Expenses Making it harder and harder

[poorfarmer]

Just wondering if anyone has issues convincing their wife or husband that farming is worth the time invested. I just finished figuring up my expenses for this year and I have already spent more then the calves will sell for at current prices. Looking to the older generation who were able to stay farming and stay married. I figure I might find enough ideas to keep me in the game for a few more years. :D

 

[M-5]

Its pretty simple. I look at what my worst case revenue will be for a given yr. I deduct hard cost, Fuel, elect, hay, fence maint cost. Then I know what I spend on each item to stay on budget. as I near yr end and I have a sizeable surplus I may then fix or buy something that I have rigged all yr or invest back into the operation with more animals. Its simple math

 

[M.Magis]

I just keep those things to myself. :D
There were some differences with the older generations. One being that farming was more of a necessity than a hobby. Also worth mentioning, most of the time there was only one provider. I look at it as a long term investment, and maybe not a good one. But I enjoy it, and my boys enjoy it. That’s good enough for me.

 

[poorfarmer]

Yeah my biggest problem is I don´t have to make an income on the farm, we have other sources of income so I find myself expanding and normally breaking about even, but explaining to my wife all the hours I work is being reinvested so someday we will make more money has worked for about 5 years, we will see if I can stretch it another 30. I will say someday she will just give up, but I hope its not on me.

 

[M-5]

On side note. I don't keep up with the jones!!!!! I try and keep my place looking good but spending money on new stuff to impress people is not my forte.

 

[Brute 23]

Just wondering if anyone has issues convincing their wife or husband that farming is worth the time invested. I just finished figuring up my expenses for this year and I have already spent more then the calves will sell for at current prices. Looking to the older generation who were able to stay farming and stay married. I figure I might find enough ideas to keep me in the game for a few more years. :D

Your other half might be the one in the right. Spending money that hasn't come in yet is a bad habbit. It's the fastest way to not make it in the cattle business also.

 

[Bigfoot]

My wife makes no decisions about the farm, and has no real working knowledge of what goes on. She made her biannual ride through the farm the other day I wanted her to see how nice some dozing I had done looked. I would have gladly said how much it cost, if she had asked. The dollar figure of the dozing, may never be returned. I had a fence I was just tired of dealing with. The problem went away. I think the clutch went out on my loader tractor yesterday. I think it went out because I let somebody borrow it to clean out a feeding barn. I think these are all details she will never be privy to.

 

[Rafter S]

I haven't had any trouble convincing mine, but I haven't had many years where I didn't make at least a little bit of money. And, like Bigfoot, she isn't involved in my cattle anyway. I'll occasionally ask her opinion about something, but she rarely cares one way or the other.

If I consistently lost money with the cattle and had to supplement them from other income I imagine she'd have a few things to say about it, and I wouldn't blame her.

 

[slick4591]

Mine wasn't really happy with me last week cause a seal went out in a gear box on my 8' mower. Before I could get it shut down the blades were slapping and gear box was a mess. The wife wasn't happy about the $900 it costs to get it going again.

 

[skyhightree1]

Just wondering if anyone has issues convincing their wife or husband that farming is worth the time invested. I just finished figuring up my expenses for this year and I have already spent more then the calves will sell for at current prices. Looking to the older generation who were able to stay farming and stay married. I figure I might find enough ideas to keep me in the game for a few more years. :D

Picking the right person to marry also matters. My wife helps with anything I need her to do and is active part of all portions of the farming minus the pigs. She likes to fish so she comes home with a 200 reel or 200 rod or whatever I say nothing to her when I show up with new toys or cattle she says nothing to me. She knows the reason I farm and its not to get rich. If you present to her you are owning cattle and you will be rich and all this money will be flowing in and it doesn't then you set yourself up for the shenanigans from her that go along with it. She has no clue what I make off cattle unless I tell her all that matters to mine is that all our bills are paid and kids are well kept. My money pit is raising hounds.

 

[Anonymous]

:D all i can say is, I, would be the wrong person to ask. BEEN SINGLE for the last 10 or so yrs :D

 

[shaz]

If I didn't make a profit I would be divorced. Wife likes money but really doesn't understand where it comes from.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Hard to keep welfare cattle they should at minimum pay their upkeep.
If they don't your inputs are way to high or you need a better cow.
The small operation has to run tighter than a crabs butt and that is waterproof and you have to haul a premium grade calf to the barn.
Bought half way through the year looks like it is going to take 550 to 600 dollars to keep a cow in the pasture. You should be able to turn a profit per head with those numbers.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Neccessities will pencil in. Extras don't.

If I gotta have it, I build it or trade for it.

My tractor is 38 years old. Lots of issues but it gets it done.

Just sold another wood splitter that I built. Now I have to build yet another one before I need to split wood again. Could be 2 to 3 years. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for a valve and a cylinder. Gonna need hoses too. Didn't really want to sell the one I had but profit is profit. Amazing how easy it is to sell things you don't wanna sell.

Have offers for my chicken tractors. Thinking of building a few to sale. Maybe trade those too.

Picking 2 to 3 gallons of boysenberries every day now. People are wanting to buy those. Jelly makes great gifts and I have plenty to give now. its a cheap source of entertainment for me. Keeps me busy and I aint out spending money or burning gasoline.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Just wondering if anyone has issues convincing their wife or husband that farming is worth the time invested. I just finished figuring up my expenses for this year and I have already spent more then the calves will sell for at current prices. Looking to the older generation who were able to stay farming and stay married. I figure I might find enough ideas to keep me in the game for a few more years. :D

I paid off all her debts. Her new truck too - everything except her house. She's got it rented. Prime beef in the freezer. Plenty of it. The last 4 hauls to the sale barn were put in her name. Check came to her and I told her to put it in her checking account. She's got around a $21,000 cushion now in her checking account now. I have no problem convincing her of anything. If I get out with the few cows I have left she's right along side me helping any way she can.

I've almost bought another farm a time or two in the past 4 months. She's been encouraging.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Just wondering if anyone has issues convincing their wife or husband that farming is worth the time invested. I just finished figuring up my expenses for this year and I have already spent more then the calves will sell for at current prices. Looking to the older generation who were able to stay farming and stay married. I figure I might find enough ideas to keep me in the game for a few more years. :D

I paid off all her debts. Her new truck too - everything except her house. She's got it rented. Prime beef in the freezer. Plenty of it. The last 4 hauls to the sale barn were put in her name. Check came to her and I told her to put it in her checking account. She's got around a $21,000 cushion now in her checking account now. I have no problem convincing her of anything. If I get out with the few cows I have left she's right along side me helping any way she can.

I've almost bought another farm a time or two in the past 4 months. She's been encouraging.

Maybe I need you as a mentor. :cboy:

 

[True Grit Farms]

Poorfarmer, you need to tell the wife to get a better job. My wife is the bookkeeper so she has a pretty good idea of what's going on. But I'll be danged if I'm going to sit at home and worry about a dollar. I'll go back to work before that happens.

 

[skyhightree1]

Poorfarmer, you need to tell the wife to get a better job. My wife is the bookkeeper so she has a pretty good idea of what's going on. But I'll be danged if I'm going to sit at home and worry about a dollar. I'll go back to work before that happens.

:lol2: :lol2:

 

[backhoeboogie]

Maybe I need you as a mentor. :cboy:

You just gotta believe in yourself Tux. Take a risk. A calculated risk. Don't let the distractors distract you.

You're a good person. If you miss a time or two just salvage the situation. You'll hit your target. There have been times I failed and failure turned out to be a sweet thing. A better deal in the long haul.

Maybe you can mentor me.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Best pep talk I've had since college!