re: #68 ckkatz

Yes, managing cash flow on a farm is a critical skill. And I understand that there are a number of large “vulture” corporations which now swoop down and buy out, very cheaply, small farmers who did not have that skill.

I was also reading somewhere that folks are starting to put AC and stereo cabs on tractors.

In the 1960s and 1970s most of my cousins on my dad’s side were farmers in Adams Co and Tazewell Co Illinois. Their sons tried to make a go, but couldn’t compete with the corporations buying up farms starting in the 1980s. I think only one is still doing it.

ETA: left out some context: they needed more acreage to profit but couldn’t expand because of the big ag corps buying up much of the land. Could rent for a while, but that didn’t last.