Remember When Farming Was A Way of Life?

Started by Solar, October 17, 2018, 05:11:49 PM

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Solar

Well, those days are long gone and govt dictates the rules now.
I have an interest in farmland in Nebraska, so I get these reports regularly as a headsup to the law.
There was a time when a farmer sold his produce to the highest bidder, kept his profits and decided on his own what to plant that brought in the best return on his labor.
Not anymore. Now it's all about fighting for a place on a govt teat. This is how the govt does it, they set up a program that assures everyone will partake or else.

Upcoming Acreage Reporting Dates

In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are
encouraged to visit the County FSA office to file an accurate crop certification
report by the applicable deadline.



The following acreage reporting dates are applicable:



*November 15, 2018* Perennial crops such as Grass and Alfalfa



*December 15, 2018*  Small grains such as Wheat, Oats and Barley

*"_Note:_"* Oats reporting deadline is December 15, but generally not planted so
must be reported within 15 days of planting

The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting dates:


  * If the crop has not been planted by the above acreage reporting date, then the
acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is
completed.
  * If a producer acquires additional acreage after the above acreage reporting
date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendars days after
purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the
county office.
  * If a perennial forage crop is reported with the intended use of cover only,
green manure, left standing, or seed, then the acreage must be reported by July
15th.Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note
that the acreage reporting date for NAP covered crops is the earlier of the dates
listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop
begins.__

*"_IMPORTANT:_"* November 15, 2018 is also the final date to _late-file_ all 2018
perennial crops such as grass. Failure to have a 2018 grass crop report on file by
this deadline will result in ineligibility for the 2018 Livestock Forage Program
(LFP) and other programs.
________________________________________________________________________

Designation By Landowner Provision

Producers are reminded of the importance of reporting to their local Farm Service
Agency (FSA) Office any change to their farming operation that would affect the
status of that farm so the change can be effective for the current fiscal year. A
farm, as defined by FSA, is generally made up of tracts that have the same owner and
the same operator. A sale of land in the farm or a tract of land within the farm
would be an instance that requires notifying the local FSA office so a farm
reconstitution can be initiated using the FSA-155, "Request for Farm
Reconstitution". These requests must be made by August 1.

A special provision exists that would allow contract acres to be divided in a manner
agreed to by all sellers and buyers. The method of division, known as the
Designation by Landowner provision, must be requested and requires all sellers and
buyers agree to the method by signing the FSA-155, or providing a memorandum of
understanding that includes signatures of all sellers and buyers.

The designation by landowner method of division may be used more specifically when:


  * Part of the farm is sold or ownership is transferred.

  * An entire farm is sold to 2 or more persons.

  * Farm ownership is transferred to 2 or more persons.

  * Part of a tract is sold or ownership is transferred.

  * A tract is sold to 2 or more persons.

  * Tract ownership is transferred to 2 or more persons.
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Hoofer

I am the Farmer's husband...
We're in the program, it reduces our taxes considerably - so why not?   The land is not productive enough to make a profit to pay the taxes - not without considerable input.

If you buy farm land, in a cooler climate, be SURE you get as many high tunnels as you can for winter growing.
The federal program allows up to $10k per year, the term is 4 years, it's the best thing going for farmers who want to produce early and later (or year round).  To qualify (easily), it really helps to have the area to be enclosed already under production with vegetables.

There's two ways to look at these programs, once the farmland is out of production - it's difficult to bring back without considerable expense, it keeps farmers willing to farm.

The tax reduction might be one of the few programs that's keeping willing farmers, farming.   Temptation to just sell it outright to a developer and retire (after a bad year of crops) is nothing short of crushing.   'Why am I doing this, when I could sell out, retire comfortably - and none of my kids want to take over the farm?', haunts every family farm.   If they pass on the farm to children, they get -nothing- to retire on.   If they sell the acreage to their children, the taxes and investment costs (debt) are crushing to a new farmer.  The money is in the acreage, and equipment.  Most people who "farm" do so because they're high risk takers and love working for themselves.

The incentive programs, to produce alcohol or grow via high tunnels is pretty self evident.  It provides a broader supply base for food & fuel... I think it's a really good idea, from the national security perspective.   Few, really few, people grow gardens - we do, and hope to have our 26' x 48' small garden to enclosed next year.  The year after that, we hope to add a second high tunnel, 36' x 150', but need to get that spot under active production (when the pigs are done with it, we dump grass, hay into the area, the pigs mix it up with the soil).  High tunnels are low tech, they are not greenhouses (which do not qualify)

For us, the final result could be producing locally raised lettuce and root crops for sale, year round.
Like I said, the input costs are HIGH, turning a non-productive farm back into production/profitability - without fertilizers.   Turning red clay into brown/black fertile dirt, takes years and literally tons of input material/crops.

The recent Romaine Lettuce deal is a boom to local growers, and a warning to consumers, what comes out of Mexico and California isn't what it useto be - buy local, you'll be healthier.

As far as fighting for a place at the govt teat - it's because the govt has shaped the whole farming landscape with tax rates, fuel, manufacturing, transportation & income scales - by corrupting the economy at the consumer level, it warps the economy at the production level.  Plain and simple, it's Socialism.  You can own it, but, the govt is gonna tell you what you can do with it.  Want to get around that caveat, then go 100% organic, don't advertise as "organic", and face a few less regulations. 
All animals are created equal; Some just take longer to cook.   Survival is keeping an eye on those around you...

Belseltad

I would like to say that I feel very good here.