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You Don't Need Census to Know Key Ag Statistics
| Agriculture has always been a challenging occupation. It's a very physical, demanding job; one which has caused many trips to the emergency room and countless number of knee replacements because of repetitive jumping off farm equipment or out of the hay mow.
Ex-dairy farmers seem to rank number one in knee replacements. I suppose it is the constant bending to milk in stanchions, number of trips carrying milk or feed, jumping over gates to get away from a bull and extra trips on equipment scraping manure and livestock feeding every day. Farming has to be challenging if the most important production factors are ones you have little or no control over, such as the weather, which accounts for 90% of production of corn, soybeans, wheat and forages. And do not forget the annual invasion of insects, diseases and weeds and constant low commodity prices. However, people tell me the biggest challenge in farming today is having enough capital to enter farming as your occupation. It doesn't take long to add up the cost of land and equipment and arrive at one million dollars. That will only make you a small or medium size farmer. 2002 is the year for the next census of Agriculture in the U.S. We do not have to wait for it to reveal the answers to the following questions: average age of farmers; average size of farms; and percentage of producers who have grain crops only. The answer is all three will be.......... larger. For decades we have heard that it is almost impossible for young people to begin a career in agriculture. This statement is probably true, especially for those whose parents or grandparents cannot assist one into the profession, if we are talking about traditional farming such as raising grain crops, feeding hogs and cattle and milking cows. But for those who wish to do something other than sit on the seat of a big machine, there is a future in agriculture at the entry level. One method is producing horticultural crops and going directly to consumers. Many choose this venture to stay in farming. However, the majority of producers fail to realize where the potential of high returns lies in production agriculture. The answer is excellent management of forages. Recent research studies by the University of Illinois and southern Illinois farmers have shown net profits of several hundred dollars per acre with new technology in management grazing. Ohio producers are "netting" far more per acre than corn and beans by rotational grazing of sheep, dairy, goats or beef cattle. The management of forages, whether hay or grazing, is the key to future profits in agriculture. With predictions by agriculture economists of another decade of depressed grain prices, integrated crop and livestock enterprises will be the "ticket" to future profitability in agriculture. It's time for the young man to plant grass and legumes, buy electric fence and realize his dreams in farming. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Admin. and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868 Updated: January 2002 |