[AT] History Exam, now kid memories

[Ralph Goff]

----- Original Message -----
From: charlie hill <chill8 at suddenlink.net>
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 2:57 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] History Exam, now kid memories


> Farmer I worded that poorly.  I agree with you sentiments.  What I was
> trying to say is that no matter how much we might want it to be different,
> the day of the  small tobacco farmer with the a Farmall A, an Allis B or G
> or any modern incarnation of the same is long gone.

Same situation here in wheatland Charlie. I hate to admit it but small farms
are finished as far as making a living now. The only way is if the farmer
has an off farm job to supplement (subsidize?) the farming side of his
operation.
The acres I am farming now would have been considered a huge farm when I was
a kid. My Dad farmed 2 and a half quarter sections and milked cows for years
and it was enough to raise a family .
I'm farming 10 quarters plus custom working another 3 myself and most years
its close to a break even situation, if I'm careful. Economically I guess
I'd be further ahead to rent it all out to a big farmer and just collect
rent without all the expense it takes to raise a crop today. For me it will
always be a way of life, not a business.

It was interesting reading an article on the latest seeding technology. Seed
Hawk has come up with an 84 foot air drill that seeds 50 acres an hour. With
GPS and a couple of guys working shifts they seed 24 hours a day to put in
9000 acres of crop. I'm starting to feel like I have been in this business a
long, long time.
Some contrast to when I started farming with a Cockshutt 50 and a Case 12
foot disker that would seed 40 acres in a day if everything worked in your
favour.

Ralph in Sask.