This harvest season is bringing with it many tricks and not nearly enough treats!  If you're finding challenges in the field that have more to do with risk management (crop insurance and marketing) than production, give us a call.  We'll help with the tough decisions!

Be safe in the fields!

With the pace of life these days, it's easy to feel like you have lost control of your own destiny or your own business....like life, or business is managing you, instead of you managing it.  Director Dean Heffta talks here with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about retaking that control by taking a big picture look at your business and putting some structure to the process with goals.  Goal setting, done the right way can set up a path to success and help you feel like you're in the driver's seat again.  Dean talks through the process of SMART goals.  Download the worksheet he discusses here.  SMART Goal Worksheet

Oct 26 2009 Are You Running the Farm -- Heffta.mp3 (3.10 mb)

Darren Frye has been scheduled to speak at the Nebraska Ag Classic, which is the joint meeting of many of Nebraska's ag commodity groups:  Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Corn Growers, Nebraska Farm Business, Nebraska Soybean Board, Nebraska Soybean Association, Nebraska Wheat Board, Nebraska Wheat Growers Association, Nebraska LEAD Alumni, Nebraska AgRelations, Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers, Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board and Nebraska Grain & Feed.

Darren's topic is "Controlling What You Can Control" and it gets to the very root of what we do in our business...finding the factors that you can shape and influence to make your financial destiny and your dreams match up.  Here's a link to the program, and you can register online.  The event will be held December 1-3 at the Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln.

Pending taxes are not a good reason to be making purchases.  It's something a lot of farmers do though.  We talked last week about this concept as it relates to equipment purchases.  This time, we're addressing land purchases....specifically if a farmer is selling land near a city and looking at a pile of capital gains taxes.  Darren's Frye talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about the considerations in this situation.

Oct 19 2009 Paying Taxes Continued - Frye.mp3 (2.70 mb)

When I joined Water Street Solutions, I didn't fully understand the kind of company I was getting myself into.  I've been pleasantly surprised to find a group of people who are committed to doing the right thing.....even though sometimes it's not the easy thing....to help farmers.  I had a chance to talk on tape, one-on-one with CEO Darren Frye about the company.  Listen in.

What Sets Water Street Solutions Apart - Frye.MP3 (4.41 mb)

OK, you read the title.  Before you start throwing anything at the computer screen, just take a few minutes to listen to this interview.  It could help you with your strategy for building your working capital and moving your operation, financially, to a better place.  CEO Darren Frye talks here with KRVN's Ken Rahjes.

Oct 12 2009 Sometimes It's a Good Thing to Pay Taxes - Frye.mp3 (2.59 mb)

Here's an article that ran a little while back in the Illinois AgriNews.  I wanted to share it with you, because it does a good job of explaining how our business works.

Illinois AgriNews Jul 31 2009 B.pdf (34.92 kb)

Water Street Solutions' Director of Field Operations Dean Heffta spoke with Max Armstrong at the 2009 Farm Progress Show.  Click here to view this interview about our company.

Growers are seeing some challenges this year with White Mold in soybeans and Diplodia in corn.  Some years it's Aflatoxin.  Other times crops can be plagued with an early freeze.  What do these four problems have in common?  Lower revenue for the grower from a damaged crop, and a potential crop insurance claim.  So what should you do?

• Protect the crop from further damage by providing sufficient care
• Contact your crop insurance agency and have them get in touch with the company that insures you within 72 hours of when you first discovered the damage.  This is critical.  You need to give notice, by unit, for each insured crop
• Leave representative samples, if required
• If it's frost damage to immature crops, notify your agent immediately.  Appraisals on these crops will be deferred 7-10 days but the notice of loss needs to be submitted ASAP

Quality Adjustment Factors (QAF) apply to discounts for:

• Grade
• Low test weight
• Excessive kernel damage
• Sample grade factors (musty/sour odor)

In the case of Diplodia, it doesn't produce harmful toxins, but an immediate claim is important.  Adjusters will use grain tickets or take bin samples to process claims.  There are discount factors (DF) that apply to substances like Aflatoxin, which are dangerous to consume.  If you suspect any mycotoxins - NOTIFY YOUR CROP INSURANCE AGENT IMMEDIATELY.  Samples need to be taken by an adjuster PRIOR to on-farm or commercial storage.  In this case, samples cannot be pulled from the bin or grain bags. 

Time in the combine will certainly get you to thinking about the big picture of your farming operation.  And with that, often we've got purchases on the brain.  How do you prevent yourself from having those be emotional decisions - and keep the focus instead on your business strategy?  Chip Nellinger tells KRVN's Ken Rahjes it has a lot to do with running the numbers.

Oct 5 2009 Feasibility Studies - Nellinger.mp3 (3.66 mb)