Now would be a good time for me to quit.

[Texasmark]

I hear you. Darndest things is, even though I think about quitting every now and then, I actually thought more about it when I was younger. Now that I could do it, the appeal isn't as strong. Today is one of those days I could walk away with no regrets. Thing is, the wife's greenhouse and seed business is thriving. She said she would shut it down if I wanted to retire, but she can't sit still and has to be doing something. I don't want to go off and do things without her, so as long as she keeps going, I will too I guess. We got away for two days last week and even though we didn't do anything special, it was still the best trip ever. If every day could be like that after retirement, I'd be on the phone with an auctioneer and realtor right now.

At 85 next month I too have been kicking around quitting. Kicking around the options I don't like the answers. And as you said, I like my tractor seat time......but not too much in a stretch. Iterating what I have said before, to sell out and move to town, to a subdivision, I would go "stark-raving crazy"!

 

[rrlund]

At 85 next month I too have been kicking around quitting. Kicking around the options I don't like the answers. And as you said, I like my tractor seat time......but not too much in a stretch. Iterating what I have said before, to sell out and move to town, to a subdivision, I would go "stark-raving crazy"!

I had a friend in the dairy business who had a pretty sizble operation, worked with MSU in some experimental testing and what not. He'd had a deal with his wife that they'd sell out when they reached a certain age and they did. The wife and I were out for supper one night after they sold out and we ran in to them in a restaurant. I asked him if he'd found a place yet. He said they were out looking. He said she was afraid he'd buy some place where the neighbor had a bunch of old school busses in the yard. He said that's the king of place he wanted. If they had a bunch of junk around, they wouldn't care what he had in his yard.

 

[m16ty]

Luckily, I live in a place that doesn’t require such nonsense as smog checks.

 

[TomA in CA]

There must be good money in it for fire protection. Around here everybody hires kids with weed eaters.

I would think when it comes time to change all those flail cutters would be the time to think about quitting.

 

[DoubleR]

I'll be 75 in a few weeks. I figure I'll just keep on keeping on playing farmer till I can't anymore. I have a good retirement and money put away so I can afford to be a small time farmer that doesn't make any money doing so. Got a good x farmer to take care of thing when I'm gone so my wife can drag me around the world traveling but I'm always happy to get back to my so called farming operation. I tell my kids I'll be happy if the just find me outback somewhere when my time is done.

 

[shaun wallace]

It's shameful that bureaucrats fine an 84 year old for elapse in memory and performance while rewarding 40 YOs sitting on porch doing nothing. I wager 80% of welfare recipients drive cars later model than 96.

I think their cars are 2006 and newer.

 

[Texasmark]

I think their cars are 2006 and newer.

What keeps me from contributing to food banks that everybody is sponsoring....just look at the cars in the videos looking for a free handout.......destitute people........my ARSE!

 

[Keith Molden]

I turn 77 Monday, I retired in '14 at 65 and the first five years were good then each year things got worse. Did 1500-1800 bales a year with the wife helping but it's got so hard for me to even lift a bale. My back, hips and shoulders are shot. Even the simplest chores are painful. Turned the haying over to a cousin on shares last year. He custom bales a few places near me so I'll ted and rake for him to satisfy my urges. Haven't gone as far as selling equipment yet, keep thinking I may get better.

I've had both hips replaced and they are working pretty good. I think I just got tired and don't want to fool with people buying hay anymore

 

[thelonepatriot]

I'm 70 years old. Nowadays I'm retired and just plain old tired. I only have 5 acres to farm and thanks to COPD, asthma, emphysema. minor stroke, and bad hips I can't do much anymore. What really slows me down is Parkinson's Disease. Many days I can barely walk even with a walker. I have to stay close to the house, especially on hot days.. I don't want my legs to freeze up and leave me stuck in the hot sun getting a heat stroke. Thank God I have a good wife to help me. I would probably rotting away in a nursing without her or be dead. I also lost my drivers license because of the Parkinson's. So far I can still drive my tractors but she won't let me drive them to town.

 

[Hobo,NC]

What keeps me from contributing to food banks that everybody is sponsoring....just look at the cars in the videos looking for a free handout.......destitute people........my ARSE!

I sold some prime real estate to a local food bank. The way the deal went down I knew money was not a problem. Up front when they approached me I told them I can sell without a agent I would not pay any commission are cost they said no problem. When I went to pick up my check I asked their lawyer for a copy of the contract, they paid a real estate agent 8K my thoughts were for WHAT!. As I asked around every one told me my church donates to them.

