Michael Lewis

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@MichiganWings @MrBravoIA We had a DB get hurt and not sub out led 2easy TD for Michigan. Without that happening yeah Michigan moved the ball some but couldn’t score. Our defense is legit like usual now we have some more offensive firepower. Not sure why we didn’t get agressive until the 4th quarter.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

Hank Brown and Vander Zee absolute studs. Go hawks

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@steffensenry25 @ElliottHenders7 There are kids who want to farm for sure. No doubt.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

Seeing a lot of talk on here about H2A labor hollowing out rural America. I disagree. There are way less farmers now! All those families are in Waukee, Johnston, etc working corporate jobs that pay better with less risk and stress. Rural areas thrived thru farm families.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@ElliottHenders7 @steffensenry25 Not sure I’m following you here

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@steffensenry25 @ElliottHenders7 IMO school systems are dying here because there are no farm families left or not enough to support a school. In addition all the businesses that depended on these families are gone too. Demographic has changed now.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@steffensenry25 @ElliottHenders7 Where large farmers are doing this then yeah I can definitely see your point but around here most farmers are just working themselves to death because they can’t afford to pay anyone or find them. I can’t get my head around that local labor shortages are caused by H2A.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@_TheMizzouTiger I think if u read my other posts u will find that I am actually saying H2A is just a result of a much bigger problem and to focus on it is short sighted.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@ElliottHenders7 And I don't see a bunch of H2A workers around here working for farmers.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@ElliottHenders7 Not around here it is. At least from what I have seen or know. I don't claim to know the entire midwest but the H2A workers wouldn't be here if the ag industry was healthy.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@Sleekbird870 @ElliottHenders7 No I am saying don't pay rent knowing you are going lose money year after year. That is screwing up the market. I would argue a lot of these guys don't even know their true numbers. Why would landlords lower rent in current environment?

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@BuxaKevin yes IMO because they don't treat the decision like they are running a business. Just like the idea of looking bigger and paying John Deere more money or using another business to subsidize it.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

@ElliottHenders7 My point is H2A labor isn't the cause of the situation. It is only a result of the current ag environment. I don't agree that all gov't payments have been needed but until the USDA does a better job of reporting yields allowing us to make good business decisions they are needed

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

operations aren't immune from what I am worried about which is grain farming going the way that the hog industry did. Supply chain consolidation down to the farm ground level.

[Michael Lewis @LewisFarmsIA]

I realize some of my thoughts are all over the place here but I am very concerned about the future of ag. Young guys are in a very bad spot to get in unless the land base is there without debt. I applaud those operations who have built that over the years. But even those