Why more young people aren't in ag

[nortexsook]

1. You would be hard pressed (it may be impossible) to buy land anywhere in the US that would support the ag enterprise factoring in principal and interest payments.

2. So lease you say. Well lots of these places are under long-term leases. A lease is as hard to find as a needle in a haystack. One reason is the "older" generation will not let go of a place. A 80 year old man still wants to run cattle and is not going to "retire" and let his good lease go to some young whipper-snapper.

3. Urban encroachment, hunting, and ranchettes take a huge chunk of land nationally each and every year. Our ag base is less and less every single year.


Old agsters are the first to decry that the younger generation is "leaving the land" but they either A won't sell or lease to a younger person or B when they do sell they sell to the highest bidder to cash out. This highest bidder is probably looking for a "hunting" ranch or maybe the ranch was divided into ranchettes. In other words the older generation is part and parcel of the problem.

 

[PureCountry]

You paint a gloomy picture my friend. There is another side to this story. I have heard or read about many success stories of young folks taking over farms and ranches, buying them from family, or even buying them from folks who were just happy to see someone care for it. It does happen. I agree with you that it does NOT in alot of places, but there are sunny spots if you look for them.

In our area, my wife and I are some of the youngest ranchers trying to make a go of it, at 30. We are trying to encourage more of it in our own way, and I plan on pushing a little harder with a visit with our local MLA when he has time to return my calls.

 

[sic 'em reds]

There are alot of younger farmers and ranchers in our area. We have been fortunate to be able to work with family to lease ground and other folks in the area. The older geneartion is seeing the younger generation working hard to get something put together and most are willing to help in one way or the other.

Too many young people are not willing to put the hard work in anymore, that is one reason kids take other jobs after high scholl or college. My wife's family is having a hard time hiring kids to run balers, when a few years ago they had more kids wanting to help than tractors.

There are alot of opportunities for the younger generation, we just need to be willing and able to put the time in to find the opportunities.

 

[BRG]

In all reality, if a beginning farmer/rancher don't have help of some sort, it is really tough to get started. I was blessed with the parents I have, and Dad did all he could to help us get started. But if he had not, I really don't know what would have happened. Land it overpriced for ag use and with most of the land selling, you could not even make a payment off the income you would get off of it, nevermind making a living. Iron is so expensive, and then alot of the banks will loan all kinds of money when know one should be buying cows(too expensive) but they won't when they are cheap????? I know of guys who could not get a loan to build or buy a house in the country because the resale value isn't there, so then what.

I know of alot of younger guys in our area who are in ag, but I can only think of one that did it without some family help, but he got a bunch of cheap tribal lease, so I guess he did get some help there.

I am really thankfull that my brothers and I had the help from Mom and Dad, because I love what we do.

 

[Jinglebob]

I'm 49. Am I young or old. It's just the way it was when I started.

I like BRG had help from a good father and mother. But I haven't been able to expand, what my father had. So far! there is always hope.

Another thought, they say 50 is now the new 30. So maybe we ain't as old as we thought?

I hope to be able to make a living here, while still passing it on to the next generation. thats why we are helping our son establidsh a cowherd. So when the cows can support him, he can lease and buy from us, but he will always have to support us, until we are dead and gone. It's always been that way.

 

[Silver]

I'm 49. Am I young or old. It's just the way it was when I started.

I like BRG had help from a good father and mother. But I haven't been able to expand, what my father had. So far! there is always hope.

Another thought, they say 50 is now the new 30. So maybe we ain't as old as we thought?

I hope to be able to make a living here, while still passing it on to the next generation. thats why we are helping our son establidsh a cowherd. So when the cows can support him, he can lease and buy from us, but he will always have to support us, until we are dead and gone. It's always been that way.

It is good to be one of the fortunate ones isn't it JB? I know if it weren't for my great grandfather, my grandfather wouldn't have been able to get going on this place. And if not for my grandfather my dad wouldn't have had much chance. And thanks to Dad, I've got a chance to give my son a start.
It's those on the outside looking in that got it tough. I can't imagine how someone could walk in cold and make a go of it, the economics just don't seem to compute. But it seems as though people always seem to find a way to accomplish their dreams if they give it an honest shot.

 

[Denny]

I started with nothing,alot of hard work and my dream is a reality.Though I don't have massive acres that we own by all truths I'm in the cattle business not the land business.I can rent land for alot less than the interest on it per year.I may not own it but does anyone really own the land???It's in our care for the short time were here.Alot of people consider renting a waste of money but I look at it as a business expense.Take for instance my welding shop we use alot of steel but I don't own a steel mill.All we really get out of life is Food and Family if I can make a living farming or ranching I'm happy.I will be 40 this fall and have been at this for 17 years so it has taken that long to get partially established I have been buying some land but not huge parcels sure it would be nice to have a big ranch in one big chunk but reality is if that's what you want to consider yourself a rancher it will not happen unless you are filthy rich or born into it.I am basically building up a ranch for my kids if they are interested but if not who knows maybe find a young person who want's it and give them a helping hand.

