CWB and Young Farmers

[Ron]

To all of you that doubt some of these young farmers getting to 6 or 7000 acres I think we are missing a bit of history to know the full story. At least I would like to know how much they started with and how fast they expanded.

Anyone who starts with bit of cash and credit can crop a 1000 plus acres 5-10 years ago. With good management and a bit of luck, grow good crops and start to revolve the revenue. In a matter of 5 years some of these guys CAN get to the acres they run and be successful.

As somebody mentioned, many have started out with some type of help from ancestors and some are being setup by a successful farm run by the parents - So what. We all can choose how to run our own ship.

If they brag it up, that is unfortunate but my advice to anyone is steer clear of their dust and worry only about your own operation.

And Freewheat, its like the turtle and the hair story, you have the drive, dedication and determination. I think you will get there in the end.

[smallguy]

Freewheat

Holy crap,after reading your posts, i thought it was me writing them 10-15 years ago. Hang in there i think you are on the right track to making a go of it. One thing I want to mention though, is that the first thing that come to mind when this post first started (nothing wrong with it) is how many of you saw what happened in your area, like i did in mine. Some of those farms, (here they were 2000 acres and higher),when daddy finally retired, within 2-3 years the farm was finished. By finished i do not mean broke, i mean that if it involved only one son they found out that when the cheap labor was gone, the extra load of decisions, hired help, and sometimes the financing was to much to handle by yourself. Again freewheat, the size of some of those farms, usually involve more than one person doing the work. Even though we hear of these 10-12 thousand acre farms, if it involves 2-3 family members, and a hired man or two, then freewheat you may not look as classy in size, or machinery, but i can bet you that you are working alot harder as a sole owner, operator than they are.

[hobbyfrmr]

Freewheat, I farm about the same as you and, thank God, my wife works. I suspect the economies of scale are working around here. I have 3 neighbors over 20,000 acres the largest guy is 50,000.
smallguy, In farming, working harder does not mean more money. Usually, it means there is time taken away from kids.

[hedgehog]

hey freewheat, i know where you are coming from, i am surrounded by old money.
they all say i should get the scrapman in, but i say im still using it all.
you forgot one category of farmer though, below the guy who started with nothing.
That is the guy who inherited a substantial overdraft, a rundown,rented farm ,obsolete equipment and parents without pensions.
its called pushing sh*t uphill, and it happens in scotland all the time.
Trouble is, you dont realise the trouble you are in till its too late to choose another career.
who said life was dull!

[freewheat]

MAN do I appreciate knowing there are
some who know what I mean. Thanks for
the kind comments.

Saskfarmer99, you as well. I guess to
farm 10000, the land has to have come
from somewhere, and here it has never
happened. I had issues getting to 1500
both in land availability and credit. I
have no idea how some guys go so big so
fast without outside cash.

The one thing you said I wonder about
though. You said we can all choose how
to run our farms. Obviously you have had
some good farming years and good for
you. But when you have no family
backing, and you have a few crappy
years, you are no longer in control of
snot.

I look forward to dry conditions, and a
return of my areas historically
productive status. It sucks to see class
1 land not grow crops, and to have some
guys ask WTH we keep trying to farm
swampland for. I look forward to
"drought". I want 2001-2003 back!!! LOL
I'm sorry this may mean pain for some of
you, but the dryer the better for HERE
at least.

Bottom line, I came in last night and
watched my four little beggars ( aged 2
to 7)run around and play, and laughed to
myself for a long time. It is priceless,
and something many men don't have. A
contentedness of family. DAMN I love my
family.

I'd rather be broke and have an awesome
family, than loaded and have no family
life or love to hand out and receive.
Like some of my neighbors. HMMM, Or no
time to share with the kids cuz that
chunk down the road that you HAD to have
is keeping you from them.

[SASKFARMER3]

wow what a thread. family where the hell do you
think i am the last two weeks. in white fish with
my family skiing. yes my 12 and 8 year old plus
wife and me.
family time is so important.
but getting away is also important part of any
prosperous farm. land is land any given day you
can pick up more just maybe not in 10 mile
radius but its out their always. lots of buyers and
sellers.
the CWB is a noose around our necks that needs
to be gone.

[SASKFARMER3]

Also this old money BS thing try hard work lots
of hard work and strategic planning.
simply hoping for neighbor to sell to you isn't
enough. i have guys that are still farming that i
know i am buying out its deals we made years
ago. their is also other guys that every time we
see we mention buying them out. if you don't ask
don't expect to gain land. I bought some a few
years back and all it took was a phone call to
alberta googled the guys name and made a call.
5 hours later i owned another section.
For every one you don't get you usually get two
for your effort.
BTO the huts are looking at buying me out then i
can move to your area and take you out. ha
hahahahahahahaha
off to the mountain deep powder today.

[SASKFARMER3]

Freewheat,you are correct. We all forget what is important in life. All I have to do is talk to the new imigrants that continue to make Sask their new home to realize how lucky many have it here.

To clarify my comments and your question.

What I basically mean is that we all have a choice on what land, what area we farm. Now maybe today, you can't move your 1500 acre farm to another region but over the years that you have grown you had a chance to move in certain directions to grow your dirt. The other thing we all have is an option to control and maintain the land. Now 2010 and maybe a couple years prior have been difficult for you and your area but hear me out.

Any dirt we took on over the past 15-20 years we have always spent considerable time improving it. Like many others, this includes brush clearing, ditching, taking down hills, filling in lows etc. It takes a lot of time and there is a cost but in years like 2006 and 2010 it has shown the benefits. We often do this on rented land as well (ie ditching) but you have to be careful and know/have a good relationship with your renter.

I do understand living in an area in which you could do absolutely nothing and that is what 2010 brought to many. If you are in a flat zone, water doesn't "run off" and many will have issues in 2011. For us, pretty much all the land has been spiked last fall because we felt that it would increase our chances in spring.

For many reason's I don't like Agriville because so many slam those that claim they think outside the box. Its the same as the CWB debate. While I don't care if the board exists or not, I continue to work through the programs provided, grow alternative non CWB crops, etc to maximize the crop returns as best that I can, I would love to see it gone.

I can't help but think that the main reason I would like to see it gone it because of the constant debate or complaints I hear about its existence. (and don't get me wrong, many of you have valid issues)

[BTOfarmall]

I hear Staples is having a sale on Pencil Sharpeners. You's all should get some, gonna need dem reeding all dese Genie Marketeers posts on crunchin' numbers......

[BTOfarmall]

SaskFarmertree yer Daddy's ChequeBook ain't quite big enough to buy me out. Besides I will NEVER sell to nobody. Nones of you's are smart enough to werk My Ground. If I ever die, da land all goes back to Natural Prairie. Da Hutts will NEVER git my land, even when I gone, dat I kin guarantee wit my Will.......