mudbone routine, Prior said "You don't get to be old bein' no fool. Lotta young wise men.....They deader'n a x#$*^! %$@*#%!"

The older you get, the easier it is to recall times when you or a long departed friend decided to rush a job or try to go on that last shred of energy and do something that just as easily could have waited for another day.

Those things stick with you.

Wed. evening, I flatted a rear tire while bush hogging. I loaded up and hauled home. I'd already worked myself into exhaustion over several days. I got home, unloaded, broke down the tire, and got ready to remount it. No tube in stock. So the next day after work, (rough day at the salt mines too) I got home, fought the tire back on the rim, pumped the fluid back in, cleaned up, and ALMOST loaded up to haul back to the mowing job. I had 3 hours of daylight left. 1 hour to load and drive to the job. 2 to 3 hours of mowing, then an hour back home. I was beat. I'd have been mowing after dark. Loading and hauling home well after dark. And worse yet, back up at 4AM to go work ANOTHER day. The 20-year-old me wouldn't have even hesitated. I'd have been on my way. The 40-year-old me would have moaned and groaned, THEN went to mowing. The almost-60-year-old me parked the tractor, took a shower and hit the rack. There's always another day. If there ISN'T, who cares if the mowing gets done anyway. I've buried too many friends that tried to make up for lost time. Not worth it.

Age does have it's positives.

Richard Prior was far wiser than his lifestyle might indicate.

 

[Varmintmist]

Groundhogs????!!!!!

Yur singin my song

a .224 50 gr Nos bt moving out at almost 4k fps = marmot medicine.

Its a thing of beauty.

................

As to farmers selling out, you cant blame them. If the options are scrape by for another 20 and die in the barn then Uncle Sugar re-taxes what you made because you had the adaucity to expire, before you kids can even start to fight over it, or a few mil cash from a developer??

 

[oliver28472]

Varmintmist or anyone else. I need some tips on shooting groundhogs. I'll be using a 22 or 22 mag, no scope. Too cheap to go buy another rifle just for this. Maybe after I've shot a few. Mine are in a fescue pasture. Saw two near a gully a couple months ago. The pasture hasn't been bush hogged yet.

 

[riptides]

I usually fill their holes and wait....

Or use a road flare on them... and wait.....

I use a .30 caliber on them.

-Mike Z.

 

[Asymtave]

Oliver,

I also shoot them with a .22 or .22 Mag rimfire, so no more than 75 yards. Try to shoot them early in the spring when they're still stupid from the winter and hungry. I have found the best time is 1-1/2 hour to 1/2 hour before sunset. They seem to love soybeans - don't know if you have them there.

I often stalk them around barns and tall grass. Make sure the wind is in your face and the sun at your back if you can. I often get within 10 feet. Do not - I repeat - do not hesitate to shoot the cute baby ones. All woodchucks are evil. Be as merciful as possible - head shots and if you miss that then finish them ASAP.

Taxes - Wow. I guess I'm really lucky. My farmland is taxed at a rate of about $2/acre/year under some special program here. Seems silly low. I hope that holds.

Eric