throwing in the towel

[Rich Iowa]

After not being allowed to do anything on my dad's property but bale the 4-5 acres of old hay field for couple years, I've decided to throw in the towel. I've placed all (which isn't much
)my equipment in the local paper. I can't do anything at my dad's and nobody wants to help a young person get into agriculture around here. I've signed up with the Farm-On program at ISU, with no luck. So, I'm going to my second choice....truck driving. I've been driving straight trucks localy for couple years now and in a month, I'm leaving for the open road. I feel like I have failed myself. I can't imagine how you guys felt that had to give it all up back in the 80's. I hate seeing my tractor sitting out there in the weather and not being used, and it was bigger than what I needed, so I'm letting it go. Hopefully in a year or two I will find a place where I can park a smaller tractor inside and restore it to it's former glory, then work it with a plow from time to time.

 

[georgeky]

Rich, I feel for you. It is very hard for the young folks to get started in farming. I don't know what will happen in another generation or two. Maybe the rest of the world will wake up one day.

 

[Old Timer in Ohio]

Hey there Rich;
I'm sorry to hear what you have to say.
But some time or other we all have to
make tough decisions.And at 74 I've had
to make my share!Anyhow may the Good Lord
go with you whatever way you go. Bob
God Bless

 

[Pat H.]

Godspeed Rich. Drive carefully and don't give up hope that some day you might still be able to farm. If you can save some money from your truck driving, you may be in a better position to do what you want to do. Best of luck and keep your chin up.

Pat

 

[Anonymous-0]

Did you try FSA/USDA? They had, pretty sure they still do, the young farmer program to help young people get started

 

[TGIN]

Rich , I dont know why you have not been able to expaned on your dads farm but you do have your foot in the door and it`s bad hard to put it back in after you pull it out . It`s your call to do what you think is best and I hope you do well . You speak of the 80s , I was there and remember the day the FHA man told me and Dad he wanted a date to sell the cattle and equipment . Well Dad thought that was it but I refused to sign anything . To make a long story short with the help of a lawyer that really cared about the cause we paved a few new roads . We spent the next 10 plus years in court and never left the farm . Things are alittle differant now but Mom and Dad still live on the farm and me and my wife are still here and farming the property and more has been added to it and still have some of that old equipment and I can look at my cows and see some of the offspring from the 80s . I`m still here because I did`nt throw in the towel !!

 

[Anonymous-0]

Sorry to think that a lot of Farmers are leaving the land ,but cost is high and income low.Who will grow our beans? Good Luck on the road.

 

[poogie]

There is a Bluegrass song titled 30 YEARS Oy FARMING by James King. I almost cried when I first heard it. I have considered writing a novel about a fellow who was foreclosed and had to give it up. He was a good farmer and highly respected in the community. He was not qualified for any other kind of employment and had to do one of the more menial jobs and died soon.

 

[John M]

I mean absolutley no disrespect whatsoever, but what made you think you could make a living farming 4 or 5 acres? But hey, dont let it get you down. This country needs good truck drivers, I know I deal with them everyday, and let me tell you, there are some characters out there, its just plain rediculous how some of these guys got CDLs.

 

[Spook]

From what I can see, getting into production agriculture is a very capital intensive business. You really need to inherit an operation, especially a decent land base, or come up with a lot of money from somewhere. You have to be realistic. Reality frequently sucks....

 

[Anonymous-0]

It's so ironic...here I am in MD trying to find land to hobby farm with my classic tractors and equipment...

 

[Leland]

you will do much better over the road money wise ,but until you learn the ropes be prepared to get a good screwing once in a while from the company you decide to drive for .and one good tip make photo copys of all reciepts paper work and anything else you are required to do for the company to turn in .you would be surprised how many reciepts just get lost and then they say well it's coming out of your pocket .

 

[Anonymous-0]

I feel your pain. Farming now is tough. If you aint big you are going to struggle.

