News: farmers killing themselves in staggering numbers

[ultrarunner]

I don't have any data on making hay 50 years ago, but I would agree that 100 acres would be tough (too small) these days. My sister and I own some farm land that has been in the family for a few generations. It has been farmed by a farmer that works WAY more than just our property.

Using last years numbers, our land netted about $300/acre (total for the farmer, my sister, and me). This accounts for the expenses that are a direct part of farming that land, but it doesn't account for the massive cost of equipment overhead. To try to make that work on 100 acres would be $30,000 of income. It would be extremely tough to live on that AND payoff equipment.

Bump up the acreage substantially, and it starts to look more feasible, but definitely not easy!

In our case, the land itself is not a treasure chest. Everything around it is more farm land, so the only potential buyer would be a farmer.

I've posted a picture on TBN of me haying 50+ years ago... let me say I learned at an early age the value of being in the Tractor Driver's seat!

Does death by alcohol count as suicide?

The reason I ask is I mentioned this thread to my cousin and she said several of the small family farmers around her drank themselves to death after giving up farming on farms that had been in the family for generations.

 

[ultrarunner]

By Christmas 2018, Canadians will be able to buy all the weed (MJ) they want, but they can't buy raw milk from a farmer.

You can now go to prison in Canada for providing raw milk. Seriously | Financial Post

Egan: Raw milk, raw deal? Farmer fined $1,5, quits milking operation | Ottawa Citizen

Farm processing of meat, and in small abattoirs was heavily prosecuted. Then, we get the likes of XL foods....

Inspection issues persisted at former XL Foods plant in 214: CFIA documents | CTV News

Small lumber operations in the Ottawa Valley were fined out of existence. Their crime ? Dumping (pure) sawdust in the bush <- the problem ? "It doesn't exist in that concentration naturally".

They come for your neighbour in the night..... and we do nothing....... so, we get what we get...... Corporate control of Everything.

Farming is tough enough, as well described in this thread, but these high level forces at work pretty much guarantee the complete eradication of small farms. And, "small" is a moving target....

Rgds, D.

I was going to mention raw milk... it is all we had on the farm and folks would come to buy it when still warm...

My cousin's sister-in-law sold raw milk to a Montessori school... had for more than 25 years and then got a cease and desist order...

I happened to be visiting and I said don't sell milk... sell the cow to the school and charge the school for milking it... it sure made for interesting discussions in that rural community... I think they were ready to give it shot... and lots of comments about me being from California!

 

[smstonypoint]

I was going to mention raw milk... it is all we had on the farm and folks would come to buy it when still warm...

My cousin's sister-in-law sold raw milk to a Montessori school... had for more than 25 years and then got a cease and desist order...

I happened to be visiting and I said don't sell milk... sell the cow to the school and charge the school for milking it... it sure made for interesting discussions in that rural community... I think they were ready to give it shot... and lots of comments about me being from California!

It's been awhile, but I remember reading a news item about a farmer who was offering the service you described -- selling (leasing?) cows to customers and then providing raw milk to the customers for a feeding/milking fee. I can't remember whether the operation overcame regulatory hurdles.

When it comes to raw milk, de gustibus non est disputandum. Having grown up on a dairy farm -- thanks, but no thanks.

Steve

Addendum

I did a little research and found Raw Milk Laws State-by-State - Milk - ProCon.org.

Raw milk sales are now legal in more states than I realized, as are the "cow-share" arrangements described above.

 

[JamesHW]

As a counter point we have come to know an industrious young couple who farmed a few acres of rented land starting 15 years ago and created a successful organic veg operation that has near 100 CSA subscribers at about $780 per share (steady income) producing a wide variety of organic produce. They also participate in farmers markets every weekend during the season. I became interested as my research showed their small farm rental had the exact same soil type as my 6 acre field and became impressed with their efforts. The operation allowed them to purchase their own farm further north and they currently have an array of high hoop houses and greenhouses that allow them to expand their season. I believe they currently get an Ag exemption on the acreage they farm (the law in NY simply put is a minimum of $10,000 yearly gross receipts on produce or other farm products such as timber, honey, etc.). They have built a brand on Facebook directly marketing farm to table. Small potato’s compared to a large farm, but they seem very happy

 

[ultrarunner]

Small "Farming" is booming on the West Coast... marijuana farms sprouting up just about everywhere.

 

[drssg]

Small "Farming" is booming on the West Coast... marijuana farms sprouting up just about everywhere.

Bloom County was ahead of its time. This strip seemed funnier back then. I guess it’s because the idea seemed ridiculous.

 

[ruffdog]

This is a tough subject and I know people that took this path.....it deserves to be discussed. This article is good and makes it real for the reader.

Why are America’s farmers killing themselves? | US news | The Guardian

 

[ovrszd]

Somehow a growing segment of society believes farmers have no financial risk. Believe the government guarantees them a profit. Supports everything they do and buys them new equipment to do it with.

I say to anyone believing that. We live in a free country. You are free to become a farmer anytime you want. Go for it.

 

[LouNY]

Somehow a growing segment of society believes farmers have no financial risk. Believe the government guarantees them a profit. Supports everything they do and buys them new equipment to do it with.

I say to anyone believing that. We live in a free country. You are free to become a farmer anytime you want. Go for it.

:thumbsup: :drink:

 

[Oldoak]

Farming today is just like any other business, some make it, some don't. And some people just choose the wrong occupation.

Just think of what farmers went through during the great dust bowl era during the 1930s. There were more than 100 million acres of land affected by the Dust Bowl.