Who else is Sick and tired of farm business that think it's farmers who need them vs them needing us!

[westernvicki]

You vote with your grain everytime you sell.

[wmoebis]

Good comparison Vicki. This election with selling grain. None any good just have to go with the one you think is not hurt the worst.

[chuckChuck]

Partners raised an interesting point

"Lots are full of iron.but prices still are high..

When our bins are full..Prices drop like a stone.."

The Iron companies are disciplined and organized in their sales efforts. If you want a green tractor you pay what they ask. If you want a red air drill you pay what they ask. If you are over producing you cut production.

Farmers on the other hand are independently minded and don't want to be disciplined in the marketplace.

They would rather compete against their neighbor and take what they can get even if they farm in area or in a commodity where real competition does not exist.

The only exception in this country is supply managed dairy and poultry which is widely supported by farmers. They control supply and pricing with the aid of governments who protect these industries.

If there wasn't such a political liability the Conservatives would have abandoned supply management long ago in faovour of cheaper imports primarily from the US where dairy farmers receive direct susbsidies. The scale of many US producers and the lower cost advantages of the US system will wipe out most of the Canadian producers.

[Rareearth]

There is no question a begrudging attitude by those employed by agriculture, all sectors. The general public doesn't see it as quick or understand it either.

Many farms are two, three or four generations. Many times the farm gets bigger as a result of young entrepreneurs building on the success of the previous generation, then to succession it to the next entrepreneurs in the family in exchange for maintaining the legacy, way of life, culture and future generations. Often times the farm is mortgaged again or refinanced for the retiring parents ( modestly not to harm the opportunity or risk of financial hard ship or burden for the successor ).
The average age of today's farmer is mid to late fifties. At best historically returns would match the average return of the Toronto Stock Exchange. The leveraging over time, the assets, opportunities add up to a lot of physical assets, growing and hoping every day of the growing season.

Farm owners today are business people. The successes they have should be celebrated the same as West Jet or the Blue Jays. It might be a long time before farmers are judged in good light, vs lucky, not deserving, not worthy, didn't earn it, incapable, etc

[wmoebis]

Is it fair to compare farmers to equipment dealers?
I think it is more like farmers to steel companies. Grain is raw product to produce end product for retail like steel is for equipment.