Seeding progress?

[ajl]

Your not alone freewheat. Severe hail damage here in both of the last two years and now swamp wet and this is in the desert.

[bucket]

Freewheat.

Have you not done your reality check yet. Were you not asking about getting out last year?

Are the 50 year olds seeding? Maybe they are stressed just a bit too. Go talk to them. Have a cup of coffee. See how they manage what you are talking about. Chances are they have been there and probably done exactly what you are talking about.

Disaster - you nailed it. This will not be a money making year.

[parsley]

Some time ago, freewheat, I got an email from a particularly prominent farmer, ALSO with a good income from an outside job, and up to his ass in debt.

It was particularly worrisome for him because he is perceived as financially sound.

But he was one year's income-payment away from bankruptcy. He was trying to help set up family as well, and machinery as you know, is unaffordable on today's grain prices.

You are indeed not the only farmer feeling broke, frustrated and feeling alone.

Farmers often feel they don't measure up when they hear the next door neighbor talking about the new tractor. Or when they see the fancy half ton go by his place.

What he doen't know, is that too many times, the extravaganzas are not paid for. Some people have a lot of money, granted. I spent a month in New York, and the wealth infiltrated your brain, but again, not all was what it seemed.

Some of the fanciest flyers have declared bankruptcy and left their communities with their burden, and then they turn around and do it all over again. Sometimes, the folks who have committed to spending huge money to make money are often gamblers. This year, I believe, will be a hard one. I think interest rates will soar in the fall. Some others are just really good at making money.

If you really love to farm, look for ways to save money. To work a little on the side. To cut costs. To share machinery. Spot fertilize. Spot spray. Trade work. Get cows on shares. Do what ya gotta do.

Each of us measures up in our own way.

[fjlip]

Some days none of this makes sense. Way too much risk for the return. Neighbor had auction on Thursday, no more stress other than pay the taxes. He rented the land, plus pensions, plus savings, auction net, no problems. Heard of another getting $60/ acre rent at Watson from the investing group, no weather worries!

[cottonpicken]

I'm always close to hitting the wall,but there is an old
saying that is very true-if you hang by your neck long
enough,you get use to it.


And i would rather go broke expanding a farm and
having descent equipment than pissin around with
junk equipment and a small number of acres.

[macdon02]

couldn't agree with you more cotton. But that makes us evil capitalist pigs for not standing up to the man, and an asshole for paying 50 plus rent but once you do the math 50 isnt so bad as long as you have enough land to justify the iron. Nothing 5-6000 doesnt cure. Suck it up freewheat it isnt your godgiven right to farm. If that area is so bad lately maybe you need to expand 30 miles to get out of it. You arent the only one that has to fight to get a crop in or off. I know I am an ass, get back on the horse

[furrowtickler]

Can anyone here imagine getting 10 inches of rain at one time - check out what just happened in the southern U.S.
Sometime it sucks here but it can be worse elsewhere. Let alone the massive tornado threat tonight down there!

[freewheat]

We've had that 4 or 5 times in the last 14 years. You are right, it sucks.

[SASKFARMER3]

Free wheat I have to say after years of seeing farmers financial statements usually the ones who are the most envied in a district are the closest to bankruptcy of all. Unless your in oil country. But we all live with mother nature running the show, sorry the south and west worries about drought. The east to much moisture and frost. The north same and the very south Drought and over moisture. Hell it froze in Regina in 2002 and 2004. Its not our god given right to farm. Remember in 100 years only 2% return on your money. But like cotton says expanding and running decent machinery is way way way more fun. But please remember we all have stress its just ones ability to handle it that's different.

[GreenValley]

Zero here. Seeding May 10, need more moisture.