Princeton, MN | 7150 - 4/14/2009 01:11
In my grandfather's day, an ethical farmer did not covet his neighbor's farm nor actively pursue any strategy that would rent another farmer's land before that neighbor retired. Several of you fellas want to pretend that this is just good business, but in fact, is leading you happily towards the lifestyle most of us like to think we avoid out here in the rural areas.
In your grandfathers day you could most likely make an honest living off of a quarter section and a few animals, I dont think that happens so often now.
The game has changed, so have the "unwritten rules". What "lifestyle" are "we" trying to avoid in rural areas? Successful business? Operations that can support multiple families?
Thankfully, there are many landowners wise enough to see these operations for what they are and choose to ignore their "honest business proposals" of higher rents.
This is how business works, the landowners have a choice who they rent to, I would bet if you kept your landowners very satisfied with the way you do business there would be no problems with them taking land from you.
To offer one of my fellow neighbor's landlord an additional $25 or $50 or $100 per acre "just because I'm successful at it" would be unconscionable to me. I wish it was for all farmers.
You may jump all over me for my opinion, but this is how my ethics work, even for a neighbor I don't like.
Your opinion is your own, and I respect that you have one. I just do not agree with it mostly because it is not based on any facts, only emotional arguments of how things were "back in the day" |
Wait just a minute Mr. Illff
