End of a Era

[Joe Malinowski]

On a cub express for Buzzarwing I took a ride up to what was for 3 generations my wife's family farm. A small time one man dairy operation milking 60 heads had no future for her uncle. The family divided the farm after her grandmother died and last year the main farm buildings and some acerage was sold. The new owner took down some of the buldings that were too far gone to save. I was pleased to see the work on restoring the barn has begun. Her uncle now works at the local farmers exchange and in his spare time raises some replacement hefers and sells hay.

[Barnyard]

It's a shame to see the old farms dying off. My mothers family farm is now mostly a residental development while my dads family place has sold their's to commercial development. My uncle bought the 80 acres dad farmed and his son now farms it. My place was once a 100+ acre farm until the PO sold off all but the 5 1/2 acres I bought.

I hate to see it all go.

[Joe Malinowski]

Well Bill at least this farm land was put into protection under the APR program so there will be no development for residential or commercial.

[Barnyard]

Well Bill at least this farm land was put into protection under the APR program so there will be no development for residential or commercial.

That's good. Some areas around here are doing that. We have seen huge farms along the intersates turn into malls and new interstate ramps to serve them. Several large farms about 45 minutes from me sold out to Toyota for a new truck factory a few years ago when the big bucks were flashed their way. Now with Toyotas troubles, who knows what might happen. Wal-Mart bought a big tract of land to build a store, Several years later they bought another huge chunk just a mile from that one to build a bigger store. The old one sits empty because of the economy and may never be used again because once they moved other stores moved because of declining business. That land will never be farmed again. Three years ago they bought 54 acres down the road from us to build another store. They tore down all the buildings and the cornfeids grew into massive weed patches that they did not maintain while they waited for zoning approval. The county told them to keep the property mowed but took almost two years before they did. There was a huge protest over the store and zoning did not allow the permits. Wal-mart then offer 14 of the acres to the city to use as a park and also committed to buy us a new $700,000.00 ladder truck for our fire department. When that didn't work they threatened a lawsuit. The city leaders were afraid and were going to give in. Since we have Wal-marts within 15-20 minutes away to the east and west of us, there was a massive campaign amongst area resident who hired an attorney and countersued. Wal-Mart decided they had enough so they put the land up for sale. At least now they are renting the land to an area farmer who can grow crops on it. The land value will probably keep it from ever selling as a far again.

This is not a slam on Wal-Mart, I am only using them as an example of the businesses that are eating up our farms. There are many others out there doing the same.

[dirtyred]

ohio is farm country compared to south ga. what once was dairys and farms are now subdivisions with half the homes for sale and empty or forclosed on half built. we got two walmarts for about 90,000 folks in 3 or 4 counties. they are about six miles apart??? why so close? instead o buying abandoned commercial properties and building they screw up good land. Money talks though and something else walks

[VAcub]

You should have taken the sign with you...

[Glxy500]

Some call it progress. I think they are Goofy. I guess it all over our disappearing America. I really hate to see these big places come in and tear up the land. We had Kia build a plant and sucked up a huge amount of acreage from this area. You're right though, money talks.

[Joe Malinowski]

As for taking the sign the uncle who ran the farm has it at his place he kept about 100 acres, and is playing with a few hefers and some hay just to keep busy. No more dairy though.

[ScottyD'sdad]

One of my sons brought a friend over, who commented on all the "wasted" land, in my neighborhood. I asked what he meant. He said, "open fields, no development" I asked him if he liked to eat. He couldn't make the connection. I told my son, "If you bring him back here, I can't guarantee that he'll leave, with a pulse!" Hasn't been back. Just as well, I like being on the same side of the fence, as the sheriff! Ed

[Buzzard Wing]

It is sad, but that's how it works sometimes. Around here the land is pretty high value but 'conversion' is slowing.

Always amazed about zoning, when you require a big lot you can never have a 'village' anymore. Not only can't walk to the store anymore, but even a visit with the neighbor requires a car. Worse is it forces breaking up farmland/timber land into house lots. All it takes is one kid in school and you lost more tax revenue than you gained by the increase in the tax base.

[ScottyD'sdad]

It is sad, but that's how it works sometimes. Around here the land is pretty high value but 'conversion' is slowing.

All it takes is one kid in school and you lost more tax revenue than you gained by the increase in the tax base.

Larry, they are beginning to notice this, in some towns. Ed

[Buzzard Wing]

Farm or timber land usually has limited need for police, fire, water, sewage, road maintenance, ect. Everybody needs to live somewhere, but few can afford an acre lot. So it also serves to keep a town 'exclusive' by zoning.

I remember many years ago someone complaining that we were chopping corn in the evening and the noise and dust was annoying them. Sorta like moving near an airport and complaining the aircraft make noise. That corn field is exclusive houses now.

One can only hope that folks wake up to where there food comes from and how it is produced. Small farmers just can't compete against 'factory' farms and imported goods and make a decent living. But there is nothing better than local stuff grown by someone who cares about their land and products.

[Super A]

One can only hope that folks wake up to where there food comes from and how it is produced. Small farmers just can't compete against 'factory' farms and imported goods and make a decent living. But there is nothing better than local stuff grown by someone who cares about their land and products.

Small farmers can, but it takes some creativity in finding the right product and the right market. The CSA, the local farmers market, organics, and some other niches are really beginning to catch on. But yes, I hear and agree with all of you. No one ever stops to think about where the food comes from--they just assume if they live close to a wallyworld or a grocery store, they won't go hungry. Plus development drives up the price of land to the point most "regular" people can't afford to buy it for agriculture. So it gets cut into postage stamp-sized lots with an ugly house on each one.


Al

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

My father was always pretty innovative when it came to farming, his machinery was all old, but got the job done. In this area though cattle were the main income and he was pretty sharp at that. His cattle were always well fed, and while they weren't pets, they weren't wild either, so people knew they had had good attention. 45+ years ago he was the first one to breed white faced Herefords to a black Angus bull in this area. A bunch of the old timers gave him a hard way to go for it at first, but then they started watching his calves sell. There were some buyers that had standing orders to be notified when dad's calves came to the local sale barn, and his calves always brought form 30 to 50% more than comparable size calves. I figure if he were still alive and farming, he would be doing organic farming now, and like one of our neighbors who runs a small operation but has private customers who are always waiting for his produce and beef.

[cyriaque]

I'd love to have that sign. It's a great piece of folk art.