Floyd County, Iowa | Luckyman - 3/15/2026 12:05
At least three of the things that are constant in farming: less farmers every generation, farmers embracing new technology, and some older farmer complaining about the younger guys doing it an easier way even though he had it easier than his grandfather.
Lets not forget the other two things.
The guys that sit and whine because they can't afford this or that, and how hard it is to get land, and want to start out where dad left off.
And the fact that the reason the prices of land, inputs, and machinery are high is due to one thing: supply and demand.
You say there are fewer farmers. What you don't say is that the ones that are getting bigger are the ones that are keeping the young guys squeezed out. Is it greed? I don't know. Certainly not necessity to farm half a county with 5 or 6 hired people.
It's the snowball effect. Get more land, need more equipment. Get more equipment, need more help. Have plenty of help now, just as well get some more land, and on, and on. After a short while, some will rent land and pay more than others will. They can spread costs out and call $25 (net before taxes) a good deal, and I know some that do exactly that, but the smaller guy will lose his backside at $50 per acre. The old saying "10% of a dollar is better than 80% of nothing" comes to mind.
I'm not saying that it's wrong, that's not my place. I did mine my way, and that was the only way I could get where I am. My way isn't necessarily for anyone else. But just saying put some of the blame where it belongs.
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How many corn farmers will there be in Iowa in 25 yrs?
