Things should never get this bad !

[AKfish]

The current world-wide economic malaise has been catastophic for dairy farmers in this country. And the problems extend to the nation's hog farmer's as well. They have been hit nearly as hard...

It is a very sad morning to read of a farmer who, dies with his cows; at his own hand. That is a dark, dark hole to have fallen into --

Family and friends milked cows when I was growing up. (Twice a day; even if you're hung over and pukin'.. )

Goats are really smart! Buggers! But they will get OFF the hood of your car when they see the slingshot!!!

My sympathies go out to the man's family. And to this country's small farmers. They have a tough-row-to-hoe..

AKfish

 

[Duffster]

Dairy farmers shouldn't have much to complain about right now, prices are better than they have been for quite a while.

 

[RickB]

Dairy farmers shouldn't have much to complain about right now, prices are better than they have been for quite a while.

Yeah, the farm price for milk is almost back to 1990 levels. Prices have increased in the last couple of months, but calling them 'better' when for many prices recieved don't meet production cost is an uninformed comment, and contributes nothing to this discussion.

 

[Duffster]

Yeah, the farm price for milk is almost back to 1990 levels. Prices have increased in the last couple of months, but calling them 'better' when for many prices recieved don't meet production cost is an uninformed comment, and contributes nothing to this discussion.

Really?

Milk is ~$16 and most around here have a cost at ~$14.

$16 is a heck of a lot better than $10.

 

[AKfish]

Really?

Milk is ~$16 and most around here have a cost at ~$14.

$16 is a heck of a lot better than $10.

True enough... per Rick's comment - costs of production certainly vary around the country.

And at $2/hundred wt.; they won't be loadin' up their 401K's this year. Or likely signin' that lease for that JD 7230, either.

AKfish

 

[RickB]

I live about 12 miles from the farm under discussion here and was an acquaintance of the poor soul we are writing about. You can read more here:

Death puts focus on farm crisis

 

[Duffster]

, it seems personal problems rather than economic ones may have played a more substantial role in this dairy farmer's last desperate acts

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

 

[RichZ]

Duffster, you're right, things are getting better but they're still not good. Milk is going for $16/hundredweight here in NY, as well, and it IS a lot better than $9/hundredweight. But around here it costs, on average $17/hundredweight to produce milk. So dairy farmers are just losing money more slowly. Hopefully the milk prices will continue to rise.

 

[turbo36]

Maybe you missed what I was saying,,, I'll rephrase so you'll understand,,,

There is never a good enough reason to take ones life, period.

You saying there is ?

I'm not saying there is either, all thou a contrary argument might be made by someone terminally ill. What I'm saying is that unless you have suffered from depression or are close to someone who has it is very hard for you to understand is that the depressed person has a hard time separating what is real from what feels like it is real.

The key to surviving depression is to accept it and get help. It is an illness or injury just like cancer or a broken leg and should be treated as such. The problem is that there is such a stigma to mental illness in this country that most depressed people never seek help.

 

[Willl]

What I'm saying is that unless you have suffered from depression or are close to someone who has it is very hard for you to understand is that the depressed person has a hard time separating what is real from what feels like it is real.

How do you know I haven't ?

 

[GPintheMitten]

How do you know I haven't ?

I don't think he is speaking about you in particular.

 

[robb01]

thats just awful