Running a farm operation requires year-round planning, preparation, and being two steps ahead. With the spring season nearly upon us, the rush is on to get corn, soybeans, wheat, and other crops planted.
As the US farm economy grapples with unprecedented challenges, producers find themselves at a crossroads, with dwindling options and growing uncertainty. Producers and economists alike are concerned about the outlook for the US farm economy. The recent downturn in commodity prices, coupled with stubbornly high input costs, has left many operators struggling to break even.…
In 2003, Michael Lewis authored Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. If you’ve seen the movie version, you know it’s based on the career of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, who bucked conventional scouting by drafting players with a quiet, statistical edge. Rather than competing for stars, Beane—in a disadvantaged revenue situation…
With cash rents, repair bills, and other expenses coming due, you may be anxious to sell some of your harvest grain. But a cash-only sale has a drawback: you walk away from potential upside in the market. And storing that grain has its own risks. Now there are two alternatives. Here to walk through two…
Corn and soybean markets have been discouraging lately, to say the least. Trade uncertainty, changing world demand, fund positions, and large crop projections have created a crazy environment around commodity prices. It’s natural to fear what’s next and wonder what you can do to keep your operation on sound footing. While we don’t pretend to…
Please join us for live podcast recordings of “In the Driver’s Seat” episodes. Look through the following schedule for the topics you’re most interested in, then grab a seat for an entertaining and informative discussion. Tuesday, 8/27 9:00am Preserving Quality in Your Grain How to handle, store, and keep grain high quality for the…
Locks and dams along the Illinois River have been in operation for over 50 years and need occasional repair. Unlike previous river upgrades scheduled during the winter months, this year there will be major work on Illinois lock and dam structures beginning in July 2020. The following video interview from the Farm Progress Show dives…