I bought 40 acres of ground with 4 acres of blueberries about 12 years ago. Since then the taxes on the property have tripled. The cost of fuel has tripled,fertilizer doubled. It was a nice hobby farm for the first 5 years or so but costs are about to drive me out also.

Since i was a young man i always loved the sights and smells of farming.I worked 31 years in the steel industry,retired and have been truck driving off and on for the last four years.

I would guess that starting from scratch in Farming would be damn near impossible.

Drive your truck,save some money, make thought out rational decisions. Keep your eyes peeled for that great deal(they do pop up a few times).Be patient.

Good luck.

 

[Lanse]

Hang in there, man. If I know one thing, its that tomorrow will be better, always is.

 

[Clint Youse MO]

HEy you gotta hang in there keep the equipment you can still drive a truck and bale the hay you are talking about I am 25 full time farm and inherited nothing I bought a hog farm used the FSA beginning farmer loan to borrow the money no down payment started out a little over a year and a half ago my networth has went six fold since thn and it is not all glory I get a pig check the end of every month. There are days that are tougher than others just keep plugging away they get better.

 

[dhermesc]

If it was easy everyone would do it.

 

[JT]

Rich,
Why do you have to throw in the towel and sell all your equipment? If you sell it all, you will have a hard time trying to bring it back to do what you want to do. Farming life is a good life, but it is a lot of hard work. I would keep working at dads farm, and do the trucking thing if that is what you want to do. I do not want to sound nosey, but your comment about no being able to do anything around dads farm except bale 4-5 acres of hay, is that because some else farms it? This is the time of the year when, if you have the equipemnt to do it, is to look for land to cash rent or share crop, what ever is used in your area. As somone else said, check with your local USDA office and see if there are any federal programs to help you get a start. Don't give up, us older people need you younger people to keep producing into the future. Another thing to look at, if you have 5 acres to use, you might consider starting a produce business, it used minimal equipemnt, you can make a fair profit on it, but it is a lot of work, instead of giving up, diversify.

 

[rrlund]

I can be tough when it's the other way around too. I'd always kind of farmed for my boys whether I knew it or not. When they both decided not to farm,it took the wind right out of my sails. If they hadn't gotten jobs right around here and had left the area,I would have sold out and we'd have left here. Now that the milk cows are gone,they don't mind feeding the beef cattle now and then for me so the wife and I can get away a little bit. I bought my Dad out,and to be honest,I was torn between farming and truck driving. I hauled milk for 2 years while I farmed. When I quit that,I'd watch trucks go by on the road while I was stuck in the field and wondered how many of them would at least have a day off sometime soon.
You don't belong to a church where you might have a connection to older farmers who might want to retire? I know of a few instances where that has worked out.

 

[HENRY E NC]

I'm not sure how old you are butyou will never get the dirt out of your blood. Every time you pass a farmer in the field you will be heartsick. I was raised on a farm and worked the farm during WW II while everyone else was off fighting. In 1948 I went to Purdue to learn about modern farming (Louis Bromfield was my hero) While there the Air Force Offered me a better deal (paid to go to college) and flight training etc so as a foll I accepted and became Mechanical engineer and a pilot. For the rest of my life I yearned for the farm. It took till 2005 to get back there and then a couple of heart attacks put an end to that. My advice, dont give up, fight it out and work hard to meet you desires. Sometime upfront deals are't the best in the long run.

 

[Mathias NY]

I don't remember the statistic, but something like 80% if all business fail within the first year. Farming or not, starting and maintaining a business if hard work.

Most new farmers I know, including myself, still have a day job that covers expenses while the farm is developing.

For about 5 years I stock piled tractors and equipment at my parents home until I could afford my own place to use them on. I don't know all the details of your situation, but I would try to hang onto the equipment you already have, as long as you have a place to put it.

 

[buickanddeere]

How many acres on the place and what family members are still surviving?
If no livestock you should be able to bale hay & drive truck.

