Will the farm be profitable for the next 30 years?

The outstanding young farmers that I meet in my travels provide great stories and hope for agriculture’s future.  This month I’ll be meeting with a group of young dairy farmers in the Okanagan as a followup to a meeting with their parents last winter.

Both generations on the farm are typically very hard working.  I get lots of insights on what other young farmers might be thinking when I listen to the young farmer, our son, at our kitchen table.

Last night we were chatting about “sub-soiling” because the excess water on the Prairies has been tough for many folks who didn’t get a crop in, can’t get the crop out and are having severe cash flow crunches.

I think Morris Dorosh in his “If you ask me” column in Agriweek on September 20 really nailed this year when he said, “It takes nerves of tool steel to get through an experience like this without long-lasting effects.  The strain on families and personal relationships is extreme, a test of character that most people never have to pass.”

Character counts.

The Outstanding Young Farmer Awards announcements are glowing reports of young couples who possess strong character.  They have “gotten ready” to do well in their chosen field. Continue reading GET READY TO BE A GREAT FARMER »