How many of you geeks would go into farming if you knew you'd make $100k+/yr?

[Howard]

As somebody not taking advantage of subsidies, I would prefer not to take advantage of subsidies.

Just saying.

 

[Specop 007]

Well, theres "old fashioned" farming, modern farming and ranching.

Old fashioned farming keeps you busy and is somewhat labor intensive. Oh the whole not too bad.

Modern farming is repulsively boring with auto steer tractors.

Ranching is goddamn hard work. And you do it every single day of the year.

 

[Check]

No, I wouldn't go into agriculture. No creativity, same thing year after year.

 

[Soccerman06]

AFAIK from the farmers i live by, they make 300-500k a year. Then again they own the farm and land and equipment already.

 

[PsiStar]

No, I wouldn't go into agriculture. No creativity, same thing year after year.

Just perception ... strategizing with mother nature with rain or no rain or when will it rain, putting the right crops in the ground based on market potentials/crop rotations .. when & what to sell. Modern agriculture is not for the brain dead.

 

[jhu]

Only 100k+/year? No.

 

[child of wonder]

What a stupid thread. Why would ATOTers take a massive pay cut to farm?

 

[TridenT]

What if you had a nice rotation with someone else...1 month on the farm, one month away. Would it be worth it then?

Not even close to worth it.

Bump it to at least $500k and maybe then it will be worth it, and only if I get really high-speed internet.

What a stupid thread. Why would ATOTers take a massive pay cut to farm?

Pretty much this.

I'd only take this option if I was some peon who doesn't post on ATOT.

 

[Lithium381]

If that was my only options to make $100k/year I would. It takes a toll on your body doing that kind of work every day. I've never seen a true farmer that didn't look like he was run over by a truck. Not saying that physical labor isn't rewarding, but at a certain point, your body just isn't meant to take it.

tell that to your mom

 

[SooperDave]

If that was my only options to make $100k/year I would. It takes a toll on your body doing that kind of work every day. I've never seen a true farmer that didn't look like he was run over by a truck. Not saying that physical labor isn't rewarding, but at a certain point, your body just isn't meant to take it.

That's true in any outdoor work. I'm in construction and the old timers look like hell. The problem isn't the work, the problem is they don't take care of themselves. No sunblock, T shirts, no eye protection (dark shade), and most are hard drinkers. I've been working outdoors for almost 15 years (I'm 44) and aside from a little luggage under the eyes I'm ok, but I take care of myself. I am going a bit deaf. I should be using hearing protection.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Just curious. Not bi.

After they spend a $120K to do it. Is that after they spend a $Million to buy the farms? Or are you growing the silly weed in your basement?

 

[nanette1985]

That's true in any outdoor work. I'm in construction and the old timers look like hell. The problem isn't the work, the problem is they don't take care of themselves. No sunblock, T shirts, no eye protection (dark shade), and most are hard drinkers. I've been working outdoors for almost 15 years (I'm 44) and aside from a little luggage under the eyes I'm ok, but I take care of myself. I am going a bit deaf. I should be using hearing protection.

My family (on dad's side) is mennonite farmers, they certainly take care of themselves and don't drink. They're the carefullest people on the planet. They still look like they were run over by that truck - sorry, that horse & buggy, they don't use trucks. It's a hard life, though they like it that way.

I go back often for funerals and all the cousins my age look like they're 80 and at death's door.

 

[nanette1985]

AFAIK from the farmers i live by, they make 300-500k a year. Then again they own the farm and land and equipment already.

Where are you located?

 

[sourceninja]

I wouldn't work on the farm. I don't work for the money. I work for the challenge and love of the job. If I wanted the money I could always find a better paying IT job.

 

[Zebo]

I don't know too many that make 100K. Big ones make it real hard on you and you're in debt up to eyeballs.

 

[airdata]

Would I have to buy my seeds from Monsanto?
Could I hire cheap labor and just " supervise " ?

 

[Check]

Just perception ... strategizing with mother nature with rain or no rain or when will it rain, putting the right crops in the ground based on market potentials/crop rotations .. when & what to sell. Modern agriculture is not for the brain dead.

I worked for the dept of agriculture for 4 years primarily with the blueberry industry, but with others as well.

It's fucking mindless work, you follow a formula.
Fields are in production every other year (unless you want to do two on, one off)
have a hive density of 2 hives/per acre for pollination (there are diminishing returns after that)
Once hives are out start spraying pesticides/herbicides/fungicides as needed based on field samples that are taken.
If it is a drought year, turn on the irrigation if the land has it, if not then don't.
Harvest when it is appropriate (the further east you go, the later the harvest is)
profit

Agriculture is like working an assembly line at a factory.

 

[AlienCraft]

Those kind of farms are here.

Fixed it up for ya.

 

[gar3555]

LOL to all those who think farms are only 100 acres. Both my parents and my wife's parents have farms with well over 2000+ acres. Some fields by themselves are over 100 acres. All that, and there have been years where there was no profit made, and these are not the "huge" corporate farms, maybe 3-4 employees total, including my/her parents. It is a rough business.

 

[SooperDave]

That's true in any outdoor work. I'm in construction and the old timers look like hell. The problem isn't the work, the problem is they don't take care of themselves. No sunblock, T shirts, no eye protection (dark shade), and most are hard drinkers. I've been working outdoors for almost 15 years (I'm 44) and aside from a little luggage under the eyes I'm ok, but I take care of myself. I am going a bit deaf. I should be using hearing protection.

My family (on dad's side) is mennonite farmers, they certainly take care of themselves and don't drink. They're the carefullest people on the planet. They still look like they were run over by that truck - sorry, that horse & buggy, they don't use trucks. It's a hard life, though they like it that way.

I go back often for funerals and all the cousins my age look like they're 80 and at death's door.

I must not be working hard enough

 

[nanette1985]

I must not be working hard enough

Well, they do work insane hours.

 

[Fenixgoon]

not me, farming is hard as shit

 

[sandorski]

If you have a Basement, this can be done.

 

[Soccerman06]

Where are you located?

Cornbelt MN/IA. Its more like the last 4-5 years have been really good for corn farmers because of all the government subsidy BS and a very high yield % per bushel.

 

[TXHokie]

I have a friend who quit IT when dotcom went bust and became a chicken farmer. He said the work is more stable. After paying all the cost, he earns about $85k/yr, but only works 4-5 hrs a day. He spends lots of free time on internet/FB. Everything is very automated. Only thing is that you have to be there all the time to watch for issues since extreme temp changes can wipe out your flock and it's pretty out in the boonies.