 

[SamV]

I just turned 58 and can't wait to retire from my day job to farm full time. I work 45-50 hours a week doing accounting and then go home to my cows. Very small farm and just a few cattle but getting out and fixing fence, mowing hay and feeding cattle is just a joy for me. It was my in-laws farm and the wife and I just love it. Good hard work never hurt anyone. I know that the farm has really taught my daughters so much in terms of the value of hard work and the value of a dollar. I can see that my oldest that is married can outwork her husband by tons! Just different types of folks that are raised on a farm. I hope to do farming until I can't.

 

[37chief]

There must be good money in it for fire protection. Around here everybody hires kids with weed eaters.

I would think when it comes time to change all those flail cutters would be the time to think about quitting.

I have fields that start at 1/2 acre to 20 acers. Might not find many kids that will work that long. It does take some time to change 92 blades. I park the mower over a small wall and sit in my chair in the shade of my pepper tree, and use my air wrench. not a bad job. Stan

 

[showcrop]

I just turned 58 and can't wait to retire from my day job to farm full time. I work 45-50 hours a week doing accounting and then go home to my cows. Very small farm and just a few cattle but getting out and fixing fence, mowing hay and feeding cattle is just a joy for me. It was my in-laws farm and the wife and I just love it. Good hard work never hurt anyone. I know that the farm has really taught my daughters so much in terms of the value of hard work and the value of a dollar. I can see that my oldest that is married can outwork her husband by tons! Just different types of folks that are raised on a farm. I hope to do farming until I can't.

My daughter was raised in 4H farming and had a number of friends who have done very well at contributing to the world. One is a veterinarian in VT, another became an attorney and is now a judge in Portland Me. Another was a floor nurse in a large hospital and is now in management at a pharmaceutical company. My daughter has a PHD in neuroscience, and one of her jobs is teaching brain surgery at Harvard. 4H was a good program helping them to get a leg up on reaching their dreams.

 

[Hobo,NC]

My daughter was raised in 4H farming and had a number of friends who have done very well at contributing to the world. One is a veterinarian in VT, another became an attorney and is now a judge in Portland Me. Another was a floor nurse in a large hospital and is now in management at a pharmaceutical company. My daughter has a PHD in neuroscience, and one of her jobs is teaching brain surgery at Harvard. 4H was a good program helping them to get a leg up on reaching their dreams.

WHAT no Double Naught spy's out of that bunch. : )

​

 

[m16ty]

What keeps me from contributing to food banks that everybody is sponsoring....just look at the cars in the videos looking for a free handout.......destitute people........my ARSE!

Same thing here. There is a local food giveaway at the local YMCA. They will be wrapped all the way around the building in line with brand new vehicles, better than what I have.
I guess these people have no shame, I don see how they can do it.

 

[rrlund]

Same thing here. There is a local food giveaway at the local YMCA. They will be wrapped all the way around the building in line with brand new vehicles, better than what I have.
I guess these people have no shame, I don see how they can do it.

Not saying this is always the case because I know it's not, but do you think some of those nice cars might belong to other folks taking the recipients there to help them out?

I had a friend who's passed away now, but he was a barber and was on the county welfare board when there was such a thing. He said he had people in the chair all the time complaining to him about people getting welfare who were living high on the hog otherwise. He said he told them all the same thing, "Get me a name and address and I'll do something about it". He said he never got any names, not even once.

 

[showcrop]

WHAT no Double Naught spy's out of that bunch. : )

​

Probably amongst the whole bunch there is one but not in the crowd that stayed in touch, : )

 

[TomA in CA]

I have fields that start at 1/2 acre to 20 acers. Might not find many kids that will work that long. It does take some time to change 92 blades. I park the mower over a small wall and sit in my chair in the shade of my pepper tree, and use my air wrench. not a bad job. Stan

Mostly 5 acre parcels here in Mariposa county. Back in the '60's down at the coast I used to get a few mowing jobs with my Oliver HG and JD #5 mower.

 

[Dick L]

After paying 97.00 to ger my 96 dodge V 10 tractor hauler to pass smog check. Then paying 347.00 and 184.00 fine because I was late sending in my license fee. Insurance for my truck, and liability insurance for my mowing work. I'm just about ready, after over 35 years cutting weeds to quit. I got rid of my long distance driving jobs. The ones have now are fairly close, and easy jobs. At 84, I still like getting out with my tractor. Most every thing is cut this year for fire brakes. I will see how next year goes. It's hard to stop doing something I like. Enough for now. Stan

I understand better than one might think about liking to get out on a tractor. I still slip out when I have over a half hour and take one of the 5020"s and do a chore. Here we don't have the smog tests to deal with. I had to hand over 87.00 per year for a sickie tag for the Town and country van. I did it for 5 years. At least I won't forgit ta renew past 90. Dixie said what if you die before then? I told her I didn't think that it would upset me much.