Rawhide, you can buy gas with 3 dimes.

[BA Deere]

Hey Shaggy, what kind of skews the way farmers see prices is farms are 5 times larger than the 1970`s and crop yields are half again greater.  So a 300 acre farmer in 1970 thought 120bu/acre was good, now farms 1500 acres and gets 180bu/acre.  So, there`s that whole volume distortion at play on the prices we recieve and how much our input suppliers think they can soak us.

But I think it`s really cool that, a little boy in the late 1960`s would`ve been given 3 dimes that had silver in them...that would`ve bought 1 gallon of gas.  If he threw them in a sock drawer in his old room and found those 3 dimes back today if he cashed them in he could still buy a gallon of gas. Back in the 60`s the going wage was $1/hr well today a silver dollar is worth $20.  Sad to say there aren`t many jobs that pay over that $20/hr or "$1 silver dollar per hour".

[WCMO]

Not really replying to myself -- just adding a link -- http://corncommentary.com/2014/07/23/ethanol-is-worlds-lowest-cost-motor-fuel/

[kraft-t]

This time you might be the casualty rather than somebody else.

I don't think mining the soil is a good idea. However fetilizing for that extra ten bushels may not be a wise investment. If you have 180 bushel land and fertilixe for 200 plus that may be reckless experimentation. Especially with break even prices or less.

[BA Deere]

This is why up to date soil tests are so important, so you know what you`re dealing with.  Yes, some ground "doesn`t have any nutrients to mine", but if you have high and very high levels and have been putting on crop removal rates +1 all the way through these $5, $6, $7, $8 corn years, you do have a reserve that you can withdraw from the bank for a couple years.  If you`ve been chintzy with fertilizer during $7 corn, you`ll probably really be scotch when corn is $2.75 and potash is $550/ton.

If you can, might as well see if the fertilizer companies blink after a year or two.  If we all stay brain washed and buy their high priced inputs, they never will have a reason to lower the price.  I`m not going to be the one running with a bullseye on my back or I will be a casualty "this time".

[kraft-t]

You are going to mine his soil. Just to see how he feels about it. He just might think he prefers a tenant that wants to maintain the fertility.

[sw363535]

Yea and the greedy cuss will demand corn even if his tennant looses money by not switching to a lower input crop

[BA Deere]

                                                                         😉

[sw363535]

Ok ---------------- I'll try not to get too "esteemed"

[idalivered]

I always say "his farm, his rules".

[sw363535]

First thing to bring up when land leases come calling.  Somewhere in the cordials, make a comment about rotating to a lower valued crop ----- Usually brings out the owner attitude.  

Not every opportunity is an opportunity.  

And ownership does not mean knowledge.   Be very careful taking a large share of the risk on any ground without control of croping decisions ----- or at least control equal to the share of risk.