There is no way to read this, to leave a ♥️ and not comment. Your writing is stunning. I will be reading every word from here on out. But more than that, this is so important. I am not a farmer, but I work with farmers. Small farmers mostly. I got a DM the other day from a farmer who I thought was recommending a podcast episode to me. She said "I cried through the first four minutes of xxx podcast." And then I realized it was an episode from my podcast. It was about what small farms need in 2026, a simple episode noting that we need a bit of a revolution. She went on to say this: "The exhastion from having to bend more, explain more is real. I did not realize until listening this morning how all of that on top of feed bills, frozen water buckets, and broken equipment really makes a farming family want to throw in the towel. Thank you for illustrating with words the emotions that bog us down." Anyway, I wanted to say that FWIW I see you and the rest of the farmers who are dealing with the fact that our food system is deeply flawed and that it's taking a real toll on the people we need so desperately to farm. Keep writing. I will be here hanging on every word. Thanks, Adam.
100% on target! Most people don't see what goes on before the supermarket; they only know they're hungry.
Few realize the risk for no reward that is farming. Razor thin margins, high probability of failure, little control over production and production tightly regulated by people who couldn't grow a houseplant on their windowsill.
Yet, its a critical occupation for society's survival.
Great article Adam. Bought the farm in 72, two year later interest on mortgage hit 24%. Got through that OK though times I dared not open the letters from the bank for days, then the 82 crash in prices hit hard. But now feel sorry for those feed salesmen who would called every week. If I saw them coming I would disappear out of sight to avoid them rather than tell them that no I could not change to their feed as was a month behind on paying so could not change supplier.They had an impossible job. Especially sorry for one who was the son of a local feed mill owner. He was incredibly shy and tongue-tied like me. Worst job possible for the poor boy. When the mill was sold off for a housing estate he became a lorry driver. Sometimes us farmers forget that the other side, the suppliers, suffer mentally as well when farming goes downhill. We are in it together and need to look out for each other.
Keep the faith young man. The cure for low prices is low prices. It’s always darkest before the dawn. I have seen this cycle before and so have you. The fact that you went puts you ahead of 95% of the farmers. Ignore anyone who tells you the farm sector equity is strong Those landlords that have no debt are not coming to help you out. The only equity that matters is yours.
Another so well-written piece, Adam. Thank you. You’re impacting more people than you’ll ever know. A business coach once taught me about “lurkers,” the many people who read posts and never react or comment. I’m often one of them. There are far more people paying attention to your wisdom than you realize. Keep lighting the path, brother.
Thank you for sharing. Small scale dairy farmer, like one cow and a few sheep, and volunteer labor on the family beef ranch. I don't deal in numbers, Uncle Louie covers that. I couldn't sell milk or cheese and cover the cost of keeping a cow. People are so disconnected from what food is and where it comes from, they will be very hungry when farmers can't farm. Your words are powerful, thanks for sharing.
This is powerful stuff. The empty chairs say everything, don't they? People will show up for economics talk but bail when feelings enter the conversation. I've noticed that pattern outside farming too, tho maybe it's more visible in ag because the stakes are so damn high. The freeze response comparison is spot-on. Takes guts to write this.
Adam, the only legible and coherent response I have to your writing is stunned silence. As Job's friends did, before they opened their mouths to show what fools they were I think I'll just sit here with you for a while.
There is no way to read this, to leave a ♥️ and not comment. Your writing is stunning. I will be reading every word from here on out. But more than that, this is so important. I am not a farmer, but I work with farmers. Small farmers mostly. I got a DM the other day from a farmer who I thought was recommending a podcast episode to me. She said "I cried through the first four minutes of xxx podcast." And then I realized it was an episode from my podcast. It was about what small farms need in 2026, a simple episode noting that we need a bit of a revolution. She went on to say this: "The exhastion from having to bend more, explain more is real. I did not realize until listening this morning how all of that on top of feed bills, frozen water buckets, and broken equipment really makes a farming family want to throw in the towel. Thank you for illustrating with words the emotions that bog us down." Anyway, I wanted to say that FWIW I see you and the rest of the farmers who are dealing with the fact that our food system is deeply flawed and that it's taking a real toll on the people we need so desperately to farm. Keep writing. I will be here hanging on every word. Thanks, Adam.
Dana, I’m so glad you found Adam!
He’s a great writer. Well worth the effort to go through and read several of his past articles. I can recommend some of my favorites.
Also, check some of the podcasts Adam and I did together. We tackled some tough topics.
XOXO
Well, wow. I guess it makes sense that I found him. No wonder. You always know. Would love to be directed. Always. Thanks, xo
100% on target! Most people don't see what goes on before the supermarket; they only know they're hungry.
Few realize the risk for no reward that is farming. Razor thin margins, high probability of failure, little control over production and production tightly regulated by people who couldn't grow a houseplant on their windowsill.
Yet, its a critical occupation for society's survival.
Great article Adam. Bought the farm in 72, two year later interest on mortgage hit 24%. Got through that OK though times I dared not open the letters from the bank for days, then the 82 crash in prices hit hard. But now feel sorry for those feed salesmen who would called every week. If I saw them coming I would disappear out of sight to avoid them rather than tell them that no I could not change to their feed as was a month behind on paying so could not change supplier.They had an impossible job. Especially sorry for one who was the son of a local feed mill owner. He was incredibly shy and tongue-tied like me. Worst job possible for the poor boy. When the mill was sold off for a housing estate he became a lorry driver. Sometimes us farmers forget that the other side, the suppliers, suffer mentally as well when farming goes downhill. We are in it together and need to look out for each other.
Keep the faith young man. The cure for low prices is low prices. It’s always darkest before the dawn. I have seen this cycle before and so have you. The fact that you went puts you ahead of 95% of the farmers. Ignore anyone who tells you the farm sector equity is strong Those landlords that have no debt are not coming to help you out. The only equity that matters is yours.
If no one was talking about farmer mental health 2 years ago, perhaps your writing about it made an impact.
Your words matter & things do take a long time.
Great article, Adam. Like Dana said, your writing is stunning, and I'm here for it!
Another so well-written piece, Adam. Thank you. You’re impacting more people than you’ll ever know. A business coach once taught me about “lurkers,” the many people who read posts and never react or comment. I’m often one of them. There are far more people paying attention to your wisdom than you realize. Keep lighting the path, brother.
Thank you for sharing. Small scale dairy farmer, like one cow and a few sheep, and volunteer labor on the family beef ranch. I don't deal in numbers, Uncle Louie covers that. I couldn't sell milk or cheese and cover the cost of keeping a cow. People are so disconnected from what food is and where it comes from, they will be very hungry when farmers can't farm. Your words are powerful, thanks for sharing.
This is powerful stuff. The empty chairs say everything, don't they? People will show up for economics talk but bail when feelings enter the conversation. I've noticed that pattern outside farming too, tho maybe it's more visible in ag because the stakes are so damn high. The freeze response comparison is spot-on. Takes guts to write this.
Adam, the only legible and coherent response I have to your writing is stunned silence. As Job's friends did, before they opened their mouths to show what fools they were I think I'll just sit here with you for a while.