Debt is always a major factor. And a good deal of that is caused by the government, state, local and federal.
A few years ago our state government decided that feral hogs were a problem. Now they can be but there is no problem with them in our state. But rather then being sensible and say that any hog found wandering around loose would be destroyed they, in their vast wisdom decided to go after the guys who were raising heritage breed hogs.
They ordered the hogs destroyed.
Now mind you, these hogs were not causing any problems as long as they were in their pens and the farmers were careful to keep them in the pens. Even one hog represented a major chuck of income lost if they got away.
They also wrote the law so badly that every single hog in the state fell under the destroy order.
Last I heard they were still fighting it out in court but this is the kind of thing that leads to both stress and debt.
Long term planning is a problem as well because you never know what new regulation you are going to have to contend with next. We are a very small operation and still every year we have to deal with or find a way around some "bright new idea" from some nitwit who does not know the well from the jakes.
Very good points. A lot of the uncertainty in the farming occupation is caused by natural factors, but a lot more is regulation.
Dang, if it isn’t one way to destroy the American way it’s another. I’m shaking my head and doing a face palm at the same time. And now, the anger...grrrr.