Continuing education is a regular part of what goes on at Water Street Solutions.  A group of our clients are in the Peoria office this week learning from each other and from Water Street staff.  Here, Dean Heffta, Senior Director of Development, works through Forte' personality profiles with attendees.  Each person at the forum fills out a short online survey and the results are revealed during this session.  Those in the room learn ways to improve their communications with their partners, employees, family and Water Street advisors.

Re-evaluating how we've been doing things or trying something different than what our neighbors are doing can help take our farm operations to the next level. This month, Dean Heffta, Senior Director of Development at Water Street Solutions talks about how thinking differently can be an advantage on the farm in his Profits column in Corn and Soybean Digest.  Read it HERE.

The first thing we usually think about in terms of growing the farm is adding more acres. But are there other things you can do to increase your revenue - without buying or cash renting more land? This month in Money Matters in Indiana AgriNews, Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions talks about the other areas of your farm business that affect your profitability the most - and some things you can do.

INAgrinews_2013_Feb_More land isn't the only way to increase revenue

Land prices are rising, in part because farmers compete for it in order to grow their operations.  Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions looks at this another way - other ways to add profit without the expense of adding acres.  He talks about this with Dewey Nelson from KRVN.   Growing the Farm Without Adding Acres - Frye AUDIO

For the text of the interview, click here: Growing the Farm without Adding Acres

In the next 20 years, 60% of U.S. farmland, or about 108 million acres, is going to change hands. So what's going to happen to your rental ground - and how do your relationships with your landlords fit into that picture? In his weekly Finance First post on www.farmfutures.com, Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions talks about what you can do now to reduce uncertainty about your rental ground.  Read it HERE.

Everybody's thinking about farming more acres.  But what about squeezing more money out of the acres that you already have access to?  That's the idea that Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions talks about this month in AgriNews.  Read the column HERE.

Do you know a high school senior who is planning to go to college and major in agriculture?  Our company is offering five scholarships again this year.  I talked about this program with Dewey Nelson from KRVN.  Water Street Solutions Scholarship Program - Lang AUDIO 

Not just high school seniors are eligible.  If you are already enrolled in an ag program at college with at least one year remaining, you can also apply.  We are accepting applications from students originally from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio this year.  Apply HERE.

For the text of the interview, click here: Scholarships for Agriculture Students

Many farmers don't plan for their death, because they never plan to die....let alone retire.  But retirement from the farm can allow some time for things you've always been wanting to do - or just a gradual ratcheting down of responsibilities.  Water Street Solutions Legacy Advisor Brian Hensley talks here with WIRL's DeAnna Thomas about this topic.  Retirement Hensley AUDIO

If you're thinking about how to transfer the farm to the next generation, you're probably already running a successful operation. But how can the next leader of the farm best draw on your years of experience? In his weekly Finance First post on www.farmfutures.com, Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions has some ideas about how to get all generations on the same page about the future of the farm. Read it HERE.

The land market is hot right now.  But you might not necessarily have to compete for new ground if your ultimate goal is to add revenue.  In his weekly Finance First post on www.farmfutures.com, Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions talks about some ways to grow your operation in four key areas - without more land.  Read it HERE.