Agreed.There's some inventive costs. Since you have to eat to survive, how is that a business cost?
The guy I know has been a self-made and very successful farmer around the Pierre area for years. Got sick of farming and decided to take up cattle about 6 years ago (odd change I know). No machinery costs other than maint., cash buyer for everything. He DOES have cattle so the "he could rent the land" statement makes no sense as he doesnt need to (no a loss in income as it is used to support the operation) as does the feed the family comment as we all have to eat (and he has no kids or spouse) nor any full time hired men.
But, yes. Alot of $$ in a successful for taxes, maint, repairs, ins, etc. This all gets watered down with scale of operation, cash buyer, etc causing the cost/animal to drop significantly.