“There's a really wide range even within these 120 farms in terms of profitability.”

Farms that were purchased for 10K/ac, or more, are in trouble. Soy bean and corn prices are less than half what they were at their peak in the fall of 2012.

Farming is not for the weak of heart or wallet.

I checked farm land prices in England vs the US. Lots of farmers over there rent their farm land at high prices. Their land runs 3 times as much as ours. The whole of England (population 53 million) is smaller than Louisiana. The whole of Great Britain (population 66 million)is smaller than Wyoming. And these crazy EU people want them to take in more people every month.

Why would you say is mainly to blame? Have heard it's the greedy middlemen for at least 30 years and could ezily believe it.

Farming is not for the weak of heart or wallet.

With the cost of land and modern equipment it is not hard to see why there is a farming crisis.

When I was a kid in grade school in Chicago, teacher was asking all the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up.

When it was my turn, I said I wanted to be a farmer. All the other kids laughed. But back then you could make a living and raise a family as a farmer. Today it is nigh impossible to do that.

I ended up being a truck driver instead.;)

Farmers have always had a tough go: if the crops are plentiful then prices go down, if crops are lean, prices go up, but net to farmers (and ranchers too) remains about the same net income.

Farmers used to save "seed corn" in the fall to plant the next spring, but in 1996 Monsanto introduced their new magic Roundup Ready seeds that farmers had to buy or get sued for infringing on Monsanto's patented product. This was a huge increase in cost of production, and loss of profitability.

At every step of the way from the field to the grocery store, the middlemen do get their profits.

Some farmers, like one of our tenants, go goofy on having the latest, greatest pieces of equipment to farm their fields, and go into serious debt to have their new "toys" when the old equipment, properly maintained could have lasted for many more years. That's on them, and sometimes, their bankers.

The news last week that China would no longer buy any farm products from US, could be devastating. I guess that they'll look to deecee for some sort of relief.

Sorry for rambling on so long for such a simple question.

Don't ever apologize, speshly for a nice ample reply. Thanky!