April 23. Bill is showing the new waterways we had put in to conserve the soil in this field. We reseeded it early April. Then had a few big rains that made a few gullies. The fabric checks really helped keep the soil in place.
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Green / Red or Blue, or Orange, or Yellow, or etc., etc., etc.
This all relates to what farm equipment brand you are fond of.
But first is there as much brand loyalty as there once was? Has dealership consolidation changed your buying color? What did your Dad or Grandfather run?
Tractor restoration is a whole different ball park when it comes to brand loyalty.
Oliver, Massey, Ferguson, Minneapolis Moline, Farmall, Allis Chalmers, John Deere, Case, and on and on and on. 1970 and 1980′s vintage large 4 wheelers brings on another argument. And come on now who does not want to see the “Big Bud” in action. All 747 horses.
I take a walk down memory lane for some of us and everybody knows somebody in their neighborhood that just has to have the latest new tractor that came out from their favorite color. For some consolidation of brands has made them have to change for others it is just simply where they can get the best deal.
As for us, we have mainly green with a splash of blue and red thrown in. How about you?
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World economic events will dictate more as to when and how the current boom in agriculture ends.
I know we the US uses most of our Agricultural Production within our own borders, but the World Wide demand for commodities has really given Agriculture a boast.
So how does it all end??? I really do not know, I just know sometime that it will. When, you ask? It could go on longer than many think, or it could start to end tomorrow.
I discuss what I watch and what I think. Cyprus is it the start or the end, or maybe in the middle. Japan and China are much bigger players in all this. Can Europe survive and how does this affect US Ag?
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Many farmers and ranchers are savers. 
Now as a whole we do spend a lot of money. The amount of capital needed to be in modern commercial production agriculture is huge, but we do try and save some as our business progresses so we can eventually become self-financed.
I am certain that there is a war on savings right now. Whether intentional or not that is what is happening. I know the “top” policy makers want us to spend money and make the economy grow, their policies have also destroyed many plans of people who have saved their whole lives to better themselves. Interest rates below the rate of inflation destroys savings. Depending on the spread it may take a lot of time or very little.
A very good example is back in 1982 people I knew put money in an insured bank CD and received 12% over a three year period which meant with compounding for every dollar they put in they got back $1.51. Today after 3 years you would be lucky to get back $1.04. Now maybe 12% was a bit excessive, but how many people saved their whole life waiting for retirement and expected at least a 5% return on their money, only to have to use the principle just to survive. No wonder farmland is selling for record prices.
Now the Europe elites are trying to force the nation of Cyprus to take up to 10% of bank deposits as a “one time” tax to fund a bailout of these same banks.
Is a Worldwide Wealth Tax next???
Have all the other bailouts failed? Is this also about German taxpayers and voters not wanting to bailout Russian deposits in Cyprus.
So what do we in American agriculture do? Will it at least in the short term make the US dollar go up in value? Which would make our ag goods harder to sell to the world.
Is this a breach of fundamental property rights?
Where does it go from here???
I would say yes. Now of course many of you are going to say that since I was one, that I think who is appointed matters, but I hope to convince you that yes, who gets appointed matters.
I have seen good ones and I have seen really bad ones. Two very recent ones by the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack caught my eye.
The first serves as a “Senior Advisor” to the Secretary in the areas of nutrition, specialty crops, food safety, livestock markets, and animal health. Prior to joining USDA this person advised Nancy Pelosi from San Francisco on agriculture, veteran affairs, small business, and government oversight. This individual used to be a democratic staffer and worked with the agricultural committee. Education was from University of California, San Diego and a law degree from George Washington School of Law. Yes this one is a lawyer. Continue reading
