Farming For A Living

I have a new found respect for you guys that farm for a living! Wet weather has put the brakes on any and all field work here(London KY). This time last year i was patting my foot waiting for Southern States to deliver fert, this year im not even half way done with my plowing! Planting is just a distant dream, and im a nervous wreck. I could only imagine the stress level if this was for keeps, and not just extra money. You guys have nerve to say the least.

Im not gettin nervous yet. A little ancy maybe. I dont usually even think about startin to plant corn till 3rd or 4th week in april. Kinda getin aggravated everytime it starts gettin dry enuff to work some ground and then it rains. Just hope we dont get all our rain now and then none when we really need it like last year.

On a farm show this morning the word was soybeans this fall could be anywhere from $10 to $20 a bushel. Marketing's another nerve rendering aspect I'd think.

In the current ag ecconomy, marketing and buying inputs is the nerve wracking part.

Weather never bothered me too much, tho this past winter got too long & strong here in MN. Most of the time weather is, just have to deal with it.

But trying to guess when to sell and when to buy - the big pricing roller coasters of the last couple years can be stressful.

--->Paul

I in turn have respect for those of you that punch a time clock every day. Never know when you will get laid off from downsizing or turn in econimy. At least with farming I know I will not get laid off from my job. Now I just have to figure out how to make some money at it.

The constant stress is certainly the reason I waited until achieving a firm financial foundation before entering the fray. Father farmed but there wasn't enough to secure an additional livelihood. Uncooperative weather, marketing decisions, untimely machinery breakdowns, low prices, and animal health can all destroy best intentions. Punching a time clock is certainly not attractive, but usually means you will have something to eat and a roof over your head rather than six feet of dirt.

I'm actually a lot less nervous and worried than I was when I was working a regular job and farming on the side. Having to be there 730 am and not getting to the farm until after 6 in the evening with trying to jam everything that needed doing in the few minutes or hours until dark kept me stirred up all the time. Now, I get it done when I get it done. If it doesnt get done, oh well, I'll figure something else out.

"I could only imagine the stress level if this was for keeps, and not just extra money."

Come on - you mean some farmers actually make money? I'm down over $100K in the last 7 years...but I did have fun!

Actually, it's not THAT difficult to make a small fortune farming........

(quoted from post at 23:26:46 04/16/11) Actually, it's not THAT difficult to make a small fortune farming........

Click to expand...

...and the punchline that I have always heard for that one is to "Begin farming with a BIG Fortune and you will end up with a SMALL fortune when you are finished farming"... LOL

Actually, there has to be still some money in farming. I know a few people that have inherited a few hundred acres and actually do okay. Since they inherited the land their costs are less since there is no large mortage on it. They use affordable equipment - not new expensive stuff but not old outdated junk either.

Also know of another family near me that just keeps paying crazy prices for land or even small farms with run-down houses. Since they frequently let the houses sit vacant they are simply buying the land. First thing they do is invest in the land by installing field tile immediately. They are either making big money or at least making enough to keep current on debt payments. Since they farm full time there is no toher money source unless they started rich.

This all said. No way would I want to have to go out and mortage all the land that I buy (or lease), mortage all my equipment, mortage all my input costs, and then try to make a livable profit with everything being mortaged. However, Money can be borrowed now at cheaper rates than ever, so maybe the large debtors are smarter than I think.

Two of the happiest days of my life were the day I started farming and the day I quit.

London, Ky, huh. Went to a John Deere 30 day service school with a "James"??? here in Indy.He went back home and worked 1 week for the dealer who paid his tuition,room and board. That was in 1964. Forgot his last name. A real nice(funny) guy. Does the name ring a bell?

Do you really think that the average farmer INHERITED a few HUNDRED acres? No reason for him to fail, but yes, I"ve seen it done. Why shouldn"t he be successfull, with a start like that, unless he pizz"s it away?. Mrs and I started from scratch in 1972, she with an elementary teaching degree, me with a BS in Animal Science, after my voluntary military service for three years in the Army Green Berets-- but we borrowed everything to start. No family help. Lenders were cognizant that we had potential, and we proved them right.

Ive never seen a year when corn didnt get planted. I was out the other day finishing chiseling until 2am. My other ground going to corn will simply get hit with a field cultivator and planted. According to the forecast I should be way behind schedule, but the weather held a little, I plowed til it rained and I got done. Now Im right on schedule, it is wet though and I surely wont be planting for another 10 days or more but I stopped worrying about it years ago. The weather is out of my hands but for me a window of opportunity has always opened up and Ive never planted corn past May 12th. It really comes down to correct management. If I deep tilled all my acres for no reason like my neighbors I would be really worried. But I know in a couple weeks my brother will be running the field cultivator and I'll be pushing him out of the field with the planter and thats how it usually goes. My fert program as far as P & K is handled in fall in most cases so Im freed up to plow, plant, and spray. The biggest pinch I get in is sidedressing corn and trying to get hay done in between rains and wet fields. I often sidedress at night after baling is done.

most farmers i know inherited at least a few hundred acres and a full line of equipment and several houses to rent, I dont think thats uncommon.

Nah doesnt ring a bell, but in 64 i was 18 years away from even being thought of. Sounds like your from Indy? Thats one of the nicer "big" towns in my opinion. Last 2 years ive worked at the CSX equipment shop at Southeastern Ave & Emerson Ave for the winter. Always manage to sneak of to the speedway museum, awesome facility!