LAST TRUE AMERICAN BEGINNER FARMER

[little creek]

I CAME HOME FROM THE MILITARY TO RETIRE. I BOUGHT 111 ACRES, NO, I DID NOT INHERIT MY FARM. I AM SO SICK OF THESE YOUNG SO CALL FARMERS, WHO WALK AROUND LIKE THE BIG GUY, WHO INHERITED EVERYTHING THEIR LAND, EQUIPMENT, MEXICAN'S.THE POOR MEXICAN'S DO ALL THEIR WORK FOR THEM. I DO ALL MY LABOR AND PAY EVERY BILL. BUT I KNOW NOW WHY I HAVE TO SELL. I CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE REAL AMERICAN FARMER OF TODAY. LITTLE CREEK

 

[Carlos D.]

Hang in there it will get better The big guys are dropping like flies here -- One big farm in saskatchewan-(canada) sold out last week: heard the bank assessed the yard site at 1 1/2 million sold for 330. 000- Heard 1/4 sections (160 acres) sold for as low as 11,000 hear that some land being rented for taxes.People are just quitting ,And Im talking about 3 and 4 generation farms

 

[Howdyjabo]

had the same sour taste in my mouth........
Hopefully I can set my kids up so that if they want to farm they can have it a little easier--and do a little swaggering .

Things aren't much different than they have ever been-- farming is just not profitable enough to go into it with nothing and have much of a chance of making it(unless you go commercial hogs or chickens)..
Its worse now with the "townies" pressuring the land market and forcing the raising of taxes.

But......... Thats why family farms are valued so highly. they know thanks to their ancestors they got a chance- they are still working hard though to keep their heads above water and they have the added pressure of keeping the farm in the family-- let'em swagger- someone paid dearly for them to be able to.

 

[little creek]

THANKS, I JUST PAID $1700.00 ON FERTILIZER, FOR THE PASTURES AND IT HAS NOT RAINED AND THE FIELDS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BURNING UP AND IT JUST GOT TO ME TODAY. I JUST GOT MY FIRST GRANDBABY GIRL YESTERDAY. THIS IS WHY I BOUGHT THIS FARM. IT IS FOR MY BABIES. I JUST LOST IT TODAY. THANKS FOR THIS FORUM AND THANK ALL YOU PEOPLE OF THIS FINE LAND. LITTLE CREEK

 

[1848]

THANKS, I JUST PAID $1700.00 ON FERTILIZER, FOR THE PASTURES AND IT HAS NOT RAINED AND THE FIELDS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BURNING UP AND IT JUST GOT TO ME TODAY. I JUST GOT MY FIRST GRANDBABY GIRL YESTERDAY. THIS IS WHY I BOUGHT THIS FARM. IT IS FOR MY BABIES. I JUST LOST IT TODAY. THANKS FOR THIS FORUM AND THANK ALL YOU PEOPLE OF THIS FINE LAND. LITTLE CREEK

Sounds like your just going through the learning process.. ;-)

 

[Bez!]

THANKS, I JUST PAID $1700.00 ON FERTILIZER, FOR THE PASTURES AND IT HAS NOT RAINED AND THE FIELDS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BURNING UP AND IT JUST GOT TO ME TODAY. I JUST GOT MY FIRST GRANDBABY GIRL YESTERDAY. THIS IS WHY I BOUGHT THIS FARM. IT IS FOR MY BABIES. I JUST LOST IT TODAY. THANKS FOR THIS FORUM AND THANK ALL YOU PEOPLE OF THIS FINE LAND. LITTLE CREEK

Not many of us can honestly state they have not had a bad day. Heck even I have the od one.

8)

Bez!

 

[skyeagle]

Just try to keep your debt low .

 

[Ryder]

THANKS, I JUST PAID $1700.00 ON FERTILIZER, FOR THE PASTURES AND IT HAS NOT RAINED AND THE FIELDS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BURNING UP AND IT JUST GOT TO ME TODAY. I JUST GOT MY FIRST GRANDBABY GIRL YESTERDAY. THIS IS WHY I BOUGHT THIS FARM. IT IS FOR MY BABIES. I JUST LOST IT TODAY. THANKS FOR THIS FORUM AND THANK ALL YOU PEOPLE OF THIS FINE LAND. LITTLE CREEK

Let me see if I got this right.
I assume you have retirement pay and have not had to 'scratch it out' on the farm to get a start.

You resent the fact that others have accumulated something and passed it on to their kids, but you want a farm for your grandkids.

The poor Mexicans are being mistreated because they make more working for someone here than they could ever make otherwise.

It hasn't rained and you have a set back and you are upset when people that have been in the business for generations have lost everything to droughts, low prices, or whatever at various times.

I agree with you. You can't compete. Sell.

 

[little creek]

RYDER, IF YOU CALL my so call retirement pay making a scratch, you're right. I should sell, but l gave up an arm, hip, and brain, for my retirement check. I was forced to retire, because of my illness that I received from the military. I don't get that military retirement. I get VA disability and if you can raise a family on 1300.00 a month with the use of one arm and one leg. go for it. One bad day no, Ryder, 365 bad days because I had the guts to go fight for this country for 18 years, 9 months, 11 days. little creek

 

[auctionboy]

Farms fail because of bad business sense, and not being able to change with the times.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Creek I thank you for serving. Now get off the pity party I had Uncles from Iwo to a son in this war its a dangerous job and glad we have people willing to do it. It has nothing to do with ranch management everyone has problems it is how you view yourself and the world. You currently are viewing yourself as a victim and will never suceed.
Until you realize that you and you alone are responsible for everything in your life you will have a long row to hoe.

