Planting season is a dangerous time as we run ourselves ragged trying to get the crop in.  It also provides some good thinking time.  So here's something to think about -- where will your farm be if you suddenly lose one of your partners to illness or injury?  We don't like to think about that - but if we plan, the future will be a lot less stressful.  For more information, check out this article from Illinois AgriNews.

IL AgriNews 4-30-2010.pdf (514.10 kb)

Lots of market analysts like to talk about the fundamentals that may affect the prices in the next few weeks, but there are some pieces of market advice that can make a big difference in your profitability that have nothing to do with the price of grain tomorrow or even next week.  Arlan Suderman from Farm Futures and Mike Jacobson, a banker from Nebraska spoke on a panel at Commodity Classic in March and had a couple excellent pieces of advice about marketing that you've never even considered.  Take a listen by clicking here.  

For the text of this video segment, click here:  Marketing Tips You Probably Never Thought About

Transferring the farm successfully from one generation to the next is not as easy as it might seem.  The best transfers happen with a thorough discussion and planning session (or two or three) well in advance of the actual transfer of assets.  Many families have a lot of those "things" they'd rather not talk about -- but in this case, it's best when everything is out on the table.  Water Street Solutions' President and CEO Darren Frye talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about making the process a success.

April 26 2010 - Succession Planning - Frye.mp3 (2.75 mb)

Here is a link to more information about the book discussed in the interview.  The book is Crucial Conversations:  Tools for Talking When Stakes are High.

For the text of the interview, click here:  Succession Planning Starts with a Crucial Conversation

This might seem like a strange question -- especially since I'm directing this to farmers.  But when we talk about the most profitable farmers and compare them to those who are not as profitable, sometimes the mindset makes all the difference.  Our panel discussion at Commodity Classic last month hit on the topic of differentiating the most profitable farmers.  If you'd like to know their answers, click here and watch the video.  It's just 5 minutes long.

For the text of this video clip, click here:  Are You a Farmer or a Business Person

What if the unthinkable happened and you lost your farming partner to an accident or illness?  Once the initial grieving ended, you'd be wondering how you can possibly continue to farm without the capital you need to buy out his interest.  No matter how morose, these situations need to be planned for, according to Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions.  Darren talks here with Ken Rahjes from KRVN.

April 19 2010 Protecting the Future of a Farming Partnership - Frye.mp3 (3.15 mb)

For the text of the interview, click here:  Protecting the Future of a Farming Partnership

What are the best farmers doing that you're not?  We asked a panel of ag business experts that question at Commodity Classic, and got a variety of answers.  I'm sure you'll learn something if you click here to check out the video.

For the text of this video segment, click here:  Characteristics of the Most Successful Producers

Well I thought HE was going to do it.  Sound familiar?  Something on the farm that you all agreed needed to be done - wasn't.  Rather than point a finger, let's look at the process for setting up the project, and make sure responsibilities were clearly communicated.  Water Street Solutions' Director of Development Dean Heffta talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about using a process captured in the acronym RACI.  Make sure someone is Accountable, Responsible, Consulted and Informed.  Listen to the interview.    

April 12 2010 Establishing Responsibility - Heffta.mp3 (3.27 mb) 

For the text of the interview, click here:  Establishing Responsibility for Better Results

Being a young farmer just getting started in this business presents its own set of challenges, especially if you're operating without the backing of an entity with experience and assets.  This was one of the lines of discussion with the panel we sponsored at Commodity Classic last month.  If you'd like to listen to the advice of this group, click here.

There are never enough hours in the day.  Come on, you've said it.  But let's think about where we could all be if we could do a better job of delegating.  It sounds like a simple process, but there are a few tricks to doing it well.  Water Street Solutions' Director of Development Dean Heffta talks here with KRVN's Ken Rahjes.

April 5 2010 The Power of Delegation - Heffta.mp3 (3.66 mb)

For the text of the interview, click here: The Power of Delegation