Over the last few months, we have been talking about what is literally killing American farmers. Heartbreaking.
We can only hope that the rest emerge stronger. Here’s a quote from a recent FBN newsletter:
“There aren’t a lot of businesses that can survive a 45% drop in income, but that’s exactly what American farmers have done in the last 5 years.”
I’ve been talking with farmers and people who are going to inherit farms, and it’s tough out there. I think it’s weird that a person can inherit a fortune in farmland and not be able to make a living farming that land. I think its amazing how farm families look for that one person in a generation who is willing and able to farm … how these families keep family farms alive with their blood, sweat, and tears (and prayers).
And how, many times, after that special person has stepped up, everyone in the family pitches in to keep the dream alive. A sister who comes home from her “city job” every weekend to help on the farm. A brother who borrows money for his other brother to buy the land. A granddad well past retirement age who keeps going in case a grandchild becomes passionate about farming.
Believe me, this takes passion, and commitment, and grit, and gumption, and smarts.
How do you get more yield at a lower cost than ever before? What new things are you going to try to reach your goals? Where does your strength and confidence come from? I haven’t met many people who work as consistently as farmers on getting a little bit better every day.
Hopefully, when this low cycle is over, the American farm system that emerges will be stronger than ever before. I know it will be more productive.
Let’s do what we can to make sure family farmers come out stronger, too.
