Central Illinois | Mark in WCIowa - 10/30/2014 06:56
I did it....depending. My dad farmed and as he got sick, I helped with LONG hours while working a busy full time traveling job.
After he passed I went to his landlords and asked to rent the 350 acre he was renting. Also rented what was now mom's 160....all for the going rent, no discounts. Bought dad's wore out line of machinery....again for the fair market value, no discounts. Then started farming in 96....as corn slid down to $1.33 at times.
My only benefit was a chance to rent their ground....which is more than some ever get.
I would argue that family was still your advantage. Even if it was going rate, I doubt your mom looked for the highest bidder and the land lords your father had knew you and would have probably felt comfortable with you due to their previous interactions with you and your dad. That is very different then trying to get a piece of ground without the connection of family to the land lord. |
John Phipps blog-starting in farming
