Here in California the central valley is a conservative stronghold. We farm and provide that part of the economy yet the cities vote blue and wreck us with regulations and tax the living hell out of us. Not because they care about anything but because they want to break the small guys so the huge corporations can buy us out. If you look at land maps a handful of people own most plots and slowly taking more and more. They slowly starve you out. Makes me sad my grandparents came from nothing and worked hard to gain this house build their home here and a successful life. Now it's ending, though I understand all things must come to an end but not an easy pill to follow. For awhile I had a lot of scorn for part of my family wanting to sell but I was just frustrated with the situation.
Far from your your costs of living and competition, I've kicked around ideas of how to make some money in a niche market.
Lavender for example.
A friend grows hooter/M.J. but I was not interested in that. Defending a site is bad enough. But the legal hoops to jump through are another .
Family farms have something to offer.
One thing is a nucleus not found in corporate operations.
Chickens for example.
When factories lose thier hybrids , where do they get stock to replace them from?
Bird flue was found in a small flock not far away recently.
That hits a major farm/industry , a reset will be needed.
Meanwhile the backyard and small producers are restricted as to how they can sell. Rather than have a supportive co-op.
A co-op can apply to many endeavors.
But when we've gone from a third of Americans involved in agriculture to around 4 percent.... Then deduct corporate farms from the count , the tiny minority left are left vulnerable. That count is not likely to gain among the minority of small farms.
How could it?
Start up costs prohibit jumping in.
Costs of smaller amounts of needed supplies are not discounted.
This coming spring fertilizer is forecast (I'm not sure how accurately) to not only be at higher cost, but in short supply.
And weed killer (I'm no fan but understand a use) , like Gly or generic gly is if I recall right around a hundred dollars a gallon. A tremendous jump in price.
New tractor? Egads. Yet despite the serious expense , of late they are not always in stock. At least good ones. Around here some folks have ordered one and waited. And waited.
A new silo? Ouch.
Labor?
Distribution?
- $$$$$. In exchange for a gamble.
Outbuilding? Polebarn bids from last year and builders now reconnecting with buyers are having to announce the material cost increases.
One guy was quoted 350% higher costs than his original quote!!!!!!!
But crops can't wait when it is planting or harvest time. Let alone in between times.
Nor can livestock.
A couple friends were raised on a dairy farm.
One lives there still and another nearby.
The one who works on tractors at his place for income has painted hundreds. Plus repairs.
We've discussed our days of milking cows and he reassures me he don't miss it.
I though , had the money and benefits been decent would rather have continued to work with stock than with people...
Same with scratching in the dirt.
But the big outfits competed differently and ran things differently and had practices we didn't agree with as far as stock treatment.
Yes some things were more efficient. Unnatural maybe , but pennies count to the bean counters.
Disjointed rant over. For now.