 

[Dave from MN]

Dont throw in the towel, SOME of the big boys hope most of us do just that, then more acreage for them, and less competition for land rent. If you sell your equipment, you'' never be able to replace it for what you sold. Do the truck driving or something that is fail safe, then pick up what you can when you can. I am starting off with under 40 acres this next spring, just to see what inputs and yeilds will be, i should be able to take an additional 40-60 the following spring. I have always said there will be a demand high for ag products, with short supply some day here in the near future, DONT pull out now. You need to stake you desire to your father, and maybe some neighbors, you may be surprised who offers you some land. I am stuck in the middle of land ALL rented by 4 big cash croppers, so I feel your pain. I do have a poultry operation that is the main income, so you will need a main job as well untill you can hit a sustainable operation with a net you can live off of.

 

[730 virgil]

it isn't any of our business but why can't you farm dad's farm?
i found myself in that spot former mother in law had 150 acres and hated the spot i stood on.
she sold the buildings and 50 acres to the slick that cash rented her farm and screwed my late wife and sister over doing so.
former s-i-l tried to rent the rest of the farm to a neighbor and found out slick had the rest of the farm land locked.
m-i-l didn't get easment for right of way to her ground. slick got the 50 acres between her and road and got the same lawyer to represent both of them in a private land sale.
i had family members from both sides of late wife m-i-l and f-i-l ask why won't she rent you the farm?
i said it's partly because i hate hogs and would milk cows and she hates dairy cows, that and she hated me in general.

 

[Anonymous-0]

he thinks he is broke and not making any money now,, wait till he figures out exactly how LITTLE he makes on the road,, after eating and showering and down time,,, after having to make this load in a certain time because it is hot and then waiting to get home wioth another one,,,

the grass aint always greener on the other side,,, he aint gonna make a ton of money out there,, he will squeek out a living,, but he better be ready to be out for a long time and be away from the family, and never home on the holidays ,,

think before you leap,,, trucking recruiters will tell you anything,, once your out there dispathers will play like they are the almighty,,,,, good luck in your endeaver and play safe, pat

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you are not married, get married, and dont look in the phone book for a girl, look in the plat book.... (mary money)

 

[Anonymous-0]

sorry to hear about your dillema,, make sure that the road is for you, before you leap,, it aint for everybody,,

You wont be making a whole lotta money out there either, it sounds like you will on paper but after your expenses,a nd down time, eating showering, snacks, and all the hidden expenses of living out of a suitcase will bring, you will wonder why you didnt stay where you where ,, or try something different,
I dont want to rain on your parade, but after the FUN and new of driving a big truck wears off yo will sit in your bunk and look at the ceiling and start thinking while hearing and smelling the diesels driving by you at night,, and figure out that you will actually make more money at mcdonalds,,
If you have a family , you better be sure they will survive without you at home for weeks at a time, even if the dispatch tells you that you will be home,, sometimes [ most of the time] he wont .. {{{how do you tell when your dispatcher is lying to you??? you hear him talking!!!!!}}}}

and remember if they get you home for a weekend ,, you will be home saturday afternoon ,, and need to be back out and delivering on monday,,

hope everything works out for you,, keep safe out there if you decide to run the road, it aint getting any easier out there,

plus this time of year starting to learn to drive tractor trailer with the weather changing and snow starting soon it wont be fun out here, lots of things are different with 48 or 53 foot of trailer behind you,,I dont want to discourage you but, know the facts before jumping in,,, maybe it will be the career for you, God knows we need good drivers on our roads,, some of the latest drivers I have seen are jokes,, [[a few weeks in class and you are a trucker]] ,, take your time on the road know your limitations and learn the safe way to operate that 40 ton piece of machinery,, the life you save may be my families,, be safe pat

 

[cat236]

Where in Iowa are you?Please contact me by e-mail

 

[Leland]

theres money to be made if you use your head most guys just don't know how to manage money

 

[Rich Iowa]

