Combines Farm Crises

In Indiana, it is down to weekend farmers with less than 200 acres with old equipment like myself. They hold jobs during the week. On the other end of the spectrum are the full time farmers who are running around 1,500 acres or more per person. They have to run that many acres to spread out the more modern equipment costs. We have a farm girl in our office. Her dad and uncle are farming 7,000 acres in Indiana this year. They are running two 9750 STS and have a 9500 or 8820 for a backup.

I hear you. I'm 35 years old,farm in Kansas, and I look around

I am only 19 years old, I hobby farm 250 acres on the weekends, I would love to do it fulltime but I would never be able to cover the costs. I of course dont use new equipment, mostly 1970's-mid 80's stuff. I enjoy it and wouldnt stop doing it for anything. My dad farms another 1000 acres, and he also has hogs, but the price has fallen out on them too. when he took the farm over from my grandfather in 1970 hogs were big $$ makers, and the grain went towards them, I couldnt imaging trying to take the reins from my dad in todays economy, i would never make it. It is sad, but what are u gonna doIJIJ Changes have to start somewhere!

I know many of you aren't going to like this but after researching the grain carry overs for the last 20 years. I have a single conclusion. There is too much in the carry over stocks. Back in 95 or 96 when wheat reached the 5-6 per bushel range the carryover was less than 50% of the production. The exports were more than 50% of the new crop. I realize politics plays a roll here however we can't really control the politics as well as we can control our own future.

If only all the farmers could agree they could control the markets, but most everyone needs the money so it is impossible. I sometimes wonder if we arnt the dumb ones for telling the govt each year just how many acres we plant so they know exactly how to manipulate the markets. Here is an idea that everyone should do for 2001. Plant 50% of your corn acres this year, next year. That means you will have 150% soybeans which will undoutably flood the market... So what, they are now. Collect your lDP and and you will make as mush money as you did this year. Now, with half the corn being raised, the price will go up! What do you thinkIJ it would be worth a try wouldnt itIJ Now the big problem with getting everyone to do that.

Hang in there Green Reaper. I felt like you did last year after four no good years of crops here in SIl. But this year the crops are good, I will be able to pay some bill's. It's not much, but things are better this year than last. Plus I did some truck driving and the work is just as hard and pay not much better. I like being with my family on the farm!

What part of Canada are you from IJ. We are still going strong in Ontario.

Well of course you are!You're the largest voting body in Canada.Chretien loves you.You can sell your grain,we CAN'T our government controlled Canadian Wheat Board won't let us.

Perhaps I should have been a little more clear when I said "going strong".

Sorry if I sounded abrupt,just a bit of fustration at that moment.With this big country of ours we don't usually know what's going on with our fellow farmers across the country.I read an article in the paper the other day,world wheat stocks are at a 30 year low.The price should be through the roof,the reason it isn't is because the major exporting countries hold all the stocks.If you ask me, doesn't that give us the edgeIJPeople complain about farm subsidies,well I'm tired of subsidizing cheap FOOD!I don't know what else to call it and if you think about it that's what we are All doing.OPEC seems to be doing fine,why can't we as exporting nations do the sameIJI have a question to Row Crop.Ontario has a provincial agricultural farm organization(can't remember the name off hand)does it workIJI also hope you show our PM that spot you have picked for him in your shed. Take care! RM