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tennessee | Let me first say I am no expert on this subject, but I will add an observation of mine. My grandfather was a full time farmer, all he ever knew. This was in the 50's and 60's time frame. He bought 3 farms totally about 300 acres, sent 2 of his three kids to college(one private college), and had everything that he and the family needed to live. He did this raising cattle, growing tobacco, and custom baleing hay. Now forward to today, I've been fortunate to have inherited 125ac. of cropland and I rent another 175 ac. growing corn and soybeans. Used to have tobacco, but it got unprofitable so we quit. I have a good job at the post office and farm the 300 ac. on my own, so no money going to anyone else. There is absolutely no way I could do what he did then even with the off farm job I have. It takes everything my wife and I can make just to have the "normal" things that people have today. We don't live a high society lifestyle, we take very few vacations, we don't blow money. Something has drastically changed from my grandfather's time. I don't know the answer to what exactly is so different now, I just know that I could'nt do what he did. | |
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The unsugared reality of agriculture today
