theres a problem there also of course,first of all define a "living wage".Ive never had that question answered.I even asked those occupy folks and couldnt get an answer,but maybe you have it. Is the mythical living wage $15,$25,$35,$50, or more an hour? No one seems to be able to put a dollar figure on it. The problem is not the wages,and never has been. The problem is folks always seem to want more than they can afford. I've been as guilty as anyone dont get me wrong. Its very easy to blame our personal problems on out side sources,But i think if we wre really honest we would find 99% of the problems we encounter is of our own doing. Its hard to blame the crp program,conservation easment program,big farmers wanting to cash in on prices higher than they've ever been, when all you and I want is to cash in also. If a landowner feels these programs are best for him how is that wrong? Theres most often a reason for putting land in these programs. Take crp for instance,Ive done that myself. To qualify i had to farm (or try to farm) that piece of ground for x number of years before hand. I had to take that land out of production and plant it to grass ,THAT IS ALSO A CROP wheather you believe it or not. Lets go with your figure of $70 per acre that crp pays. First let me ask you this , can you make money farming ground these days that grows crops worth less than $70 and acre? I dont think so,Ive often seen folks spend $200 and acre putting crops in the ground. And your going to try to make a living off it? Most of the time this is marginal land that neither you or I could profitably farm any way. Its land best suited to grass. Heres a tip for you, if your first starting out,and find a piece of land for sale coming out of crp. Before you lay down your hard earned cash thinking you can farm it,you better look it over very carefully. Even if its right in the middle of the best farm land around. Chances are you will have a hard time making money off it. Theres a batter chance with eight or nine dollar wheat, than there is at four dollar,but your inputs are Far higher also. Of course there are those places where a farmer decided to retire and put his land in crp,but even the dumbest farmer can see the economic value of renting it out for 300 compared to 70 crp pays and he STILL has to take care of the crp land. What about Conservation easements that those big movie folks like so well. Heres the deal there,once they are in the progrm its permanent. You may as well sit and cry because lincoln was shot for all the good it will do. Drive by it and enjoy the scenery once in a while. It will never be farmed again. Is that right or wrong? depends again on your point of veiw. On the one hand they bought the land and they can do what they please with it. And on the other if you would have had the money you could have bought it. Maybe i look at this wrong,maybe the old ideas of sacrifice and hard work to get what you want dont really apply any more. But I see the problem of land acqusition as being not the lack of money ,but the fact that theres too many people with money. Even if someone gave each and every aspiring farmer 5 million dollars to buy land ,they still couldnt all buy it, theres simply not enough. Land prices would soar (as we see now) but thats not a symptom of greed ,its a problem of too many people with too MUCH money. Thats why i say go to the source,the banks ,the loan companies,try to find out if you can who is struggling and try to buy their place before it gets sold at a public auction. Try to beat your competition to it. Most bankers and things wont give you any names,but they can pass along the fact that your positioned to buy. A family thats fixing to lose their place anyway would most likely rather have you step in and take up that note instead of being forclosed on. Is that greed? todays attitude probably would say yes,that the proper thing would be to step in give them enough so they dont default. But in my opinion if i take up that note ,it allows them to start over ,helps everyone involved. They MIGHT learn their limits and make a better choice for themselves next time, and everyone wins. I f thats greed then maybe thats why i dont understand ,its simply that i'm the guy everyone is hollering about and dont know it!
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Today's Featured Article - A Lifetime of Farm Machinery - by Joe Michaels. I am a mechanical engineer by profession, specializing in powerplant work. I worked as a machinist and engine erector, with time spent overseas. I have always had a love for machinery, and an appreciation for farming and farm machinery. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Not a place one would associate with farms or farm machinery. I credit my parents for instilling a lot of good values, a respect for learning, a knowledge of various skills and a little knowledge of farming in me, amo
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