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Jul/Aug 2001: A Problem With Soybeans
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Nov/Dec 2000: Good Life, Good Money
Sep/Oct 2000: The GM Blues
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Mar/Apr 2000: Opportunity Knocks
Jan/Feb 2000: 2000 and Beyond
Oct/Nov/Dec 1999: Choosing the Right Solutions
Aug/Sep 1999: Attitude for Success
Jun/Jul 1999: Sex in the Field–and in the Laboratory
Apr/May 1999: The More Things Change...
Feb/Mar 1999: Protecting the Future
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Good Life, Good Money
Editorial from the November/December 2000 issue of Small Farm Today® magazine.
On September 18, my 3-year-old cousin Parker Sebens fell into a grain auger and lost both his hands and arms. He was flown to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, where the limbs were reattached. Unfortunately, the right arm and left hand did not successfully join, and had to be removed. His left arm is doing well, and his prognosis for recovery is good. I beg of you all to be careful on your farms. Keep children away from heavy machinery, and remember not to take any risks yourselves. Take the time to turn machinery off before repairing it. A moment of time saved is never worth the risk of injury. If you wish, please keep Parker in your prayers. A fund has been set up for him at: Parker Sebens Funds, 1st Nat'l Bank-Milnor, Box 129, Milnow ND 58060. Paul Berg Managing Editor |
Before the show each year, I am asked to do several radio interviews about it. This year, the first question has always been about the theme of the show–"Good Life, Good Money".
"What does it mean?" ask the interviewers.
My answer is that it means what it says–farming can provide a good life for a family, and also a good income. Our show–and magazine–promote the positive aspects of farming. Most people choose farming as a career because it is a lifestyle they want, not for the money. But it is certainly not a sin to make money farming, and there is nothing wrong with making a living doing something you love. Both aspects are important for a farm to be successful and sustainable.
Good Life
About 99% of the newspaper headlines about agriculture today are negative–Farmers Worry as Drought Deepens or Hog Prices Plummet to 1930 Levels or USDA Spends Billions on Bailouts for Failing Farmers. One writer is proposing we let agriculture die completely in the U.S. and import all our food from overseas! Even when the headlines are positive–Local Farmer Profits by Providing Fresh Vegetables to Eager Consumers–they are not placed on the front page like the bad news.
Since most of the general population of the U.S. is now four or five generations removed from the farm, I have to wonder what these folks think about farmers and their chosen occupation. their general impression from the slanted newspaper reports they read has to be negative. They probably wonder why anyone would want to be a farmer. But the farming dream is still alive. Over 15,700 new small farms sprang up in this country last year.
Making a living from the land has been an American dream for hundreds of years. Look at all the small farm books that have been written to cater to this wish. We have over 100 of these in our library, including The Have More Plan, Ten Acres is Enough, Five Acres and Independence, One Acre and Security, Backyard Farming, Profitable Country Living for Retired People, You Can Farm, Making Your Small Farm Profitable and Just the Greatest Life, the new book from this year's Keynote Speaker, David Schafer.
Farming is different than other occupations, because it embraces a lifestyle in addition to the job. As I have said before, the greatest thing agriculture furnished this country is not food and fiber, but a set of children with a work ethic and a good set of values.
Those 15,700 new landowners mentioned above want the farming lifestyle and want to farm, even though they may come from very different occupations. One of our Short Course speakers used to be a nuclear engineer! Although all of these farms currently sell less than $10,000 annually, once these determined owners learn how to farm, there is no reason they cannot do much more than this.
Good Money
Many successful small farmers make incomes comparable to or exceeding their urban counterparts. How do they do it? They are open-minded and have no preconceived notions about what agriculture should or should not be. They know you do not need a million bucks or a thousand acres and a monied marriage to be a farmer.
It is simply hard work and careful management, and the patience to grow into farming rather than go into farming. Our columnists expand on this theme. In his column this issue, John Ikerd Talks more about why a successful small farmer today needs planning and management. Kelly Klober talks about farms being workplaces before showplaces.
You must also have a dream and always be positive. Many people believe that being positive means to look at the world through rose-colored glasses. But positive does not mean ignorant. You must be aware of everything going on–good and bad–that can affect you and your operation. Do not ignore bad news in the hope it will go away. Try to gain something positive from it, and always look for a solution. Try to change the problem or work through it. Plan ahead. I know it is a cliché, but "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade."
It will require a different mindset and willingness to market as well as grow a product. The potential for a small farmer to succeed by direct marketing his or her product to consumers is greater than it has ever been. Our society today is more mobile and more affluent, and the consumer yearns to be treated as a person and not just a number. They have concerns about the environment and health, and want quality over quantity. These are needs a small farmer can satisfy, providing happiness to the consumer and enriching him or herself.
Good Life, Good Money.
You can succeed and make a profit on a small acreage.
Is it easy? No.
Is it hard work? Yes.
Is it worth it? Yes.
What are you waiting for? Start today. Follow your dreams. Be positive. It is a good life and good money if you believe it is, and work to make it so.
Happy Holidays and Profitable Farming,
Ron Macher
Publisher/Farmer