Hypothetical Nightmare

[wd9]

Hobby, that does not explain why farmers
are mostly extremely well off.

[Burbert]

In other words, lay back and enjoy it,
cousin theys doin it ta ya time and time
again. Framers love challenges though.
Known ta be strange fellas, sell at
wholesale prices, buy at retail prices,
and pay the freight all the way to Chine.
Yup framers are funny fellows, aren't
they.

[hobbyfrmr]

Land value appreciation has been the good
fortune to many farmers. This could be why you
think farmers are "extremely"" well off. Myself
included.
I barely broke even through the first 16 years of
farming. I would work in the city or oil patch in the
winters. Only in the last 6 years my net worth has
doubled on paper. It had nothing to do with my
skills or ability to manage a farm. Shithouse luck.
Nothing more.

[hedgehog]

wd9, farmers are like icebergs, only a little bit can be seen. no one knows what is underneath, whether a pile of gold or a huge borrowing.
many farmers earn less than their employees, esp tenant farmers.

[vvalk]

Hobby and grrrr. Not sure what you mean. Since
when have you farmed for no income. I would say
in the last 5 years ( if you had a crop) there isn't
many industries as profitable. As for not making
money the year after doing well, its ourselves we
have to blame. No one else is running up the
price of land and rent. Sure fert and seed costs
more but every industry has those issues. Do you
think the oil industry doesn't have higher equip,
fuel, wages and higher lease costs etc?

[BTO_farmall]

Beans, Beans, Beans, And More Beans, Everything Corn/Beans Comin!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TOM4CWB]

vvalk,

There have been tough years for many in the last 5.

Low 20's on Canola... frost in spring on 10th of June
killing 50 percent for 3 years... minus 10... then nailed
in early Sept with minus 10 again. Only 93 days of
growing time. Sample Canola on top.

For us 2012 was the first year in many we had a good
canola stand here . 3 years we had germs down below
85 percent on seed production as well. Many flooding
years in Sk.

[hobbyfrmr]

Vvalk,

I always made income it was usually enough to
obdiently pay costs of production, which were
always borrowed money. I did not live on very
much profit, no changes in machinery. Agreed,
the last 6 years have been much improved.
The ag industry has also stayed very tuned to
these gains and are taking as much as the market
will bear.
Buyers/end users do not like high grain prices. If
they pay too much for grains, they it interferes
with wages, and taxes. The more money than can
be made on a bushel of grains, the more
corporate and labourers income taxes.
Any one of those things that cotton described
above can be conspired and it would really put a
hurt on farms. I really don't think farmers are as
extremely well off as perceived by the general
public. One thing I have noticed in my area is,
when people my age find themselves dealing with
the farming parents' estates, no one wants to
farm, but everyone wants the farm.

[Horse]

Wealth is an relative thing I feel wealthy and probably have less than a lot who feel poverty riden. I enjoyed working outdoors with livestock , not punching time clocks and going fishing or hunting when I felt like it, even if it did mean doing chores after dark .
But I sure wouldnt mind if I was to be paid for my labour like those who do punch timeclocks and say how much every time the boss says shit.
I do think if I got a doover I would cerntaly change some parts of my life.

[hobbyfrmr]

Horse,

The only Boss you listen to is Bruce Springsteen. LOL