MARGIN PROTECTION… IS IT FOR YOU?
Today we are farming in very different economic times. Inputs and crop prices are high compared to the last few years. In the last 40 years of agriculture, I have never seen the market volatility that we are currently experiencing. Many people speculate that the market unrest may not stop and that we could be […]
FROM SIMPLE PROJECT TO PROFITABLE BUSINESS
There have been many changes in livestock production over the last 20 –30 years. The most notable change has been the movement to raise livestock in buildings. It started with poultry, moved on to swine, then cattle, and now sheep and goats. It’s a change driven by sky rocketing land prices or where land is […]
MAXIMIZING YOUR FERTILIZER INPUTS
Whether you are a cow calf producer making your living of grass or a row crop farmer we all have a similar concern- fertilizer prices. Fertilizer prices have increase by nearly 100% in the last two years. This rise is due to a multiple reasons. Rapidly increasing input costs, the disruption of supplies caused by […]
LRP- POTENTIAL BENEFIT TO YOUR OPERATION
This year has seen a dramatic increase in the usage of the Livestock Risk Protection program by producers. You surely have seen articles about it in ag magazines, heard about it from podcasters like Corbitt Wall, or been to livestock meetings where speakers have mentioned it as a risk management tool. From July 2021 to […]
CATTLE CYCLES
The July USDA cattle report confirms that we are currently in the liquidation phase of the cattle cycle. Cattle cycles generally run ten years from peak to peak, but all can vary. To date, we have reduced approximately 7% of our breeding herd. In past cycles that could have indicated a bottom, however with current […]
Aflatoxin
During years like this where some areas were very hot and dry, we tend see diminished gain quality. Aflatoxin is just one of the toxins that can be present in grain when a crop goes through these types of conditions. Even though aflatoxin is the most damaging and harmful to animals there are other mycotoxins […]
BEEF MARKETING
Beef markets –What to expect. Drought and higher feed prices have caused producers to send more livestock to slaughter over the past year. In 2023 our beef supply will be reduced by 5.6%. This is the largest reduction in annual supply for the last 36 years. Shorter supplies usually mean higher prices. This is positive […]
Transporting Grain
While traveling across the Midwest it is not uncommon to see elevators with mountains of grain on the ground. Have you ever wondered just how many bushels are in these piles? The elevator in the above picture from the first of December still had four piles on the ground, accounting for 1.3 million bushels per […]
TRANSPORTING GRAIN
While traveling across the Midwest it is not uncommon to see elevators with mountains of grain on the ground. Have you ever wondered just how many bushels are in these piles? The elevator in the above picture from the first of December still had four piles on the ground, accounting for 1.3 million bushels per […]
Farm Estate Planning– Back to the Future is Now
Farm Estate Planning – Back to the Future is Now Seven Steps to Take Before Time Runs Out Bobby Medlin, CPA Family farming operations are a vital part of America; more than at any point in history. Will your family’s operation survive for future generations or will challenges transferring ownership to family members be the […]