TennesseeTuxedo said:Thank you Captain Sunshine. This is just what I hoped to read about this morning.
Bright Raven" Beef will be largely imported from countries that can do it on the cheap. [/quote said:Why is this not occuring today ?
Stocker Steve said:Bright Raven" Beef will be largely imported from countries that can do it on the cheap. [/quote said:Why is this not occuring today ?
US Producers are willing to work on the cheap. Like myself. They are growing old and tired. When we are out of the way - it will not be long - there is no one stupid enough to replace us.
When this happens there will not be as much grain for animal production required. Also as electric cars gain popularity what will happen to the ethanol industry and the fuel. Also read an article that people in the auto production and parts were concerned that an electric vehicle would require less parts and last longer there fore less jobs. Any one need any buggy whips. What will this do to land prices. Maybe the younger generation are looking for ways to make their life simpler or maybe it will be a have to case.Bright Raven said:There is only one producer in Robertson County, Kentucky that is self-sustaining on beef production. Everyone else has other forms of subsistence. This operator runs over 300 commercial cows and markets at Bluegrass Stockyards in Lexington. Yet, their operation is only "self-sustaining". To provide meaning to that: They don't make enough to provide the opportunity for his son to live off the farm. His son is the Ag teacher at Robertson County High School. The patriarch is a friend of mine. He told me the operation only sustains their lifestyle.
The patriarch and I are separated by only a few days in age. We are both 69. When the patriarch dies and his health is waning, his son could take over but would be difficult.
I suspect much of America is like Robertson County. 99 % of the beef is produced by hobbyist. They hold off the farm jobs that underwrite their cattle operation. Most only have 20 cows. Most are in their 60s. There are some farmers who are supported by agriculture but most are crop farmers and run a herd of cows as a supplement. Most say the cows barely break even. When these guys are gone, there will be a void. Who will fill it? Would you recommend this vocation to an enterprising youngster? I don't! I tell them to get an education and prepare for a future in science and technology.
Ky hills said:The one thing that baffles me the most is why anyone would think of outsourcing our food supply by depending on foreign countries to supply our food it just seems crazy. For one thing it seems to me it would be a matter of national security. We as a nation need to have and maintain as much of our food production here in country as possible.
Not to mention the impact that the beef industry has on the local economies of towns all across the nation. To loose that would certainly take a lot from communities. Folks these communities are already bleeding folks dry with taxes and fees. I shudder to think how it would be with much more lost revenue. Agribusiness accounts for a lot more than most realize.
Bright Raven said:Stocker Steve said:Bright Raven" Beef will be largely imported from countries that can do it on the cheap. [/quote said:Why is this not occuring today ?
US Producers are willing to work on the cheap. Like myself. They are growing old and tired. When we are out of the way - it will not be long - there is no one stupid enough to replace us.
There are some tariffs on some countries if they choose to import beef into the US.
Bright Raven said:There is only one producer in Robertson County, Kentucky that is self-sustaining on beef production. Everyone else has other forms of subsistence. This operator runs over 300 commercial cows and markets at Bluegrass Stockyards in Lexington. Yet, their operation is only "self-sustaining". To provide meaning to that: They don't make enough to provide the opportunity for his son to live off the farm. His son is the Ag teacher at Robertson County High School. The patriarch is a friend of mine. He told me the operation only sustains their lifestyle.
Stocker Steve said:Bright Raven said:There is only one producer in Robertson County, Kentucky that is self-sustaining on beef production. Everyone else has other forms of subsistence. This operator runs over 300 commercial cows and markets at Bluegrass Stockyards in Lexington. Yet, their operation is only "self-sustaining". To provide meaning to that: They don't make enough to provide the opportunity for his son to live off the farm. His son is the Ag teacher at Robertson County High School. The patriarch is a friend of mine. He told me the operation only sustains their lifestyle.
The key word here is producer.
How many folks in the county make a living off selling inputs or services to cattle producers ?
Or are margin operators making a living off calves produced by others ?
Bright Raven" I would only be speculating but certainly the cattle industry contributes to the economy in the way of services said:I do not know what the ag wealth building issue is in Kentucky. Is everyone running 20 head on a continuously grazed pasture?
We have 3 multimillionaires in the area that made it thru auctionering, sales barn ownership, and flipping cattle. Bunch of other millionaires who are land barons. Several who raise (legal) edible crops. Two who run implement dealerships. One who runs a repair shop. And so on.