Conversation With Neighbor Farmer

[Eugene]

Neighbor farmer's major farm income was from turkeys. Second year with no turkey contracts.

Farmer is trying to find an income source for his empty turkey barns. Is currently using one barn for cattle.

This farm is a family operation, employing at least 3 family members and some part time help.

Farmer is hoping to hang on for another year. I suggested pulling back to the home place and subsistance farming for a while. Farmer said he couldn't do that because of the grain was currently his only source of income.

Next topic. Farmer said that his cost for baling one bale of hay is $23-, not counting labor. That's fuel, maintenance, and depreciation.

[Dale Finch]

That deeply saddens me...such a truly hard life.
What will we all do when those farmers quit, retire, pass away? Who in their right mind would take up that heavy baton? I am truly thankful for all that our farmers do and sacrifice. Thank you!

[Eugene]

Ran into the neighbor farmer's brother at the gas station. Both brothers, in their 70's, run the farming operations. Brother said that he had dropped off bulls on my/our property. -- Guessing the brothers have 40 to 50 calves from their 53 number herd. Another guess, thats around $15,000- income when they sell the calves.

Previous conversation with previous brother, we were discussing the value of local farm land. Told the previous brother that we paid $1500- an acre and guessed it was now worth $3000- an acre. And then, a previous conversation with a doctor who was from Iowa, where the farm land is currently in the $6000- to $12000- an acre range - - where we sold for $1600- an acre.

Problem is, anyone interested in farming is most likely not able to get a start unless they inherit the farm.

[SamsFarm]

Your farmer neighbor needs to direct market!

Start by getting those turkeys and cows out of the barns and into the pasture, stop putting grain into moo moos, throw out the gmo round up ready crops!

He must be making some big big bales!

[Eugene]

Your farmer neighbor needs to direct market!

Lot of empty turkey barns in the area. Most turkey processing plants discontinued turkey contracts last year.

There is one tiny fowl processer in the area. You can purchase turkey from Walmart cheaper than the small processer can produce them.

Start by getting those turkeys and cows out of the barns and into the pasture, stop putting grain into moo moos, throw out the gmo round up ready crops!

No turkeys in the turkey barns. I think the one turkey barn is used as shelter. Cattle are still on pasture. Most likely moved to the barn shelters and on hay with some grain in very nasty weather.

He must be making some big big bales!

500 lb wrapped round bales.

Edit.

Start by getting those turkeys and cows out of the barns and into the pasture.

Just counted the turkey barns on neighbors property. 9 each turkey barns. Around 10,000 turkeys per barn. Although all of the barns would not be occupied at any time. Probably 40 to 50,000 turkeys at any one time. Free range, impossible.

[SamsFarm]

New fangled turkey raising.

[Eugene]

New fangled turkey raising.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1MZc59X8Ocs

And another edit: Local news paper just over 1 year ago "17 area Butterball turkey growers to end production in 90 days". That's 17 turkey producers in the county.

[Barnyard]

[SamsFarm]

Greg Judy;
Cattle on pasture 365, no grain, no barns.



Joel Salatin;
The Hayshed




These guys are my heroes!