Greed or a Good Thing?

[Crowderfarms]

I was wondering if yall think that the splitting up of Farms ought to be restricted to lot sizes of at least 20 Acres +or-.I know someone is entitled to make the maximum profit, when they sell, and most folks dont want a big spread to maintain, but Farmland is evaporating at such a rate in this Country that I'm afraid in a small amount of time, we're going to wondering what Country we should rely on for all our Food.
Realtors around here are dying to get listings to Auction off in 1-5 acre lots.I know several folks that have made legitimate offers on farms, to use as Farms, and the Realtors have told them they wont even present the seller with an offer. I believe that's Illegal.

 

[jersey lilly]

That's when I'd be contacting the owner in person and makin the offer, leavin the realtor holdin the bag.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I was wondering if yall think that the splitting up of Farms ought to be restricted to lot sizes of at least 20 Acres +or-.I know someone is entitled to make the maximum profit, when they sell, and most folks dont want a big spread to maintain, but Farmland is evaporating at such a rate in this Country that I'm afraid in a small amount of time, we're going to wondering what Country we should rely on for all our Food.
Realtors around here are dying to get listings to Auction off in 1-5 acre lots.I know several folks that have made legitimate offers on farms, to use as Farms, and the Realtors have told them they wont even present the seller with an offer. I believe that's Illegal.

Crowder I was reading the demographis in the Cattleman ranchers under 50 just about don't exsist. Makes you wonder as you said who is going to feed this country.

 

[Jake]

I was wondering if yall think that the splitting up of Farms ought to be restricted to lot sizes of at least 20 Acres +or-.I know someone is entitled to make the maximum profit, when they sell, and most folks dont want a big spread to maintain, but Farmland is evaporating at such a rate in this Country that I'm afraid in a small amount of time, we're going to wondering what Country we should rely on for all our Food.
Realtors around here are dying to get listings to Auction off in 1-5 acre lots.I know several folks that have made legitimate offers on farms, to use as Farms, and the Realtors have told them they wont even present the seller with an offer. I believe that's Illegal.

Crowder I was reading the demographis in the Cattleman ranchers under 50 just about don't exsist. Makes you wonder as you said who is going to feed this country.

I'm going to have to be REALLY busy when I get older.... that's a lot of mouths to feed.

 

[Frankie]

I was wondering if yall think that the splitting up of Farms ought to be restricted to lot sizes of at least 20 Acres +or-.I know someone is entitled to make the maximum profit, when they sell, and most folks dont want a big spread to maintain, but Farmland is evaporating at such a rate in this Country that I'm afraid in a small amount of time, we're going to wondering what Country we should rely on for all our Food.
Realtors around here are dying to get listings to Auction off in 1-5 acre lots.I know several folks that have made legitimate offers on farms, to use as Farms, and the Realtors have told them they wont even present the seller with an offer. I believe that's Illegal.

I don't think I need the government to restrict what I do with my land. If the guy wants to buy it all, and the realtor won't take his bid, he should contact the seller directly. I don't think the realtor is required to present EVERY offer to the seller. The realtor makes money when he sells the land. Why would he refuse to present an offer unless he thought the land would sell for more by breaking it up. In that case, the owner also gets more money. When I've sold land/houses, we had a minimum and if an offer didn't meet that minimum, there was no need for the realtor to bring it to our attention. Now if the property had set on the market for a long time, I'd probably be interested in those lower offers.

 

[cypressfarms]

Crowder I was reading the demographis in the Cattleman ranchers under 50 just about don't exsist. Makes you wonder as you said who is going to feed this country.

Well I'm 14 years under that and I'll be around (god willing). There are very few people young people going into the cattle business, though. There are less than five in my parish my age or under that I know of that are cattlemen.

Hopefully, there will be more land available to lease when some of the ol' timers give it up and then I can expand. Until then, I'll learn everything I can from em.

 

[Crowderfarms]

Crowder I was reading the demographis in the Cattleman ranchers under 50 just about don't exsist. Makes you wonder as you said who is going to feed this country.

Well I'm 14 years under that and I'll be around (god willing). There are very few people young people going into the cattle business, though. There are less than five in my parish my age or under that I know of that are cattlemen.

Hopefully, there will be more land available to lease when some of the ol' timers give it up and then I can expand. Until then, I'll learn everything I can from em.

I'm a good ways from 50, but there are VERY few of us young Cattlemen here. Lots of wannabe's but most dont want anything to do with the Farm.I have friends with big places, and have never seen their Sons, or Daughters, on the place except to visit.