My dad just has an acrege, 10 acres. Sits on top of a clay hill with woods surrounding the back 3/4 so trying corn or soybeans will just result in fat deer. My origional plan was to raise hogs on pasture or in deep bedded systems, with corn and hay on the side. I've looked into the organic side of production as well. My biggest problem is having no access to any land, and next would be little money. My aunt's husband's mother has a farm in ne Iowa I was trying to get onto last year. Start with renting the house and since all the building are sitting empty or full of machinery, work towards renting out the barn for the hogs and a little piece of the land. Found out they rent all the land to his cousin and his sister is only interested in how much she can get out of the place once their mother passes. I'm still working on that place but doesn't sound promising.

The company I'm going to drive for, I haven't heard anything bad about, everyone seems to have good thinbgs to say. I'm hoping while I'm out there I can say up a few dollars cuz I can live pretty cheaply on the road. I only plan on driving OTR for year or two to get some t/t experience than I can see what's available localy. I've been driving heavy trucks in the winter for past couple years, so I do know you need patience and to time the stop lights on the hills. I agree we do need more good drivers out there, I'm allmost 23 with a clean MVR and do what I can to keep it that way.

I've been around both lines of work and enjoy both alot. Thanks everyone for the advise and words of encouragement.

 

[Anonymous-0]

hey rich, I just want to emphasize that I was not downing your decision to drive a truck, I have made a good living off of it for 25 years now, but it is not all gravy to make good money,, you have to pay your dues and start off on the bottom..

There are ways to save money outthere, dont eat every night at the truckstops or diners, and stay away from the fast food places, you can get yourself a small refrigerator and get cold cuts and cereal and stuff to make on your own, I know when I was on the road I only tred to eat at the trucks stops for 1 meal, sometimes you cant , there will be weekends that you will be stuck waiting for a load and you need to stay and spend money,, it happens,

The scary thing I saw a few months ago, {I have been off the road for a few yrs now}we went on vacation to gettysburg this sept with the boys,, we stopped at the petro on 81,, I know they used to have really good food and decent prices,, I was shocked and disappointed to see the whole front half of the entrance full of games and money grabbing entertainment,, I am not saying that drivers dont need a way to relax,, but EVERY game had drivers at them and the TS was the ones making the money,,,

watch you self out there and you may be able to make a living,, it sounds like you have an idea of what to expect, which is more than a LOT of people who get into trucking as a way out,, or think it is an easy way of life and all the glamour that they see on commercials,, IT is work,, you do have one thing going for you in that you say you enjoy it,, do it for as long as you enjoy it,, because once you stop it becomes just another JOB...keep your head up ,, your spirits high and you will be ok,,

YOu will get to see a lot of the country, you will see a lot of sites,, try not to only see them out the windshield,, and a long black strip of highway,,, .. and just a warning be prepared to have to run the east coast as you are new,,, everyone tries to get out of running the east coast NY,NJ,MA,CT,,, it aint all that bad ,, but can get frustrating at times,,,

I wish you luck all the best out there, you are young enough that you can make a go at a few different lifestyles and take chances,, keep your doors locked at the truck stops, dont answer the doors when they get banged on at night by the lot lizards,, and keep your eyes open all the time, there are always people out there that want what you have and they will try to get it easy,, God bless , stay safe and be careful, pat

 

[Rich Iowa]

Pat, I'm aware I'm going to be getting the short end of the stick for awhile, specially since I'm just getting started. My dad used to drive and my aunt's husband and cousin drive, so I'm not going into this completely blind. I've planned on getting a small fridge and maybe a small microwave if space permits. As I'm sure you know, space is at a premium in a truck and my dog will be with me once I get my own truck.

I'll be in the companies midwest region which is basically mountain to moutain but during the training I'm going to ask for couple loads out east and west, just to have alittle experience under my belt.

Thanks again for the advise, I'm sure it'll come in handy at some point down the road.

 

[Rich Iowa]

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