July 27, 2019

Assessment of Management Skills

by Michael Langemeier

Assessing management skills is an important part of benchmarking farm performance and figuring out where improvements may be needed. If the operators on the farm identify management areas which are not currently being addressed, they will need to determine whether someone is going to get up to speed with regard to these areas or outside help is going to be sought to address weaknesses.

ARTICLES WITHIN PUBLICATION:

Assessing Production Management Skills

September 15, 2018

Productivity growth is a function of changes in input use, technical change, and technical efficiency change.

Read More

Assessing Financial Management Skills

December 15, 2018

Utilizing key performance indicators is an important ingredient in creating an environment that stresses continuous improvement.

Read More

Assessing Management Practice Skills

February 15, 2019

Management practice skills help ensure that the business is running smoothly and are helpful in the development of a business plan.

Read More

Assessing Personnel Management Skills

April 15, 2019

Personnel management skills help ensure that all individuals in the organization understand their roles, be trained to perform them, and work effectively as a team.

Read More

Assessing Procurement and Marketing Skills

May 15, 2019

Failing to develop a marketing plan may lead to a situation in which the farm only sells their products when they need liquidity.

Read More

Assessing Relationship Management and Leadership Skills

June 5, 2019

As farms continue to grow, relationship management and leadership skills will become increasingly important.

Read More

Assessing Risk Management Skills

June 30, 2019

Risk management involves optimizing expected returns given the risks involved.

Read More

Assessing Strategic Positioning Skills

July 27, 2019

Strategic direction involves thinking about whether the farm is going to focus on a commodity based strategy or a differentiated product strategy.

Read More

TAGS:

TEAM LINKS:

RELATED RESOURCES

Financial Stress on Crop Farms: Who Is Most at Risk in the 2024–26 Downturn?

September 3, 2025

Midwest crop producers have experienced a significant downturn in corn, soybean, and wheat prices since late 2023, resulting in a drop in net returns in 2024. Moreover, current expectations are that prices will continue to remain at or below the cost of production for at least a couple more years. Consequently, a key question being asked is as follows: “Who is the most vulnerable financially during this downturn”?

READ MORE

Adoption of Conservation Practices and Farm Goals

July 29, 2025

How do farm goals shape conservation decisions? This analysis draws on a nationwide survey of 400 producers to explore how priorities like profitability, risk, and sustainability impact the adoption of practices like no-till, cover crops, and crop diversification. Farmers who rank conservation as a top goal are significantly more likely to implement these practices—offering a window into what drives long-term thinking in farm management.

READ MORE

Farm Goals

July 23, 2025

One-third of recently surveyed farmers identified farm transfer as their top goal, but priorities like profit, conservation, debt reduction, and income stability also ranked high. The study reveals that most farms pursue a mix of goals, and understanding the tradeoffs between them can lead to better long-term business decisions. Take time to define your farm’s goals—and use them to shape long-term business decisions.

READ MORE

UPCOMING EVENTS

Cultivating Clarity: Understanding Farm Taxes Workshop, Purdue Extension

December 1 & 8, 2025

Join Purdue Extension for a two-part workshop designed to help you gain a clearer understanding of tax planning essentials. The first session on December 1 will focus on the fundamentals of farm taxes, with particular emphasis on strategies that can be used in a low net income year. The second session on December 8 will focus on key tax strategies and will allow plenty of time for questions. Registration cost is only $20.

Read More

Farm & Ranch Tax Issues Webinar, Purdue Income Tax School

December 15, 2025

This program provides in-depth coverage of agricultural and farm tax issues. In addition to covering timely tax issues, we will cover disaster tax issues, depreciation and expensing farm assets, retirement planning for farms, and tax planning in low-income years. This year’s webinar will be co-taught by a team from Ohio State and Purdue Universities.

Read More

Farm Shield: Protecting Your Legacy from Life’s Uncertainties Conference, Purdue Extension

January 27 or 28, 2026

Farm Shield is more than a conference, it’s a commitment to helping agricultural families build resilience and plan for a secure future. Don’t miss this opportunity to protect your legacy!

Read More

2026 Crop Cost and Return Guide

September 16, 2025

The 2026 Purdue Crop Cost and Return Guide provides estimated costs and net returns for planting, growing, and harvesting corn, soybeans, and wheat in the upcoming year. Cost and return information presents information for low, average, and high productivity soils. Early projections point to slightly higher breakeven prices.

READ MORE

2025 Farmland Values & Market Trends

September 9, 2025

Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe and Michael Langemeier as they discuss Indiana farmland values on this, the first of two episodes reviewing the 2025 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rental Rates survey results. The survey shows Indiana land prices continue to rise and are anticipated to continue a modest increase for the rest of 2025 for most of the state.

READ MORE

Farmland Prices Increase Despite Downward Pressure, Purdue Ag Econ Report August 2025

August 19, 2025

Indiana farmland prices have continued the trend of record highs in 2025, according to the latest Purdue Farmland Value and Cash Rents Survey results. The average price of top-quality farmland reached $14,826 per acre, a 3.0% increase from June 2024. Statewide, cash rents increased from 1.5 to 1.7% for poor-, average-, and top-quality land.

READ MORE