Chewing The Cud

Hi Amanda,

I think it's great you're doing your article on this very important subject. I am in a similar position and am struggling with what decision to make. I think much of the older generation don't realize that we're the future of agriculture. They simply see it as a pain the neck to pass this farm on and to invest more money into it when all they want to do is retire. In reality, if they don't help and put some time and effort in, that is another farm that won't carry on. I'm not saying this is the whole agricultural industry, but I've seen this situation more than I would like.

I have a friend who recently made a large purchase of 500 acres. Eventually, he would like to build a dairy operation there, but for now he's cash cropping the land until he can get all the permits and loans in line. The family that sold this land had a leasing contract and with the transaction, the lease went void. My friend went to talk to some of the crop farmers he's working with in the area and found the land completely worked up by this older gentleman who had the lease on the land. Certified letters stating the new owner of the land had been sent weeks ago and he'd been informed that his lease was void unless the new owner wanted to pick it up.

This farmer claims he didn't know the land was bought and his lawyer told him to keep farming the land. The farmer won't return the calls of my friend and he will not talk to him. Most likely, this will end up going to court and my friend won't be able to begin his dairy operation until it's out of court, which could be years. How fair is that?

I think it's wonderful! As you mentioned, though, there are huge barriers. It's a little depressing that there are so few young people who want to return to the farm, and for those who do it's mostly an uphill battle to get started.

Getting started out is tough for most young people, regardless of industry. Few college graduates immediately get high-paying jobs right out of college. However, having to spend money on land, stock and equipment (not to mention if you hope to have a decent house on the farm!) can be killer!

I'm hoping to live in the town where I grew up and have my own farm. I'll need to buy a place with equine facilities and I'd love to have cattle (a cow/calf operation) some day, which will require a lot of grazing land (probably row crop land needing to be converted to pasture).

Thinking of the sheer cost of such an establishment is kind of numbing. But it's my dream, so I'm going to keep working towards it! :)

Amanda,

This is a great topic to explore and no matter who you talk to, you will probably get a different opinion.

Trying to keep the youth in agriculture and on the farm can be a tough situation. In Wyoming, jobs are plentiful and they pay very well. Why would someone want to stay home and make peanuts when they can pull in $18.00-$20.00 per hour in the oil field? It is up to the older generation to instill a love of the land and this way of life.

Don’t kid yourself. Farming and ranching is hard work. But, the rewards are too numerous to mention. In our situation, we are a family corporation with my husband being the third generation and our two sons, age 23 & 18, the fourth. Both have worked on the ranch since they were able to sit a horse by themselves. The oldest is married and living and working on the ranch now. The youngest will be graduating from High School in the spring.

We are thrilled that both boys are interested enough to continue in the ranching industry. We are trying to assist and encourage them all we can.

I believe that each farming and ranching operation is different with their own unique set of challenges. But for the most part, I think that we all want to preserve our way of life and see the next generation prosper in agriculture.

Leslie Hendry

My personnal experience is that it is hard to begin farmer with the price of land and equipment being soo high. The equipment is something that we do not have alot of control over. What we do have control over is the land prices. If we want to help out these young farmers, we need to not be so greedy. When we (we being the older, ready to retire) are going to sell our land we could sell for the highest price to some out of state hunters or to some high paying big corporate farms, or we could sell it for less to the family farmers who are trying to start out.

Thanks to everyone who posted on this topic. It's great to know there are others with as strong of a passion for agriculture as my own. The reality of it all is that it's quite challenging for young people to continue this tradtion. I hope to write a book on this topic someday, but until then we all need to work hard to find optimism in this very difficult subject.

Thanks again for your insights!