MN Farm Subsidies

[TropicalAussie]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Wow that is a lot of money. Interesting how a lot of our friends in the Marshall area seem to cry poor (not all of them but a lot of them) yet there subsidies are more than most people make in a year--and they are getting paid NOT to produce?

Yes, its agrarian socialism, a great American tradition.

[marmac]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Wow that is a lot of money. Interesting how a lot of our friends in the Marshall area seem to cry poor (not all of them but a lot of them) yet there subsidies are more than most people make in a year--and they are getting paid NOT to produce?

--"getting paid NOT to produce "--

????????

Seems you were bragging about those great crop yields , which is it ?

Are they growing crops or are they making big bucks by--getting paid NOT to produce ?

( and what the heck is-------being paid NOT to produce ) ?

[pepe1]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Ok, when was the last time you were even ON a farm? Keep in mind that just because they don't drive a BMW doesn't mean they don't have a lot of money. I am trying to think of one farm family that doesn't do both livestock and row crops that I know of and I can't think of a single one out of the 100's of farm families I know. How many people do you know PERSONALLY that farm?

I give up. Fine, you're right.

What would I know. I only grew up on a farm in Northern Iowa (amidst the most productive soil in the world). Apparently my parents have long been holding out on me my whole life. They are apparently millionaires and I never knew it.

[jmgg]

Interesting thread. Just finished reading all the posts.

MY 2 cents. I grew up on the farm and we still own the farm and rent it in SE South Dakota. There are very few farmers around here with livestock. Too much work for the return. Large feedlots, enormous hog operations and corporate dairy farms have all but eliminated the little guy.

Not a big deal though for the 3rd and 4th generation farmers with land inherited or bought from the family for a smidgen of what it's worth. If their father kept up with modern farming methods and equipment prior to them taking over the farm, they're making more money per hours worked than anyone I know. They drive brand new 4 x 4's and adhere to the 4 x 4 doctrine. Work like hell for 4 weeks in the spring and 4 weeks in the fall, then take the rest of the remaining 44 weeks left in the year basically off.

Different story if you're trying to farm with most of your land rented. Cash rents are growing rapidly and to be able to rent some ground at all can be difficult because of the many farmers who will pay almost anything even if they break even just to make sure their neighbors don't get it.

The days of farmers working together are long gone. Greed has taken over. My dad shared work with his neighbors all the time. No money was changed hands other than always filling the neighbor's tractor with gas. Whenever you worked on your neighbors farm, he would soon reciprocate. It was fun.

Before anyone says, "why aren't you farming?" suffice it to say we only owned 155 acres and my dad did not keep his equipment updated. Also, he had to buy the land w/no financial help from anyone. No inheritance. We didn't get it paid off till years after his death. Took care of any thoughts about doing this.

As posted here, SOME farmers have absolutely NOTHING to complain about. With today's farming practices of no till they spend minimal time in each field and burn far less fuel than their predecessors. It's daily coffee, beer, auctions, poker, or visiting much of the year for the homegrown farmers.

[my54ford]

the day of the quater section (160 acre) faimly farm are long gone! If you're working that little bit of farm you or the wife or both better have a good job in town!

[ravenfeathers]

easements permanent from the DNR.--only conservation payments,, are possibly in that class there is soil set a sides are clear income others are to pay planting and mkt. for consumers reality of food

[demtion35]

AgWeb Blogs (http://www.agweb.com/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?PID=c7bc0b88-dae7-4871-95bb-53a710fa4b29 - broken link)

[my54ford]

Had to bring this one back to life! Just signed up for the Farm Program this morning! Under trhe DCP program my big 12 acre hayfield gets me 200 bucks!!!!! Almost choked but I took it......
FSA - Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program/ACRE