 

[alacattleman]

THANKS, I JUST PAID $1700.00 ON FERTILIZER, FOR THE PASTURES AND IT HAS NOT RAINED AND THE FIELDS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BURNING UP AND IT JUST GOT TO ME TODAY. I JUST GOT MY FIRST GRANDBABY GIRL YESTERDAY. THIS IS WHY I BOUGHT THIS FARM. IT IS FOR MY BABIES. I JUST LOST IT TODAY. THANKS FOR THIS FORUM AND THANK ALL YOU PEOPLE OF THIS FINE LAND. LITTLE CREEK

He!! ive seen it bad like this before and then slowly gradually ......... get worse ;-)

 

[backhoeboogie]

THANKS, I JUST PAID $1700.00 ON FERTILIZER, FOR THE PASTURES AND IT HAS NOT RAINED AND THE FIELDS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BURNING UP AND IT JUST GOT TO ME TODAY. I JUST GOT MY FIRST GRANDBABY GIRL YESTERDAY. THIS IS WHY I BOUGHT THIS FARM. IT IS FOR MY BABIES. I JUST LOST IT TODAY. THANKS FOR THIS FORUM AND THANK ALL YOU PEOPLE OF THIS FINE LAND. LITTLE CREEK

He!! ive seen it bad like this before and then slowly gradually ......... get worse ;-)

$1700 seems pretty cheap for 111 acres. Must has only done about 30 to 35 acres of it.

We went 8 months with no rain. Folks around here fertilized and then we got 7 inches of rain one day and all the fertilizer washed away.

We have had more rain in March of '06 than we had the entire year of '05. Even though half my topsoil is now in the pond, I am thinking things are looking up. The cows I have left have something green to eat for the first time since June of '05.

Considering those ranchers up in the panhandle that lost fences, barns, cows, homes and all, I am fortuneate.

 

[redfornow]

Creek I thank you for serving. Now get off the pity party I had Uncles from Iwo to a son in this war its a dangerous job and glad we have people willing to do it. It has nothing to do with ranch management everyone has problems it is how you view yourself and the world. You currently are viewing yourself as a victim and will never suceed.
Until you realize that you and you alone are responsible for everything in your life you will have a long row to hoe.

CB,

Well said again. Couldnt agree more.
We all have stories, just cannot let the story define you.

MD

ps little creek I hope it rains

 

[D.R. Cattle]

Creek I thank you for serving. Now get off the pity party I had Uncles from Iwo to a son in this war its a dangerous job and glad we have people willing to do it. It has nothing to do with ranch management everyone has problems it is how you view yourself and the world. You currently are viewing yourself as a victim and will never suceed.
Until you realize that you and you alone are responsible for everything in your life you will have a long row to hoe.

Someone always has to crash the party with logic.

 

[Susie David]

Have to agree with Caustic....there are alot of us on the board that have left blood, sweat and body parts in some place that we didn't want to be in the first place.
Do your homework...put together a business plan, assess your strengths and assets and treat your farm as a business. If you don't then all you have is a place where you happen to live that has animals running around controlling your life.
Good luck to you, Dmc

 

[Crowderfarms]

I CAME HOME FROM THE MILITARY TO RETIRE. I BOUGHT 111 ACRES, NO, I DID NOT INHERIT MY FARM. I AM SO SICK OF THESE YOUNG SO CALL FARMERS, WHO WALK AROUND LIKE THE BIG GUY, WHO INHERITED EVERYTHING THEIR LAND, EQUIPMENT, MEXICAN'S.THE POOR MEXICAN'S DO ALL THEIR WORK FOR THEM. I DO ALL MY LABOR AND PAY EVERY BILL. BUT I KNOW NOW WHY I HAVE TO SELL. I CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE REAL AMERICAN FARMER OF TODAY. LITTLE CREEK

Little Creek, First off, Thanks for serving. You are appreciated.I was never in the Service, but Dad, and Brother were, along with a lot of my Buddies.
If you let the Boys get to you that have been 'handed' everything, get over it. We got em' here too. Daddy writes the checks for the new Cattle, new Chutes, Trucks, feed and bout' everything else.

Look at yourself as 'self made' and be proud when you look in the mirror. Sometimes when I'm struggling, making it on my own, it aggravates me that so and so got it handed to them, my Stock Trailers' ten years old, theres is brand new.Their Tractor has a Cab and A/C my Tractors dont. BUT I'm darn proud of what I have no notes at the bank, and I got it ALL on my own.I cant afford Immigrants to work for me. My Wife, Kids and myself do it all. Last I looked it's our responsibility to keep it all going.

It's your choice to hold or fold.Things may get better, they may get worse.My advice? Hold your chin up. Hang in there.Dont let the big shot wannabees get you down, and march to the beat of your own drum, and my biggest motto... Can't is not a word.

 

[J. T.]

I ain't got much compared to what some on this board have, but I carved out this farm, and continue to do so, with no help from anybody. I started with a double headed axe and a bush axe and a box of matches. The summer of '95 my creek, (only water source on the place at the time) completely dried up. I hauled water 10 miles every day in three 55 gallon drums in the bed of an '86 Ford Ranger for a month to water my cows. Not being bragadocious, 'cause it's by God's grace that I have what I have and that He gave me the physical strength to make something of this place. But, you gotta have dream, and you can't let that go. Sure, we've all been discouraged in this business, but things DO get better. Remember Psalms 46:1 "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

 

[Texas Ranch Man]

Yo Creek, one veteran to another "YOU MUST ACCOMPLISH YOUR MISSION"