 |
"The biggest reason (for leaving dairy farming) is retirement…after thirty years or so it’s time for somebody else, and in many cases the next generation just is not going to do it. The small farms are having a tough time."
|
David Williams is leaving dairy farming partly for this very reason. "It’s a factor. It would be nice if there was one of the kids was here to take over or I could just help out a little bit. I’ve got to where I really don’t want to and I don’t feel like being there seven days a week and milking twice a day." This combined with other family concerns led to his decision to end his dairy operation. "Another reason I’m selling is that my wife has melanoma skin cancer and we’ve been on treatment a little over a year and a half now. Her treatment will be through in October (2001) and I thought we could take a little time and travel a little bit now. We should do it now while we’re feeling good. When she gets her energy back after this treatment we should spend some time together besides just farming."
Auctioneer Reg Lussier increasingly encounters this situation as the population of Northern New England’s dairy farmers ages. "The little family farm that can be handed down is great, but there comes a time when if you don’t have help you just can’t get it done, it starts going backward. Some people we’ve had sales for, that’s what they tell us. We know where it’s headed and we don’t want to get there. You’re just too tired, you’re falling behind, maybe dollar wise your holding up, physically and emotionally your falling down." Lussier says that most of his farm auctions are held for farmers who have reached this point. "The biggest reason is retirement…after thirty years or so it’s time for somebody else, and in many cases the next generation just is not going to do it. The small farms are having a tough time."
 Children who leave the farm may not make that decision solely by themselves. Some dairy farmers, tired of getting less of a return on their investment while working harder than ever before encourage their children to not follow them into a life of farming. They feel that their children would be better off pursuing something more lucrative and less taxing, in short so that they can have a better life. Reg Lussier often hears this from dairy farmers. "They can just do so much better doing something else. A guy can work seven days a week and fourteen hours a day in the barn or he can sort mail in the post office with benefits and be way ahead of the game." Ted Foster has not told his children to stay out of farming but has told them that it’s beneficial to consider other options. "I encouraged them to look into other things for awhile and if they really wanted to come back to the farm, come back, but not jump right into it and have the feeling that they have to stay here."
|
|
|
|
|
|
