The run up in grain prices last year may have presented some with a great opportunity, but for many growers, it messed with our ideas about what our crop is worth.  This is evidenced by the large number of growers who haven't priced this year's crop.  Some are still waiting to market their '08 crop.  All of this creates panic.  Jason Ladman talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about acknowledging the past and being able to move forward in a better direction....with a plan.

Sept 28 2009 Removing the Panic Creating a Plan - Ladman.mp3 (1.98 mb)

It's easy to fill your day by completing the tasks on your to-do list.  And it feels pretty good when you get to check a lot of them off at the end of the day.  But let's take this a step further.  How many of the things on your list are really strategic and will advance your farming operation?  How do you get in that strategic mode?  Jason Ladman talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about starting the process with a SWOT analysis of your farm.  It's a successful business tool that's been around for decades...so why not bring it to the farm?

Sept 21 2009 A SWOT Analysis of Your Farm - Ladman.mp3 (2.05 mb)

Can you believe the beautiful weather we had this year for Husker Harvest Days?!  Three perfect days presented us with a great chance to see many of you, our customers and future customers.  All of the Water Street Solutions' Nebraska-based team was on hand at some point during the show.  

We thought you'd like to see some of the specifics and a few pictures taken during the recent crop tour in Central Illinois.  Water Street Solutions' CEO Darren Frye has been making this tour along a similar route since 1998.  The areas are selected because they present a good capsule of what's available in Illinois, a good to average representation of the state's soils. 

Here's what the corn looks like near Arcola, Illinois.  For more details from all of the stops, open this file.

2009 Central Illinois crop tour.pdf (1.67 mb)

Darren Frye did some field touring over the weekend, stopping at 10 locations in central Illinois to take a close look at the crops.  His overall assessment is that the crop is underdeveloped and needs about 25 - 30 more days to reach maturity.  He says soybean pod counts are less than normal for this time of year.  Here are the numbers from the fields he checked.

                                           Corn                                 Bean Pods/Plant     

South of Bloomington        164.8                                           43.0         
Wapella                                203.6                                           14.2    
South of Maroa                    186.0                                           32.4                
South of Decatur                 175.0                                           34.2           
North of Pana                      154.4                                            25.0
East of Shelbyville              147.5                                            15.8                 
Arcola                                    136.5                                            28.0         
Tuscola                                 214.7                                           25.2            
Rantoul                                 159.7                                           38.6        
Downs                                   202.3                                           16.2

Average                                 174.4                                           27.3

There are some dates to watch to keep things rolling on your crop insurance.  September 30th is the sales closing deadline for fall seeded wheat, according to Crop Insurance Specialist Steve Jackson.  He talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about that....and the importance of the month of October to revenue policies.

Sept 14 2009 Crop Insurance Deadlines - Jackson.mp3 (1.73 mb)

With this year's late planted crops, early frost damage concerns are multiplying.  In order to provide for the additional risk on the 2009 crop, Water Street Solutions has access to a company that issues early frost damage contracts for the producer who wants to protect the "deductible portion" of their MPCI policy, or if there are worries on the last planted fields.  Please contact your Crop Insurance Specialist if this is a concern for you.

Just can't crunch enough numbers when it comes to figuring out and guiding the financial health of your farm.  Here Chip Nellinger continues his conversation with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about what numbers to watch, and what they can tell you.

Sept 8 2009 More Financial Benchmarks - Nellinger.mp3 (3.70 mb)

Water Street Solutions can help farmers take a new look at the business side of their farming operation.  Director of Field Operations, Dean Heffta talks here with Dave Russell of the Brownfield Network about how our business works.

Sept 3 2009 Evaluating Your Operation - Heffta.mp3 (1.75 mb)

If you're shooting at something, it's a easier if the target is obvious, and within your scope.  Such if the case with financial benchmarks.  Many of our customers, as we work with them on their financial analysis, will ask what numbers they're supposed to hit to be profitable....or what numbers other farmers are hitting.  Chip Nellinger talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about some of these financial benchmarks.

Sept 1 2009 Financial Benchmarks - Nellinger.mp3 (2.78 mb)