Yet farmers can make less than that.
So what is your point?
So what is your point?
Gator6x4
Super Star Member
If a Farmer is making less than the Federal Minimum Wage in 2025 they better be filing out the papers requesting monetary assistance.
If you work at a 40 hour a week job making the minimum wage, and you work every day you will work 2080 hours in a year. $7.75 x 2080 will give you a gross annual pay of $16,120 dollars or $310.00 weekly before taxes.
Now throw health care, phone service, electrical service, fuel for a vehicle to travel in, groceries, maintenance and upkeep of farm equipment, fuel for farm vehicle(s), etc, etc.
In February 2025, the average electric bill in the United States was $145.44 per month.
According to J.D. Power, the average phone bill is now $141 per month, which is actually down from $156 in 20232. So, that’s good news for gadget lovers far and wide.
According to recent data, the average American household spends around $179 per month on gasoline.
In 2023, the median income for farmers and ranchers in the United States was $83,770 per year. However, the average income of farmers varies depending on the type of farm and the amount of off-farm income.
That's enough. I think you should be able to see the point from the data provided.
Hay Dude
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Amazing how many non-farmers know so much about farming.
Gator6x4
Super Star Member
I have been in, out of and around the farming community all my life. I also know a awful lot of farmers. Most small dirt farmers are retiring the plow. Tobacco and Cotton used to be the go to cash money crops. The demand for these are down. A lot of farmers that used to plant tobacco or cotton have switched to Rape Seed.
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Eagle1
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Median is fine (includes very high earners) and you included OFF FARM income. Now do the bottom 10%, not all farmers a great from day one.
Or do the they not matter?
I know farmers that make 100+k in full time jobs but mostly break even on farm income. It a choice some make or have to make to live the life they want.
How many hours did each of those farmers work. I know that as owner of a private Campground, I worked 10-16 hours seven days a week. Yet only paid myself for 40 hours at state minimum wage as CEO salary, My Choice not a complaint.
I never had Health care, and my average electric was $3000 per month.
5030
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On this forum, what is appropriate and what isn't is entirely up to the moderators last time I checked. I do find moderation on this site to be pretty capricious most times.
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It happens and depending on how much time one is in the swamp eventually everything is seen from the swamp perspective.
I posted a Deere question in the Kubota forum before by mistake…
Number 1 to making money farming or ranching is access to land that makes it possible…
My farmer grandparents said the land is everything… to be cherished and passed down generation to generation.
I posted a Deere question in the Kubota forum before by mistake…
Number 1 to making money farming or ranching is access to land that makes it possible…
My farmer grandparents said the land is everything… to be cherished and passed down generation to generation.
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Did you get a helpful answer?
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Yes… answer was wrong forum with link to the Deere forum…
That's understandable. Kubota owners don't have problems so we wouldn't have any helpful information.
edgarrian
Platinum Member
Those farmers are selling their land for subdivisions. Dont forget that
quicksandfarmer
Elite Member
Joel Salatin's name has come up in this thread, he's written a lot of books about farming.
A critic once said Salatin's technique for farming is simple:
Step 1: Inherit several hundred acres of prime farmland
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Parlay your advantage and build from that…
Flogger
Silver Member
The healthiest farms I know operate without a mortgage. If you are borrowing money to operate every year is a huge gamble.
You can say that about any business, though.
Hay Dude
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Or better yet, farm other people’s land rent free.
No taxes to pay, no property upkeep, no worries about trespassers, vandalism, etc.
Hay Dude
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Maybe there’s some farms operate without a mortgage (mine does), but they likely borrow money for equipment (mine does).
Some do both.
Borrowing money is OK as long as your gross profit and hopefully your income is increasing every year. I had a banker tell me they would not be interested in lending money unless they see an increase in gross profit every year.
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Had a chance to talk with a manager at a multiple location tractor franchise and he said at harvest time a lot of the new equipment you see is leased short term…
It gets the equipment out the door, has full warranty, presents certain tax advantages and dealer is able to sell harvest returns at a discount with factory warranty and service history…
Before, it never occurred to me farmers would lease short term and I had thought they own with a payment book.
It gets the equipment out the door, has full warranty, presents certain tax advantages and dealer is able to sell harvest returns at a discount with factory warranty and service history…
Before, it never occurred to me farmers would lease short term and I had thought they own with a payment book.
Hay Dude
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Leasing is very popular now. Seems like the last step left for affordability of new equipment for farmers. Buying outright is a luxury for huge corporate farms with tens of thousands of acres. Financing can be done, but interest rates along with current prices, are extremely high. It’s nothing for a new 300-400HP tractor to cost $4,000/month. Then there’s the other 12 pieces of equipment and 3 other tractors needed……
Generally, You need to farm 10,000+ acres to afford anything new. And bigger acreage means bigger equipment.
I felt lucky when I found this 300HP tractor with 9K hours and a rebuilt engine and new CVT for $75K. Big farmers would think this tractor is a POS lol. The baler behind it is a 2014 with 25,000 bales through it. Needs regular and expensive repairs to keep it going.
The tractor was also used to plow roads. I bought it without the plowing equipment to save 10K.
I see a lot of smaller farmers in my area are now plowing snow, logging, and doing large area mowing to make a few extra sheckles because farming is becoming more & more expensive every year. I’ve been doing that for years, too.
I still enjoy what I do and despite the expense, I’m able to show a decent profit
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