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

Water Street Solutions will award five college scholarships to ag students for the 2013-14 academic year. The award includes a $1,600 scholarship and tuition to attend the 2013 Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference ($1,000 value). Students from Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Kentucky are eligible to apply for these scholarships, and must be enrolled or intend to enroll in an ag-related four year degree program.

Click here for more information on how to apply.  The deadline to apply is March 15, 2013.

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

Kory Beyl, a Legacy Advisor with Water Street Solutions will be giving two seminars at this year's Triumph of Ag Expo at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.  The title of the session is "How to Kick Start your Family's Succession Plan".  Beyl will discuss the risks involved in not having a plan in place, why you need more than just a will, and how to overcome some of the obstacles to getting started.  Beyl's sessions are Wednesday, March 6th at 12:00 noon and Thursday, March 7th at 1:00 p.m. in Seminar Room #1.

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.

Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions spoke to farmers today in Shenandoah, Iowa at a farm management seminar hosted by City National Bank.  Frye presented a session titled: Winning with Base Hits, where he talked about the importance of continuous good decisions, rather than swinging for a grand slam.  He also did a market outlook session for those in attendance.

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.