Giddy as a school girl

rrlund · Mar 5, 2012

Wew,what a relief! I had called the widow of the landlord that died in November and left a message on her machine a week ago last Friday. When I didn't hear right back from her I started to sweat a little. Wondered if she was shopping the place around or something. Hoped she had just gone to a warmer climate for a while,so I didn't call her again and pester her with a lot of messages. Got in a few minutes ago and she'd left a message to go ahead and work it as usual.
I was so relieved I called her back and told her I'd bump the rent up a little,wanted to be fair with her.
It's the biggest piece of ground that I rent and right close to home,so without the wife working,I'd have been in deep do do without it.
About six weeks ago,I talked to the brother of the landlord that passed away in August. Asked him if I could buy the hay that I'd seeded last year if he hadn't sold that place by then. He said ya,go ahead,so I'm relieved to say the least.

NY 986 · Mar 5, 2012

Glad to see things worked out. A neighbor died here two years ago and I was not so lucky. No, I had not been working it prior but having it would take some of the squeeze off financially. The local BTO was over to see the farmer"s wife the SAME day he passed and got it. A bunch of us suspect that BTO was very heavy-handed in his approach. Sad to say I can not do much business on my own turf but at least I can live with myself as to how I conduct my business. There are some days where I wished I farmed elsewhere but I would imagine there are plenty of people who deal with the same problems I have.

greenmachine · Mar 5, 2012

Its the same pretty much every where. I am in Northern Illinois and its terrible in these parts. Its almost impossible to get new rented ground. Always looking over your should to not lose what you have to these big guys.. They are farming 10-15k in these parts, and we have six of them.. I used to think we farmed a lot at 3500 acres, but we are now considered small. Its only going to get worse if the commodity prices stay high..

Mike M · Mar 5, 2012

You may want to get these things in writing the way the world is today.

Old Bob · Mar 5, 2012

I live in Arkansas and there is this family that will approach the deceased persons family at the cemetery to get their name in the hat first. I never have done this, nor do I intend to. I look at me in the morning in the mirror and still like who I see. I think in the end you are rewarded for doing what is right, whether it be financially or reputation wise.

Josh in Pa · Mar 5, 2012

I was thinking that New York state was not as competitive for ground as other states? Driving on Rt 79? going from 81 to Ithaca a few years ago it seemed like their were a lot fields that weren't being used.
Josh

NY 986 · Mar 5, 2012

It goes outside the realm of competition and it is hard to say that it is anything other than nastiness. If this forum were a little more private I would elaborate but I suspect a couple of the locals check this site out from time to time. I would say there is one person locally who delights in seeing others suffer misfortune. The fellow who passed was mildly nasty in that he hated having any local competition. The farm he had was a hobby so having competition was not taking food out of his mouth. I don't mind competition even if it puts pressure on me financially so long as it is a matter of the best man winning. I tire of some of the dirt bag moves made that I see.

NY 986 · Mar 5, 2012

I've been on that part of Rte 79 and that really does not represent the better ground in the state. Most of the topsoil along 79 is shallow with shale underneath. The best soil in the Southern Tier is along the creek and river beds for the most part. If you have time check out Ontario, Yates, Genesee, and Orleans Counties among others and you will see a wide variety of agriculture practiced with a high degree of productivity.

rrlund · Mar 5, 2012

There was a guy here who died of cancer several years ago and a guy who I would have thought had more culture and upbringing than that aproached the widow at the funeral about renting her place. Word got out pretty quick,and needless to say,the widow wasn't impressed with him either. Her own son is working most of her place.

There aren't all that many of us farming around here anymore anyway,so most everybody's pretty good about staying off each others toes. Guess most of us are getting up in years and just running out the clock so don't see too much sense taking on more anyway,as long as we can keep what we have and aren't going backwards.

To tell the truth,my most realistic fear was that her brother,who thinks he's Daniel Boone and has some food plots back in the pines and willow brush at the back of the place,would talk her in to letting him waste the whole place with a bunch of cut up,patchwork food plots. Guess not,thank God.

jwmfarms · Mar 5, 2012

A very good friend and customer of our family business died about 15 or so years ago, had a heart attack in his sleep. He was the largest farmer in the area at the time, around 5200 acres. Heck of a nice guy, would help you out any way he could, and his word was his bond. He wanted his viewing to be held in the farmhouse, not at the funeral home. All of the other big farmers in the area were standing around in the front yard arguing about who was going to rent what. These were people who called themselves his friends. I lost what respect I had for any of them that day. It"s a shame what greed will make some people do!

rrlund · Mar 5, 2012

In all my life,I've only had one written rental agreement. That was with a woman who was so crooked that she thought everybody was a bad as she was I guess. I had no problem signing one with her since she had skrewd over me and everybody else,her own kids included,so many times I knew better than trust her anyway. I've got places I've worked steady for over 35 years with no problems at all. The widow who just called me is third generation landlord on that place. I started renting it from her Grandmother 30 years or so ago.

PJH · Mar 5, 2012

"I was so relieved I called her back and told her I'd bump the rent up a little, wanted to be fair with her"

Good for you! We're s'posed to help out the widows and orphans.

Giddy as a school girl

rrlund

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NY 986

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greenmachine

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Mike M

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Old Bob

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Josh in Pa

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NY 986

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NY 986

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rrlund

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jwmfarms

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rrlund

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PJH

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