farmers wanted

[mbdog]

Many farms, for various reasons, likely have room for "other" new producers under their umbrella. I believe many current producers open to and willing to entertain these ideas...sooo..Any thoughts on terms... pitfalls/hurdles... opportunities...limitations...etc.

[grassfarmer]

I think this is a great topic and one that is very important to the future of farming on the Prairies. We are currently in the process of enabling another farm family getting started with their own land base.

There was an interesting article recently on young people getting into agriculture. Here is the link.

[URL="http://www.ucobserver.org/society/2017/01/new_agrarians/"]http://http://www.ucobserver.org/society/2017/01/new_agrarians/[/URL]

I know most of these folks and their potential is just outstanding. I can see it working well in the fruit/vegetable/livestock for direct marketing meat sector but not sure just what the fit is for getting into grain farming. Maybe what Klause is doing selling direct to end users to extract more value?

[ajl]

Higher interest rates motivating the 80+ crowd to market their assets would do wonders for creating opportunities for younger producers. The Bank of Canada could ease up on the printing press a little and voila higher rates are here.

[bucket]

I think a mentoring program would be a great thing to get newcomers or the next generation started.....


I have seen many guys come back to the farm and quickly be behind the eight ball....and not because of their lack of hard work .....weather....the older generation. ....etc ....can **** things up quickly....

Sometimes all that is required is a bridge loan to get over the hump.

[farmaholic]

Last issue Country Guide has an article about this very thing....cattle related story.

I think it would/could be a very precarious arrangement.

Grain farming seems to be way too capital intensive for this. Need lots of money to buy your way in or born into it otherwise it may be a long climb up a steep hill---but maybe only if land "ownership" is a main part of the goal. Soooooooo risky!

[sofa.king]

Totally agree about older generation. Too many of them couldn't spend their nest egg if they tried but they have have top rent for their land because they have to leave a legacy for their kids who will be too old to appreciate it by the time their parents die.

[farmaholic]

Not too hard on the old folks sofa.king. The "little bastards" don't need gold bricks to walk on. If the old folks are renting the land out obviously their kids aren't interested in the farm. In my opinion they're entitled to exactly what their parents were...to work. That's part of the problem, the kids want "everything now"! Easy come- easy go.

[farmaholic]

.....gawd I must be getting old! Sounds like it anyway!

[sofa.king]

Ya it's funny how the non farming kids who haven't done any work think they deserve more than the one who stayed and did all the work.

[Klause]

Try being a young guy in a new area trying to farm... hate to say it but more old guys prefer to stifle you than help you... after all jot one of "them".


Ag culture is definitely... interesting. LOL