Thanks for the topsoil!

[johnr]

I know a guy that put 400 acres back into CRP last year.

 

[Fritz the Cat]

Back to espringers,

Yep, that is how I started, working a job and bought my first 160.

Back to Johnr about farmers bidding up the land or being their own worst enemy,

Yes, big farmers do drive the costs of rent stupid high. Lenders are backing away from land purchases at these prices. Assuming you get the bid and have to borrow every penny, lenders will only recognize 60% of "their" appraised value. You will have to put up 40% collateral. Lenders like title to land that the buyer owns free and clear. Young farmers don't have it and older ones don't like the risk.

With commodity price predictions being in the tank for the next several years, I believe there is a correction coming.

Absentee landowners who purchased land at high prices demanding high rents to make it pencil are going to get caught like others in the housing bubble. Lower the rent or let it set empty. Well we know it won't set empty, somebody (an optimist) will rent it.

In all this mess habitat takes a back seat. However, habitat has to pay it own way too. It shouldn't be subsidized by the taxpayers. Tree rows yes, full blown CRP no.

 

[fullrut]

Erosion blows! NDSU recently completed a study that evaluated topsoil loss in Grand Forks County. they determine that the sites in Grand Forks County lost anywhere from 12 to 16 inches of topsoil over the last 50 years.

NDSU also remapped the soil types in Grand Forks and Walsh Counties for tax purposes. More than just a bit off the mark. My place (23 acres) is built on a old gravel pit, so I have 5 huge ponds as a result. Can't hardly stick a shovel in the ground without hitting a rock. They claim it's prime sugar beet ground though. Three of the surrounding quarters are fine land, but not on the gravel ridge. Sorry for the rant, but I've dealt with township, county, NDSU, COE, Engineering firms and Fed Flood Ins. about my place and I've learned they're all pretty much self serving.

 

[Fishinfool]

They did some burning in the sandhills (Sheyenne National Grasslands) by Hankinson.

 

[Buckmaster81]

It will be interesting to see what things look like for them this year. The last 7 years have been much different than what is coming down the pike.

Whether people in ag wish to admit it, the Federal crop insurance program has been the catalyst for the downfall of production ag.

It is much like a snake eating itself by it's own tail.

Everytime the insurance program comes up with a figure of revenue assurance land rents and inputs follow right to that figure.

When there are guaranteed revenues everyone wants their piece of the pie for chemicals and fert. and do the math just like the farmer figuring how much more he can pay for cash rent over his neighbor based on the differences in proven yields and base rates.

These insurnace programs have encouraged lands that would be better off in grass to be rented for much higher rents and broken up and farmed. That in turn has led to less diversification in ag and the consequences of "all your eggs in one basket" problems that creates. it also impacts markets, especially the "specialty crops we raise here in ND that do not have the huge market corn,wheat and soybeans have.

CRP acres coming out impacted these specialty markets significantly on some crops. A few hundred thousand acres makes a big impact on some of these markets.

Then the insurance plans themselves are screwy. Under the Prevent plant insurance, you could not seed a cover crop and use it for any value. So the incentive to plant a cover crop and help mitigate water issues so insurance risks for being wet were lowered was penalized rather than promoted. But then it is a Federal program so what can we expect. Combine that with a younger generation that do not wish to engage in the type labor involved in diversified operations or that commitment of time ...

WOW GST I totally agree with what you just said!!! You and I had a hell of an argument over this a couple of years ago.....

 

[gst]

Glad to see you came to your senses............

You would have to refresh my memory because I have always held the opinion of Crop insurance and govt involvement shared here I believe I have posted something like this before on another site, and as a rancher have always held the veiw that CRP coming out p[ut land that would be better in grass into crop production.

Now if my position was it was the landowner/operators right to choose what to do with these lands despite my personal beliefs, that too has not changed.

If it was CRP was a significant economic hit on rural communities that too has not changed.

 

[ndlongshot]

It will be interesting to see what things look like for them this year. The last 7 years have been much different than what is coming down the pike.

Whether people in ag wish to admit it, the Federal crop insurance program has been the catalyst for the downfall of production ag.

It is much like a snake eating itself by it's own tail.

Everytime the insurance program comes up with a figure of revenue assurance land rents and inputs follow right to that figure.

When there are guaranteed revenues everyone wants their piece of the pie for chemicals and fert. and do the math just like the farmer figuring how much more he can pay for cash rent over his neighbor based on the differences in proven yields and base rates.

These insurnace programs have encouraged lands that would be better off in grass to be rented for much higher rents and broken up and farmed. That in turn has led to less diversification in ag and the consequences of "all your eggs in one basket" problems that creates. it also impacts markets, especially the "specialty crops we raise here in ND that do not have the huge market corn,wheat and soybeans have.

CRP acres coming out impacted these specialty markets significantly on some crops. A few hundred thousand acres makes a big impact on some of these markets.

Then the insurance plans themselves are screwy. Under the Prevent plant insurance, you could not seed a cover crop and use it for any value. So the incentive to plant a cover crop and help mitigate water issues so insurance risks for being wet were lowered was penalized rather than promoted. But then it is a Federal program so what can we expect. Combine that with a younger generation that do not wish to engage in the type labor involved in diversified operations or that commitment of time ...

Yup I have to give credit where credit is due. It dont happen often, but I agree with you on this. As well as fritz's comments. Is there a full moon?

 

[guywhofishes]

I too am confused.

 

[Davy Crockett]

He's been scared straight

 

[johnr]

I too am confused.

Use the men's room if you have a wiener, hope that clears everything up

 

[gst]

Ha best post of the week Mr r. :;:muahaha