One would like think so but with agriculture there seems to be more and longer periods of downs.

 

I remember when I was young my parents had alot of years of ups! Some of our neighbours did really good with cattle too.
Hopefully it does though, thats what being in sask is all about, the farming.

 

We have cattle and grain and I am far more optimistic about the profitability of the cattle! With grain, you handle lots of money and have way too much risk. Just as soon as crop prices move up a bit, input prices chase right after. The industry is going the way that it wont be long and we wont be able to use any of our own seed. The large corporations want to control the supply of food in the world and I can see it slowly going their way. They sell us the seed and inputs, finance the carrying cost of inputs w/interest, then monopolize the delivery of the crop back to them!

 

My father tells me how much he spends to put a crop in the ground every year. Sometimes it doesnt seem worth it for him. He only farms around 1500 acres too.

 

I guess there`s ups and downs to everything not just cattle or farming in general.
It seems that takes too big an investment for the return, margins, if any, are slimmer every year.

 

I hear yea prep in these days most farmers hardly break even if that its sad no money in it anymore unless your the rich farmer

 

the rich farmer is no further ahead unless he's smart and sells out. a lot of farmers sround here work besides farming just to get input money. now thats not worth it if you ask me, but its their life... hard to just give it up i guess.

 

Dad somehow makes it work, but then he has been talking of renting it out for acouple years now.

 

It gets tougher every year that is for sure, and one mistake can cost you big time from which you may never recover.

 

i know a family that successfully farmed for probably 50+ years...son took over and refused crop insurance one year, it screwed them. he's driving a crane truck in winnipeg now and his dad lives in yorkton. i think they broke even in selling the farm and the dad had a lot of money put away so he's doing ok. just goes to show how inexperience can get you in trouble.

 

My dad goes out and drives logging truck for the winter. He really doesnt NEED to but it does give him alot of extra money instead of just over breaking even.

 

It`s common for farmers to have off the farm second jobs, helps to keep the place going.

 

It wasnt common for my dad till about 5ish years ago. We used to do pretty good till that one really bad summer.

 

Seems every year the inputs go up without any increase at the other end till this year.
I`m glad I`m not just starting out, it`s a long up hill battle.

 

My brother and I are fourth generation on our farm and we have some gray hair already - off farm income has been a fact of life here since my Grandpa's day - he worked on the railroad and farmed. Dad worked at quite a few jobs - mining, trucking, mechanic . Mon taught school until she retired. My brother and I continue to have off farm interests and spent over 25 years in the trucking industry. My sister in law works in Stoon. I am still 'interviewing' for a spouse!! This is how most people survive around here.
Guys, the bottom line for most of us is that if everything the farm generates goes back in, it can grow and hopefully do one of two things - if things improve be profitable one day, or, be part of the retirement fund for those of us with no pension program because of self employment. The off farm revenue will pay the living expenses and maybe some fun stuff. There are some exceptions to this and every area has a few guys who (for some reason) do not need to do this. Another factor that plays out is where in the life cycle of the farm it currently is and where in its life cycle it was when there were 'highs' and 'lows' in the industry - some guys were in a position to go great guns in the highs and be in a stronger position to take a hit when the lows came. Others were at their most vulnerable and lots of these guys are gone!