There is more manure produced here than can be composted. What I mean is, most manure is produced by the dairies. So, there are 60+ dairies in the area at about 5,000 cows per dairy. That's alot of #$%&! LOL! Dairymen don't have time to worry about the time to compost it. They want their manure out NOW.

Just to throw a couple more numbers out there, personal ones.
I farm 1,200 acres. Didn't know if I had mentioned that before. I also ranch an additional 1,200 acres. So my husband and I alone operate 2,400 acres. Add my FIL into the mix, he ranches 5,800 acres, farms 240 acres (he is more or less retired, too). 2 yards sure won't go far here, I would hate to think of what it would cost for us to buy composted manure to spread on 1,200 acres. Yikes!! It would take years of crops to justify the cost of that, and by the time it did, it would be time to do it all over again!

I have no plans to farm organically. Sorry. We don't have the time or the money to worry about $#@# like that. Not to mention the government being more in our business. Nope. I don't think so.

Anhata, I never said you were ignorant about farming. But you will probably never be in my shoes (or boots! LOL!). This topic will have to be something that you and I (and Lynn) will probably always disagree on. Also, farming here in the desert is MUCH different than farming in the midwest or where ya'll live. I don't doubt you know something about farming in those places, but it's different here.

And you know what. Fine, take away the subsidies from both agribusiness and family farms. Just as long as the prices on my crops go up, that's fine with me. I'm not for welfare for the farmers either. I'm a Republican, after all. Big Business, big military, small government. But if it is the only way we can farm, then I guess I'll take it. I sure am not going to move to the city and get a "real" job. I pray I will always live where I can piss off my porch if I so desire (ok, my husband and my sons can piss off the porch, I don't have the equipment. hehehe). And where I can scream til my hearts content and not have anyone but the cows and horses hear me.

FWIW, my DH is currently taking an EMT course at the community college. He is currently thinking about trying to get hired on at the fire dept. in town. Not for the money. But because he enjoys fighting fires and driving big trucks with sirens, and for the medical insurance and retirement plan. The latter two are a couple of disadvantages to farming. We have neither. And working 24 on/48 off, we can still farm.

Oh, yeah. This blog was about something else, wasn't it? LOL! Ok, so I guess what I was REALLY wanting to say in the beginning was, family farms ARE getting the subsidies, it's not all going to big cooperate farms.

And now, I'm off to frost cupcakes to contribute to the obesity of the children in our preschool. It's my son's 4th birthday and I have snack duty! hehehe! (smile guys! that was a joke! about the obesity. I am making cupcakes. Triple Chocolate Fudge ones with Chocolate Chip frosting!! Yummy!)