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Yes. And when the law changes to where cannabis is regulated pretty much the same way as tobacco is currently, there will be a legal farming industry, requiring farmers.
As far as opium and coca, I'm really not sure how to approach them, but I think it's pretty obvious what to do about cannabis.
In many areas it's more lucrative for and to grow sub-divisions than it is to grow crops. That's one issue. Others have been touched on, the type of work, the living on the edge (one hail storm, one late freeze, one windstorm) and all your work is laying on the ground.
Another issue, which is poo-pooed by many is the inheritance one. Many farmer's wealth is tied up in land and maybe equipment. When that farmer dies then the succeeding generation, if they wish to continue farming, have the inheritance taxes to pay. Which brings us back to my first statement about sub-divisions. Yes, the inheritance can be set up in such a way that taxes aren't an issue. Many do that. Just as many likely don't.
As an aside, had my father not died when he did I'd be outside Smethport, PA today, having just come in from milking the cows. My older brother got out, I couldn't have.
... Another issue, which is poo-pooed by many is the inheritance one. Many farmer's wealth is tied up in land and maybe equipment. When that farmer dies then the succeeding generation, if they wish to continue farming, have the inheritance taxes to pay. Which brings us back to my first statement about sub-divisions. Yes, the inheritance can be set up in such a way that taxes aren't an issue. Many do that. Just as many likely don't.
We have a few programs in this region that assist older farmers to locate young farmers, and help in the transition from one generation to the next generation.
I have a friend [Tom R.] who has presented a few workshops on farm inheritance. Tom starts a new farm, and then attracts apprentices to live on-site and work it. Any apprentice who stays on-site, becomes a partner the second year. As soon as there are 3 [or more] partners, Tom guides them in forming a LLC, and the new partners buy Tom out. Then Tom starts a new farm somewhere else.
So far Tom is on his fourth farm. I have been a vendor in markets, alongside vendors from two farms that had been started by Tom.
Iowa stats: "women now own or co-own close to 50% of the farmland in Iowa. In 2007, women over the age of 65 owned over one-fourth of Iowa’s farmland, An increasing number are single owners . . . " Source: womencaringfortheland.org
Guess this means that though male owners are still the majority, female farm ownership has been slowly increasing over the past decades.
The problem with becoming a farmer is...you need a farm.
If you're going to make a go of it yourself, you probably need a farm of some size (150 acres +/-, I suppose) to support the sorts of machinery you're going to need to plant/harvest/etc. With corporate investors bidding up the price of farmland into the 7 figures (recent sale was $13,000 an acre) the barriers to entry are huge...
Iowa stats: "women now own or co-own close to 50% of the farmland in Iowa. In 2007, women over the age of 65 owned over one-fourth of Iowa’s farmland, An increasing number are single owners . . . " Source: womencaringfortheland.org
Guess this means that though male owners are still the majority, female farm ownership has been slowly increasing over the past decades.
I've been to several workshops in Minnesota and Iowa specifically for female farm owners.
With a couple, one person works in town, while the other stays at home and has the ability to attend workshops and conferences. If it is the female who attends conferences/meetings, she is the one putting her name on stuff.
The problem with becoming a farmer is...you need a farm.
If you're going to make a go of it yourself, you probably need a farm of some size (150 acres +/-, I suppose) to support the sorts of machinery you're going to need to plant/harvest/etc. With corporate investors bidding up the price of farmland into the 7 figures (recent sale was $13,000 an acre) the barriers to entry are huge...
...so the only option is to rent.
As we see commonly around here, you can get into farming with 5 acres, and have the ability to support a family.
We bought two parcels of land, one was $350/acre the other was $900/acre [river frontage].
As we see commonly around here, you can get into farming with 5 acres, and have the ability to support a family.
We bought two parcels of land, one was $350/acre the other was $900/acre [river frontage].
That's sort of what we've done, but having a small plot for what essentially amounts to gardening vs having a commerically viable operation and a career are different animals. That's an incredible deal on land, particularly river frontage. I don't think there's a single acre in this state you could buy for under $1,000.
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