Anyone Getting Out Of Farming?

[JimMeade]

Is anyone around you getting out of farming?  I know one who is holding his land but is selling his equipment and will rent the land out.  

One hears stories of cattle feeders locally who are getting behind the cash flow curve and although making money can't service their debt.

If grain prices hold where they are, those with revenue assurance might be pretty happy.

[lsc76cat]

Couple families in the area that have retired and rented their land.  Auctions are this fall.

Seems that the only land going out of production in our area is what will be seeded to buffer strips.

[sw363535]

Totally different subject 76,

land will be in production if usda has to immigrate more children....... and the taxpayer has to borrow more money.  No crops will get politicians tarred and feathered.

But folks will go out of business and are.-- especially with a retirement.  Few these days will trust the unproven new farmer with their riches.. The question seems rediculous when you compare farm populations and sizes over the last 50 years.  it has goe down like the bean market.  technology is enhancing it every day.  Fewer and fewer producing more with labored hired form other nations if necessary.

There will probably be a push by usda to redefine the farmer terms to include all nationalities that spend time in the US working in crop production.  It will make the numbers look better at usda.  Wouldn't be the first time they have redefined "farmers"...    what are the real numbers if absentee owners and urban gardeners were not counted..?  Lots of checks have gone out to folks who never touch or sell the crop.    And of course the disadvantaged "farmers".......... which defines a lot of real farmers right now.

[BA Deere]

It`s difficult to be a inny & outy farmer, you`re kind of committed to riding that bull the full 8 seconds.  To sell depreciated machinery, the IRS would have something to say about that and also to have to pay off debt with "after tax dollars" ….well it`s like cashing in your 401K early for city people out there, substantial penalties for early withdrawl.  

It can be a headache too, renting your land out, the tenants whine about "you need more tile" and such, if you can avoid leasing out your land, even if you have it custom farmed might be the easiest way out.

But the banker has the final say, at some point they may direct that a operation call it quits.  But nowadays you can be as involved as you want to be if money is no object.  You may work the ground up and plant, but hire the spraying and harvesting done, as much or little as you`re happy with.

I haven`t heard of anyone totally quitting around here, that wasn`t already well past the age of retirement

[lsc76cat]

I didn't relate my thoughts very well.

There was a time in our area when a landowner would retire and put their land into CRP.

Seems that just doesn't happen anymore.

[sw363535]

Few other than hobby relate how crp was a bail out program — letting a lot of underwater farmers act like they were retiring while crp payments payed off their long term debt or allowed them to sell ground with guaranteed income. Killed it for young guys looking to farm.

[JimMeade]

The more I think of it the more I think CRP is almost an immoral program.  If erosion control is the issue, let's use a different incentive.

If putting less tillable land in CRP is the practice, it helps kill a diversified industry like beef cattle herds or even pasturing hogs (not that that would ever work again) but my point is it forces us more and more into monoculture corn and soybeans (or whatever is the monoculture where you farm).

CRP supports an army of bureaucrats who often know next to nothing about land management.

If the goal is conservation, FSA and NRCS could start by enforcing tillage plans they've approved and farmers have agreed to in order to get both front feet in the trough. 

[sw363535]

Rules for CRP now are determined largely by special interests like Hunting rights organizations because they contribute financially through fundraising programs of usda.

It was a jobs program from the inception within usda.  Sold to the public as conservation.  And in the process forced farming practice plans that carry on to all future owners and operators to include all acres owned or opperated by all.  Coupled with EPA regulations that were promoted by usda personel and passed in the process.  Private property rights became limited to usda approval.

most are using better methods than those required by fsa supervision.

Explain to me what I see going on in Iowa under the CRP banner...   looks like organized weed plots and great payments ..... I read 300+ per acre.... not many corn acres will net that level of income..?

(I was on a supervisory board for conservation when crp passed and was at the annual USDA National meeting when these programs were being promoted by usda personnel.  Then spent the next 9 years on the local FSA advisory board)  I have seen owners, operators, and govt employees use the crp program in ways that would have made me fight it all the way from the start if I had known.  But the bureaucratic "union" was determined to make it law.

[JimMeade]

Oh, you mean pollinator plots at $300+ per acre?  Support for Monarch butterflies that don't pollinate a single thing on my farm except milk weeds.  Don't get me started.

[k-289]

Monarch's,  C R P    or  a   1/2  million  gallon  manure  pit  on  your  back  door  step,   U  honestly  decide  ?