i need help please. read and post here regularly but i did not want to be recognized. big problem
generational farming.
we have been here for over a decade and though we have seen some changes there have been major set backs. I am the Daughter in law. (DIL). this is my husand's parents farm. It seems about every six months for the last 5 years big fights. We were out here for about 4 years before we owned cattle. we worked along side them on there herd. they were gracious enough to pay 300/mo for 9.5 month of the year. The FIL had a seasonal job that was 9.5 mo long. We were also paid a percentage of the calf sales. we also paid a percentage of the expenses. ususally the expenses were about 5 percent less than the cattle sales so we wouldn't feel the stress so bad. If they bought feed we paid. Machinery expenses we paid. The deal was that our work in the farm would be thought of as sweat equity when we were to buy the farm. A little better deal so to speak.
After 5 years of living with this arrangement the MIL decided to split the heard 50/50. them/us.
so the expenses were accordingly. We did not pay for he cows, not that we did not offer but we earned them i guess. I shoud note that my husband worked along side his father. the same long hours when we did not have the cattle. Here at that time the going rate for wages was 50/day or 8 and hour. we got 300/mo plus a percentage of 50 calves sold. We paid the our share of the expenses on these calves. I know that i said this earlier and i'm rambling, back to the story.
As time went on, the FIL decreased his cattle. So did his share of the expenses. Our cattle was more so we paid more. We offered to pay rent on the land and their reply was not until the FIL got out of cattle.
So he did.
During none of this was there any mention of a succession plan. Tried but deaf ears prevailed.
We bought there machinery at fair market value. No deals here. the land when sold will be for the assessed value.
we just got out of a sticky situation this fall with the home Q and thought we were in the all clear. SO NOT
Here is the problem:
Since the FIL got out of cattle got out of cattle we have paid rent in the form of paying the taxes on the land. reason...the FIL does not want the responsiblity of fencing, fertilizing maintaining machinery to do the job etc. So my husband and i do it. We figure if we put in the input costs of maintaining the pasture and hayland we are not going to pay high rent. In our mind you can't have it all. It would be like paying twice for something.
In their mind we are jsut paying the taxes and not rent. The guy down the road gets 4x as muc money for his land rental. this is their reasoning.
BUT the guy down the road frst off has pasture only, maintains the fence, checks the cows, pays the hydro for watering the cows, replaces the provided mineral and salt, up keeps the oiler etc.
The in laws want the money with out the work or responsiblity.
We are willing to pay what they want if they maintain the land. i should mention that the land (pasture and hay) are over 30 years old and any new fields, my husband has worked.
In lew of rent on the home quarter my husband maintains the corrals that he rebuilt, the fences, the buildings, and the land. He pays the hydro on the farm except for their house. the FIL has free use of the machinery and pays nthing when he uses the farm hydro. Now they are balking at us not paying rent for the home quarter. this was there choice. we offered. but it was agreed we maintain the buildings, hydro etc.
MY QUESTION
Are we being unfair to them? Should we pay more as well as the input costs on the land?
i think a carreer change is in right order but my husband
disagrees
We are at wits end any suggestions?
Oh yeah any one starting farming with the family, this is why you and the whole family need a succession plan. Sothings like this can be avoided and the family be at some sense of peace.
I know i rambled and i hope you can make cow or calf out of what i just said.
thanks,
Wild one
generational farming.
we have been here for over a decade and though we have seen some changes there have been major set backs. I am the Daughter in law. (DIL). this is my husand's parents farm. It seems about every six months for the last 5 years big fights. We were out here for about 4 years before we owned cattle. we worked along side them on there herd. they were gracious enough to pay 300/mo for 9.5 month of the year. The FIL had a seasonal job that was 9.5 mo long. We were also paid a percentage of the calf sales. we also paid a percentage of the expenses. ususally the expenses were about 5 percent less than the cattle sales so we wouldn't feel the stress so bad. If they bought feed we paid. Machinery expenses we paid. The deal was that our work in the farm would be thought of as sweat equity when we were to buy the farm. A little better deal so to speak.
After 5 years of living with this arrangement the MIL decided to split the heard 50/50. them/us.
so the expenses were accordingly. We did not pay for he cows, not that we did not offer but we earned them i guess. I shoud note that my husband worked along side his father. the same long hours when we did not have the cattle. Here at that time the going rate for wages was 50/day or 8 and hour. we got 300/mo plus a percentage of 50 calves sold. We paid the our share of the expenses on these calves. I know that i said this earlier and i'm rambling, back to the story.
As time went on, the FIL decreased his cattle. So did his share of the expenses. Our cattle was more so we paid more. We offered to pay rent on the land and their reply was not until the FIL got out of cattle.
So he did.
During none of this was there any mention of a succession plan. Tried but deaf ears prevailed.
We bought there machinery at fair market value. No deals here. the land when sold will be for the assessed value.
we just got out of a sticky situation this fall with the home Q and thought we were in the all clear. SO NOT
Here is the problem:
Since the FIL got out of cattle got out of cattle we have paid rent in the form of paying the taxes on the land. reason...the FIL does not want the responsiblity of fencing, fertilizing maintaining machinery to do the job etc. So my husband and i do it. We figure if we put in the input costs of maintaining the pasture and hayland we are not going to pay high rent. In our mind you can't have it all. It would be like paying twice for something.
In their mind we are jsut paying the taxes and not rent. The guy down the road gets 4x as muc money for his land rental. this is their reasoning.
BUT the guy down the road frst off has pasture only, maintains the fence, checks the cows, pays the hydro for watering the cows, replaces the provided mineral and salt, up keeps the oiler etc.
The in laws want the money with out the work or responsiblity.
We are willing to pay what they want if they maintain the land. i should mention that the land (pasture and hay) are over 30 years old and any new fields, my husband has worked.
In lew of rent on the home quarter my husband maintains the corrals that he rebuilt, the fences, the buildings, and the land. He pays the hydro on the farm except for their house. the FIL has free use of the machinery and pays nthing when he uses the farm hydro. Now they are balking at us not paying rent for the home quarter. this was there choice. we offered. but it was agreed we maintain the buildings, hydro etc.
MY QUESTION
Are we being unfair to them? Should we pay more as well as the input costs on the land?
i think a carreer change is in right order but my husband
disagrees
We are at wits end any suggestions?
Oh yeah any one starting farming with the family, this is why you and the whole family need a succession plan. Sothings like this can be avoided and the family be at some sense of peace.
I know i rambled and i hope you can make cow or calf out of what i just said.
thanks,
Wild one
