Random Smallville Thought

[eeyore1017]

This popped into my head while I was trying to fall asleep (again) last night:

If the Kent Farm has been in the family for generations, wouldn't the mortgage be paid off by now? Was money tight for other reasons? Or maybe that's just my simple mind, thinking too hard...

Comments

[jlvsclrk]

Presumably they kept opening up second mortgages when they had a bad year or needed to purchase some farm equipment or replace a truck or replace a herd of dead cows...

[eeyore1017]

That makes sense to me! :-)

[jeannev]

I would think 2nd mortgages, and other loans would've explained the financial burdens.

[eeyore1017]

I definitely don't understand all the financial stuff like mortgages, etc...I guess they would take out 2nd/3rd/whatever mortgages to pay for stuff other than the house though.

[chatchien]

Family farming is Boom or Bust.

One year, corn, soybeans, wheat or whatever is paying sky high prices on the commodities market, and the next year the prices have dropped so low that a farmer can't cover his expenses when he/she goes to market. And farming is very expense intensive---why do you think that Clark keeps tinkering with his tractor? A new one is too expensive.

In a bad year, a farmer would mortgage his land so that he/she can cover expenses and startup for the next year. Breeding stock has got to be fed and maintained and taxes have to be paid regardless of how good or bad the year was. And a farmer is an optimist, always hoping for another good year.

[eeyore1017]

I guess when I was trying to fall asleep at 5 this morning, I wasn't thinking all of that through. :-) It all makes sense now though, thank you.

[eeyore1017]

Maybe they had really good insurance that included Kryptonite explosions and other "unnatural" disasters? :-)