Texan and 9ER, I don't want to get things started since you are unaware of the situation, but that was actually money the tobacco companies agreeed to settle in the tobacco buyout. I can't say that I agree with the process but this money was actually to go to the farmers but was heisted by the state in the agreement. This was our money to start with since our family has grown tobacco since the 20's here. The state took a portion of the money and allocated it to programs to diversify the industry. I guess thats a good thing but now we have to jump through several hoops to get our share.
We have gone down in tobacco production to a 5th of what we were raising here on the farm and pretty much the state except for the big producers who have brought in migrant labor. Try cutting your income by 80% and see what tit you will be sucking.
We haven't taken anything from the federal gov. and certainly not from the state. And I sure not taking anything from you ,you take that as how ever you want
Now let me see what other crop we can get into that will make 2000 an acre. Maybe strawberries or maybe catfish, I know Kentucky is famous for their shrimp industry. The state has researched them and more but that's not realistic in the mountains, although we have had the rain this year.
So for the past 6 years we have been trying to build up the hobbie herd into something that will at least pay for the upkeep and pay the taxes. We happen to have enough land to run 50-60 mommas. Except for a few exceptions like us everyone else around is without many options. Definitly no new blood and most have retired. I can count 5 people in two counties that farm and are under 40 years old I sure they are a few others but not many and I can't blame them. It' pretty costly to jump into from scratch and expect to break even on cows especially the last few years. We were lucky though and had gotten into full swing about the right time and are only now planning to keep over replacements instead of increase of numbers. We have raised our own mommas and don't currrently have a brute that was bought. We would have been better off buying in the long run but everything free and clear is purty nice when the income is uncertain. Dad has since retired from working off the farm and I teach a mile down the road. Dad said he guessed he would raise cattle and grandsons and didn't expect to make a dime off of either :lol:
Sad though
, the last auction was last week or so. These guys had had there whole way of life changed. The younger ones can move off and move on but the older ones haven't got a clue. Contract buying from here on out if they don't like what you have you can have a 1.50 a pound nicotine party in the backyard. With cows you currently know you have a market ( lets try to keep it that way) if nothing else you could eat you way out till the prices rose. Nothing like spending 5-600 an acre and if nature works out right you still can't get anything back. Even more risky than raising hay which is another pastime of mine.
Between teaching, raising tobacco, baling hay and breeding heifers it wouldn't be safe for me to go to the riverboat because I guess I am a gambler at heart and like to bet on the long shots ;-) I guess I will steer the sons away from bottle calves since I know it's in the genes
I was just trying to give the guy some advice here or aleast let him know what was available and let him make his own decisions, especially given the situation in our state. Except for a few panels and a squeeze chute (Still had to pay taxes on the whole amount)we haven't took anything from anyone and that was just blood money from the industry to buy out the little producers and do away with any regulations in our industry and they have not meet up with their end of the deal but that is another story :?: BTW the state has other plans when its not used by the farmers and who benifits from this? The people do except when the farmers stop having any income and the tax base goes away. I am getting sick of the state robbing Peter to pay Paul, but I guess that is how a budget works. Who knew Paul would go into the line of health insurance ?:shock:
We would sure give it up to be able to grow it again without out going in
the hole. Hard work but rewarding but a way of life that is gone. Many small farms here will grow up or turned into house seats which is progress I suppose but it sure is sad especially since my sons are the seventh generation to grow up here. Neither the indians, yankees or the rebels have ran us off but the shyster lawyers on both sides of this issue has made my sons prospects slim for the future to stay in this area, I guess we are not a hardly lot like the old timers. Oh well, haven't got the energy for pity I just think I will get fat and lazy and drive around and look at my overpriced cattle like a real cowboy
Sorry for the rant and I will not try to help out anyone else, At least I didn't mention the futures market
Poorboy
