The year has been good on the farm, about 5% better in terms of revenues and about 14% in terms of profits. If we consider that 2023 was our best year ever, then the scope of our success cannot be understated. In the end, the wheat and corn businesses were "worth it" only when considering that about half our output was sold internally to various affiliate companies. We may plant wheat again next year for that reason alone, but it was very good at soil stabilization. The excess corn was used mostly to feed our forest pigs. We harvested about a dozen pigs this year, and 120 cows too. Our mini slaughterhouse also processed 40 pigs and 200 cows from neighbours, which meant that our plant was operating at 60% of rated capacity, but at 90% for our team in the slaughterhouse. Energy-wise we did well, we only purchased 10,000 gallons of diesel, which is good, but diesel prices have been declining for two years now, ...
Life of a Norfolk farmer