Hay Farmers getting out of farming

[Snobdds]

So you're the real John Dutton?

Who is john dutton?

 

[sree251]

Most big city folk would be completely mortified if you told them you might get a day off sometime next year or that most days you'd be working sun up to sun down plus some 7 days a week 365 days a year. Look at today, I've already been out for 3hrs (its 0715) - came in for a warm cup 'o joe and a bite to eat. I am not complaining, I choose to do this and realize this isn't for everyone. Thankfully I have my military retirement pay so I'm not hurting as much as some are out here.

I don't doubt the hard work farmers have to do. What I doubt are the USDA farm income levels. Farmers have weather-beaten faces that don't go together with half a million dollar a year incomes and splurge on guns with thousand dollar triggers. Hardworking folks are naturally frugal.

What made you choose a life as a farmer after retiring from the military? You must have an affinity for farming. Did you grow up on a farm?

 

[JDZ735M]

It's unbelievable that people who aren't actively involved in agriculture will argue with those who are that it isn't hard, worthwhile work.

 

[sree251]

It's unbelievable that people who aren't actively involved in agriculture will argue with those who are that it isn't hard, worthwhile work.

You talking to me? Who is arguing with farmers that farming isn't hard work? I believe most farmers are born into that life and that's the only thing they want to do. It's seldom a matter of choice.

 

[Snobdds]

You talking to me? Who is arguing with farmers that farming isn't hard work? I believe most farmers are born into that life and that's the only thing they want to do. It's seldom a matter of choice.

No, he's talking to me. He must be confusing me with a farmer, which I am not.

 

[OzarkChris]

What I doubt are the USDA farm income levels. Farmers have weather-beaten faces that don't go together with half a million dollar a year incomes and splurge on guns with thousand dollar triggers. Hardworking folks are naturally frugal.

The million dollar farms are large corporate farms. Think Dole, etc for veggies, Tyson, etc for animal.

Also, I don't recall if the article stated if that "income" was gross or not. Again, overhead, capital expenses, etc are much higher than a what a tech company has - especially now that most techies are "working" from home.

 

[sree251]

The million dollar farms are large corporate farms. Think Dole, etc for veggies, Tyson, etc for animal.

Also, I don't recall if the article stated if that "income" was gross or not. Again, overhead, capital expenses, etc are much higher than a what a tech company has - especially now that most techies are "working" from home.

Now, it makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[JethroB]

In the southern peanut growing areas like here you mostly see 5-6 foot round bales of peanut hay. The dried vines are baled after the peanuts have been picked from them in early fall. Fed to cows as I don’t expect horses would have much interest.
My BIL once baled cotton stalks for a few years as sort of an experiment. He said the cows would browse on it but weren’t thrilled.

 

[CobyRupert]

Around here the number of diary farmers has drastically shrunk. Farm acreage has probably stayed consistent. To me, this means the margins are thinner. As a kid I remember the 35 cow dairy farms, with one or two tractors that supported a family of six, and mom stayed home. Now a 100 cow farm is a small struggling operation and wife has second income.
Now, it takes more cows and more land to support that same farm family. Smaller margins, means consolidation, with only the bigger farms having the capital or the credit to expand into a mechanized, diesel dependent industrialized trucking and equipment operation that can do more with fewer people. Most farms now, the cogs, err cows, never sees a green pasture.
I guess efficiency is good for some people, bad for others.

 

[JethroB]

The million dollar farms are large corporate farms. Think Dole, etc for veggies, Tyson, etc for animal.

Also, I don't recall if the article stated if that "income" was gross or not. Again, overhead, capital expenses, etc are much higher than a what a tech company has - especially now that most techies are "working" from home.

Most USDA classified “farms” here are probably under 200 acres, some a result of much larger farms being split up by inheritance over several generations with many being sold off. Most of the owners don’t farm but rent or lease out their land to nearby true dirt farmers for growing row crops. Mostly cotton and peanuts. Lots of timber too, loblolly & slash pines but with a increasing amount of long leaf pines being planted.