 

[IL Rancher]

Being that I am probably someone who falls into the young in agriculture (God knows I am the same age as most of the farmers kids or even grandkids around here) I can say without the help I have gotten from my FIL. father and grandfather I would not be doing what I am doing today..I couldn't compete for rent on this place if my FIL put it up for rent.. Wouldn't happen.. My grandfather runs some cows here because, wel, agriculutre is a passion of his and he loves visiting and talking cattle instead of corn.. Without those extra cows on the place I would not be able to run the place the way I would like to probably.. Or maybe I would just find a different way.. Dad helped me secure a loan, just like he did the loans my brother took out for Med School..

Expanding beyond what we are doing now? That is going to take some time.. Every yeasr I seem to larn a different lesson about what can go wrong.. I am tired of some of these lessons but as longa s ou don't make the same mistakes over, and over again I guess that is okay... I do kno with crop land going out at 210-240+ an acre with the corn market and land pushing over 4000 an acre for ground that is only ever going to be farm ground it makes it hard to pencil.. Had it penciled when crop prics were cheaper as where rent prices but now.. Yeesh...

Looking at the other families around here I can say a lot of them are making some mistakes (At least IMO) about setting up their future.. Junior is going to take over but he is 40 years old and still not doing much of anything but being a plow jock.. Doesn't make any decisions, isn't involved in the finances of the farm.. Seen a couple farms blow up after senior passed away.. Some suriv too but it seems to be a bit of trial by fire.

 

[DOC HARRIS]

In reading these various posts revealing the difficult and rather foreboding potential for the future of Agricultural Enterprises that these Ranchers have related today, I am struck by ONE major factor which will carry ALL of them through the tough lives that they have chosen: they LOVE what they are doing! THAT is the primary decision one must make when deciding the kind of life style they wish to follow. One MUST enjoy what they decide to do for the rest of their lives.

...and THAT is where CattleToday, Ranchers.net, College educations, and understanding HOW to access helpful information from the internet, libraries, and any other sources which will give aid and ideas to enable one to make a success of their efforts comes into being! Never fail to stretch your mind and continue learning. Don't just ask for a quick answer to a question - LOOK IT UP - and that will help you to remember it.

Being able to think, use your head and capitalize on opportunities is what sustained human beings from day ONE, and it will sustain you today.

I am older than most of you on these Forums - yea - possibly older than ANY of you! I have probably done more of a variety of DIFFERENT occupations than most of you, and I can tell you, FROM EXPERIENCE, that NOTHING that you attempt is EASY, particularly if you don't enjoy doing it!

Hang in there, Tiger, and LEARN the most that you can about your chosen field. . .and 'financing' your business is one of the primary factors in being successful. There are many ways to skin a cat, and by the same token, there are many ways to achieve the goals that you set - and that is another secret to success; ESTABLISH GOALS and write them down and attach them to the refrigerator door - and READ them every day. Believe it or not - that is critically important! It not only reminds you of what you want, but it helps you decide on HOW to get it!

...and..."READ THEM EVERY DAY" means . . ."READ- - THEM- - EVERY - - DAY!" That will help you to automatically AVOID doing dumb things which will interfere with and hinder your doing what is necessary to reach your goals.

THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS at ALL times! You may scoff at these suggestions - but I can tell you - it is CRITICAL for success.

If you will diligently follow through with these ideas and advice - you will be amazed what good blessings you will receive.

DOC HARRIS

 

[PureCountry]

Doc, that was quite possibly my favorite post you have ever put up. I love the fact that you are positive. Thanks for that, and reminding everyone to keep their goals in focus. You are 100% right, that is crucial. The wife and I have a sheet of poster board on the wall in our office, and we have one column for the ranch's long term goals, one for her personal goals, and one for my personal goals. Of course, my personal goals are always just the same as the ranch goals. I've been told that's unhealthy, but so is whisky, I can't help it, I'm Irish. :lol:

 

[MN Farm Girl]

Well said. Dad has always said that it doesn't matter what I pick for an occupation, as long as I enjoy what I'm doing. If you don't enjoy it you won't make a success, and be unhappy for the rest of your life.

MN Farm Girl

 

[rainie]

Yep, good post Doc. I really enjoy reading your posts and hope you do more because I think you have a lot of knowledge to share. My wife and I started with absolutely nothing and I mean nothing. Running water meant grabbing a 5 gallon pail of water and start running...literally. We had no help from our parents. The biggest reason is probably because we were both really stubborn and wanted to make a go of it on our own. We never did ask for any help even though it would have helped alot in the beginning. We started out renting land and both of us working off the farm. Every penny we could save went back into purchasing cows or horses. Little by little we built up our cowherd to the point that we bought our first piece of land and have continued on from there. I spent a lot of nights baling hay all night and going back to work the next day. Also pounding posts and stringing wire by moonlight. We don't have a huge cowherd or a huge landbase. Our sole income is from the ranch as neither of us are working out. I quess the point I am trying to make is that if we had let our parents help us, I don't think that we would have felt the same feeling of accomplishment as we do. Also, as of right now we have one son who wants to come back to ranch, and the other one we're not sure yet. I just hope they didn't inherit their parents stubborn streak :wink: I'm more than willing to help them out though, and that means letting them make their own mistakes.

