SEGMENT: CHANGES IN FARM BUSINESS, FARM EQUIPMENT, & NEIGHBORS
Milton Lambert>NIU Collection>NIU Collection, Segment 13
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- CHANGES IN FARM BUSINESS
- Milton raised livestock until 1970 because labor got to be problem. Didn't continue with oats & hay which were used for the livestock, but were not a good cash crop.
- CROPS
- Focused on corn and soy beans, the main paying crops. Raised peas and sweet corn, contract with Del Monte, very touchy business. Possible for one farmer to make good money and a neighbor might not. Peas are tricky to raise. Talks about sweet corn and field corn.
- FARM BUSINESS
- Milton thinks he did well overall, different than guaranteed income, talks about the unpredictability of farming, the importance of saving. Always managed to get by and take a small vacation, did camping trips.
- TRAVEL
- Made these trips with sister and her family. Even went to Alaska one summer, have been all over. Mentions the gasoline bill for a whole trip was $60!
- FARM EQUIPMENT
- Had small, used equipment when he started out, lists some of the tractors and plows. Eventually acquired more land and equipment. Had to ration your money. Talks about profitable time, keeping up with the neighbors, then there was a bust.
- NEIGHBORS
- Recalls the differences in neighbors from the past to the present, more cooperation when more labor was needed in earlier days, sharing of equipment, helping each other. Milton guesses people have more money today, they do more farming, so they have money to hire people.
