The Original How-to Magazine of Alternative and Traditional Crops, Livestock, and Direct Marketing—Established 1984
Editorials...
From the Ridge:
Mar/Apr 2008: Water, Water...
Jan/Feb 2008: Keeping the Fire Going
Sep/Dec 2007: A Look Back, and Moving On
Jul/Oct 2007: The Truth: An Irate Editorial
May/Jun 2007: Carbon Credits
Mar/Apr 2007: A New Year
Jul-Oct 2006: Say No to NAIS
May/Jun 2006: Planning Ahead
Jan/Feb 2006: Reading This Magazine
Nov/Dec 2005: Show Lessons
Sep/Oct 2005: A Farm by any Other Name...
Jul/Aug 2005: Poor Planning: Patenting Life and Preemptive Laws
May/Jun 2005: The Best Show in the Country
Mar/Apr 2005: Our Connection to the Earth
Jan/Feb 2005: Pricing Your Product
Nov/Dec 2004: Better Than Ever
Sep/Oct 2004: A Risky Business
Jul/Aug 2004: Sustainable Ag in Danger in Missouri
May/Jun 2004: Spring Renewal
Mar/Apr 2004: A Mostly Happy Anniversary to Us
Jan/Feb 2004: What Are Your Plans?
Nov/Dec 2003: Ramblings From the Ridge
Sep/Oct 2003: Some Risks You Have to Take
Jul/Aug 2003: Problems with the Farm Problem—Technology is Not the Answer
May/Jun 2003: Planning for the Show
Mar/Apr 2003: Old Breeds and Old Seeds
Jan/Feb 2003: A New Year, A New Cycle
Dec 2002: Start Planning Now! The New Year Brings New Opportunities!
Sep/Oct/Nov 2002: The Show is Here! Ten Years and Still Growing!
Jul/Aug 2002: Saving Seeds Makes Your Farm More Sustainable
May/Jun 2002: 10,000 for the 10th Show
Mar/Apr 2002: Biotechnology is NOT Saving the World
Jan/Feb 2002: Farm Numbers Dwindling? They Don't Have To.
Nov/Dec 2001: The Farm Program. Yes or No? or Why?
Sep/Oct 2001: Nothing is Inevitable
Jul/Aug 2001: A Problem With Soybeans
May/Jun 2001: Changes in Current Farming (and an apology)
Mar/Apr 2001: Trade Show Talk
Jan/Feb 2001: Changing Our Thinking
Nov/Dec 2000: Good Life, Good Money
Sep/Oct 2000: The GM Blues
Jul/Aug 2000: Eurofarming
May/Jun 2000: Doom and Gloom and Optimism
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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Rebecca DeCourley
ChaosDesignArt
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Changes in Current Farming
(and an apology)
Editorial from the May/June 2001 issue of Small Farm Today® magazine.
An Apology
I apologize to everyone for the lateness of the last two issues; I believe we are almost back on track with this issue.
The only thing that worked in 2000 was the computers. In July of 2000, my wife totaled our pickup on a head on collision, but fortunately, she was unhurt except for some bruised knees. In September 2000, in the middle of trade show preparations, I had a heart attack. Right after the trade show in December, Paul, the Managing Editor, was in a terrible car wreck and was in the hospital in a coma for 30 days. Paul is now working part-time, and Rebecca is scheduled for an ear operation because of the wreck, but she is also back at work.
Then to top things off, my father who is 80, and lives on a farm adjoining mine, fell and broke his hip.
Since I had to hire some college students to help get the magazine out, and Paul and I had talked about updating our computers which were purchased in 1987, I did so for the students' benefit–thinking, of course, that this would make things go faster.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. We were still behind the eight ball and learning how to run the new equipment. When Paul returned, he had to learn all new programs. Again, I am sorry, and surely this string of bad luck will not happen again. [I hope not, too.—ed.]
The New Farming
We get about 200 magazines and newsletters here at the office so that we can keep up with issues, trends, and new information.
Farm Talk recently had a front page piece on opportunities in the garden (raising vegetables for profit) and Successful Farming had two feature stories on families making a living on a small acreage raising vegetables. That is not so unusual–except I am seeing the same thing in many mainstream agriculture publications.
I think it is great that mainstream agriculture now acknowledges something besides corn, wheat, and beans, because mainstream agriculture is in big trouble. Thirty billion dollars worth of farm payments are all that is keeping it afloat (3/4 of it to the largest 200,000 farms). Mainstream agriculture has overproduced corn, wheat, and beans for export, while other countries, like Brazil, can ship beans to Europe for $1.50 a bushel less than we can. Biotech companies have contributed to the problem by trying to ram GMO crops down the European (as well as other countries) consumer's throat, which only backfired and further interrupted our declining export market.
The point is, just like the rural crisis of the '80's, when what you are doing does not make sense anymore and there is no profit in it, you can look for another crop or some other kind of livestock.
The caution I am urging now is the same as it was in the '80's. If everybody raises tomatoes or ostriches, it will have the same result as everybody raising corn, wheat, and beans.
No profit and no markets.
Diversification is the key to success. In the '80's, many folks thought they were diversified because they were raising an alternative livestock, like ostrich or catfish or goats. They were raising something different than traditional crops and livestock, but they were not diversified–because they raised only one type of animal or crop.
To be successful, small farms must be diversified, selling several different kinds of crops and livestock. Small farms must sell retail to niche markets, and add value to everything they produce.
It is easier to put together ten enterprises making, say, $3,000 net apiece, than it is to have one enterprise netting $30,000. When you are small enough, you can get by with everything at low-cost–from equipment to buildings–salvage much of what you need on your own farm, and collect what you do not have. Ten enterprises make you extremely flexible, with a minimum of fuss if you have to change. If you need more net income, either add two more enterprises or increase those that you can increase without purchasing anything–substitute your labor for capital.
In addition to being diversified, it is important that small farms be flexible and able to change the production mix of crops and livestock quickly as markets change, or production gets out of hand. Once you breed any animal or plant any seeds, it is usually six months to a year before you can change, so monthly analyses of what is going on will keep you in tune with trends, new crops, and what is hot and what is not.
On the small farm, marketing is everything and is the biggest provider of your profits–so it is very important to constantly be aware of what is coming next.
For instance, if you were an avid reader like one of our Alabama readers, and noticed that Martha Stewart did a piece on small white pumpkins, and you planted an extra acre of these pumpkins, you would have taken advantage of what is how. A trend may or may not last, but it is important that you are among the first to bring a new item to market. That is what I mean about being flexible. Have an article or other items, like recipes or ways to use it, to accompany your new product when you bring it to market.
Happy and Profitable Farming,
Ron Macher
Publisher/Farmer