How bout some aid now boys

[cottonpicken]

Everyone everywhere wanting the government to do something and then boom your Greece and the chaos and pain start.

[TOM4CWB]

Riders you are way off.

I buy house fire insurance, vehicle insurance, and liability insurance for our farm... ALL WITH THE HOPE we will NEVER need any one of them.

I do not expect a return on investment... unless we have a SERIOUS loss... otherwise I cover small loses as farm expenses.

Crop Insurance is no different in my opinion. NOT a ROI tool... it is disaster insurance.

Around here... this is NOT a 2002 type event. We have some reserve moisture to feed the crop. It is supposed to be under 30 for the next week. If so we will have at least half a crop.

[farmaholic]

Both Cotton and Tom's comments are true but.....

[bgmb]

Vvalk no I drive brand new but I think farmers should be happy with the programs we have I don't see why anyone would need more aid than crop insurance and Agri invest. I agree the Feds gutted agristability when the changed the way the reference margin was calculated limiting it to your expenses. That was as good of a program as anyone could want but now it is gone for many of us. All I am saying is between crop ins and agristability guys should be looked after.

[LEP]

I debated whether to write this post as I am gonna get jumped on but here goes ...

The late eighties I was a partner in a restaurant/catering business. We went along for years things were pretty good and then the manager made a couple bad moves and we have some losses on catering. The economy slows down and people are eating out less. Things go for shit, can't get credit, we fold.

I am left with basically nothing as used fixtures don't bring squat when you sell. About 48 full and part time staff are out of a job and I lose most of what I own to that point of my life.

My point being business is not easy and neither is farming. But at least with farming I control how much I spend on inputs, machinery, land etc. If I seed a crop I have some insurance albeit skinny coverage, I have the government give me money through agriinvest every year.

Take a look around your farm and think, how much of this equipment do I have to have or could I run something cheaper. Did you have to rent that land for $75 or should you have passed on it. Did you have to buy $1,500 an acre land and borrow every cent including the legal costs or could you have said ya know Only 1 in 10 years will I make a return on this land.

These are management decisions that when you make them you gotta realize they have a long term effect on your operation. Nobody should bail you out from that.

Adversity is part of farming. If it was easy everyone would do it.

Also, if you run too close to the edge you gotta realize you might fall off.

[TOM4CWB]

LEP,

Amen.

We have some of the best neighbours in the world... and if we treat them fair... most will bend over backwards to help us out.

This is the cooperative spirit that can reduce costs and make things work on the farm. Same with the family members. A little give from time to time... goes a very long way... if we are humble and don't always insist on our own way. This is what built western Canada! And what will keep us going!!!

[bgmb]

Also vvalk, I agree we need to push for transparent markets on both sides of the equation, that is the number 1 priority in my books

[farmaholic]

True LEP, but sometimes things go beyond "bad decisions and poor management". Many many people use modest equipment and inputs and don't buy or rent high cost land and will be in trouble.


Re AgStability.

I chose not to be in crop insurance, of which I would have seldom if ever collected, and just AgStability and AgInvest. Firstly AgInvest is hardly a windfall, what does it pay for in the grand scheme of things? AgStability was my choice of insurance and was half decent until they gutted it. The fact I chose not to be in crop insurance and have my AgStability margin at risk was my choice, Crop Insurance procedes are classified as farm income for purposes in calculations of Agstability. So if my margin was to slowly erode, therefore reduced coverage, due to the fact that I chose not to be in crop insurance was my choice and risk. Then they changed Agstability...which rendered it almost useless despite my choice not to be in crop insurance.

AgInvest, the government knows who has and doesn't have an account balance in AgInvest. Those who deposit and withdraw every year versus those who haven't used any of the money. Just like Nisa, it is hard to ask for money/aid when AgInvest accounts aren't being used!!! But what will it "buy" you out of? Really, what? The fertilizer bill for a quarter or two of land?

I try to look at the whole picture.

[parsley]

The message some farmers on this thread sends to us includes the following:

1. Other industries get tax dollar handout so that is the reason we should get tax dollar handouts too. 'Getting my fair share of assistance' is the reason for me to go full steam ahead, even if prices are low and markets are slow.

2. Some of us farmers are too big to fail.

3. I am entitled to my entitlements, and don't forget it.

4. Most people live beyond their means, why the hell shouldn't I?

5. I should be guaranteed my standard of living. #PriceGuarantee

6. Some working-asshole out there has an obligation to service my debt, because I don't plan on reducing my spending.

7. Agriculture needs government as a funding partner so farmers can be competent businessmen.

8. Farmers can ignore the world economy.

9. Interest rates are cheap. Debt is a tool Im not afraid of.

10. Some farmers remain debt-cautious, and growth-measured, & don't expect the rest of society to pay their bills for them.

Parsley's observation: #10 will build the financially successful farms that will endure, b/c their next generation watch how it's done. #StandingOnYourOwnTwoFeet

[grrrr]

I agree with Longmire. I have been through it all. There will be ups and downs. Save in the good years because there will be bad. 2013 and 2014 were huge years for agriculture in this country. What the hell did you guys do with all the money?