Kelly Robertson Wrote a great blog about things that pay and do not pay when trying to gain an edge in the business of farming. I cannot improve upon his remarks, but have few thoughts of my own.
USDA appears to be making some attempt to recognize hobby farmers as farmers. I remember in some hard years my dad joked about being a hobby farmer, but he manage raise 3 sons and send us to college with a little help from Grandpa. He was trying to make a living at it and did OK. Mom only worked off the farm sporadically. That is not a hobby farmer. On the other hand what about a 2 income family who farms weekends. If the farm is a tax shelter is that a hobby farm? What if they make a profit?
Does it matter how big they are? I don't think so, but I made a comment some time back that if you are not trying to make money farming, then you are a gardener or a pet owner.
Kelly's remarks also cause me to remember when Ike Leeper started a maximum economic yield contest. It was very interesting to see who won the contest each year. The participants met quarterly and I would venture that all of them changed their operation a bit because of what they learned int he contest. I would be great to restart that tradition and get farmers cooperating instead of competing.
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