Today we saw the familar face of IT Manager John Parise back in the office at 601 SW Water Street.  He's spent the past 6 months in Germany as Delta Troop Commander with the Illinois Air National Guard 264th Combat Communications Squadron, 5th Communications Support Element.  This evening John and some of his Water Street cohorts celebrated his return with too much food at the Burger Barge.  It's great to have you back, John!

If you're wondering what the government has in store for Crop Insurance for next season, check out page 2 of our newsletter.

September 2010 Crop Insurance Newsletter

A strong marketing strategy is not about having a crystal ball.  A good market advisor tracks the pieces of the economy and production that influence prices, but ultimately, no one can predict every market move.  History shows us that often good pricing opportunities come during the growing season.  Water Street Solutions Market Advisor Chip Nellinger talks here with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about marketing your crop during the growing season. 

July 6 2010 Marketing during THIS growing season Nellinger.mp3 (4.97 mb)

For the text of the interview, click here.  Marketing During THIS Growing Season

Marketing your crop is tough if you don't follow a strategy.  A good strategy involves knowing ahead of time what price you need to get out of the market because you know where you stand financially and what number you have to hit to handle your long term break evens, which include short term and long term debt, depreciation, family living expenses and profitability.  The next element that has to be in place is risk management.  KRVN's Ken Rahjes talks about this with Water Street Solutions' Market Advisor Chip Nellinger.

June 28 2010 Risk Management Key to Your Marketing Strategy.mp3 (4.58 mb)

For the text of the interview, click here:  Risk Management Key to Your Marketing Strategy

As you dive into the business metrics of agriculture, you start tracking Return on Assets and Return on Equity.  Whether you own or rent the land that you farm determines your target numbers in these categories.  In this video, Arlan Suderman of Farm Futures and Mike Jacobson talk through some of these issues.  If you have four minutes, you might just learn something new.

For the text of this segment, click here:  Renting Vs Owning Land and the Impact on ROA and ROE

The price tag is usually high when we're talking about shopping for the farm.  We buy equipment, land, storage buildings, make tiling and irrigation improvements.  Purchases on any of these items should made after some serious thought about the impact on the farm -- both the workings of the farm and the future capital position.  KRVN's Ken Rahjes talks with Water Street Solutions' President and CEO Darren Frye about this topic.

June 14 2010 Is This Purchase Feasible - Frye.mp3 (4.33 mb)

For the text of the interview, click here:  Is This Purchase Feasible

We talk a lot here about the importance of having a financial analysis for your farm.  Let's address whether that's something you can do on your own.  Since we're somewhat biased in this particular discussion, we turn the microphone over the Mike Jacobson, a banker from North Platte, Nebraska.  His comments come from a panel discussion a few months ago that focused on controlling what you can control in the success of your farming operation.  It's a short video, just a little over two minutes that you can watch by clicking here.

For the text of this segment, click here:  Should You Do Your Financials on Your Own

No one can look in a crystal ball and really predict what the markets are going to do.  We can understand the fundamentals and track the technicals.  The best approach is to know just what you need from the market in order to achieve profit.  And that brings us to Understanding Your Break Evens.  KRVN's Ken Rahjes talks with Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions about how to get to a long term break even -- and the importance of knowing that number going forward into the growing season

June 7 2010 Understanding Your Break Evens.mp3 (3.66 mb)

For the text of the interview, click here:  Understanding Your Break Evens

Many agricultural producers may have the idea that bigger is better - but that isn't always the case when it comes to profitability.  A panel at the Commodity Classic talked about some of the challenges of growth in farming.  It's a nine minute discussion that you can watch right here.  

The book that Darren Frye talks about in this segment is The E Myth by Michael E. Gerber. 

For the text of the video, click here:  Does Big Equal Profitable in Farming

Farming is all about financial risk.  The capital needs are large and spring and summer weather is unpredictable.  This week KRVN's Ken Rahjes talks with Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions about using a financial analysis as a starting point and then layering crop insurance into the farm plan.  The process is especially important for growers in expansion mode.  Click on the link below to listen to the interview.

June 1 2010 Examining the Risk in Your Operation - Frye.mp3 (3.75 mb)

For the text of the interview, click here:  Examining the Risk in Your Operation