 

[redfornow]

Its a good thing if you are selling and well greed if you are the one buying

MD

 

[Jake]

I was wondering if yall think that the splitting up of Farms ought to be restricted to lot sizes of at least 20 Acres +or-.I know someone is entitled to make the maximum profit, when they sell, and most folks dont want a big spread to maintain, but Farmland is evaporating at such a rate in this Country that I'm afraid in a small amount of time, we're going to wondering what Country we should rely on for all our Food.
Realtors around here are dying to get listings to Auction off in 1-5 acre lots.I know several folks that have made legitimate offers on farms, to use as Farms, and the Realtors have told them they wont even present the seller with an offer. I believe that's Illegal.

I don't think I need the government to restrict what I do with my land. If the guy wants to buy it all, and the realtor won't take his bid, he should contact the seller directly. I don't think the realtor is required to present EVERY offer to the seller. The realtor makes money when he sells the land. Why would he refuse to present an offer unless he thought the land would sell for more by breaking it up. In that case, the owner also gets more money. When I've sold land/houses, we had a minimum and if an offer didn't meet that minimum, there was no need for the realtor to bring it to our attention. Now if the property had set on the market for a long time, I'd probably be interested in those lower offers.

The reasoning to me is simple enough. The realtor has a contract to sell the houses that would be built on the lots with the contracting company and they would much rather get double money than just sell it once.

 

[Caustic Burno]

http://www.texascattleraisers.org/media ... emos05.asp

 

[Crowderfarms]

One particular farm is listed at 350,000.00. Friends of ours know the Woman selling the place, and went and talked to her. It's been on the market for quite a while. They offered a good bit less than the realtor was asking, but still a reasonable offer.
she contacted the Realtor, and told him she wants to sell it, but he has deemed their offer as way too low, and is insistent on auctioning the property this Spring.

 

[rwtherefords]

No, I don't think we need more restrictions. If a person owns something, it is theirs to do whatever they please. I too am saddened each time I see a nice farm get hacked up into lots to be sold, but the property belongs to them to do with what they please. Besides, the way land prices are going in some areas, many people wouldn't be able to afford 20 acres and then build a house.

I think the answer may be in changing policies to make farming more profitable. To illustrate my point: when I was a young teen you could buy a new VW Bug for $1200. How much does a VW Bug cost today? (~$18,000 - $22,000) 30 years ago, my father sold freezer beef by the 1/2 for $1.35 a pound plus processing & kill fee. Today I can get about $2.00 a pound plus processing & kill fee. We haven't exactly kept up with the times, have we?

If farming was more profitable today, the farm land tracs would remain intact because there would be plenty of buyers for whole farms. As it is, land is much more valuable for uses other than farming.

 

[Crowderfarms]

I agree with what you're saying, but I feel restrictions would keep the Countryside more "Country", and would demonstrate an example of what can be there and what cant. I'm against Government controls, but I guess I would like to see areas of rural character preserved here.Farming and Agricultural endeavors are not the most attractive business for most people, because it's us against markets and the weather, along with Foreign competition, land and production costs.

 

[rwtherefords]

One thing of note I'd like to bring up relating to agriculture as a business. This is the only business where the people producing the product don't set the price for their product. A doctor who does Lasik surgery sets their price and you either take it or leave it. Same is true for just about every other business but, the farmer/rancher brings their crop to market with no control over the price they'll get for their product. Can you imagine Toyota bringing a batch of cars to market hoping they'll get a price from the buyer that allows them to make a profit? Or, going to walmart and watching the customers collectively say, "no, that's not what we're paying for toasters this week."

The average agricultural product is brought to market placing the owner in a "begger" position, as opposed to that owner being in a position of control. IMO, that has a great influence in why agriculture continues loosing all the small farms/ranches.

Address the root of the problem, and the problem goes away.

 

[mitchwi]

rwtherefords - you are wise and concise!

 

[Frankie]

One thing of note I'd like to bring up relating to agriculture as a business. This is the only business where the people producing the product don't set the price for their product. A doctor who does Lasik surgery sets their price and you either take it or leave it. Same is true for just about every other business but, the farmer/rancher brings their crop to market with no control over the price they'll get for their product. Can you imagine Toyota bringing a batch of cars to market hoping they'll get a price from the buyer that allows them to make a profit? Or, going to walmart and watching the customers collectively say, "no, that's not what we're paying for toasters this week."

The average agricultural product is brought to market placing the owner in a "begger" position, as opposed to that owner being in a position of control. IMO, that has a great influence in why agriculture continues loosing all the small farms/ranches.

