Farming is confining. The farmer's life must be arranged to meet the demands of crops and livestock.

Livestock must be tended every day, routinely. A slight change in the work schedule may cut the production of cows or chickens.

Even if there are no livestock, the farmer cannot leave the farm for long periods, particularly during the growing season.

The worker who lives on a farm cannot change jobs readily. He cannot leave the farm to take work in another locality on short notice; such a move may mean a loss of capital.

Hard physical labor and undesirable hours are a part of farm life. The farmer must get up early, and, at times, work late at night. Frequently he must work long hours in the hot sun or cold rain. No matter how well work is planned, bad weather or unexpected setbacks can cause extra work that must be caught up.

It may not be profitable for a part-time farmer to own the labor-saving machinery that a full-time farmer can invest in profitably.

Production may fall far below expectations. Drought, hail, disease, and insects take their toll of crops. Sickness or loss of some of the livestock may cut into the owner's earnings, even into his capital.

Returns for money and labor invested may be small even in a good year.

The high cost of land, supplies, and labor make it difficult to farm profitably on a part-time basis. Land within commuting distance of a growing city is usually high in price, higher if it has subdivision possibilities. Part-time farmers generally must pay higher prices for supplies than full-time farmers because they buy in smaller quantities. If the farm is in an industrial area where wages are high, farm labor costs will also be high.