We’re 57, we started farming when we were 19. We have bought 4 small farms over the years and had to sell one of them and have remortgaged more times than I can remember, the last time in 2009.
We’re doing better this last year and hopefully, price-wise, in the coming year but that is assuming we can get a crop and we haven’t yet put any seed into the ground.
We don’t talk about retirement, what is that? Our son works for us but there is no way he can get started on his own, he has no collateral and we can’t back him and the bank isn’t going to give him half a million on a short term loan with potential crops as collateral. Especially after what our county experienced in 2008 when a 60 MPH dry, dusty sustained wind blew for hours and literally fried most of our crops and then returned a few days later to ruin what was left.
When we started farming there were 340 family farmers in our county, there are now 18. Much of the water right has been sold to the county and city, who have been the saviors of farmers who were losing it all. A lot of the water rights sold to the gas-powered electric plant and a lot of it just sits idle growing noxious weeds.
Good luck on this year’s farming. Your post reminded me of that old joke where the farmer wins the $10 million lottery. When asked by the reporter what he is going to do with all of that money, the farmer replies “Oh - I reckon I’ll keep farming for a few more years.”
Here’s hoping and praying that your crops do well this year.
I work in a very busy Circle K store that is in the middle of nowhere (and in the middle of everywhere all at once.) When we were hit by a good sized snow storm around New Years we ran out of supplies because our delivery trucks couldn’t make it through the icy roads. I have always heard that grocery stores will be out of product in about 3 days following a disaster. I had confirmation of that with this storm.
I also see first hand the numerous people who are on food stamps. They are the ones that come in and buy $30.00 worth of JUNK-candy, chips, cookies, soda pop, etc.
I believe in stocking up and having supplies on hand, when tshtf it’s too late.