Address the root of the problem, and the problem goes away.

We all have choices. There are people on this board who do set the price for their beef. They sell directly to the consumer. So when one decides to haul their calves to the sale barn instead of growing them out and selling direct, they choose to become part of the system, "beggers", in your eyes.

 

[rwtherefords]

One thing of note I'd like to bring up relating to agriculture as a business. This is the only business where the people producing the product don't set the price for their product. A doctor who does Lasik surgery sets their price and you either take it or leave it. Same is true for just about every other business but, the farmer/rancher brings their crop to market with no control over the price they'll get for their product. Can you imagine Toyota bringing a batch of cars to market hoping they'll get a price from the buyer that allows them to make a profit? Or, going to walmart and watching the customers collectively say, "no, that's not what we're paying for toasters this week."

The average agricultural product is brought to market placing the owner in a "begger" position, as opposed to that owner being in a position of control. IMO, that has a great influence in why agriculture continues loosing all the small farms/ranches.

Address the root of the problem, and the problem goes away.

We all have choices. There are people on this board who do set the price for their beef. They sell directly to the consumer. So when one decides to haul their calves to the sale barn instead of growing them out and selling direct, they choose to become part of the system, "beggers", in your eyes.

Frankie,

Please explain how your reply applies to selling a bushel of corn or wheat. My comment applied to all agricultural producers. The prices we get today have not kept up with the cost of living index. By the way, even if you grow your cattle out, the price you get for them at sale time is set by someone else.

 

[Caustic Burno]

One thing of note I'd like to bring up relating to agriculture as a business. This is the only business where the people producing the product don't set the price for their product. A doctor who does Lasik surgery sets their price and you either take it or leave it. Same is true for just about every other business but, the farmer/rancher brings their crop to market with no control over the price they'll get for their product. Can you imagine Toyota bringing a batch of cars to market hoping they'll get a price from the buyer that allows them to make a profit? Or, going to walmart and watching the customers collectively say, "no, that's not what we're paying for toasters this week."

The average agricultural product is brought to market placing the owner in a "begger" position, as opposed to that owner being in a position of control. IMO, that has a great influence in why agriculture continues loosing all the small farms/ranches.

Address the root of the problem, and the problem goes away.

We all have choices. There are people on this board who do set the price for their beef. They sell directly to the consumer. So when one decides to haul their calves to the sale barn instead of growing them out and selling direct, they choose to become part of the system, "beggers", in your eyes.

We could control or prices a lot better if we would stick together on what we accept.. One reason this doesn't happen all those people getting rich and fast off cattle have to pay the next round of operating expenses.

 

[Frankie]

Frankie,

Please explain how your reply applies to selling a bushel of corn or wheat. My comment applied to all agricultural producers. The prices we get today have not kept up with the cost of living index. By the way, even if you grow your cattle out, the price you get for them at sale time is set by someone else.

It doesn't. Grain producers opted years ago to accept government subsidies in exchange for a guaranteed market. Beef producers decided not to accept that restriction.

Any time you sell your calves into the commercial market, you're a price taker. But the option is there for anyone willing to go the extra mile to sell directly to the consumer. Those people are price setters.

 

[cmjust0]

Speaking of age gaps... ( let the ranting begin )

I bought my own farm just over one year ago.. It's just shy of 27 acres, and I was just shy of 27 years old at the time -- and I got it on my own.. Of people my age, they might have access to family farms or own five acre tracts and a house, but as far as any of them owning their own *farm*...?? I'm the only one I know of..

It seems that those from my generation -- somewhere between "Generation X" and "Generation ME!" -- are all about consumption.. They want the biggest, baddest, fastest, and "sickest" of everything, and they wanted it FIVE MINUTES AGO..

Me? The truck I drive is almost 9 years old, and I hate it because it's more "nice" than it is useful... I have a 1950 Ford 8N tractor, and my plow and scraper blade are about the same vintage.. My house is 100 years old or better, about 1200 square feet, and only has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath -- and you gotta go through one bedroom to get to the other! I asked for gift certificates to TSC for Christmas... People look at me like, "where's your dad?" when I go to auctions and buy equipment... I keep clothes so long that I usually look like a homeless guy when I'm not at my day job... :lol:

Long story short, I have absolutely ZERO in common with about 95% of my peers... Matter of fact, I'm kind of ashamed to be associated with my own generation.. They are, for the most part, a bunch of money hungy, self centered consumers with a bottomless appetite for whatever someone tells them they can't live without.. It's sickening..

Ok, down off my soapbox..