whooaahhh there hosses! I have just read your rather lengthy post in reply to mine and want to apologize for any word I may have typed that was offensive in any way. I am merely puzzled at the thoughts you entertain based upon your experiences as apposed to my own experiences. I meant no offense in any way shape or form, and with luck hope to have a continueing relationship and exchange of ideas. If I were the easily offended type, I may have even taken issue with your last comment about "us libs....blah woof" but reserve that for someday later. Philosophically, politically and otherwise I have been told I stand somewhere to the far right of Attilla the Hun! I dont care much for whiners, dont believe anyone in this world is "due" anything, other than those Godgivin rights of which some were outlined in our US constitution. The right to persue happiness, (there are no guarantees mentioned), the right to life, and to be free to make our own decisions, which includes the right to fail as well as succeed! We are all individuals with freedom of choice, choices come with responsibility for them, this is my bottom line thinking on most any topic, it has worked well for me over a good many years, see no reason to change it so far, however I am always open to anything that makes more sense. So much for that, I do hope you understand that I wasnt trying to insult anyone. This being said, lets go back to your post to me about my forefathers.
From your post-
"Your elders had $.26 cent fuel. I just paid $2.40 a gallon. Your elders could by a new 4020 tractor for $9000. A new 100 hp tractor is $28,000 or more these days."
Me again-
my grandfather owned one tractor in his life which he purchased used, it was a John Deere "A"model, which he bought from a dealer on a promotional "giveaway deal" with no money down and a years interest free deal. he used that tractor for one crop and sent it back! total cost $0.00 for a years use on a fine tractor. Many times over he used his head and kept overhead low, he was able to make deals with others for the use of their equipment to farm his farm in exchange for a portion of the crop. He began his farming career in 1934, the very best of economic times the US has ever witnessed!
here is where I want to note that we may have a different opinion of how things really are in the world around us. While during the later years of my forefathers lives they may have experienced some better times they had become accustomed to doing things on a much smaller scale, working the farm the hard way, and doing without most of their lives. The one thing they both reinforced in me during the 60s was that the MODERN way was a pathway to ruin, the farm scene was already going to the "need more land to pay for bigger tractors to farm more land to buy bigger equipment ad nauseum viscious cylcle" route. I considered their judgement as valid and see no real reason to dispute it now, things are unfolding pretty much as they predicted, land shortages, (there are a limited number of acres in the US, or the world for that matter) inflated prices, (due to the population increasing constantly increasing the demand) forcing that particular system out of the game. all during the 60s 70s and 80s this modern farm "growth" system worked, but sure as shootin, we are seeing the end of that realm. Just in my own opinion and that of my (whom I consider fairly wise) grandpappys philosophys predicted, its failing, and my friend, it has nothing to do with the overall tax relief of the 1031 for folks to avoid a bit of capitol gains tax. It has everything to do with economics in general, Prices are controlled by supply and demand, the world changes continuously, and any price of any commodity is set by what one feller is willing to pay and the next feller is willing to take. It makes NO difference if there is a profit made, or if a loss is taken! When enough people refuse to pay more than 26 cents a gallon for fuel, the price will drop to that exact amount as long as there is a profit to be made selling for that price. As long as people will pull up to a pump and pay 3 bucks a gallon they will be charged 3 bucks a gallon. If I offer you 30 bucks a bushel for all the corn you can raise next year on your 800 acres, would you turn me down? I am quite familiar with economics my friend, YOU WILL GRAB the money and run! Again I am not trying to insult you or your mindset. but honestly, look out in the world a bit at what others do, learn from them, there are vast numbers of people earning a good living today on 20 and 30 acres of tillable ground, they just use different methods. a good example, go to
www.hillandhollowfarm.com and look at what this young couple has done with less than 5 acres of tillable ground. they are living, raising a family, taking care of themselves and others by using alternate methods of land use and production as well as new version marketing strategies. I can personally vouch for numourous other families in this area who are making it, doing well on a handfull of acres 15 to 20 even, IMHO the true "small family farm" of 30 to 100 acres will be back! Again not trying to insult, just trying to expose alternatives to old mindsets. My experiences are obviously different than yours. dont mean either of us is right or wrong. just different ways of looking at things. I do think however we are getting a bit off topic, I will be happy to post a new thread if ya wish to continue this train of thought.
hope to become better acquainted and do value your input in here, and will try my best to be better at expressing my thoughts and opinions without being unintentionally rude or offensive. Thats the last thing I want to do.
