help the small farmers

[rookie]

I have read with great interest some views from someone who seems to have been at this business for a while and someone who has not. I fall into the catagory of some someone who has not ( I said youg, not stupid ). And to be perfectly honest I love to hear it all. I am especially fond of the comments from those who had to " shovel " that grain before the auger was common place. Those of that generation must certainly have seen some change. As certainly those of my time will also see. But for all the talk, debate, ideas, solutions, complaining, venting and what everelse I've seen , the most obvious advise I'm picking up on is to BE prepared for more change......Why be frustrated about it ? Some will go on, Others will quit, and the neibourhood will change. Just make sure to do one more thing while shovelling or crunching numbers, enjoy it while you can. The only aspect of agriculture that will never change is the endless debates.

[TOM4CWB]

gizen,

1. Do you have a long term strategic plan for the farm you work with and the farm you need to create?

2. Have you shared this plan with your dad and uncle?

3. Is it a priority for your family, your dad and uncle, for this farm to suceed?

4. Are you and your management team working smart? We were told anyone working over 3000hrs on the farm with an over an additional 500hrs above this on outside jobs were headed for the funnyfarm on a health problem (accident on the like)

5. Don't try to do the impossible, life is just too short! Is being a farmer worth spoiling your health, then what would happen to you and your family?

In 2002 in Canada an intergenerational transfer of wealth is required to make a farming operation work, to maintain the equity base, long term. This may not seem fair, however in europe it has been this way for generations, and now Canada is no different!

I believe Charlie P had it pretty straight! Having family buy into a specific vision, and committing resourses to this vision, is the most effective stategy to reaching that specific vision!

Hope this helps a little?

[ianben]

Not much specific help for young farmer here in UK either.
Money needed is probablally greater too
no way for young to enter without familly help or other windfall.
These are the real subsidies we have over here the personal ones people pay to farm.
There can be real upset when things don't workout. I have seen both young and old heartbroken when there has been a break down in comunications.
Make sure you all want the same thing Gizen.
France has a cheaper loan system for young farmers. I think you have to be under 40 to qualify and dont even need to be French. I have often thought this could be a real help and should be easy to regulate.
I must admit the capital required today is the real stumbling block we are talking lottery wins aren't we.
Would I start again today?
Well like Gizen I would try but not sure I would try to farm full time.
Looks like you got the making of a good life Wife working as teacher, trucking income, and farm income. Grain haulage should help find land to rent.
Why try to put all your eggs in one basket.
Buy a grain vac and stop shovelling would be my advice.

[smcgrath76]

This is actually fairly common among large beef processing plants and is becoming more common among smaller plants as well. An example would be Lakeside feeders at Brooks.
You can argue the motives, but a large part of the reason for large plants is simply the volume of cattle that they kill.
A large plant can kill around 4000 head per day. In order to ensure that the plant runs to capacity, they secure cattle into their own lots (or own cattle in custom lots) so they can schedule deliveries to keep the plant running at capacity.
While I am not qualified to comment, I have heard figures of what it costs for every minute a plant is not running at peak (shut down), and they are astronomical. If anyone has a better feel for this, or some more reliable numbers please feel free to insert them here.
There are definitely issues about market control and price fixing. Whether or not they own a feedlot or just control cattle on custom feed, but this also has to be balanced against delivery and as was pointed out, the ability to fill unusually large orders.