Family farms are becoming a thing of the past.
A potato farmer I talked to said that just his combine cost over $250K and most of the equipment is becoming computerized making it impossible for the average farmer to fix or maintain. The investmentment and maintenance costs alone are driving farming to large corporations. Plus kids no longer want to stay and work the farm. The article doesn’t mention anything about this farmer’s children wanting to work the farm, but my friend said that his sons had no interest in the farm because of the long hours. Instead they moved into town doing other things.
It’s sad to see them go because part of my family was involved in farming, but family farms are going the way of drive-in theaters.
Lots of trades went byebye in years past. Wagon wheel and wagon makers are just one example.