Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Are small Iowa farmers having that tough of a time??

Check out the history as pioneers moved west and started farming. Bankers were right behind them convincing them to borrow and expand.

USDA programs are pushed by guess who?

We farm Christmas trees. Not me, extended fam for the past 100 years.

I grew up on an orchard. Plant, work for four years, 5 minutes of hail wipes out the first crop...... I told my dad "thanks, but no thanks".

We're lucky that parts of this country are too rough to farm.

Any calves Sam?

Crime doesn’t pay.

Neither does farming.

A wonder why one would choose their children to continue the hit/miss of farming/ranching. I get tradition...

My great grandfather started farming in west central Ks in 1892. He was followed by my grandfather, father and brother, who continues to farm it today. Each grew the farm in size and ran it as a business. All were successful. Not every year was a success, but each of them I would say did quite well financially.

Good question--but there's a certain feeling of independence, even if it may vary considerably.

My father's parents homesteaded in central Montana in 1919, though separately. My grandmother filed first, when homesteads in the West had been increased to 320 acres--and built herself a tarpaper shack. A year ot so later a Norwegian claimed the neighboring 320, and after they married a year or so later, had an entire section--which also included a year-round stream.

Both had come from the Midwest, where all the land was already owned. Unlike most homesteaders, they "proved up", owning the land five years after their claims. They also worked other jobs aside from growing grain (which their kids helped in), but eventually it worked out very well as a long-term investment.

Similar investments have also worked out very well for other Montanans.

Thoughts on 2024 - 2074?

Bottom line is you have to love farming/ranching to stay in.

The wife's family has lived off of the income from 300 acres.

Family has owned more but lost it when family got sick,land back then cost .25 an acre.

It can make a living wage if you manage it right but you won't be driving a new PU or car every year.

The farm is currently farmed on 1/4 share and owner pays for the well pump and 1/4 of inputs like ins.,fert and weed killer and such.

The Mother in law made around 28,000 the last several years because she has a good farmer that loves farming.

We shįt canned our fake tree and have only bought real trees for several years.


Fugg plastic.

Running 30” rows down here, last year one of the driest on record whole farm average was 234
Gotta put fert on , planter is 15 years old, and no rain still made the bushels

Ya reckon? Zero interest always means it's charged on the front end. Or maybe there's a trap built in where if you stumble it hits you like a ton of bricks.

Zero interest no hidden fees no up front. Double check prices with competitors same or better. (I’m not that dumb either not to check and ask questions )

I grew up on a farm, my parents still own it. They have 250 acres and milked around 50 cows. Today they live there yet and are pretty well off. They never went on any vacations raised 5 of us kids and saved all their money, only investing in bonds. You cant do what they did today but they never ever borrowed any money except from my grandpa to buy their farm. They paid $250 interest no principle every month until grandpa died.

I go back there every week and love it. They still doing their thing at 84 years old living in the house that grew dad grew up in. They are good people and always pay their bills. They never pay any bill until the last day that it is due. Its their money until then.

My dad told me when I was a kid farming is getting really tough. It used to be when he needed something like a new manure spreader there was always money in the checkbook to buy one. These days its not always the case… that was 50 years ago lol

Hutterites around here appear to be doing quite well.

I know some Hoots.


Generally not as prosperous as you might think.


I used to think they were killing it.

Good info/stories. My dad always liked farming and raising cattle. He always made some money. I think good business practices and being frugal with good work ethics are a must to be a farmer. No doubt some real farmers here !

Go fugk your arsehole Alan.

Why do you have so much hate in you? Don’t worry , be Happy !!! Have a Happy Easter !