 

[DOC HARRIS]

rainie- I would prefer to characterize "stubborn" as "determined"! It is VERY difficult to restrain oneself from over-protection of one's children and practrice "Tough Love" - even though you KNOW the consequences of the alternative. You just hope that the next generation appreciates your efforts!

DOC HARRIS

 

[CattleArmy]

The problem for the young rancher that wants to evientally work hard and scrimp and save for his/her own place in this area is that there are several large operations buying up the land and fewer ranchers retiring seem to be leasing they just sell it all and leave.

 

[badroute]

I agree that in certain areas it can be awful hard to expand. I took the place over when I was 22 when my dad passed away. At the time I knew how to do the work but as you all know there is much more to running a place other than work. So at the time I was content not expanding. But within a year after getting my bearings straight I had to itch to expand.

The only feasable way for me to expand was through leasing. I was lucky that I had some great older neighbors that didn't want to sell but only downsize so a few different guys leased me part of their places. I'm now 27 and have been able to add 10-12 sections of leased ground to my own place. The community I live in is getting older and more leases are in the forseeable future almost to the point where I will have to turn them down unless I get some help or married.

I just wanted to let some know that there will always be a place where the almight dollar doesn't rule quite yet.

 

[CattleArmy]

You are very lucky to live in an area where the all mighty dollar doesn't rule yet. Here people are selling out to the highest bidder and land value just seems to go up. Great for the seller but bites for anyone wanting a chunk of grass covered sand.

 

[jigs]

if you think it is tough to run cows in ranch country, try doing it in irrigated corn country. guys are paying a premium for pasture, and ripping it up to farm! $2000 grass does not pencil out. especially when you need a few years of setting out to re-establish the grass.

my neighbors think I am nuts for turning irrigated land back to grass and rotational grazing. they say "$4 corn is the way to go"

but cows need no combine, fertilizer, irrigation pipe, or chemical. ight there just saved me $125 per acre!

kind of a hard deal, I work for one of the areas bigger farmers, and I have such a different view of how I want to operate, I find myself biting my lip at every turn.

hell just the other night we were talking of selling out and moving to "cow country" but my lord, the junk I would have to pack is a daunting task!

 

[Soapweed]

just the other night we were talking of selling out and moving to "cow country" but my lord, the junk I would have to pack is a daunting task!

Just have an auction so you don't have to move your stuff. Then buy back only what you really need when you get a ranch. :wink:

 

[CattleArmy]

if you think it is tough to run cows in ranch country, try doing it in irrigated corn country. guys are paying a premium for pasture, and ripping it up to farm! $2000 grass does not pencil out. especially when you need a few years of setting out to re-establish the grass.

my neighbors think I am nuts for turning irrigated land back to grass and rotational grazing. they say "$4 corn is the way to go"

but cows need no combine, fertilizer, irrigation pipe, or chemical. ight there just saved me $125 per acre!

kind of a hard deal, I work for one of the areas bigger farmers, and I have such a different view of how I want to operate, I find myself biting my lip at every turn.

hell just the other night we were talking of selling out and moving to "cow country" but my lord, the junk I would have to pack is a daunting task!

One mans junk is another mans treasure.........or at least that's how in my mind I put it when Dad goes to an auction and returns with a load of stuff.

 

[Clarencen]

I am one of those old guys that are to subborn to move out and let the younger one's take my place. There is the rest of the story though.

First I want to say that there are still lots of opportunities of one sort or another out there. You just have to look for them, recognize them when they are there, and be prepared to take advantage of them. Most of us can just see what is over the fence and not much beyond. That is why I would say get a college education first. I never had a college education, but from my observation those who have do have an advantage.

I have had offers to sell my place, but this is where I have spent most of my life. I don't want to move to town where all I have to do is watch TV. I hate TV. In the first place, I have never found what I would call a secure buyer.
Sure I could sell out to some big outfit and get all cash, put it on interest I guess. I can get as much for rent as I could for interest. At the present time with inflation land is increasing in value all the time, this will not continue foreever though, sometime things will have to level out, some will get hurt when they do.

Most young buyers have no money to put down, nothing to hold them to their bargain. They would want a 30 year or so contract paying a set amount each year, but would have little to lose if they fail.

The amount of land I own is not great enough to sustain a family without some leased land to go with it. There is no assurance this leased land will always be available. As margins get smaller there is greater and greater demand put on what land there is available.

You guys are not looking very far if you put the blame for young people not getting into ranching or farming on the older generation, after all the older generation will all die off, or be unable to continue anyway.

I had a nephew who worked with me a few years, he ought a few cows and wanted to start a herd of his own, maybe take over my ranch someday. By the time he paid the upkeep on the cows and the interest, he had little left. It is hard to keep your eye on your goal when you move towards it at less than a snails pace.

Yes, when I die, my land will probaly be put up for sale. It will probably go to the highest bidder. I would like to see something different, but we have to be practical and realistic. I believe if won't inherit or marry a ranch, and want to ranch, you better get a good education, then a good paying job and put enough money aside to start up ranching.